Gripsholm Alumni Club
PROBABLY THE SHORTEST-LIVED Dartmouth Alumni Club in the history of such organizations was dissolved on August 25th when the liner "Gripsholm" docked at Jersey City. The ten alumni claiming membership in the club found one another shortly after the diplomatic exchange ship sailed from the Far East, and decided to join forces for the long voyage home. A club was formed which met every Friday at five o'clock to enjoy new stories, old stories, and "abounding good fellowship."
Upon reaching Rio de Janeiro early in August, the Gripsholm Club sent this cable to President Hopkins: "FAR EAST DARTMOUTH REPATRIATES ABOARD GRIPSHOLM SEND GREETINGS TO COLLEGE WHOSE SPELL ON US REMAINS. LECOUNT LITTLE DURGIN AND WIFE ESKELINE SOUTHWICK TEAZE BIDDLE KENDALL LIVINGSTON WARNER. SIGNED, RUSSELL DURGIN."
Following is the official roster of the "Dartmouth Club of the Gripsholm," as recorded by Russell Durgin '15:
WALTER LECOUNT '14, Manager of the Thai Commercial Bank in Bangkok, Thailand, who was interned during the whole six-month period in the internment camp just outside of Bangkok. Address: 4931 36th Street North, Arlington, Virginia.
LESTER K. LITTLE '14, Commissioner of the Chinese Customs Service for Canton, China, who was at first interned in his own home in the Customs Compound in Canton, and later taken to Shanghai awaiting repatriation. Address: 190 Exchange Street, Pawtucket, R. I.
RUSSELL L. DURGIN '15 (and Mrs. Durgin), Secretary of the National Committee of the Young Men's Christian Association in Japan and also Honorary Secretary of the Tokyo Y.M.C.A. Mrs. Durgin started for America on the "Tstuta Maru" on December 2, and after getting half way across the Pacific returned on the outbreak of the war. Mr. and Mrs. Durgin were free in Tokyo during the whole time till repatriation. Address: c/o Y.M.C.A., 347 Madison Avenue, New York City.
CARL J. ESKELINE '16, Manager of the StandardVacuum Oil Company of Tientsin, China, who was interned in Tientsin and later transferred to Shanghai till repatriation. Address: .951 42nd Street, Sacramento, Cal.
STEWART TEAZE '18, of the Standard-Vacuum Oil Company, Yokohama, who was imprisoned in Yokohama for several months and later interned in his own home in Yokohama. Address: 37 Newport Avenue, Newport, R. I.
MELVIN L. SOUTHWICK '18, of the Standard- VacuumOil Company at Hongkong, who was interned in Camp Stanley, Hongkong. Address: 6 Elm Street, Middleboro, Mass.
CHARLES BIDDLE '19, Manager of the National City Bank at Dairen, Manchuria, who was interned in Dairen till being removed to Yokohama where he was interned till sailing. Address: 4 Wyman Road, Cambridge, Mass.
ROBERT G. KENDALL '21, Manager of the Everett Steamship Company of Hongkong, who was interned at Camp Stanley, Hongkong. Address: 2565 No. W. Lovejoy Street, Portland, Oregon.
C. J. LIVINGSTON '28, of the Texas Oil Company of China at Hongkong, who was interned at Camp Stanley in Hongkong. Address: 616 No. Elm Street, Sherman, Texas.
GERALD WARNER '2B, who was United States Consul in Kobe, Japan. Interned in the American Consulate in Kobe till time of repatriation. Address: c/o State Department, Washington, D. C.
