THIS DAY IN 1918 IN THE RECORD

Saturday, June 22, 1918. Watervliet police are searching for the assailant who shot a local man this evening, the Sunday Budget reports. Nicholas Mantell, who lives at 2112 Fourth Avenue, is recovering at Leonard Hospital after he’s hit by two of five shots reportedly fired at him in an alley north of Twentyfirst Street and west of Third Avenue. “The alley in which the shooting took place is thickly inhabited by foreigners, as is the section,” a reporter observes. At the sound of shots Mantell reportedly races to a friend’s house, taking two hits to his right arm. A patrolman tracks him to the house and calls for a doctor. “Mantell told the police that he knew of no reason why anyone should attempt to take his life, saying he had no trouble with anyone,” the report continues, “Mantall maintained that he did not know who shot him, despite the fact that it is still quite light at 8 o’clock.” Eighteen Men Sent to Camps Another group of Troy draftees has been called up to replace men who’ve been rejected for service at U.S. training camps, The Record reports. A total of eighteen men leave the city this morning. Most are going to Camp Wadsworth in South Carolina, while two apiece are going to Fort Slocum in downstate New York and Fort Dix in New Jersey. “A large number of friends and relatives of the men were on hand at the union depot to see the men off on the 10:30 local,” our reporter notes. Nearly 200 Trojans left for training camps on May 25, and many more are expected to go over the course of the summer. Sale of War Savings and Thrift Stamps Troy has been assigned a quota of just over $2,000,000 for the government’s new War Savings Stamp campaign, which lasts from today through June 28. The national goal for the campaign is $2,000,000,000, which averages to approximately $25 for every American citizen, according to The Record’s calculation. Each war stamp sells for $4.17, equivalent to just over $71 in 1918 money. Stamps will accumulate interest; in January 1923 purchasers will be able to redeem their stamps for $5 apiece. Every American must pledge to buy stamps by June 28, though individuals have until January 1, 1919 to pay for them. Residents can make their pledges to door-to-door solicitors, or in person on the 28th. No one can purchase more than $1,000 worth of stamps. The government wants low-income citizens to raise a larger share of the money in order to “cultivate the thrift habit” and “curb any extravagances … in purchasing unnecessary luxuries.”