Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-12-03

their way to join the crew Of Presi-
dent Wilson's peace" ship. They
were young musicians, and previous
to their enlistment had been asso-
clated with orchestras throughout
the country. The officer in charge
had been first violinist of the Chi
cago orchestra. But their musical
ability did not overcome their ap-
petites, and they were hungry. They
explained TO the canteen leader
that there was no diner on the
train; that they did not have meal
since the afternoon before, and that
over one hundred boys on the Sec
ond section were in the same plight.
The boys had no sooner told their
story than the second section of
the train pulled in, and the cam
teen worker cried out to the soldier
musicians to follow her, and the
twenty-three with the woman in
blue uniform in the lead ran down
the platform to meet the others on
the second section. Before that Sec
ton stopped soldiers and sailors
scrambled down the steps and made
a rush to the rear of the train
where the dining car was attached.
The boys were hungry, and every
one or them was a typical Amer
lean youth with healthy appetite
The canteen girl soon ascertained
that the steward of the dining car
would not serve the boys food; hav-
ing preferred the regular passeng-
ers, and still at the head of the
shouting mass she reached the din
ing car first with a railroad official
Immediately behind.
Crowd Surrounds Car
over one hundred sturdy youths
surrounded the dining car. They
were yelling:
Let us get at him." "If we don't
get something to eat we will take
It," Send out that steward until
we beat him up"
Others tried to board the dining
| car, and the frightened passengers
who had been given tables looked
out the windows of the car fearing
that an attack would be made. The
canteen worker mounted the steps
of the car and waved the boys back.
Boys" she cried, mot one of
you dare enter this train. Let your
officer come with me. Stand back
every one of you. and | will give
you my solemn promise that you
will get food"
I'VE believe YOU" yelled one boy,
and the rest took up the cry, with
the result that every one of them
respected the command and did not
attempt to get on the train. The
| canteen worker had a hurried conf
| ference with the steward, and his
explanation was very unsatisfactory.
He did not seem to have the least
| appreciation of loyalty or patriot
ism, and he could not give any def
mite assurance that the soldiers and
! sailors would be fed.
Canteen Worker to Rescue
The canteen worked jumped off
the train with the officer follow
| ing, and again assured the boys that
| they would be fed. Every one was
| determined not to get on the train
again until he had received some-
thing to eat. The Red Cross rep
resentative hurried to the train dis
patcher's office, where she attempt
ed to arrange for another diner
This was found impossible, and her
request that the train be held was
agreed to.
The young woman ran to the de-
pot restaurant, and after explain
| ing the seriousness of the situation
the management BfaclOuSly agreed
that the boys should be fed. The
canteen worker carried this news
back to the waiting crowds. and all
army tactics were lost sight of in
the scramble to reach the restau-
| rant. They occupied every chair,
table and counter and with excel
lent results each of the one hundred
boys was given an excellent meal
consisting of soup. roast beef, mash
| ed potatoes, lima beans, ice cream
and coffee. The boys ate as boys
who had not had anything for nine
teen hours could eat, and as they
passed from the dining room the
canteen girls met them and furnish
ed them with cigarets, tobacco and
car stamped postal cards.
The soldiers and sailors again
| boarded the train after thanking
| the canteen workers profnsely, and
then took the trouble to write short
| notes home on the postal cards, tell
ing of the incident. The train pulled
out of the station. after having been
held up for forty-five minutes, but
the cheers that the boys gave for
| the local chapter of the Red Cross
was sufficient, recompence for all
the trouble.