Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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SERVICE AI SEA. I.n,! I i ??in I ilward D|et| \\lu> Lofl * i ?liegt n Year Ago to Enter The Num. M Bd* .rd 1 ?i* k. a spn of the hit* w i: .-ivd) Dick, of sleohunleavlllc wu a member of the senior class id < in.ton when the United Statea enter? ed the war. Three da\s After the declaration of wai he enlisted n the navy, without waiting for commence? ment, i.at received in- dtoloimv since ?h it time he his he. 11 in activ' ser His paternal grandfather, the late l?r. W. K l>iok. terved with the I 'onfederafe army throUKhont the u,u the State? a ml his maternal gruntll.it hei , the late it.I. J. I> Hlandtng, nerved in the IfOXlCUa WUI antrrwTtne.nl In Com pant a. Palme Uq Regiment and in Conf derate army wan colonel of the 9th s p, Regiment. Tim follow in?; letter fr mi Mr, I to hin mother In most in-cresting, giv? ing an i stm ?! \ lew of the life and service t?f our young men hi the imvy: Hy Dear Mother: Well. well, .mother successful voy? age hue almost been completed; hut though we are now only several miles out free* New fork, i win not say 'ed, for the fact that there's many a slip twlxt the nip ami the lip hin been iinpiessed Upon me so utmngly on thin our reci it trip across that fear, or more property, knowl? edge of the \arious chances we take Ids the use of the word Complet? ed vet a while We. however, hope to do. k late this afternoon or early to morrow a. in. When you f?et this you will ha\e learnetl of my return from s telegram I expect to send you on our arrival in N. w York. This will give you in detail as far as possible an account of our second voyage sm the Atlantic. Hut before going Into my diary a few preliminary re marks are necessary. As you well know, 1 was never a llker of wide or length cm espomlence?In short, a I of ew words and my present life, as you may Imagine, Is not tin best for breaking me of tins fault of mine However, 1 kept notes on the voyage, und with the aid of these 1 hope to make this letter interesting for you at least. Eet me drop a word Of caution right hOti while 1 think of it. It is probably unneoes sary. but still J am getting used to always being on the safe side in ref? erence to "taking a chain . ." If you h t\i netftooe\ i aovsi mention the name of our ship in giving any im i dents in regard to it ami if you repeat ?nek incidents i would advtes um to use the same precaution (of courne, I mean this for outsiders who might thmnbtl, -l\ spread tie infor? mation to dangerous persons). I don't believe, though. that what 1 send you will ever have crouch value attached to endanger us. Moth* r. as I Said in a previous b iter, it is useless for me to tell | mi that my mind is now always filled with thoughts of home and loved aeSM, Each day's end s? ? s the long ins ii nil desire foi a ipiiet home life loving and rellned surrounding ?? Intermitted within. M\ prayers go up in behalf of tin- home talks, some times in my busiest hours, and It I thoughts of you all that keeps m? front going to the dogs and the gut ters. and I pi , that tin Vim. thoughts will make ot mo g mun that can l>e called a man. Mow long we will be in 1 cannot say. Several davs I suppose To think of a furlotmh or even lv hours' leave would be foolishness, so we'll have to give up this thought yet a while. Hut now to my diary hon I let anything in It make urn dreud my leaving again, only let it m ike you thank our merciful Eathei that our trip was not a disastrous one via i ch :'.?. Friday 4 p in Hulled out of an American port loaded with troops (white ant bl.uk? r, p in. Cast anchor just outside of New York harbor Marek It, Balnronx 3.30 a. m Veojfhed anchor an 1 put get east ward, gas antat and beautiful iseath er. \!'i?h 14, Huntlay. J-ea roughens up ami sickness among l oops. On. ? olored contingent llnds groat amusement iii watt-hing big wave ami betsaj raised over m the dank ail occasional breakei sweeps it Army chaplain ludds n ligious ser? vices aboaid i sonn t hin-.t unusual foi us). 1 da not attend aa 1 sm on Wat. h Mai eh -'.'?. Monday Sea calm ami ufiitlnr cobl. Everything runnim; smoothly Hb k bay lull to overiun aong Work plentiful. Og this the night of Match II, 1 womb r win o and how my mother is my tasters Mini "my httie brother" my luve to them all ami mav ibid bless ami pro bet them as He is doing me! I won dm If Hlanding is still SjtVi I think of him often now. us evor> mention of w ir brings him to m> mind llu storm. Msrch Ii, Tneadny, Earn on tin mornina ??l March EH*, we wen waufht >n one of the wumt storm pggc -.