Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

1*. U. C. A. \\<>l(KMC IIAs xn\s D1HKC/T FROM AMERI? CANS. The*, are En-luring HiuttMhlpM of t*p? ti-fly ?nd Short Kation* With In hr->aV-o Spirit and Without Com phiinlag Tita stoty oT how the American it ?her* of war in Germany are un? dauntedly facing then- captivity- and mak ng the beat of it la told in a nun? ?or of letters b. ought to this country from Copenhagen. Denmark, by E. O. Wlason, a Y. M C. A. worker. Mr. wuoon la a brother of Mr Ernest W. Wiifjeo of this city, and has been en? gaged In T. M. C A. work for a num? ber ef years. The pant two years he spent In Europe aiding- in mek I f? more endurable for the suf from the war. X - New York. Feb. 4. Cn onquered and unafraid. the American soldiers and sailors who are hakt ortsonern-of-war in Germany ara facing their captivity like men and ara making the best of it. Their ch.ef thought is of the folks back home and how to assure them that they ure safe and cheerful. K. O. Wilson. Associate Secretary in charg" of the Young Men's Christian Association prisoner-of-war work in northern Europe, has recently return? ed from Copenhagen. Denmark, his headquarters, bringing letters from tkeae men. In addition, he brought with dm the report of the work of last yi>ar. Plead* for Supplies. l>oin another source one lette~. which tells of the German priaon ra? tions? a half pound of bread a day and teo plates of weak soup a day haa mxclied this country. The writer piped* that supplies be sent and says that the Germans forward them as rapidly and safelv as possible, an the men grow too weak for work on prlnon fare alone. For more than three yeafa the As? sociation has been doing what it can to make Hfe more endurable for the j if im>n ! rn of - wu r in the various camps scattered throughout Europe ^and An'M. The number of prisoners k?naw estimated at 6.000.000. Since Amsrlci^tbas entered the war. the work has included a hundred or mere Americans. Most of them were raptured by gniannrlne* Home of tbefn were tak^smto German) before the war and have be?m held there' ever since; The American Young Man's Chris-' ttan A*-soclation has shipped $16.000, worth <>f supplies ?n food and cloth? ing to relieve the necessities of American and allied prisoners of war Similar shipments will follow month by month. The ?trab picture of life in the pris? on carer* as drawn bv the prisoners la their letters to the Young Men's Christies* Association is splotched with ecder as they tell of their fight ago I run dlsoouragnnlent and of their anxious thought for the folks st TtrJntte of Hl? Mother. \ Thint.ing chiefly of his mother. Henry ft. Hendren. s sixteen-year old lad of Norfolk. Virginia, probably the youngest American h< Id as a pris? oner ol war. writer* to Mr. Wilson as I follows from L?beck, Germany: ' I was certalnlv glud to hear from you. I am In need of your assist? ance very much I have written to the Wrttmh Red Cross several times for bread, but have not received a reply. 1 w sb vou would kindly notify mv rmther of nn whereabouts. I have written to her several times, but have not received a rep \ The address Is 210 Maple Avenue. Berkeley. Norfolk. Virginia '1 sejr In one of my mates' letters thal-Tnu were from Charlotte, n. C. 1 am from Virginia I would like to correspond with you. as It is lone? ly here not receiving any mall and othen re a>lve letters "I am sixteen years old. tt seems very young to be a prisoner of war. but It waa not nv fault. I wan n rrember of the Young Men'n Chris? tian Association In Norfolk. Vir? ginia "I would like to hear from you soon Nop n* to *>e your friend I IV-, Ib.bii -..it < Ills,*'. K ob In son Crusoe, when he found hin rrsn Friday, had nothing on Jo? seph W Morgnn. prlnoner of war No S. when he received his first letter from the Young Men'n Christian An soclatlon He wan taken from the steamer K sine ruf dan and held at G?s? trow. Germany. In hin letter he nays: "I received the surprise, the par eel tVordn nre inadequate In trying I . fx press my gratitude Robinson I i n*oe nitint have been lonesome gkt 11 he met man Friday. I don't think he had anything on me until got rour letter, and that letter and also o'ber leter? I exp... t from you will be my msn Frldav. 