Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 203, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 September 1917 — Page 1

No. 203.

Have Trouble On Southern Trip.

Elizabethtown. Ky., Sept. 11, 1917. Mdtoring in a strange country has its pleasures as well as drawbacks, and one contemplating a trip of this kind should make up his mind to put up with both. We left Rensselaer for Mississippi Saturday morning at 7:30, and reached Spencer, Ind., that evening, Bloomington being our destination, but getting on the wrong road we landed in Spencer, after getting stuck a mile from town on account of a defective clutch. A passing Ford pulled us up the last hill, when we were able to get into town by coasting down grade the last mile. Sunday morning we left for Bloomiqgtonandafter going 10 miles on the wrong road we back-tracked and reached Bedford about 2 in the af-_ ternoon after passing over some of the worst hills yet encountered on our journey. A bad spark plug caused us all kinds of trouble and we only got over the hills by backing down and getting new starts, some of which finally carried us over. Finally the expedient of getting up as far as possible and then putting rocks under the rear wheels to prevent the car backing down the hill was resorted to and we made better progress. We would make a new start and go about 20 feet and then use the rocks again. But at last we came to a hill that we could not get over. A farmer said he could pull us over but we would only encounter worse hills ahead, and suggested that we detour around, which we did and finally arrived at Oolitic, where we had to buy a new tire to replace a bad blow-out which happened while coasting down a steep hill and which might have resulted disastrously. After leaving Bedford, where we secured a new spark plug, we got along nicely until within a mile of Gaston, Ind., 9 miles south of New Albany, ,a town of a dozen houses, just before .dark, when the driver failed to see

;a bad piece of road and ran directly Tinto the washout at a speed of 25 miles an hour. Ike Glazebrook and the writer both gave a yell as we saw what was coming. The car stopped. Ike struck the top of the ear. Before we discovered what damage had been done we attempted to pull out of the rut, and succeeded, but the car started for the opposite side of the road toward a deep ravine and was only stopped when it ran into a fence. Other cars soon collected at the point, but when one attempted to tow us in the car again attempted to go down the ravine, when wiaffiscovered that the front axle had been bent so badly that further progress was impossible. After walking to town and telephoning to New. Albany for help, which we were unsuccessful in getting, we gathered up some of the natives to help us out, but after working an hour or two we gave up the attempt to get into town and decided to camp by the roadside, as there was no hotel or restaurant in town and no bed to be secured. Ike and Will, owing to their age, were allowed to sleep in an upright position in the car, while the writer spread out the hood cover at the side of the car. He must have dozed off to sleep once or twice in the night, only to be awakened by Will and Ike, who spent the night in telling stories. Ike is a good story teller and quite entertaining. The atmosphere was very damp and that Sunday night was one long to be remembered. Monday morning about 8 o’clock we finally found a machine to help us out. After removing the axle from the car and straighttennig it at a blacksmith shop, he was able to haul the car to town, and at 2:30 in the afternoon he had it fixed and we proceeded on our way with nothing to eat but cheese, crackers and bologna obtained at a country store. To make up some of the lost time we passed right through Louisville, where we took the Dixie Highway, and nofstopping for anything to eat we reached here at 8 last evening, where we’secured a good supper and bed and now feel fine. The weather is vry cool here today. We expect to cross Kentucky today and get into Tennessee. LESLIE CLARK.

GAYETY TONIGHT “Do Children Count?” THE SEASON OF CHILDHOOD with Mary McAllister L-KO COMEDIES PRESENT FATTY VOSS . in FATTY’S FEATURE FILLUM L-KO COMEDY. Hearst-Pathe News THURSDAY. v ONE TOUCH OF NATURE With JOHN DREW FRIDAY x GLADYS HULETTE - 5 in THE CIGARETTE GIRL

The Evening Republican .

Former Rensselaer Boy Describes Trip to War Zone.

