Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1918-03-07
CHAPTER !.
From Mutt 10 Khaki.

It was In an Office in Jersey City.
I was sitting at my desk talking to
, lieutenant Of the Jersey National
Guard. On the wall was q big war
map decorated with variously coloted
little flags showing the position Of the
opposing armies on the western front
In France. In front Of me on the desk
lay a New York paper with big fiaring
headlines:
LUsITANiA SUNK AMERICAN
LIVES LOST
The windows were open and q feel
ing Of spring ~pervaded the air.
Through the open windows came the
strains Of a h%urdy-gurdy playing In the
street, Didn't Raise My Boy to Be
a Soldier"
sLusitania Sunkl American Lives
Lostr"-I Didn't Raise My Boy to
Be a Soldier" To US these did not
seem to jibe.
The lieutenant in silence opened one
Of the lower drawers Of his desk and
took from It al American flag which
he solemnly draped over the war map
on the wall. Then. turning to me with
. grim face, said:
Flow about It, sergeant3 You had
better get out the muster roll Of the
Mounted Scouts, as I think they will
be needed in the course Of a few days."
We busted ourselves till late In the
evening writing out emergency tele-
grams for the men to report when the
call should come from Washington.
Then we went home.
crossed over to New York, and as
I went up Fulton street to take the
subway to Brooklyn, the lights In the
tall buildings Of New York seemed to
be burning brighter than. usual, as II
they, too. had read "Lusitania Sunk !
American Liyes LostW They seemed
to be glowing with anger and righteous
Indignation, and their rays ~wigwagged
the message, 'Repayl"
Months passed, the kilograms lying
handy, but covered with dust. Then,
one momentous morning the lieutenant
with a sigh Of disgust removed the
dag from tho war map and returned
to his desk. I Immediately followed
this action by throwing the kilograms
into the wastebasket. Then we looked
Ut each other In silence. He wa
squirting In his chair and I felt de-
pressed and uneasy.
The telephone rang and I answered
It. It was q business call for me, re
Questlng my services for an out-of
town assignment. Business was mol
very good, SO this was very welcome
After listening to the proposition
seemed to be swayed by a pecullarl,
strong force within me, and answered
" nm sorry that I cannot accept you
offer, but I ON leaving for Englant
next week." and hung up the receiver
The lieutenant swung around In hi
chair, and stared at me in blank aston
lshment. A sinking sensation cam
cver me, but I defantly answered hi
look with, "Well, It's 10. I'm going
And I went.
The trip across was %uneventful.
landed at Tilbury, England, then 80
into . string Of matchbox cars an
proceeded to. London, arriving Their
about 10 p. N. / took Q room in q hote
near St Pancras station for ave an
six--Are extra" The room was minu
the fire, but the "extra" seemed I
keep me warm. That night there wa
Zeppelin raid, but ! didn't see muc
Of y, because the slit In the curtain
was too small and I had no desire I
mako It larger. Next morning the tc
ephons bell rang, and someone aske'
sAre you thereT I was, hardly. An,
way, I learned that the Zeps had :,
turned to their %fatherland, 80 ! WEI
out Into the street expecting to x
scenes Of awful devastation and . COZ
=. sring populacs, but everything VI
normal. People were calmly procee'
ing 10 their WORK. Crossing 4
street, / accostsd I Bobbis with:
aCan you direct me v The plaee
damagsis 4
10 asked me, .What damaysfs
n surprise. I answered, why. q
damage caused bS - xsDss-