1 sot feeling good, experiencing ? no' ill health, thank God. You way for me to state what 1 need. I need undeYwear, sire 40, socks, hnndker chlefs, soap, towel, comb, sweater, outside shirt. "Thanking you for helping me." 1'nrccla the Main stay of Life. Showing the spirit of the men and I telling of the German prisoner of war rations, one writer, whose name is withheld for obvious reasons, man? aged to get hts letter to this country without having it pass through official (-flannels. After stating that the American Red Cross Is sending week lv food parcels to the American? in his camp, he says, fn part: "At tho present writing we are: all waiting patiently for the Red | Cross parcels, but we have the Y. M. C. A. bacon and oatmeal to fall j hack on, which is much appreciated,! I assure you. Should we have to wait three days more, why then It's the German half poand of bread a day?-watery soup?twice a day. "Now ere know that the British Red Crosa is sending the parcels regularly and we are quite sure that the Herman postal officials are doing what they can to let us have the parcels as regularly as possible, be? cause a man can do more work with, a fair meal than with otherwise, but lack of facilities, such as men, etc., delay these parcels very often; too often. In fact, to satisfy our ? peace of mind. "The daily routine of'the day is enough to unbalance any one's mind besides watting for parcels. The parcels are the mainstay of our life. We know we are prisoners of war and the game Americanism within us hau asserted itself more than once here. "We ore men who look facts straight in the face unflinchingly, so do not think we complain. We do not know what the word complain means. That word is not in the dic? tionary' we men handle." The Most Human I-ctter of All. Probably the moat human letter of the batch is one from a wife who lives in East Boston, Massachusetts to her hu?band in a prison canp In Germany. He asked the Young Men's Christian Association to find out why she did not write. Here Is what she wrote and what he for? warded to Mr. Wilton: "I have been writing to you since May and can not understand why you did not receive at least one of the letters. The letters must be held up somewhere. I hope you will re ceive one of them, at least, this one for luck. *lf you have not received the let? ters I lent before, I will have to tell you again that a beautiful baby daughter was born to us April 26th, 1917. 1 had her baptized the name of Mary. I had her pose for her picture especially to send you. I don't suppose you have received that either. i "Mary is a beautiful baby. I could l write a book about all the cute i things she floes, and can you bo- | lleve, Tom, she Is sitting up by her- 1 I self and wearing soft shoes and only I four months old at present. She; I has black hair and blue eyes like, myself, but I can see you sticking out all over her in her smile and limbs. "She hus a head shaped like yours and her hands are the very shape of yours. She even has a little crooked toe like you have on your left foot. I know you would be wild about her it you could only see the dear? she is such a comfort to me. I love > her and kiss her for you." My Name oil an Envelope?Gr* Whiz.! "Your letter to me and my name on the envelope?gee whis! ' writes Wil? liam M. Fltzgera'.d. American prlson ?1 No. 10, held .it Rustrow, Germany. 11?. mufw Some tune ago I wrote you a U tter and" no doubt the answer is on the way. Slneo then I have ? ei\ ed .i paroOl from you. It was ? good sound sensible one at that. Inhd I appreciated It very much. After that bacon In the morning 1 (go out to work feeling fit and In a ( heerful mood. "Your letter came ta me at a time when I was well in the dumps, as they sny. I am of a cheerful mood as u rule, but I was becoming mo lose and stiller, owing to the posi? tion I was in; no letters, no new* Of any kind, no friends, In a strange I ind of people who talk a language I know nothing of. Then again, the excih men! of the thrilling capture leaving mo, different txperisncot in different vamps, etc. Your letter to me and my name on the envelope?gee whir! Just think, 1 had almost forr.otten I had a name \\?w 1 am sure. It was nnmbef II hOre and number 1" there I took the letter out forty times that e\i\ to look at riy name, .n,| believe me. I WOS not the only one