Oscar Leech, formerly a resident of this city, is another one of our for the Ally cause. In a letter to a sister at Valparaiso recently, Mr. Leech describe* his trip across the ocean. The letter follows: Dear Sister and All: Will drop you a few lines now and will finish it when we get in aight of land, and ! will give it to one of the boat crew to take back to New York to m/iil for me. By so doing it will not be censored and you will get it sooner, for the crew expects to make the return voyage without delay. To begin with, we left the GermanAmerican pier at Hoboken, N. J., Tuesday, Aug. 7, at 1 o’clock; sailed out in New York harbor and anchored until 9 o’clock that night, keeping everybody below deck; then we started the next morning. We found that all told there were five big transports of troops, one cruiser, and two torpedo boats. Well, everything has been going fine except eats, and they are absolutely rotten, but we only have about 600 miles to go yet, which will probably take two days and a half. 1 The sea has been just as smooth as glass until last night, when a storm came up and it rained. The wind blew and the waves washed over the deck. Some of the boys have been seasick, but I have felt fine. It is rough yet today. We have been expecting to meet a French fleet to escort us through the war zone for the last 12 hours. One of the boys just came down and said it was in sight, so guess I will go up and take a look for myself. Several things have happened in the last hour. Cpnvby has arrived of eight torpedo boats, and the cruiser and topedo boats that came this far with us have signaled to us “a safe and rapid voyage,” and then turned around and started for the U. S. The other thing is, I have had my dinner of two beef sandwiches and a big onion. Somebody is always eating onions, as they leave them where the boys can get them. The hardest thing about the trip is to keep our rifles and bayonets from rusting. And we have to wash in salt water, and it just gets like gum when you put soap in it. Monday a. m. In sight of land; no doubt we will land O. K. Attacked by submarine yesterday, 1 p. m., but no boat sunk. Some , excitement. Don’t worry. Will write again soon.

State Bank to Occupy New Quarters Soon.

The State Bank is now installing their new furniture in their room recently vacated by the Trust & Savings Bank. The arrangement will be much as it was before. The furniture is solid mahogany and the room will be very much improved in appearance. Later further improvement will be made by lowering the floor in the rear of the room and also extending the building out to the alley. The strip of ground back of the bank was purchased from Mrs. H. L. Brown and Mrs. A. P. Burton. The officers of the bank had planned to move into the new quarters about September 15. It is possible that they will not be able to do this until a little later.

Ladies’ Literary Club to Start Season Program Sept. 21.

The Ladies’ Literary Club will give their first program of the season on September 21st at 2:30, at the. library auditorium. The following program will be rendered at that time: Response—Since Last We Met. A Foreword —our President. Forty Years a Member of the L. L. C.—Mrs. J. W. Medicus, our charter member. Greetings from former members. Stereopticon views collected “Since Last We Met.”

The fourth quarterly conference of the First Methodist Episcopal church of this city will be held tonight at 7:30 . The meeting will be in charge of Dr. McKenzie, district superintendent. All members of the official board are urged to be present. Other members of the church are invited to attend the meeting.

WANTED—ANOTHER TRACTOR. We can furnish work for another tractor. Have large amount of ground to be plowed for wheat. Apply at once to James Walter, Manager Lawler Ranches.

Ripe Old Ate Is only attained by preserving those faculties with which na- ! -ture has endowed us. The smil- ■ ing, contented, bright-eyed old ; man will tell you that he owes the preservation of his eye- • sight to the proper care he ’ gaVe them in youth and middle i age. ' \ ■■•--7There is Nothing ’ which a scientist should do ► that we will not do for your ' eyes. CLARE JESSEN OPTICIAN With Jessen the Jaweiar. Phone 11. . - —‘i

Methodist Church Notes.

RENSSELAER, INDIANA, WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 12, 1917.

ALFRED THOMPSON GIVES GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION OF AIR RAID.