^i-.jn. tu -mjrmmmm lhat it has been my lot to be in. The | wind? whleh was cyclonic in strength, blew all <iay long with unabated fury. T)i?> waves were mountain high ami our top decks were being constantly swept by thent. WaVC alter wave daehed agalnai the ship making her quiver from stern to bow ami the anxious faces of ihe troops betrayed their fear that we should be wrecked; however, we, "old salts oi the seiT," having witnessed the iike before knew that our craft was sea-wort by. and felt secure. She toeecd from SldvJ to side like a tormented heast and at the height of the Worm her first row of port holes were even low enough to dip water. Which they did, having been thoughtleeoly left open, in a second we wen- ankle deep in water and I. with others, hail to lace the incoming torrent in order to (dose the ports. I Stayed in wet elothci all day as everything was soaking. At first l M a red my goods, personal effOCtl had Undergone ft similar disaster to that ot Newport, however tin y wer? practically intact. Kating was an al nfost impossible feat. My three meals tor the day consisted of a cup ot coffee (Java) for breakfast, two meat sandwiches for dinner, and two apple butter sandwiches for supper. To set a table with mess gear would have been criminal, for It was barely pos? sible for you to stay In one place long enough to grab a piece ol bread and meat. Our freshly shellaced deck of the sick bay made a good skating rink and it became veiy popular as suc h. If you stood In the middle of the deck you would prob abl) have your feet knocked out from under you by a person who pre? ferred mombOMi of the body other than feet to navigate on. If a storm can roll a ship of our tonnage as this one did I can readily see why you have to lash yourself to the deck on a mailer ship. I have heard that all Ihe great lenders and great men have been blue or grey eyed but it takes an easy going, brown eyed fool to get the real pleasure out of life and such Incidences as I have described above. afhfeh It, Wednesday- Sun shining and sea smooth; great cleaning up af? ter yosterday'i wreckage. Manli IiH. Thursdsy ?Smooth sail log. Several pneumonia cases. March L".t. Friday?Weather Still good. When lights go off, llarboui Crum and I go out on after well deckl and listen to our colored friends sing and play guitars. Ones it make us think of home? Well, I guess it does. March 10, Saturday- On night watch, Have only ten hypodermics t?? give to patients in open air on top deck. 1 have to come down to tlx* dispensary to prepare each one and then go up and give it in the black dark. The sea has roughened up foi the occasion and adds to my easy (?) time, March II, Ranter Sunday?Spend most of day sleeping. April 1, Monday?You wouldn't know it was April Fool's Day. We are booked Id meet our convoys soon. Sta\ on top deek 'till 1??.:t?* p. m. Turn In at II p. HI., but don't get to sleep 'till after one. April I, Tuesday- Very foggy and sea a little rough. Meet convo.x about 10.30 a. in. Last night the atari were not out and 1 missed them SOTS ly. It s comforting to look at them UP :i Clear night. They seem to sup? ply the lack of home and friends Kven in the darkness of last night IhOOgh, I could recognize sweet fa miliar faces. My God! My God! when will it end? 1 fear to receive new? of |t. for what If he may have gone down Under Ihe kist great German drive. Reports have it h:' we an enroulc for it Pram ? Blee] weil and wake HIVJch refreshed. April 3, Wednesday?< >n duty in dispensary. Something supposed to be a mine is seen; however, no great excitement is caused over It. 3 p. m Water becoming green so we can't be far from French coast. Hope to coim in sight of land tomorrow. Tin-re is signalling bet >\ ?a n the transports Shortly after lights go off, 1 feel a if there's something wrong and intl i iate as much (?? Harbour. This, how ei , dues not make me lose my sleep April Ii Thursday The Battle. Weil, well, who would have thought it 7 About noon loday we Were l|| mains! the leal artiele. In othei words just as we caught sight of a lighthouse on the French ooast and just as we COUld almost say that W< were Safel) in we were attacked bj Hoch subs. Oee! but it was exlctlng i >r McAnnally, Birch and i were In n little two h> lour room eiihalniing I od) tue lost 2 front pneumonia Oft the tup> when we heard our siren give two lone frightened blasts an< fell the shock front one of our bit live Inch gute. it was ull so sudden ami unexpected lhat we wen- dasei fat the drat feu seconds nnd stood looking at each other without mOVlni "We'd heller ?