At work that day I would sec a fellon stop, tnrn his back, look around to see if any one wan look mi. and then take out tho lettei and look at the envelope. They wer* All like me Wonderful what a MM J tar will do. | "You want to know what I need. ; Well, here it is?socks, soap, under? wear, sis* 58. tewed, outside shirt, and a sweater for the cold weather. ? Well, Mr. Wilson, I will close. ? Thanking you for your interest in me, and hoping to hear from you soon." "William M. Fitzgerald." I Asks For His Brother. In another letter Mr. Fitzgerald j asks the Young Men's Christian As? sociation to locate his brother, Joseph E. Fitzgerald, who was formerly a member of the crew of the flreboat "Wlllett." foot of Bloomfield Street. In this second letter he says: "My reason for writing is to noti? fy you of my present address, which will be permanent; that is, as long as 1 remain in Germany. I have been here since March 22, 1917, hav? ing been captured March 10, 1917, in the mid-Atlantic "NOW, Mr. Wilson, there Is some? thing I wish you would do for me, and that is to try and locate my brother. I have written and received no answer. 1 think he has moved awn^v from the address he formerly had, but you can locate him through the New York City Fire Depart? ment Headquarters, 6 7th Street, Third and Lexington Avenues, New Tory City. He Is a member of the I department. Perhaps he has retired J now, for when last I saw him he; was a member nearly 10 years, and I he could retire at the end of the 10th year of active service on half pay. Whether he is retired or is still a member, they have his present address. ' His name is Joseph E. Fitzger? ald; last assignment, to my knowl? edge, was the flreboat "Wlllett," foot of Bloomfield Street. That was three years ago. Kindly let him know of my whereabouts and pre? dicament. This will be a load off my mind. He must know. The rest 1 can bear as all Americans can who Have red blood flowing in their veins." He Vl'aa First American Prisoner of War. Barnby Boyle, an old soldier and marine who went through the Sitting Lull campaign, and served in the Spanish War without a scratch, met with misfortune when he turned sail? or. Ho was captured by the Ger? mans and was the first official Ameri? can prisoner of war. He was known as American prisoner of war No i. In u letter he says: "Since my lact writing I recoived a parcel that was much appreciated. It gives a fellow new life and pcv* hope to receive word of any kind from a friend on the outside world. ThU? is not the first time that the Y. M. C. A. has been a friend to me. During the Spanish-American War Mr. Denn of the Portsmouth, Virginia. Y. M. C. A. made life homelike to us marines ut that time; also during the Sitting Bull cam? paign, when I wus a member of the cavalry, the Y. M. C. A. at South Dakota came to our rescue, and now here in Germany I find they are on the job. I hope you will have power to continue the good work. "In my last letter I told you ot some things needed. Since then 1 found, owing to the kind of work we follow here, that raincoats art much needed. Not the fine kind, but coarse working one. In tin other fellows' letters you stated for them to send their sizes. Now il you can send raincoats my size b 40. I had a suitcase sent mo through the Adams Express to Camden, Neu Jersey. Will you write to them und ask them to hold it until I can make arrangements with some of my friends to get it for me? "I will now close, hoping to heai from you." A Cosmopolitan Cr<rwd. Telling of the cosmopolitan make? up of the camp at G?strow, John Miller, who was a member of the crew of the steamship Hsmeraldas writes: 'I received your most welcome let? ter and was glad to hear from you. I received the parcel you sen! me. and I thank you for it. I wish you would send me the following necessities if possible: socks, un? derwear, size 36, handkerchief?, soap, towel and OUtslde shirt. "You asked me about a complete bst of Americans in this camp. All the Americans In this camp rOOdlved letters from you dateil May 2'Jth. so you can go bv that. The mimes of all you 07rots to on that date are h 11 that's here. "We have nearly 800 men hers mostly British, several Portuguese. Spanish, Hollanders, and Russians Every Amerloan received bis lettet from you dated May 2U, nearly