Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1914-09-09


we showed our passports and were
allowed to go on without any trouble.
We presented a sad appearance on
arrival at the hotel at Paris and
hastily found our rooms and went
to sleep in nice comfortable beds
after refreshing baths.
We were in Paris five days, but
as many places Of interest were
closed II seemed like a deserted
city. Soldiers were constantly
marching through the streets on
their way to battle against the
Germans and the whole atmosphere
seemed to partake Of the gloomy
conditions. A huge search-lieht
was turned on over Paris every
night to watch for German Aero
planes. The Red Cross society es-
tablished sewing circles among the
women who made hospital gar
ments for the wounded. One morn
ing the ladies of our party went
down to one of these places and
helped sew for the French soldiers.
A telegram with the news that
we were transferred from Lusitania
t. Mauretania steamship and that
we could sail on the 29th of August
brought JOY to the Wicker Party.
On the train from Paris to Bou-
logne We saw 2 poor French wo-
man who lived in the country hav-
ing five sons in the war. She said
they had to leave their families and
little children unprotected and their
crops in the field ungathered. Tears
were in her eyes as we extended
her our deepest sympathy with the
hope that all would return unin.
gered. 1t was indeed sad Incl
dent of the many cruel effects of
war.
At Boulogne where the ship sail
ed we had to wait in a great crowd
two hours before we get aboard.
Each person had to be inspected
and show proper permits and pass.
ports.
Our troubles were practically
oyer,when we got to- London. But
there as elsewhere preparations for
war were rapidly being made. At
the recruiting stations We saw the
newly-enlisted soldiers drilling,
some still wearing their citizens
clothes. Hundreds Of soldiers left
every day for France. Trains carried
carloads of cannon and war sup
plies. In France on the memorable
journey from Milan we saw several
train-oads of dead soldiers brought
in open box cars and covered with
canvas with flowers and flags over
them. The wounded were being
transported in fast trains to the
aud we also saw German
prisoners on the trains along the
waT.
Every precaution was taken on
the return voyage across the Allan
tic to evade any hostile ship that
mighs be lurking in the waters.
All lights were put out on the decks
and green flannel cloths tackled
over windows on the inside. The
were painted black
and grey instead of the usual red
color.
About midway our ship suddenly
turned and took a northerly course
to avoid a german merchant marine
that was spied cut at sea, but in
five days we weie across and with
the exception of that little encoun-
ter our voyage was free from dan
ger.
We landed in New York Thurs
day night and reached Edgeheid
Saturday morning, and although
we had travelled over many miles
we have seen nothing more pleas
ing to our sight than our dear
home town, my own, my native
land"
We have written each time of the
troubles that we have experienced
but there were many pleasures III
connection with our trip. We pre-
fer to forget the former in pleas
ant memories of the many days ell
joyed in our visits to historic and
sacred places full of interesting pic
lures of life on the other side Of
the world, of which We may write
later.
NJ. N. Tillman.
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Tbornhill uives a deeper body