Passing through a two hours’ terrific bombardment from German aeroplanes was the thrilling experience of Alfred Thompson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Delos Thompson, of this city, recently, while stationed at a French hospital. For twp hours the Germans rained bombs down on the hospitals, filled with Ally and German wounded. Mr. Thompson left Rensselaer on the sixteenth day of last June for New York City, from where he embarked for France to take up his duties as an ambulance driver. Writing under date of August 21, to his parents, Alfred gives the details of his harrowing experience during the raid of the German planes. The letter gives one of the most vivid and graphic descriptions of an aeroplane raid that it has ever been our occasion to Coming from one whom we all know, the letter will prove of a great deal more interest to the reader than if it was to come from a staff correspondent of a big newspaper. The contents of the letter may be thoroughly relied upon and we feel that our readers will greatly appreciate the publication of the letter, which has been given us through the courtesy of Delos Thompson. The horrors of the war as pictured by Mr. Thompson will bejEound in the letter—but we will let the Rensselaer boy tell his own story: Tuesday, August 21.

Dear Dad: Yesterday was a big day, the biggest for me that I have had in France. We have been waiting for a call any hour for the past four weeks and yesterday afternoon we got it. We have been living in our cars, .you know, sleeping on stretchers with all pur baggage in the car. _ When the came we had to get everything out of our cars, the stretchers slung, see if everything was ship-shape, and be ready to leave in ten minutes. It was some hustle but we did it and were one of the first in the line ready to start. We were called to one of the triage hospitals, which are the hospitals to which the wounded are taken from the post de secours (first line hospital, to which the wounded are taken, preparatory to being picked up by the ambulance drivers) which are very close to the trenches. The hospital we went to was about eight or nine miles back of the front lines and we supposed we were to do evacuation work, that is, carry the blesses (the wounded) from there way back to a base hospital. We stopped once on our way and when we tried to crank the car again we couldn’t get any results at all. As a result, almost every car in the line passed us, and when we finally discovered the trouble and got started we were fifth from the last. We finally arrived at the hospital and lined up to receive our charges. It was pretty slow going and we had a long time to wait, so we got out and walked around. It was the closest to the front I had ever been and there were lots of interesting sights. There were several airplane fields there and the sky was filled with airplanes. Several times we could see the French shooting at Boche planes over us and every few minutes a plane would rise from the field and soar off. We, Dee and I, walked up to the hospital and the

first tent we looked into was jammed with Boche wounded. They were a sorry, gory sight. Men with no chins, one eye, one arm or leg, shot to pieces and covered with bloody rags. Their uniforms were torn and covered with mud and blood. It certainly was a ghastly sight. We walked on up to the rest of the buildings and looked in. Some were filled with Boche wounded, others with French, most of them just recently brought in with the rough dressings they receive at the post de secours. They all bore it well, though, and there was very little groaning or moaning. Then we walked up to where they were loading and discharging cars. The cars were coming in with loads of from three to five wounded, in a steady stream. It was my first real glimpse of the horror of the war and it xyas very pitiful. The cars of our section drove up and were loaded with five couches (lying woupded) each and moved off in pairs to make the drive to the base hospital, about 40 kilos (25

miles). By the time our turn came there were no more blesses to load so we waited. In the meantime we had seen two separate groups of German prisoners marched past. They had just been captured and seemed glad to be prisoners so they could get out of the trenches. There was an awful lot of them. We waited and waited for our loads, but nothing happened. Meanwhile all the other cars had gone, leaving only five. Finally about 8:30 in the evening, they asked us in and gave us some supper aqd tea. and wine in the .hospital. It certainly tasted good. After that we thought we would go, but. 4hey did not load us and we pulled out a couple of stretchers and some blankets and made a bed on the ground, as we thought we might be there all night. I was lying almost asleep when all of a sudden from the sky I heard the roar of an aeroplane motor, then a tremendous boom and felt the whole hospital buildings shake, then a great flash. Immediately the rockets began to fly and the guns to boom and several searchlights began piercing the sky in search of the Boche plane.

