Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1918-04-09

OXFORD couHTx's FIRST CALL MEN 60
AMID CHEERS.

| No one could doubt that Oxford Coun
tvs first quota called under the draf
law bad the people Of the county behipt
them, after the scenes Of last Tuesda,
morning, when these mon left Sout1
Paris for Camp Devens, Aver, Mass
This Wa demonstrated BY the numbe
who gathered Ut the Grand Trunk station
to sec them OF, - we'll - In Ill the pro
ceedings there and the prslimlnaries.
Seventeen was the number called for
though only sixteen went 1t that time
OF the seventeen In the original list, JeaI
Bastarache Of Rumford has enlisted Il
the Canadian army. Daniel McDougall
another OF the mon, also of Rumford
went to New Brunswick to the funera
OF his father, and has not reported bacl
here-the local board express the belief
through no fault Of bis. One additional
James Lewis Kay of Oxford, was callei
and left with the contingent, and thu
seventeenth man will be sent immedi
ately.
The sixteen who left we're:
James Merrill Perry, Rumford.
Carl Edward Shatney, Roxbury.
Joseph Edouard Maillet, Rumford.
Jacob Astor Klain, Norway.
Claude Albert Goddard, Bethel.
Alton Augustus Conant, Hebron.
Victor L. Kneeland, Fryeburg.
Frank Arsenault, Mexico.
Neal Dow Harlow, Dixfleld.
Fred Waite Holman. Dixfield.
Guy Leslie York, Canton.
John Korzik, Mexico.
Robert Schenk, Norway.
William Archie Wallace, Rumford.
Wendell Holmes Knox, Fryeburg.
James Lewis Kay, Oxford.
Robert Schenk of Norway was ap-
pointed leader of the contingent for the
trip to Camp Devens. with Jacob Klain
of Norway and Guy York Of Canton as
assistants. Chairman Bertrand G.. Mo-
Intire and A. e. Stearns Of the local
exemption board accompanied them on
the train for part of the way.
All the men we're we'll QUILTED by the
Red Cross and Service League organiza-
tions before their departure. Each man
bad sweater and three pairs of socks,
besides other things from their home
towns. The Norway Red Cross provided
comfort kits for each man, and the South
Paris Service League furnished Q big box
of fruit, cigarettes, chocolate. and other
good things.
II it had not been for the presence of
Paris High School in body, the send
of, while genuine, would have been
entirely informal and rather quiet. After
the school appeared on the station plat.
form, there wasn't q moment when
things were not moving, with cheers,
songs, or brief speeches, and the
students throats must have been In good
condition to stand the strain.
The circumstance that tho train was
half an hour late gave an opportunity
for the carrying out Of Q program for
which no schedule had been arranged.
When the men of the call came down
from the court house where they bad
assembled, they were received with pro-
longed hand-cIsppiug. but no further
denomination. Very soon after the
high school made Ito presence known,
and after giving the school yells, there
came the call, 1--WE want McIntire! We
want McIptire! We want McIntire!
Speech Speech! Speech"
After q repetition of this call Mr.. Nc
Intire mounted q baggage truck and
spoke for q few minutes. Then there
was q call for Stearns, and Mr.. Stesrns
responded. The next call was for Rog-
srs, and Rev. C. wellington Rogers Of
the South Paris Congregational church
responded. Then q call for Gray, and
Walter L. Gray mounted the truck.
Then call for Wheeler, and Alton G.
Wheeler occupied the minute or two re-
naming before the train pulled up be-
side the platform.
It Ia needless to give any summary Of
the brief speeches made, the good wishes
expressed for the men, or the assurances
given them of tho support, the interest
and the prayers of those at home. One
feature Of the remarks should, however,
be noted. Both Mr.. McIntire and Mr..
Stsarns, who have been working all win
ter on the local board, and have been In
touch with the registered men, took
occasion to give their testimony that
while these men have been drafted, they
are going into the service gladly, with
the spirit Of volunteers, and that with
very few exceptions, they have found
the Same spirit In ell the men who have
been called to appear before them.
As the train pulled In, the students
sang verse of the Star Spsngled Ban
ner, and . three times three for each
man Of the sixteen was given as they got
aboard.