Photo Catalog Record
Images
Metadata
Title |
Ketchikans World War I contingent, May 22, 1918 |
Image # |
62.4.2.22 |
Object Name |
Print, Photographic |
Date |
May 22, 1918 |
Photographer |
Hunt, Forest J. |
Location |
Ketchikan, Alaska |
Description |
Ketchikans World War I contingent, May 22, 1918 Group photograph of the First War Contingent from Ketchikan, May 22, 1918, men sitting, standing, and standing on benches on plank street in front of Mike Martin's house at corner of Dock and Main Streets, Public Library, Council Chambers, other structures on Main and Edmonds Streets also visible. Similar images of this same group were taken by both Hunt and Green. Hunt image of this group has three of the guys in the back row left side, wearing hats. When Green took the image, these guys had taken the hats off. F.J. Hunt duplicate images: 62.4.2.22 (with glass negative) 63.9.10.98 75.4.7.3 80.7.4.1 2003.2.3.53 W. H. Green duplicate images: 67.10.11.4 75.6.10.26 75.6.10.43 82.1.27.1 86.1.42.144 The Daily Progressive Miner, 5/22/1918 "DRAFTED MEN LEAVE AMID ABUNDANCE FLYING COLORS Ketchikan Wharf Groans Under Weight Crowd and Few Timbers Give Way By IRENE DuHAMEL Headed by the tender Novelty of Senator Heckman, flying the city's Red Cross Banner, under whose folds the Metlakatla Band dispensed the most military of marches and songs, the Ketchikan "mosquito fleet" escorted the Government Harbor Boat Peterson carrying the Ketchikan Drafted Men out of the harbor on their initial journey towards the gates of Autocracy, this morning shortly after ten o’clock. Began Last Night The celebration began early last evening with the opening of the Moose Hall to the people of the town and the drafted boys in particular to dance out the last evening in town and dance in the new day which was to start them on their first lap of a journey eventually taking them to the Old World. Never was Moose Hall so taxed for space to hold all the dancers, lookers-on, and entertainers. Decorations were carried out in patriotic character, which was carried out in the music rendered by the Metlakatla Band and the Orchestra. The Community Chorus rendered several patriotic numbers en masse, adding to the patriotic enthusiasm. Senator Heckman addressed the assemblage on the matter of the WHITEHOUSE WOOL Fund and in response as usual the people came forward and $100 was taken up in change from the crowd. Then came the presentation of the colors later on by Senator Heckman to the boys which was the gift of Mr. Geo. E, Lingerfelt. Otto Anderson, acting as spokesman for the quota said, "Ketchikan has gone over the top for the Liberty Loan and the Red Cross - we are now ready to go over the top for Ketchikan. If we don’t conic back, keep up the good work, if we do come back, we hope you will keep a place open for us." Dancing continued till three o’clock this morning. Parade This Morning Promptly at 9 o’clock this morning the various sections in the parade had formed and headed by the Metlakatla Band, who arrived last evening for the occasion, marched first down to Indiantown as far as the big Totem, returning down Mission Street to Main, following lowing the waterfront as far as the Sparhawk Store swinging back to the Ketchikan Wharf where the Governmentboat was docked. After the band came the local Medical Board, followed by the Medical Advisory Board, then in turn came the Four-Minute Men, City council, the Council of Defense, the Red Men Lodge in full regalia, the Boy Scouts, the Red Cross Women, the Home Guards, the Drafted Men bring up the rear. Dr. Henry C. Story, Marshal of the Day headed the procession, carrying the colors. Several cars, decorated with the colors and many citizens carrying flags formed part of the demonstration, the most inspiring ever seen in the First City Roll Call of Men After the parade reached the Ketchikan Wharf, Attorney Blue, of the Local Draft Board, called the roll of the Drafted Men, and after all had been located and walked the gangplank to the Peterson, they were each given a pound box of home-made candy, donated by the women of Ketchikan. Preceding them were a stream of goodies, magazines, eatables and a beautiful Victrola, accompanied by about 200 records, 150 of which were donated. The Victrola was purchased out of the fund presented Doc. Walker, by friends of the boys. Much merriment was afforded the spectators when one of the boys was presented with a huge cake covered with Split bananas together with a big bottle of cream, evidently his weakness. Timbers Give Way A near panic ensued during the roll call when the -community chorus and the men singing their songs, started the crowd swaying to the music, causing one of the cross sills a 12x12 to snap and give way. At first before the crowd knew what had happened a riot started when a loud crack warned of the accident, and many people were jostled and thrown down by the onrush of the crowd standing where the break occurred. The guards then ordered the crowds back from the wharf to safety and quiet was restored. First Heart Breakings "Be good, little girlie and write," the boys said to sweethearts, while the girls stood wide-eyed, tears near, but bravely winking them back so that "He" could not carry a weepy memory away with him. Others said good-bye to husbands, brave young wives, who would not stand in the way of their men, who wanted to fight and claimed no exemption because of the bond between. Mothers and sons comforted each other as they said their farewells, each telling the other to "buck up." Fathers jokingly shook ands with sons and said, "go to it, boy, I wish I was going, too.’’ And the hundreds of people who knew one or two of the boys, smiled and wept in sympathy, and let their hearts come upon is their throats for a minute while trying to put themselves in the places of those whose boys were leaving. And so, with all the whistles of the "mosquito fleet" shrieking out, echoed by the blare of the band, and wail of the new fire siren located on the cold storage building, which made its debut on this occasion, the boats pulled away from the dock, and a thousand flags fluttered in the breeze echoing all the farewells said but a few minutes before, and the boys sang ‘And we won’t come back till Its over over there." "Bum" Goes as Mascot Just before the boat sailed, the boys were asked If there was any thing that they desired, that had not thought of. Someone immediately said, the boys would like to take old "Bum" the tramp airdale with the broken foot, as mascot for the a contingent. A search was made of the streets, and "Bum" was finally located and put a aboard. ‘Bring him back boys," was the parting Injunction Given Pictures Messrs. Green and Hunt put their heads together and took pictures of the group of men yesterday and worked all night to be able to give each one a copy of the photo this morning. They shared the expense." |
Film Size |
6 1/2" x 8 1/2" Glass Plate |
Print size |
20.4 cm x 25.8 cm |
People |
Hunt, Forest J. |
Search Terms |
Army Dock Street Ketchikan, Alaska Main Street Men Military Military history World War I Hunt Family (related to) |
Relation |
Show Related Records... |
Credit line |
Ketchikan Museums: Tongass Historical Society Collection, THS 62.4.2.22 |