The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-02
TURN FIRE HOSE ON
TROOPSHP SOBRAL
Rush Of Doughboys to Vessels
Side Causes Heavy List
at Arrival.
SOLDIERS AVOID BATH
1855 Officers and Men Are
Aboard-Two Other Trans
ports in Harbor.
SOLDIERS AVOID BATH

The transport Sobral. with 1855 off,
GERS and men on one side OF her up
per deck. and very little cargo or ballast
In her hold. careened to her pier at the
foot Of Joralemon street. Brooklyn, yes
terday with list which was corrected
only by fire hose.
The doughboys aboard, too busy wav-
Ing welcomes to folks on barges and
docks to worry about such a little thing
as trrning turtle. saw the point when
Capt. Davitt ordered the fire hose
manned for action. From motives Of
delicacy the boys aboard decided that
the deck was no place to take bath
and spread themselves over the deck.
Among those on board were six COM
panies Of "Col. MOSES Buffaloes," coll
ored troops, who are members of the
s67th Infantry when they are drawing
their pay.
Major c. L. Appleton, who was in
command Of the detachment, and who is
s. relative OF Major-Gen Dan Appleton.
formerly ''Col. Dan" of the Seventh
Regiment. said that everything had gone
well on the voyage, which lasted four
teen days, except for a few storms and
crap games and things, Six men OF the
regiment were In the brig for shouting
their war cry. Baby needs Shoes" in
indiscrete Juxta-position to their COM
mander's quarters.
Record OF the Ship.
The transport Sobral. despite her mis-
behavior yesterday, Is real pro-ally
ship, despite the fact that she was a
German liner before the war. the crew
insisted upon explaining yesterday.
After being informed in Brazil the ves-
sol was chartered by the French Gov
eminent. Until recently she was en-
gagged In carrying French refugees and
prisoners OF war back to France froui
Holland. For this work she had the
high honor and unusual distinction or
being mentioned in orders and OF receiv.
ing the French War Cross from Com
mander f. Brunei, chief of the Santa
ton Commission. Since that time an
American crew has toted its dunnage
aboard and taken possession. This Is the
first trip OF the vessel to this country
with homeward bound troops.
The man with the greatest yarn OF
war adventures was not a man at all
but boy, and moreover, although clad
in a sergeant-majors uniform somewhat
better fitted to his dignity than to his
form, was not a soldier The tale teller
was Harry Skinner. Is years old. whose
war adventures started when a torpedo
crashed into the hull of the Lusitania
on May Z. 1915.
Young Skinner. whose home was. ac-
cording to his story, In Springfield, Ohio,
was on his way to England with his
parents. neither OF whom reached the
other side. Arriving in England the
boy was sent to an uncle living in Scot
landS>and had just enough of farming
to convince him that he was no farmer.
His War Experiences.
He attached himself to n British regi-
ment, the Durham Light Infantry, Jour
neyed to France with II, went over the
top. was gassed at Ypres. learned to
handle a bugle. was captured by Ger
mans, was taken to CoblenZ. stole a
German uniform. got hack to the front,
hid in a duGout when the Americans
were attacking, popped out after the
dugout had become American property
and announced his nationality, attached
himself to Company G of the 102d In
fantry. went over the top again. Now
he has come home to see his folks In
Springfield. Ohio.
OF course he had to work his way
over as a member OF the crew. He de-
clared he got his honorary rank of SER
geant-major by bossing the buglers of
his outfit. Sergeant John Blockngton
of Salem, Ohio. wants to adopt him and
send him TO school. but as Skinner re-
marked yesterday, school is pretty
rough stun to pull on a vet like me-"
Young Skinner was not the only boy
on board. however. Frank and Oliver
Lucas, French boys Il and Is years old,
hid on the ship at Brest. Sergeant Her
bert Oppenheim. a New York man. wants
TO adopt them, but Frank and Oliver
have a long. long journey through Amer
lean red tape to make before anything
so definite can happen to them.
Chaplain Gets Citation.
On board also was Capt. W. S. Brad
dan, pastor of Berean Baptist Church
OF Chicago, chaplain Of the 367th In.
fantry. who received a citation for
travelling through heavy shell fire for