Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-08-20
Cheer and Are Cheered Until
Train Passes From Sight
in Early Morning.
SOLDIERS EAGER FOR ACTION
Go to Fort Sill for New Equip
ment Before Turning to
Seacoast Camp.
Tulsa's ambulancers have gone!

With suddenness that all but
caught Tulsa mapping came word FRI
day night that railroad equipment.
lack Of which has threatened to delay
their start until Monday. had arrived
and just as the sun was peeping over
the eastern horizon Sunday morning
a special train OF nine cars slipped
out of the siding at Camp Sincian.
bearing away the first detachment OF
Oklahoma troops ordered to service
abroad
Sudden tho the departure was and
early tho the hour, their going was
not unnoticed II contrasted with the
entraining "a hours previously of an
other Tulsa company, that Of the
gineers, which has gone to Camp
Bowie for the engineers were going
to an American cantonment for an
indefinite stay while the ambulancers,
Tulsa's first born and favored corps,
was going across" having been as
signed to the Forty-second division
for Immediate service in France"
and Tulsans were there to bid them a
last farewell and "Godspeed."
Bows Eager for Action.
The occasion, one of solemnity for
those left behind was one of rejoicing
for the majority of the ambulance
men, most of whom were athletic coll
leSe 1leI dCCuStOIiieu 10 activity All"
TO whom the prospect Of early service
abroad appealed with a power that
frequently found vent in wild whoops
and cheers as they dashed thru tho
work OF striking camp and loading
the train.
Scores of Tulsans. mostly relatives
OF the soldiers, motored out to the
camp before daylight to see the boys
entraining. 1t was evident that many
of them had not slept during the
night Scores of others watched the
train as It pulled into the city, flocked
around 1t as 1t halted few minutes
at the depot for train orders, and
chcered as it pulled out, but above the
cheering OF the crowd could he heard
the cheering of the men as they hung
far out Of the windows, cheering and
waving until hidden as the train
rounded a curve. Many an automobile
filled with friends raced alongside
the train as far as the streets would
permit Even after the special had
been lost to sight the sound OF cheer
ing came floating back. As the cheer
ing faded, the sound of a bugle still
could be heard and then as 1t was
lost in the distance Tulsa realized
for the first time that II suddenly
had become closely identified with the
world war
Impressive Departure.
Everything connected with the de-
parture of the company was Impress
i've even to the casual observer. Per-
haps the most striking feature was
the eagerncss displayed by the boys
10 be on their way to the great con-
flict. Spurning the use of horses, am
bulance men seizing tongue and sin
gletree and pushing wherever hand
hold could be found dragged the
heavy camp wagons about the
grounds, transporting camp equip
ment from the camp site to the train.
At the siding a slight delay was
occasioned while the train crew was
switching. The company was drawn
up for final roll call. the morning mali
was distributed, and just as the last
letter was being handed out, The train
pulled up ready for entrairment. A.
the engine passed the company at at
tention. Lieutenant Ferguson swung
on to the front of the locomotive and
painted an American Flag in the sig
nal pocket.
Incidents.
At one side OF the road sat brother
and sister on the running board OF n
touring car, thru the entire morning,
the sister clinging to the brothers
shoulder and weeping urreservedly
He was stolid.
Fifty-three years ago little gIri
sat on her fathers knee and lispingly
sang "Farwell Mother, You may
Never" as he was saying farewell tc
join the army which later went
marching thru Georgia, one of Sher'
mans dashing Yankee boys. Yester-
day she sat in an automobile and with
only an occasional trip to the eve with
a handkerchief watched her son en-
L., nf hnr thraa n
list in this war. She smiled as she
waved goodbye.
Another mother sat near by in az
other automobile. There was onl,
pride to be seen in her face as she
watched her son prepare eagerly FOL
departure. Their hands clasped anc
they both smiled as they parted. ~
had taken several steps toward the
train when she called hi mback fol
another kiss. just then the train be
gan to move. He had fifty yaros "
go. He stopped, turned around I,
go back to the car, but she waved hin
back. "Never mind boy. go on" she
said, that's all right" She smiled HI
smiled. hesitated as instant and ther
made a dash for the last step.
As the train stopped for an instan
at the station n small, thin woman
plainly clad, pushed thru the crowt
TO WINDOW from Wnlcn Huns DIs
husky lad. 1t was quite stretch
from the window to her face, but HI
made 1t. As he looked down upoi
her, tears filled his eyes, his lip quiv
cred, his chin trembled and he burs
into audible weeping. Leaning far ou
of the window he took one of he
hands in both of his. Her other {
hand that was tanned, wrinkled AM
was unmistakable evidence of tn
hard struggle she had had in life
caressed his hand. patted him on tn
back and a voice with scarcely
tremble In II said Don't cry son
BE brave boy" The train started
he clung TO her hand as long as pos
sible and then buried his face in hi
arm. She stood waving to him. onl
the slight trace of tears showing u
her eyes. The train went out of sigh
and only then did she break down."
Before going to Camp Nelson a
Miles the mobilization point OF tn
Forty-second division. the ambulanc
company goes to Fort Sill, where
will be issued new equipment