all Of them received their I>ar kOela Those that did not will get theirs almost any .day now. BO >'???' have the complete list if you lool over the names von bail at llrst. If you ;it ahj time receive letters ft om men nitb names th <i sre not on your Are! ami original list, then they are not Ann- .cans. but some other nationality trying to ring In. I "I will now . lose, thanking yon for the interest dl&rplayed and hon? ing you are in good health." W ould Like n Little Soap, Please. Another man who asks that his mother's fears be set at rest is Wal? ter W. Perkins, of Wichita, Kansas, held at Brandeburg, a. d. Havel, Ger? many. He writes: "I received the food parcel you gent me in good condition and I am very thankful for it and hope you will send me parcels regularly, as I am not getting parcels from any other source. I shall be very thank? ful to you if you will please write | my mother, whose address is Mrs. Bottle Reynolds, 236 Wabash Ave? nue, Wichita, Kansas, U. S. A. "I did not get one of your regular cards' However, I am writing a letter just the same. I would like very much a little soap, please." In explaining the work of his de? partment Mr. Wilson said: "I am enclosing a letter from Mr. John T. Sawyer, who was bne of the American prisoners of war on the picture which I gave you. This let? ter wdll explain in detail regarding the two pictures sent you. You will note that the three men on one pic? ture are as follows: John T. Sawyer, of Dubuque, Iowa; Walter Mayes, of New York, and Raoul Broulouis, of Connecticut. These men were all captured on the steamship 'Esmeral das.* This steamer was captured in mid-ocean on March 10, 1917, and the Americans on board reached Ger? many on March 22, 1917. They were first interned at G?strow in Mecklen? burg and have been transferred from time to time to various camos. When I left Copenhagen most of them were either at Brandenburg on Havel were either at Brandenburg on Havel or at L?beck. "As soon as I learned that these American prisoners were in Germany I sent a letter to each of them, telling them that we had learned of their capture, that we were sending them parcels of food, that we would be glad to continue to render them such service as they might need if they would Inform us regarding their needs. I also stated that we would be glad to communicate with their rel? atives. "The parcels which we sent usually consisted of about the following items two pounds of bread, two pounds of meat, a pound of cheese, a tin of con? densed milk, a package of cocoa or coffee, and a package of oatmeal. Wc sent them these parcels from week to week until the American Bed Cross, with headquarters at Berne, Switzerland, took over the work. "Most of the men wrote asking for some articles of clothing. I purchased as many of these as could be secured In Copenhagen, and forwarded same to them. A large number of them also requested that I write to their parents and have letters sent back to them from their relatives through our office at Copenhagen. I wrote to all of their parents and relatives, and a week or two before I reft Copen hapen replies were received from most of these, which replies were for-' warded on to the men in the prison camps. 'In brief, therefore, the services which we rendered them were to supply them good' wholesome food, adequate clothing, serve as a medium of exchange for the transmission of letters between them and their rela? tives, and above all. be a friend to them in the hour of need." PRO-GERMAN PROPAGANDA. It Is believed that pro-Germans are endeavoring to interfere with the conduct of the war. and are spreading he following rumors with respect to the growing of the castor bean. In? vestigations are being carried on now to trace these rumors to their source. These pro-Ccrmans are telling it that the castor bean is a difficult crop to raise, and that it is impossible to harvest and thrash them, and in? sinuating that these beans are not being grown for the government. To such rumors no attention should be paid. because the government would not ask the farmers to do something that vas impossible, and the government has fixed a liberal price so that it will be very profit* aide to grow these beans. The beans when gathered, if put into a barn In a dry place, will thrash