Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-08-05
E. F. EMPLOYEES
CHEER NEW SHIP
Forces From BROAD Street
Offices March to
Wharf
1000 AT L A u NC H N G.
Five Boats Convey Clerical
Workers and Their Friends
to Hog Island
1000 AT L AUN C H I N {

Headed by the Police Band. the 1000
employees of the Emergency Fleet Corr
poration. stationed at the three Broad
street, offices of the company. and as
many more friends and relatives Of these
workers. marched along Arch street this
morning to the Arch street wharf. where
they boarded five steamboats, and were
carried down the Delaware to the
Launching Mt Hog Island.
All the boats were lavishly decorated
with the flags of the Allies. entwined
! with the Stars and Stripes. The orches-
| ira band of the fleet corporation was on
the leading steamboat, and played as the
fiotila steamed down the river.
Trip Down the River
The trip down the river was without
inc dent: except that the protection
committee grew nervous when 100 many
couples tried to dance on the Etarboard
side of the vessels. where the floor space
was largest. and kept chasing them
back to the port sides in an effort to
equalize things and keep the boats on an
even keel.
Once during the down trip the crowd
on the Fearless. which carried the Fleet
Corporation Band. clustered 30 thickly
on the starboard side that the vessel
listed badly. The protection committee
was promptly on the job. however, and
soon had matters equItably adjusted.
Arriving ut Hog Island the steam
boats were lined up just Off shore Ind
as close as was consistent with safety
TO the scene of the launching. All on
board had fine view OF the spectacle.
The feet of vessels got under way for
the return trip as soon as the Quist-
conck had taken the water, Luncheon
was served on the return trip and oil
reaching this city. the employees formed
in line and marched back to their Broad
street offices, there to resume their reg
ular work.
No Sugar for Lemonade
Frank D. Hall, proprietor OF the
BucnA Vista Hotel Gloucester City,
who had been given the order to.provide
the luncheons for the employees and
| their relatives and friends. found his
task an exceedingly difficult one.
In the first place he had a hard time
getting enough fruit to comply With the
specifications. which called for peach
and banana in each lunch box" al
well as two sandwiches Next he had
to hustle hard to round up enough Ice
cream to provide for some 5000 persons
and finally he could not fill the order
tration of Gloucester County would not
let him have enough sugar.
BY staying up all night and stopping
every farmer who came by he did get
hold Of sufficient fruit and he managed
to have the sandwiches made and to pro-
cure the ice cream. All the eats" were
shipped to the Arch street wharf early
this morning and loaded aboard the
steamboats, which carried the employees
to Hog Island.
Instructions to Employees
It was distinctly stated In a circular
OF instructions gotten out by the cor.
poration that today Ia not a holiday. but
that the necessary time of to attend the
launching would be given to all who de.
sired to witness the spectacle.
Those who did not wish to view the
ceremony were expected to stay on the
Job. So far as could be learned. how.
ever, no one cared to accept this alternh'
tive. ~
All employees reported for duty at the
customary hour of $3.50 o'clock. At 9:3C
o'clock. those in the main building. al
laO North Broad street. marched out
as though having a fire drill, and lined
up on Cherry street.
Employees from the No. 9 building
253 North Broad street, mobilised out
side their place and marching dowr
Broad street. fell in behind the dele
CATION from the main building. The
procession started about q quarter OF
! 10 o'clock and moved south on Broad
street to Arch, then east on Arch tc
the riverfront As the rear swung into
, Arch street. the contingent from thu
corporations garage. at 32s South Broad
street, came along and fell in behind.
Relatives as Quests
Following instructions issued Satur'
day, employees had notified the relatives
and friends they wished TO take with
| them to walt for them along Arch street
! between Broad street and Front. Al
they spotted" their hosts in the Ions
line moving past. these guests took theii
places in the ranks either beside o'
behind their hosts.
J. F. Spaulding was in general charge
Of the parade: w ] Steinbach had
charge of getting all employees out oi
the buildings and forming them In line
and handled his difficult task most ef'
fciently c. W. Kidder had charge oi
checking up the employees and theii
guests at the dock. 800