-:ef Oil! of here I gUCSS I M op t hat It ull and clear out " ' Ves that was the Sjyan all right,"' says I; "I don't SUPPOSe It's a drill this time So out we ran, pulling off rubbei gtOVOO as we went W hen we j;ot int< the sick bnj everyone had cleared oi was clearing out. 1 giabbed my Utk belt and niy tint impulse was to make j lor my life raft, however, feeing sev? eral still in the sii k bay I remained to , burn them Up, In a minute the place was cleared with the exception ot one soldier who was cool headed enough or Idiot enough to be putting . on leggings and every other unneces ?ary article imaginable. I know 1 called him some uncomplimentary names (I hope to he forgiven), but I was In a hurry to get up on deck and see what was going on. He final? ly finished his elaborate toilet and we went up. We were zigzagging ami running to beat Hatty. I didn't know we could make stu b speed. One of the Rremon has told me since thai they were making steam faster than the engineers could use it. Our lit tic protectors, the destroyers, were running around us like furies and just as 1 got up on deck the first depth bomb which they turned loose (they looaed about 10 altogether) exploded, jarring everything within two miles radius. From this time on for an hour we were being shaken by an ex? plosion from si bomb, After our one shot nothing was seen for a while and thlnga quieted down, one of the de? stroy era ran oast us and signalled Over the folio ving message: "Think we gave them a pretty warm recop lion." Mess call I'dew and we went to dinner. I had gotten my meat on my plate before the second alarm came. Everyone dashed lor the top. deck. Now where I eat Is in the for? ward part of the ship and the sick bay and my abandon ship station are about us far in the after part. When 1 got on deck it was crowded with soldiers and cursing sailors. 1 could not have gone up one of th? ladders without breaking a line so waited patiently for the lines to past and incidentally helped In preventinj stampede. When the line passed I made for my station. Everyone wat looking for periscopes, but none wer? eeen and nothing other than depth bombs were loosed. The third time |j generally successful. i managed t< get my last mouthful of dinner down (nut just did) before the third an. last alarm was given. The jam war as bad as ever so I waited again. 1 was on the forward well deck just un der one of the big muzzles. I couh see but a little parr of the water a' one time but knew from the excite men! on the depk above that some thing was doing and that somethin? was going to happen real soon. I wasn't long waiting either. An ofli cor yelled down from the gun deck "Clear that well deck down there." We got most of the soldiers off befor the old grey mouth spai tire. Th shot was fired almost directly ove our heads ami if 1 hadn't rammed mj lingers into my ears and opened n\\ mouth Wide enough to swallow : camel I would have been deaf 'till yet At best it was a deafening roar; tin iron railing raised up as if It wa about to leave the ship; but the roa of the old tea lion was followed b; a victorious shout from the men oi the upper deck telling me that oil l?ngs had found their way home an? that the Hun numbered one less sub marine. Tin* ds? trpycr force claime a victim also and I see no reason t? doubt their Veracity. After an hou and a half ol this excitement W reached the mouth of the <;. river am ran over the boundary line into saf> ty anchoring several mlhs from th? mouth. Expect to go to H. in a. m April 5, Friday---Hock at small por at mouth of river. Bureh and I hav? Job of embalming other body. Nie job. but not enough money in it. April I, Saturday Unload troops lo on liberty. The small place Beomt to be made of wine. We come in earl" iml sober. April 7, Sunday?Heave dock at 1 a. m.. going down river, Cast an chor just inside of mouth. April S. Monday out in mid streun I In night watch. April lb Tuesday -Sleep most o lay, getting up at :\ p. m, and dolni pome painting. April 10. Wednesday?Still at an chor in midstream, a year ago, th< beginning of my service. April ii, Thursday Full out fron <5. in company with one other trans port. April 12 ami 13 pass away quietly April 14, Sunday?Attend service? held by V. M. C, a. army man win has made trip with us. April |B? April 16, Tuesday s?