Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-10-10
CALIFORNIA LIBERTY
MEN USE ALLIGATOR
ASFAVORITL
Five Hundred and Sixty Men
Given Big Feed In Salem
Last Night

Alligators are the latest in mascots
The troop train of Liberty boys who
were fortunate enough to be served
dinner at tho armory last evening by
the salem Rcd Cross and friends now
swear b. tblir mascot picked up al
R~oscburg. They were unanimous in the
o. iHion that never before were troops
eIroute to American Lake served to
bounteously or treated with such con
sideration. 1t was the first real home
touch given the boys since they had
left the assembling barracks at San
Francisco, and they now swear by theil
alligator and Salem.
There was a report yesterday after
noon that the boys were a trifle u n
ruly at Roseburg. 1t seems at that
hours, they were handed out a menu
of mush and milk and potatoes at the
restaurants. They were hungry for a
real home meal and when they march
ed into the armory last evening 4S1
strong, every man was a gentleman
and thew showed their appreciation of
the home food by continuously cheer
ing Salem and responding to the mu-
steal numbers given during the dinner
In fact, every man that expressed
himself said at nc place had the boys
been given such q generous reception.
They were cheered from the time Of
arrival until their final departure at
9:15 o'clock for the north. And the un-
animous opinion Of the Salem people
who had charge of the dinner was that
the coast counties of California surely
had sent a fine lot of young men for
raining in the National army.
Hebel's Cherrybud band marched
with the boys and played at the ar
mory during the dinner. Albert Egan
was generously enchored singing two
popular songs and the soldiers showed
their deep appreciation when Cora
Hampton Olson, the nightingale of Sill
verton sang and responded to an. en-
core Then two California boys sang
and Captain Lucy of California made
a short address saying that it was the
first time the most of the boys had been
out of the state of California and that
the kind reception given almost made
them homesick. "We won come back
until it's over" said Captain Lucy,
''and when we do, Wen bring the
kaiser.'
At each plate was placed a souvenir
post card book with twelve views Of
Salem. The books were stamped and as
the Y were ready for mailing fully 800
of the boys took advantage of the OPP
p~ortunity to drop a word back to the
home folks. For these boys were of the
finest manhood of California. The wo-
men of Mendocino county thought so
much of their boys that each was YEAR
ing a knitted wooden jacket.
The liberty men arrived at the armo-
ny at 8:15 O'Clock and remained until
9 o'clock. The work Of serving the 481
men was quickly done under the man
agement Of Milton l.. Meyers with his
80 assistants and rs women and girls.
A. A. Hall and William Gahlsdorf were
in charge of the armory and all ar
rangements. The table equipment was in
care of the Rev. James Elvin and mem
bers of the Salem Rifle club acted as
escorts to and from the armory and dur
ing the serving of the dinner.
The train of 10 tourist sleepers car
ried tho men from tho followinU nnints
in California: Richmond, n; Martinez,
104; Eureka, 1871; Kniah, 90; Lakeport,
IS; Mariposa, II; Calavera, 81; MERGED
l. Alvin d. Wick and Carl Taylor, trav-
cling passenger agents OF the southern
Pacific were in charge of the train and
both said these boys were the finest
and best behaved of any that had trav-