The farmer and mechanic., 1915-02-23
NORTH CAROLINA BOYS
IN THE FRENCH ARMY


Europe The News and Observer r:r-
ried 4 dispatch from Ashevilis fell;uS
Of the decision nf Paul and kiffn
Rockwell 10 so ~ Europe and enlist
with the Allies
In Atlanta 81 present there are Us
members Of the force of WORKERS of
Evangelist J. Wilbur cha pnan. MIR.
and Mrs Ralph Norton. who We're in
France III December, and they have
given the Atlanta papers som. inter
esting information about the Rock
wells. The connection Of the chap
mans with the war careers ~ Tho
Rockwens is told in the foliowins
furnished The News and Observer b.
Dr.. Livingston Iohnson:
IL passing through Georgia the
other day / bought . copy IT tine Al
| lanta Constitution and found story
which will be OF interest to many peo-
pie in North Carolina.
| DR.. J. Wilbur chapman IS now hold
| ing a great evancelistic meeting in
Atlanta. Among those constituting
his force of workers are Mr. and Mrs
Ralph Norton. who have been doing
, work in the Military !. Nj. c \. in
France. Just before Christmas they
went TO Montnairail, village i few
miles distant from Rheims They
were asked by a man If they wished
sented, and were taken to little con
vent where there We're so sick ana
wounded soldiers. Among these was a
lyOung American, from Atlanta, Geor-
gia, by the name Of Paul Rockwell.
Young Rockwell had not been
wounded. but was sick from exposure
during the hard winter. This. with
inadequate clothing and the long
marches had done him up" When
Mr.. and Mrs. Norton saw him, 'he
was dressed in q torn long blue coat,
and the Worse-fOr-Wear red trousers
of the French infantry. His shoes
were worn and he had 40 socks IN
describing his sufferings he said
During the last days Of our retreat,
sincerely hoped that the Germans
! would catch up with us and get me
, didn't much care, either, whether
J they captured me or rammed bayo-
4 net through me. Anything that would
= let me stop wa}kingi'
8 Mr.. and Mrs. Norton tried to make
4 an arrangement to get Paul in the
7 American hospital in Paris, where h
n could be more comfortable, and re
e ceive better attention. When the!
d told Paul of their efforts he said
j II do nothing Of the kind, please
t came over here of my own accor'
: to get into this war. and III see
r through as long as | last. In fes
| Gays / Il De AL ElSilt again ana j IL :
e back to the front with my battalio
d and with kiffin.'' Kiffin is his broth
# er
t. A member Of PaulS battalion tol
z the Nortons that Paul Rockwell wa
is as fearless q man as there was in hi
II regiment.
= The Nortons tell this beautiful in
y Cident, showing the generosity {
j. young Rockwell:
1T was on December 22nd Whe
r we were at the little temporary hos
Is pital, and because it was nea
e. Christmas we decided we must giy
J. the wounded soldiers Christmas pres
D. ents before we left. We went into I'll
e. little village and bought some grape
,s and some Christmas cards, for eac
D. soldier We prepared a particular
ut nice little package for Paul and pre-
Of sented it to him He looked at it
Ia moment and smiled and thanked II
e Tears came into his eyes. Then
7e said oh I'll get along all right b.
a there is q French youngster bat
yonder dying; give it to HIM"
" Mr. and Mrs. Norton could hard
al believe it when Paul Rockwell to
ed them he had been marching throue
er the winter weather without sock
ev They bought him some Of the heavie
ad have recently received a letter than
ri. ing them for the present
ch This story will be of interest
ms North CarolinianS because Paul al
kiffin Rockwell are North Carolil
boys, who went to Atlanta some tir
ago, and left Atlanta near the besi
ming of the European war, to join I
,eS French army Their mother, DR.. Lu
Rockwell, lives in Asheville, and tn
are sons of the late Rev. J. c. Roc
we'll, a native of Whiteville in COlu1
~ bus county Rev. Mr.. Rockwell, W
% % was a young man when he died, n
~ gained considerable nOtoriety as
II poet some Of his verses being class
VI. by competent judges with the poei
al of John Charles McNeill.
m, - -.x--
IN NH W. w.