Arizona republican., 1920-04-18

quarantine and customs officers let us get by. The All-American Team or Wingshorts aboard a ans-AtIan- JIG Greyhound" were anchored in the Mersey river, the port of Liverpool awaiting the "once over" from the cus- tom and quarantine officers before oochlng. A special tug came racing out in advance of the regular. with d reception committee aboard leased by frank IZZard, representing the trap shooting team of Great Britain. They were accompanied by special govern ment officials who 'at once escorted us ashore, where guns and equipment were listed by number to be reported back upon our departure.
 At the station of the Great Western railway in Birkenhead, special train Of two cars awaited us for a run of about 2O5 miles across to London. One coach was equipped for. luxurious comfort, the other a semi-dining car, was stocked with every culinary deli cacy to tickle the inner man, the thirst parlor" accessories Gas I now distinctly remember) were all that a man with Q. thirst could desire. Our team members were laboring under a distressing handicap, their 'bar man. ners" were not up to the usual stand ard. On the trip Neptune had shot his harpoon of seasick justice to a depth that eliminated all desire for ar tificial stimulants. Members were un- able to get their exact physical bear ings, stomachs were noticeably weak, aside from their ability to eject.
 Before sailing we had been criticised by some of our American friends for conceding conditions in the race which they maintained was an insurmount- able barrier to succes for Our team The English were permitted to fire two shots (English rules) at every target thrown. while we had the right / n There was naturally a prevailing de sire amongst our team members to be absolutely ''fit'' when we were called to the firing line in the international contest for worlds trapshooting hon. ors and no loophole left for dissipation criticism. We took no chances on be- ing off on form. Our hosts were con- genial, courteous and consolidating, ex- tending every courtesy without being insistence on acceptance. Aboard the "rattlers" our team members relaxed and assumed a more hopeful eXpreS- sion- Most of their lives had been de- voted to rail travel in transit between tournaments, the rumble of wheels. undulating swing of coaches. sound of locomotive bell and whistle accom- panied by a few sudden stops, had the effect of awakening Crosby and Gil- bert from their semi comatose condi- tion and they noticeably "perlled up." GiIbert's vocabulary was again unlim bered. His first claim was to loss Of II pounds between New York and Liverpool. Investigating inquiry dis
 losed the fact he had been pried loose rom exactly that amount in the poker game, hence little sympathy was ex- ended. He next confided to me his surprise at being passed without sus- oicion by the quarantine officers as his sailow, ghostlike facial expression was indicative of contagious disease.
 
 launched on team opinions of our trip across. Frank Parmalee confessed to a sub rose offer of s1.000 to the ships captain if he was landed on the first terra firma sighted that he might walk The balance of the distance Rolll Pop Eeikes declared the next al1- American team organized for foreign Invasion would be featured by his ab-