>a rough. April I 7 and IS same. April 19, Friday -Captain's inspec lion of ship. April IQ, Saturtlay (lag Inspection. April 21, Sunday Personal Inspec lion of crew. April 22 Hock at American port at 16 a. in We never di I gel to 11 Note tin- .?bort tune it took us to omc back, Wc wa re gone a month to tin- day. The end ot our trip (bids mO f?? dim on the bum so will close for this time From your devoted ami loving son, Edward? A man never loll I his temper un? less he feels ill Ills bones I bat be i able to lick the other fellow. ,-?p??mm-n , I B ? -SJUI?WB_i 1MIMUTANT SlUAIl liKtil'HA All Manufacturers of Articles Etcqulr- , lug Sugar Must File Affidavits by June 10. Columbia. June ... Tb.- large users oi' sugar in South Carolina arc not fully appreciative of tin- actual con? dition;! relative to the use of sugar. To properly bundle tin* supply of su-1 gar, the government is requiring ail large users of sugar to hie affidavits! of their present supplies and basing subsequent use upon record. Many of tin- establishments in this state using sugar in large quantltes have failed to tile these affidavits, ami to comply with the food administration law. There is liable to be consider? able trouble if this regulation of the food administration is not fully com? plied with, and those who now think themselves in good shape with an ample temporary supply of sugar, are likely to have subsequent supplies withheld, and to be penalised if they do rot comply with the present reg? ulations as to sworn returns. For the convenience of all con? cerns the food administration has of? fices in Charleston, Columbia and Greenville where the blanks may be secured, and where additional infor? mation, if sought, may be had. All manufacturers of apple butter, candy, confectionery, flavoring ex? tracts, fruit preserves, tiuit syrup, ice cream, jam, jelly, medicine, pre? serves, soda water, soft drinks, syrup? . soda water fountains, bottlers of soft ' drinks, besides many others, are in- , volved. j Today State food administrator El? liott received a telegram from Her? bert Hoover, United States food ad? ministrator, Which reads in part as follows: "The control of sugar allotted to manufatcurers will so Car as wo can see continue throughout the war. It is desirable that you announce this fact and give it the widest possible publicity at the time, making it known that all manufacturers of less essen? tial food producta using sugar must lile the repaired statement with you by June tenth covering SUgar used, on hand, and their requirements, and showing their present situation that. we may know they are conforming to our rules. If their sugar on hand plus the amount used to date is more than eighty per cent, of the amount used by them from January to July, 1917, such excess must be turned over to the food administrator for his dis? position. Please make it known that unless these reports are tiled with vou by June tenth no sugar will be allotted all the balance of 101S to tin manufacturer failing to make such returns, in other words, if any man ufaoturer has in stock a large amount Of sugar and thinks thereby that he lias no occasion to apply to the food administration and does not take cog? nizance of the rules, ho will suffer the penalty of his failure to make his re? ports and is likely to bo proceeded igainst OS a hoarder in the mean? time." Of course it is the purpose of the government ?'^1 the State food ad? ministrator to see that everyone get ill of the sugar possible, but there is to be a concert of action to secure the desired results. These certificate! are not required rom the individual housekeeper or ?'or the home canning or preserving of fruits and vegetables, nor are they required Of hotels. restaurants or boarding houses thai serve their pro? duct directly to their patrons. THE SUGAR SUPPLY, To All County Food Administrators: I Please give publicity t<> the fact J that manufacturers using sugar who do not apply for Sugar Certificate Vffldavil Perm on or before June l?h 1918, will receive no certificates on rhich they can purchase sugar dur? ing the remainder of 1918, Manufacturers should be informed hat it la probable that the amount if sugar allotted to them will remain imler the control of the