He had been high in the air, and had shut off his motor and~ coasted silently down to a very low level, probably two or three hundred yards, then dropped his bomb, turned on his motor and was off like a shot before the place was awake. The whole place was soon alive, the sky was filled with bursting shells, rockets, warning Roman candles and searchlights. I rushed to the building as soon as I could and crouched against the wall, as everyone else in the whole place did. We thought it was a pretty close shave, and thought probably it was a single Boche plane which had sneaked up trying to demolish the aviation camp, but it was mild to what was coming. We were all wide awake then and soon -’ we heard another plane above. The searchlights tried to find it, but didn’t seem to do any good and suddenly it swooped down, and there was a blinding flash, a tremendous roar, and again we sought cover by lying flat on our faces on the ground against a wall. The bomb threw stones and dirt all around us and as we looked up we saw it had struck one of the hospital buildings a hundred yards away. ■lt was an incendiary bomb and in half a minute the whole building, wooden of course, was a roaring mass of flames. I never saw fire envelop a building so quickly in my life. The blaze lit up the whole country for a mile or more and we and the hospital were plainly visible to the attacking planes. The fire they had started made a splendid target for the planes and they proceeded to make good use of it. There must have been a whole lot of planes. For a while all would be quiet and people started to resume their usual work, and we started out to watch the fire. Then we would hear, sometimes see, a plane in the air, the warning rockets “and guns would begin to pop, and we. would see the plane swoop down, a moment of deathly silence, then another terrific crash and again we would lie prone, while the debris, etc., fell all around us on the buildings. They kept that up for two hours at intervals of a few minutes, and we all felt that at last we were seeing some real war at first hand. Then we were called to line up our cars and receive our blesses, most of whom, if not all, had been hurt in the bombardment, and to evacuate them to another hospital, 15 miles away. We did so to the tune of exploding bombs. Just as our car was filled the cry went around that gas was coming from bombs dropped. We didn’t hesitate much in putting on our masks, and everyone in the place did likewise. The bombs were pretty bad but the cry of “gas” was the last straw, as it is fearful stuff, and I endured the terrible smell of the mask and the uncomfortable feeling of it with gladness and I was mighty glad we had them. After our car was loaded with its load of wrecked bodies we had to wait for the other four cars to load. It took a good deal of time and it was nervous work sitting in the car with the engine running, waiting either to go or be bombed. Finally the order came to move and we pulled out and passed the still flaming building, past a dead horse • that had been fearfully mangled, out on the road. We could still hear the planes above, and every now and then a terrific explosion, or a great flash of light according to whether the bomb was just explosive or incendiary as well. One I saw strike* a little ways off in a field and a great column of stones and dirt shot skyward. Finally we were off and it was with a sigh of relief that we saw the glow of the fire fade in the distance and as we breathed fresh air again without our masks. Every now and then we could see the flash of the incendiary bombs. They lighted up the road for us for a couple of miles or more. Of course we drove without lights and did not find it so very difficult either, although we had to drive very slowly. We finally arrived without further excitement at the hospital that was our destination and discharged our wounded. Most of the cars had received their wounded at the hospital we just came from during the bombardment. One of the cars had two dead men in it v hen they arrived, but ours were all alive, but —some had —terrifying holes — in them. After we had received our stretchers and blesse’ blankets bacx we proceeded back to our old camp and arrived about three a. m., tired and sleepy and no longer filled with any ideas of the glory of the war, after our looking at the men in the hospital, and having no longer the rather scornful idea of the effect of the air raids.

This morning we heard they dropped sojne forty bombs. Many of the* wounded in the hospital were burned to death, as they couldn’t get out because they couldn’t move and there was no time for the others to take them out. It was not over a minute at the most, after the bomb struck, that the whole sky was a mass of flames. Our American chef, who has been in the service many months and who has seen many bombardments by aeroplanes and artillery, was there and said it was one of the worst he had ever seen, as the bombs were much' worse* than- the heaviest shells, and there Were so many of them. He said before the whole section this boon that we stood it very well. It certainly was quite a baptism of fire, for the first time we have done any work, but I am mighty glad I

Harrod-Sheedy Nuptials.