themselves' just as a cotton boll will open, and an ordinary velvet bean or p<Mi huller. with a few minor adjustments, will thrash them. The government needs these beans, and is going to sur? mount any difficulties met with by the farmers Mr. T. B, Bvans, assistant develop? ment agent of the Seaboard Air Line Railway, with offices at Hamlet, N C, who h.i? undertaken ihe planting of lo.noo acres in tins territory for the government, says that when the farmers found out that these rumors were the result of pro-German prop? aganda ihej would come to the sup porl of the government end take these Contracts In a .short time. Mrs. M. S. Chase. of llartsvllle spent the day m the pity. STATE TEACHERS' ASSOCIATTION Annual Meeting to Be Hehl in Co lun ill ia Ma re 11 II-if,. Bock Hill, Feb. 4.?President Jas. P. Kinard has almost completed th program for the annual meeting of the State Teachers* Association to bt held in Columbia March 14-16. Among the speakers already on the program are Mr. Josephine Berry, o. Washington, D. C, and Mr. Verd Peterson of Clemson College. There has been a feeling that the meeting.' are generally too strenuous and a de? parture will be made this year by having the dramatic league of Co? lumbia to give a play on Friday even? ing. The department of Modern Lan? guage Teachers has arranged a strong program. Mr. A. G. Itembert of Wofford College will speak and the subject of College Entrance re? quirements will be discussed by Miss Katherine Reed cf Coker College; Teaching Scansion by Dr. E. L. Greene, Columbia; How to Hold tht Pupils, Miss Mamie Coleman, Dar? lington; Teaching the Pupil How to Study Latin by Mr. Lawton, Coker College. Dr. Henry E. Jackon, of Washing? ton, D. C, will address the members of the School Improvement Associa? tion. Among the subjects to be discuss? ed in the meeting of the Department ot Colleges and Secondary School will be: Maximum and Minimum hours| per week for students in degree course. Standardizing the phrase? ology and valuation of courses of study as stated in catalog. Uniform credit blank for students transferring from one college to another. The remainder of the programs will be ready to give out in a few days. R. C. Burts, secretary, will senc out about the middle of February ft list of the hotels, boarding houses anc cafes in Columbia and teachers can easily make arrangement for places to stop. Numbers of counties are in the race for the trophy cup which will be awarded to the county which has the largest percentage of teach? ers enrolled as members. The dues for the association should be sent to W. E. Black, Lexington. FRENCH FRUIT FOR TROOPS. Arrangements Made With French Government for Supply of Fruits and Vegetables. Paris, Feb. 6.?An agreement has been reached between the French and American governments by which canned fruit and vegetables for the American forces in France are to be supplied by France. ORANGEBCRG PLANT OPENS. Hogs Slaughtered in Scientific Fush ion on First Day of Operation. Orangeburg, Feb. 6.?The Orange burg packing plant did its first prac? tical work today when the slaughter of hogs began. The board of direc? tors and a number of invited gueshs were present to witness the first ac? tual operation of the plant. The work from beginning to end was highly interesting and the modern methods' employed are quite novel to most peo? ple hereabouts, who are accustomed to the old methods which consume much more time and require more la? bor. The machinery is up-to-date and adequate in every particular. From the time when the hog is hoisted automatically to a bar, on which he slides from one station to the next, till he is cleaned and ready for the cold storage room, there are various operations which are per? formed by men who are experts in their lines. This work is largely in charge of W. H. Baer. who has had mucbj experience and knows his business thoroughly. The hogs are killed and cleaned on the top Moor of the building and the various parts are thrown into shoots through which they go to the next floor, where a man is- waiting to take chargo of and prepare each part. They :;o on down through other pro? cesses and finally reach the bottom door, where the cutting boards and cold storage rooms are located. There are rooms where sausage is manufac? tured and lard