Pood Ad ninistration for the duration of tin war. This applies particularly tt manufacturers using sugar for non essential food products of which ?andy and soft drinks arc typical cx I IllpleS. If any manufacturer using' SUgai has in stock now a large amount Ol SUgar and thinks that he has no oc eusion to apply for the Sugar Ccrtifl it- Affidavit Form and submit tin required report <m this form, he will sillier the penalty for his failure t. it pott and is liable to he pro. ted.' tuainst au a hoarder in tin- meantime Manufacturers using sugar should ipply to Mr. ,1, 11, Lee. |..'c Building Spar tu nburg, S. C? for .''near Certifi? cate Affidavit Purins when tin i plants are located in lie i'OUntlci Ol Abbeville. A ulel.'oU. Cherokee, ('.reell ville, (Jrcenwood, Faunes. McCor inick. Oconpc, I'h l.t ns, .>partanhur; or I'nion. Manufact iirers using sugar sbotll ippl.s tt> Ah W illiam hllllott, Aread< Columbia, c, for sugar oertifloatt War-time Responsibility? Yours and Ours National necessity has put a new responsibility on every motorist. Utmost service is demanded?the highest use-' fulness of yourself and your car. Service and economy are your only considera tions Our responsibility goes hand in hand with yours. As the largest rubber manufacturer in the world, it is our duty to supply you with tires of unfailing reliability and extreme mileage. United States Tires are more than making good in this time of stress. They are setting new mileage records?establish? ing new standards of continuous service?effecting greater economy by reducing tire cost per mile. There is a United States Tire for every car?passenger or commer? cial? and every condition of motoring. The nearest United States Sales and Service Depot will cheerfully aid you in fitting the right tire to your needs. United States Tires are Good Tires mmmm A complete stock of United States Tires is car l ied by the following Sales and Service Depot: SUMTER MOTOR CO. I affidavit forma when their plants are located in the counties of Alken, Barn? berg, Burnwell, Culhoun, Cheater, Chesterfield, Darlington, Dillon. Bdgcfleld, Falrfleld, Kershaw, r~m caater, Lee, Lexington, Marlboro, New lu rry, Ornngeburg, LMchland, Sa luda, Bumter or York. Manufacturers using sugar should! apply to Mr. tleorge W. Williams, I Chamber of Commerce, Charleston, s. C? for sugar certificate affidavit forms when their plants are located in the counties of Heuufoit, Berkeley, Char? leston, Clarendon, Colleton, Dorches? ter, Florence, Georgetown, Hampton, Horry, Jasper, Marlon or Williams-1 burg. The indications are ih-W many manufacturers using sugar have dis? regarded notice to apply for sugar certificate affidavit forms. We have also heard reports that dealers have sold sugar in small lots to nptnufac lurers using sugar who did not tender sugar certificates. Ruch dealers will be dealt with rigidly. Manufacturers using sugar cannot get sugar certificates on which to purchase sugar until they apply to one of the three persons mentioned shove for the sugar certificate ???Mi - davit form ami make their reports on this prescribed form. William Elliott, Food Administrator for South Coro Ii na. m i- u m\ t\ ii \? r:. Congressional Candidates Also I lie Fledges. Columbia, June 6. John L. Me Lnurin of llennettsvllle came to Co lumbla yesterday to til-- his pi< dge ami pay his assessment fee as a can? didate for governor In the approach? ing campaign. Three candidates for congress also tiled their pledge Thomas l\ Me l.e.t.l of lllshopville from the Seventh District and James K\ Byrnes and ?' L. 'ioole of the Second Diotrtct. PORTY THOUKAND ETBOROB8 CALLED. llegfstrUnta From Twenty stales dr? (lend to Moluli/o. Washington, June ?"?.?Orders for the mobilisation Of forty thousand negro draft registrants qualified for general military service, to entrain June 20th to 26th, are re Issued today. The registrants srftll corns from twen? ty .States. The apportionment of negroes in eludes Florida, J.f.OO to Camp Dix, N. J.; Georgia, -I.*>*?? ? to Camp Gordon! South Carolina, .M?ou to Camp .?a.ck son. tttttTtttt t* tttttti * I* * ?** an T?*t??tt* i.rrttittr^** n '1 S W e Grind Lenses, examine the eyes scientifically and tit eye? glasses perfectly. i*et us work for you. \\ e have all prescript Ions on file. Broken lenses replac? ed promptly. Graduate opt,,, metrist and Optician in charge. W. A. Thompson, | Jl WFI F A oPTmiKTiusT. nimm i ii limn mi iimiiiiiiiimiminntM