From The Indianapolis News, Saturday, August 1, 1914: Local steamship bookings show several hundred persons from Indianapolis and vicinity have gone to Europe this summer and practically all of them are still abroad. War conditions have caused the cancellation of the sailing schedules of practically all the foreign steamship lines plying between Europe and America. The Fletcher American National Bank, which does the largest steamship booking business in the city, has received instructions from German lines to book no more passengers for Europe until further notice. The exact number of local Hoosiers now in Europe is not definitely known, however, a partial list of those who sailed for Europe this summer and who are still abroad include Mrs. & Mrs. William H. Block and daughter; Mr. & Mrs. Carl G. Fisher; Mrs. Benjamin Harrison and daughter.
Compiled by Steve Barnett, this is the first in a series that give readers a snippet of life in Indianapolis during World War I.