is extracted and pack? ed. The lard and first grade product! Of all kinds will be packed under the Palmetto brand, while the second grades will be known as- the ISdlStO brand. Today's slaughter, which was a trial, totalled 226 hogs. For the present the capacity will be 400 hogs. The possible capacity is many more than this, hut it Is thought best to keep to a. number somewhat below the full capacity until everything be? comes adjusted. The machinery for the slaughter of cattle is in readiness, but this will not be employed just yet. Paris. Peb. 6. A vlolenl artillery battle on Verdun front, in region of Fosses Wood, east of Meuse is report? ed in today's olllcial statement. In the Woevre region a French patrol brought back prisoners from B raid on German trenches. ? GERMANS FOUND GUILTY. Yon Rlntclon und Ten Others Con? victed. New York, Feb. 5.?Frar.z von Rin t den, German naval office r and a re puted member of the G rman war > ai\ was found guilty With ten other defendants in federal cour* here today of conspiracy to destroy fc id and mu ntions ships of the entente allies by I lacing "tire bombs" in their car? goes. Judge Howe immediately im? posed the maximum pen ilty , of 18 months imprisonment in the federal penitentiary at Atlanta ai 3 a .fine of $2,000 on each of the prisoners. "Pleas of lack of pro<if, sickness, recent marriage and ignoi ince of the laws of this- country," J idge Howe viid, "will not influence V is court in unposing sentence. Thes* men hive oeen found guilty by an impartial , jary of American citizen and the ?'-ime calls for the severest penalty. I regret that it is not m< re severe." In instances where the defendants ?idw are serving sentences undef pre >ous conviction, the pret ent penally \ill take effect when the erm of thn h*st punishment expires, his applies -c von Rintelen, who eras convicted ast spring of conspiracy to cause^ strikes in munition plan. 3 and was dven two years and six nonths at A lanta. Others convicted today follows: Capt. Otto Wolpert, former superin? tendent of the Atlas Line Pier, which wis operated by the Hair.burg-Amer icin Steamship Company, Karl von Kleist, formerly a sea certain and an American citizen, wa> a partner Dt Dr. Walter P Scheele in the lat ter's chemical plant. Dr. Scheele is, missing and von Kleist is id to have ailed him in putting < unbustibles into fire bombs. Ernest Becker, an eh ctrician on the North German L yyd Liner Fiederich der Grosse, wh > was ao cused of having made the bombs and carried them to the pier of the Atlas lire. Frederich Wilhelm Karbade, Wilhelm Parades and Gorge Para del, assistant engineers or the Fred?, erich der Grosse, who helped in nu.king the bombs, it wai charged. Eugene Reister, a&sista t manager of the Labor Lyceum in Brooklyn, where the conspirators .re alleged to have met, and was accused of having been a "co-bet veen" for Karl Schimmel. Walter Uhde, a Germar and Bon foid Boniface and Joscvh Zeffert, American citizens, were accused of be ng messengers and handy meo for the arch conspirators. ndicted at the same ti ne but not found by the governmeit officers were: Capt. Enno Bode, Karl Him? mel, Walter P. Heele and Capt. Gus? tave Steinberg. Another defendant, Karl 8chmidt, was declared not guilty by the jury on Friday by order of the court tUOnSB HELD BY AMERICANS. Ix>sated Northwest of Greit Fortess of Tout. With the American Army in France, Feb. 5.?(By the Associated Press.)?The sector occupied by the American troops is northwest of Totti. It is inadvisable to menticn the num? ber of men in line, the length of the sector and other details. The location of the sector was kept secret until it became certain t at the enemy had discovered it. With the American An-v in France, Tuesday, Feb. 5.?The *. nerican ar? tillery kept up a contin- ous fire On the enemy -batteries today, the Ger? mans responding. At th< same time the American anti-aircraf guns pre? vented two German im men from crossing their lines. imuwwtt?tii?Hmiii>ttit?{:ttatsttiuuai We Grind Lenses, examine t" eyes scientifically and fit eye? glasses perfectly. Let us work for you. We have all prescriptions on llle. Broken lense: replac? ed promptly. Graduate Opto? metrist and Optician in charge W. A. Thompson, JFWFI.F. A OPTO*!.tvTlirST. Bimm iniiiiiimniiiiiiim immnmi,