Jackson County journal. (Sylva, N.C.) 19??-19??, 1918-05-10
A JACKSON BOY,
UNDER FIRE.

1Hc Hlduy ITlcnQS OF Lieut.. KAN.
sey Buchanan will no doubt be very
much interested in the following
letter. written from the front, just
received by his sister, Miss Marga-
ret. He gives an interesting ac-
count of what he is doing and seems
to be in the highest of spirits:
Friday, April 1st.
Dear Peg:-I don't know what
you have to worry about just now,
so will give you something new.
| am now up at the front, listening
to the big guns and the shells going
overhead. At present / am in BEL
gium. country l have always
wanted to see. but hardly expected
to be so lucky. Today three of us
ate dinner in Belgian home. We
were the first Americans they had
ever seen and asked us if we would
have dinner with them. They are
still within the fire of the Germans,
but have never left their home.
Within sight there are few shat
tered walls standing. which is all
that is left of a city of $4,000. Not
person remains there, nor a build
ing with a roof or four walls. 1t is
quite remarkable that these folks
should have escaped. All around
the house are shell holes, but we
had vegetables they grew in their
garden where many shells he'd fall
len. Perhaps you may have once
read of church that was totally
destroyed but that crucifix at the
door that remained untouched.
have also seen that.
| But the best news of all is that
have today fired my first shot at
Fritz. 1t was an eight inch Howitzer
and they surely do tear up things.
l am receiving quite wonderful
!, treatment up here and am staying
fright in headquarters with the Maj
or. We have a big touring car at
our disposal. In addition l have
eaten out with many other big
ginks" in their dugouts. l have me
a tin hat" and gas mask which l
carry with me at all times. My bed
is surrounded on all sides with sand
+ bags and is absolutely secure in
s every way. However. there is a
e beautiful shell crater just at the
It corner of my little sand house.
It This will have you quite alarmed
e I'm sure. but please just forget it
n all. for l shall be far away from any
It firing line before you will have re-
It ceived this and will not be up here
again. Also. you would be surpris-
ed to see how well we insure our
absolute safety. They really enjoy
having shells come over and work
\ schemes to get Fritz to fire. 1t is
real pretty at night and seems more
. like Fourth of July celebration
=. than war.
III We have been having some rain
=. during the last few days and as you
have heard, it gets quite muddy up
!, here.
n This has been wonderful exper
~ fence for me up here and | reere,
. that I shall so soon have to be leav
ing. Perhaps Mother is not quite 81
at sorry as l am. | really don't thinl
m any of you worry very much, for
st believe you realize that / am just a.
anxious to enjoy my good health al
you are and am not going abou
making target of myself. l al.
taking good care of myself from
levery standpoint, and while shoult
like very much to stay On up here
ek, you may relieve your own mind
tn, by knowing that shall be far ava,
r.. by the time you get this letter.
&C The sox Mother made for ne hav
~ just reached me and are fine. Ais
'eo | received the white pair l LEFT a
n.y. home for sample and few piece
1as of Hershey's.
vas You people must not worry abou
me in the least, for | will b. bac
home just as soon as this littl
scrap" is over. Love to all.
m Ramsey.
-W. S. S..
,st. Samuel Jones, Of Barker's Cree