Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-09-06
ON THE WAY TO FRANCE
Late Evert Wendell Was among
the Distinguished Passengers.
In Danger Zone for Two Days and
Nights-Passengers Constantly ON
the Alert-No Submarine
Sighted.

The Free Press has received the follow
ing interesting letter from Roderic NJ.
Olsendam, u. v. NJ, '16. who is now with
the American Red Cross in France
On board the -
August, 1917.
It IL indeed q privilege to have the OPP
portunity to write few articles descrip-
tive Of my experiences in France in the
service Of the American Red Cross. Just
what will be of the greatest in
terest to the largest number Of peo-
pie in Vermont is question. Some
may hnd that what write merely
covers, for them, old and familiar
ground. Doubtless many readers of the
Free Press have crossed the Atlantic
time and again and know "the ms and
outs Of the whole thing. They had best
read one of 'Mr. Southwick's editorials
and omit ION the way to France,
etc." But, on the other hand. I
am quite sure that there are a
good many people who live by the
Mansfield and Sterling. Of Bolton and
the Hump or by Killington and Pico
who have never had the privilege that is
at present mine, and it is to them that I
will address this. the first of a series Of
articles, and I trust that the details will
be as interesting to them as they have
been to me. This Is my first trip abroad
and thousand and one things appeal to
me that probably an experienced and
seasoned traveller would never notice and
would pass over as mere trivialities. 1t
shall be my purpose to picture as best I
can the work Of the American Red Cross
on the fields Of France with the hope
that perhaps a few more people in YER
mont will become actively interested in
the work Of the Vermont chapter and a
few more young men will enter into the
great work in some capacity.
When, at the last moment, orders came
| from Washington forbidding the further
organization Of the Vermont ambulance
| company, under the leadership of DR.. Will
liam Stickney. I, with $50 other Vermont
mon found myself at a loss to know just
how was to do my bit" at the earliest
possible moment. Through the kindness
Of H. 8. Howard Of the Vermont Chap
| ter American Red Cross. opportunity pre-
| scented itself in the American volunteer
ambulance corps. After many delays in
the securing of passports and the many
| other details in connection with an ocean
| voyage in these troublous times / finally
made arrangements to sail on July % in
company with my friend. Raymond Cush-
man Of Bay Shore. N. Y.
After four different delays in the de-
parture Of the steamer we finally ar
rived at pier No. - North river at on,
on the afternoon Of August third expect
ing to sail at 200 p. m. A notice was post
ed changing the hour of departure to 80
p. m, but It was 10 minutes Of sever
when the last piece Of baggage had beef
swung aboard, the final fond farewell hat
been spoken. the donkey engine on tn,
starboard side sputtered and chugged jus
q bit. the gangplank was hoisted ashore
the great whistle Of the roare,
forth a mighty blast and assisted by tw,
tiny tugs the huge gray hulk moved pom
derously out into the middle Of the Hud
son and our journey to unknown shores
so long a dream. had become reality.
was Just shutdown and the colors Of part
ing day glowed brilliantly behind the Jer
sey shore. The Vaterland, once Of tn
Hamburg line, but now flynn
the Stars and Stripes. doomed large with
In her pier. As we steamed seward tn
skyline Of New York, tinged with tn
sunset rays. was the most impressiv
sight imaginable. Each mass of brick ant
steel seemed struggling to raise its pin
nacled top just bit higher than 1t
neighbor, Singer. Woolworth. Equitable
l
there. Ferry boats. tugs. Hudson rive
day boats and excursion steamers sa
luted with three blasts on the whistle
while the passengers lining the deck
waved and shouted a noisy goodbye
Battery park was black with people, man
of whom would doubtless spend the nigh
there In search of relief from the blister
ing heat which had enveloped New Yor
for the past few days. And then, on tn
right, that gift Of France to America
commemoration Of an appreciation 70
the friendship between the two nation.
1.-THE Statue Of Liberty" stood silhouette
, against the crimson sky. AS Lafayett
and others had come to the aid Of Amer
lea battling for freedom in days gone b.
30 we. young Americans of 1917 were e
, ing forth to unknown shores to do OF
bit towards paying back the debt cor
tracted but few years ago. Dutc
. freighters. unable to load their cargoe
; owing to the recent embargo affectin
. neutral countries. swung leisurely at al
;; Choir on both sides Of the channel stretch
. ing far into the dim distance. Ahead O
the left, the towers of New York's gres
. amusement island. Coney with its myr
ads Of lights. twinkled in the gatherin
: twilight. The revolving ferris wheels an
the swinging ocean waves" could
distinguished in their whirl of merrimen
And so. little by little. light after ligf