Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-10-25

low. Ny only glimpse df the famous
metropolis eieS f,a birdeeye view
through a portfolio on the third deck
below, over the heads of several of
my comrades. No one even smiled, let
alone laugh. 1t was one of the most
peculiar moments of my life. You have
read of the glorious bravery of the for
: eign troops and the foreign troops and
the valor of the Americans in the past
but [ feel now that our fellows were
genuine heroes that day, as they paced
below in the stuffy quarters, knowing
that they were leaving, perhaps for
ever, their native land, and that they
were denied the privilege of even see
ing the land line sink down from view
in the Atlantic. You may read of times
that test ones emotions, but the sever
ance from ones country tears ones
heart strings in an unmerciful manner.
Before we had lost sight of land,
thru our vantage point beside the port
hole, darkness crept up from the east.
We threaded our way past hundreds of
destroyers and patrol boRts. Myriads of
signals flashed about us and several
powerful search lights played upon our
decks at various intervals.
1t was then that we began to real
ize that we were already the mark for
the German submarines. 1t is queer
how ones desire for sleep suddenly
wanes when they realize that the kais-
er may have one of his sharp nosed
subs ready to bore hole in the stern
of the ship. To cap the climax the
boys began to lose their appetitees and
the fish of the eastern ocean soon came
into their own.
You will search far and wide before
you find group of American laddies
who were more homesick, and heart
sick, than we were on the night of
our departure from America. AS we
look back upon the scene now, we
smile. But then-it was an ordeal that
do not care to ever go through again
l did not see but one man, during
the entire trip across the water, who
weakened even enough to let the tears
press through, and thank fortune, he
belonged to another regiment.
The Trip Acros
The trip across was fraught with
excitement. Contrary to general re-
ports we were not torpedoed or sunk.
We had the sensation of being chased
several times, and the sight of a peri
scope sticking up thru the brine was
reaI4stic enough TO make US jump into
our life preservers without awaiting
command. Our flotilla was large and
believe that even the best German
sub commander would hesitate before
attacking it. Our boat was heavily arm
ed and carried expert gunners. Our con
voy was alert and constantly patroled
the water in our vicinity
We took an indirect course in cross
ing and were on the way three times
as long as one would ordinarily think
would take to make the trip. For sew
eral days we were allowed ia 60 about
without life preseryers. The order then
came ont and we slept in our clothes
night after night, our life preservers
with US, expecting any moment to be
called out.
Several times, in the dark of the !
night, the "abandon ship" call blew. !
l was assigned as bowman in one of
the life boats. 1t was a stormy night
and black as ink. mad been sleeping |
on deck in the rain each night, at the
head of my boat With my life preser-
yer tied under my arms, my hat tied
on my head and my shoes half unlaeed |