At eight -o’clock this Wednesday morning occurred the marriage of Miss Laura Fem Harrod, of Philadelphia, and John Austin Sheedy, of Pittsburgh, Pa. The ceremony was performed by Rev. Christian Daniels at St. Augustine church in Rensselaer in the presence of relatives and friends of the contracting parties. A four-course breakfast was served at the Makeever hotel by Mrs. Laura B. -Fate, an aunt of the bride, after which the happy couple left for an extended wedding trip. The trip will include a visit at the bride’s former home in Indianapalis and then to Mackinac Islands. From this point they will take a lake steamer to Buffalo, N. Y., and then enjoy the scenic boat ride down the Hudson from Albany to New York City. After s few days spent there and a brief visit to Atlantic City, they will take up their residence in Pittsburgh, Pa., where the groom is employed by the Pennsylvania railroad company as a motive power inspector of the Pittsburg division. The attendants were Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Lawson Harrod, of Philadelphia, brother and sister of the bride. The bride was charming in a handsome blue traveling suit, and carried brides roses, her only ornament being a pearl necklace with a diamond clasp, a gift from the groom. The matron of honor was also attired in a blue traveling suit and carried pnik roses. The bride and the matron of honor were sorority sisters at Butler college, while the groom and his best man were members of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity at Purdue University. The out of town guests were Mrs. J. E. Harrod, of Philadelphia, mother of the bride; Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Harrod, of Philadelphia; Mir. and Mrs. Clarence P. Fate, of Crown Point, Ind.; Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Wolverton and Mr. Hugh Wolverton, of South Bend, Ind., and Mr. C. F. Sheedy, of Pittsburgh, Pa.

Makes Two Land Sales.

George F. Meyers has closed up two more land deals. He sold to Roy Chissom, of Chicago, the William S. Day five acre tract of land just south of Rensselaer. He also has sold to William Grube 240 acres of the Kersey farm in Wheatfield. Mr. Meyers is a hustler and he uses a good supply of printers’ ink. This combination always brings results. Joseph Hoover went to Logansport today. Coach Floyd Meyers, of the Rensselaer football team, states that prospects for a winner this year are exceedingly bright. Eighteen men were in uniform Tuesday evening. There is a wealth of splendid new material. The first game is scheduled for September 29th. R. E. Perkins returned to his home in Mishawaka, Ind., today after a visit with his nieces, Miss Ethel Perkins and Mrs. Jay JV. Stockton. Mr. Perkins is quite well acquainted with Rev. G. W. Titus, who is now pastor of the Christian church in Mashawaka and reports the former Rensselaer minister is succeeding splendidly in his new field. The qpntract for the new school house at Fair Oaks has been let and construction work will start very soon. The cost of the building is estimated at something more than $22,000. Baker & Price, of Logansport, will do the construction work, and Somers & Cornwell, of this city, will install the heating and .plumbing fixtures.

WEATHER Generally fair tonight and Thursday; warmer tonight.

was there. Wouldn’t have missed it for anything. We may be here a month now and have no more work. On the other hand we may go out again tonight, but it is very, very unlikely that we would run into anything like that again very soon, if ever. Hope this letter doesn’t cause you any worry. If I thought it would I wouldn’t write it, but I figure I had better tell the whole truth than a mere part of it, and it is very improbable we shall be In such a position again. Must close. Lots of love to all. ALF.

