The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-04-21

Kansans were numbered among these
units.
of the organizations which entered
Newport News in celebration of Easter
Sunday were $50 casuals. These men
included wounded from every state
represented in the 35th division. 1t
was stated, however, that only five
Kansans were on this list They were:
Harry Skaggs and Charles Seeley,4
Tonganoxie; Jess Mowrey. Osborne;
Clyde A. Luckey. LaHarpe, and Ralph
A. Milham. Solomon.
Bands. banners and flags were ev-
erywhefe in welcome to the Kansans
and the Missourians when they en-
tered Newport News and New York
Cfty General PerShing'S own head
quarters band of the expeditionary
forces came over with the Kansas en-
gineers and entered New York har-
Dor PLAYING KATY" The committee
which met the men of the 10th engi-
neers in New York was composed
largely of volunteer committee MEM
bers from Kansas. Practically all OF
these persons paid their own expenses
and went to New York in an effort to
add some bit of Kansas color to the
reception for the returning forces.
At Newport News, Gov. and FRS.
Henry j. Allen and Lieut.. Gov. add
Mrs. Charles S. Huffman headed tn
reception committee which went down
the James river to meet the $50 Kan
sans on the DeKalb. Every member
of the reception committee wore a
bright sunfiower. The tug followed
the big transport to dock, but the
noisy greetings from officers and men
aboard continued during the TRIP.
Many Topekans were aboard the De-
KaIb, the capital city being strongly
represented in the personnel of the
various units.
Had a Great Trip. -
Men on the DeKaIb had a great trip.
Everyone enjoyed the trip across with
the exception of three or four days. The
first two days out the sea seemed a bit
rough. The old salts didn't mind it, of
course. but we who have been accustomed to
having a solid bottom under our feet, ex-
eept once in a while when shell lifted
the terrain a bit, had to get our sea legs
first, before we could really enjoy the
trip. The first night out no one missed
a meal. The next morning there were
few vacant places in the mess line and
few at the table That night few more
dropped out of the running. and the next
day few more. The third day many of
them returned to their places, but every
once in a while someone would have to
abandon his meal and make for the rail-
take a soldier long to adapt himself to any
conditions, and every one of them carried a
castiron constitution.
The ships captain determined to take
the southern route, figuring the weather
would be calm and. warm, and that it
would make the voyage pleasanter for the
men we were bringing back, in addition to
the 526 officers and men who were the
advance guard of the division. The sick
and wounded were casuals, none of them
being from the 35th.
Weather Good All the Way.
| The captains plans were correct. The
weather was clear and calm and warm
all the way with the exception of one
| day. Off the Azores we struck a rough
sea and bucked a strong head wind for
twenty-four hours. This caused a few
most of us were now on our sea legs and
| didn't care how rough the weather was,
as long as the DeKalb could handle it and
keep her nose pointed in the general direc-
ton of home.
| For transport, the trip couldn't be
/ eaualed. A majority of the men were as
tiers below decks; some of them preferred
to sleep outside, and hammocks were pro-
vided for them, which they attached to
| the ceilings of the various decks and
! swung themselves into just like regular
1 'gobs." Others dragged their mattresses
! ous on deck and rolled up in their blankets.
| sleeping in the open air. The food was
excellent, much better than either the men
| or officers had been accustomed to in
| France, and there was plenty of it, Such
things as pie and cake and ice cream were
almost an every day occurrence, and there
were many of us on board who, hadn't
sailed from the states The ship has its
| own bakery and refrigerating plant, so we
! had fresh bread. fresh meats and fresh
/ else
4 that we were not accustomed to. In
| France the bread is baked so that it keep
for weeks, and there is a lot of difference
between that and bread that is baked only
the night before.
TOpekans in New York.
Topekans who arrived in New York
aboard the Won Steuben and are included
in the organization of the 9th field ar
tillery brigade include:
Pvt. John D. Long. 1921 West Sixth.
Pvt. c. p. Neiswender, r. f. D. 6.
| Pvt. NJ. r. Kessinger r. F. ID. f.
Pvt. F. L. Librey, 1901 Oakley.
Cook Hiram L. Henselr III West Twenty
second.
Headquarters detachment:
Corp. H. N. Davis, sos Fillmore.
Corp. w. f. Harrington, 1926 College.
! Sanitary detachment:
Pvt. T. H. Hawley, 429 Elmwood.
Pvt. H. S. Simpson, 500 West Ninth.
The 10th engineers train:
Pvt. r. A. Knight, 210 Branner.
Company A, 10th engineers:
Lieut.. ]. p. Irons 140S North Quincy.
Sergt. L. j. Terrill. 1907 Tyler.
Sergt. w. w. Gilmore, 1900 Kansas.
I Pvt. o. B. Ketchum, 1915 East Sixth.
Corp. L. c. Osborn, 723 Topeka.
Pvt. g. B. Reese. all Greenwood.
Pvt. r. A. Pringle 1913 East Tenth
Corp. Philander Smith, POI Greenwood.
Pvt. f. r. Bunce, sos Clay.
Pvt. r. w. Oman, 1925 Buchanan.
Pvt. Fl A. Finup, 800 West Gordon.
Pvts c.. Il. Bruce, 1135 Grand.
Pvt. Thomas H. Bruce. 1135 Grand.
Pvt. John p. Elicit. 1908 Topeka.
| Wagner C. w. Clements. 1850 Polk
Pvt. H. f. Garrett, 130S North Logan.
| Sergt. John Mcintyre, 8 Garfield Place.
| Cook William s Singleton r It n No