P. S. Tell mother I received two letters from her this morning which I Was more than glad to get. They were dated July 31 and August 4. The latter made an unusually quick trip over. —o•— Accompanying Mr. Thompson’s letter was a field service bulletin, which contains a psalm from “The Sussex Patrol,” which is published below: The Ford is my car; I shall not want another. It maketh me lie down in wet places; It soileth my soul; It leadeth me into deep waters; 7 It leadeth me into paths of ridieule for i.s name’s sake; ,, — It prepareth for me a breakdown in the presence of mine enemies. Yes, though I run through the valleys, I am towed up hill; I fear great evil when it is with me. Its rods and its engines discomfort me; _ . • It anoiteth my face with oil; Its tank runneth over. Surely to goodness, if this thing follow me alk the days of my life, I shall dwell in the house of the insane forever.

“Lost” Frankfort Company in Rush.

Ernest Moore was home for a short visit last evening, returning to Frankfort this morning, where he is a member of the hospital unit. While here Ernest stated that the unit would leave for Hattiesburg either this Wednesday morning or Thursday. morning. The unit should have left some time ago, but the war deparment had overlooked them in their rush and as a consequence they have remained stationed at Frankfort. The company was supposed to have been at Hattiesburg since its mobilization and so far as the war department knew was undergoing training in the southern camp. The company was messages to the war department inquiring why the salaries of the officers and men had not been sent to Frankfort. A reply was received Saturday evening, which among other things inquire* where Hospital Company No. 2 is located, and what it is doing. Replies were sent containing the information that the company had been mobilized at Frankfort for several weeks, awaiting further orders to proceed to Hattiesburg, and that the war department had supposed the company was in training there. It was learned the company pay had been -sent to Hattiesburg, and that the war department had supposed the company was in training there. It was learned that the intention was to have the field hospital company one of the first to proceed to the southern city. Apparently orders for the company to entrain had been lost in the rush that attended the nation-wide mobilization. Emil Hanley and John Luers, of this city, are also members of the unit.

Camp Shelby Inspected By General Smith.

Adjt. Gen. Harry B. Smith, head of the Indiana National Guard, was a special visitor at Camp Shelby Monday, according to news dis- . patches. Gen. Smith arrived in the morning at the camp that is to be the training ground of the army division of Indiana, Kentucky and West Virginia guardsmen before their departure for service in France, and he spent the entire day in inspecting the reservation and in conferring with various army officers who wifi command the Indiana men. The morning hours were spent in an inspection of the portion of the site assigned to the Indiana infantry brigade and the other Hoosier units. At noon Gen. Smith lunched with Gen. Sage, Brig. Gen. Edward M. Lewis, who will command the Indiana brigade, and other brigade commanders. In the afternoon he greeted men and officers of the Indiana cavalry squadron, under Maj. Pearle A. Davis. Gen. Smith departed from camp late in the afternoon. He expressed satisfaction with the outlay of Camp Shelby, declaring that plans for the reception and training of the Hoosier guardsmen seemed to be progressing in a commendable way. Gen. Smith declared that the guard is ready apd eager to go into training for active service abroad.

• New Cases Filed. 8820 State of Indiana ex rel Robert Michaels et al vs Joseph Salrin, trustee of Walker township; action to mandate trustee to build parties fence. 8821 Petition for adoption of infant child vs Frank and Kathrine Shide. WANTED 30 boys to top onions Saturdays. Car leaves barn at 6:20, Snedeker’s grocery at 6:30 and returns at 5:30. See B. Forsythe. Eyes examined and glasses ground by optometrist of years of practical experience in one of the best equipped exclusive optical parlors in the state. —Dr. A. G. Catt. Rensselaer. Ind. Over Long’s drug store. ?

TODAY AT THE STAR LENORE ULRICH THEROADTOLOVE Also PEARL WHITE in the 7th Episode of THE FATAL RING. THURSDAY —See Joe Welsh in THE PEDDLER. _1 '—J ' - \ ~ I FRIDAY— Marie Dorn wffl apj»iiiiiK.«*. the Star in CASTLES FOR TWO* SATURDAY— Carlyle Blackwell and Jane Elvidg. in THE PRICE OF PRIDE. X _ The Star Theatre.

VOL. XXL.