Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-01-18
SECOND VISIT HOME

'icrnan spy Dack again. was tne
way James Moore introduced himself
as hc stepped into the office of the edi-
tor of The Enquirer last Tuesday aft
crnoon.
Jim Moore. son Of Mr.. W. T. Moore
of Yorkvillc. will be remembered as the
young sailor who. on his return from
a short period of lntcrnment in Berlin
last spring. told OF some of his adven-
lures in the merchant marine service
how the ship on which he was serving
was torpedocd. with the loss of nearly
all on board. and how he was taken in
to the submarine and after cruising
about for several weeks. was finally
taken to Berlin.
His reference to himself as Ger
man spy" last Tuesday was half comic
and half sarcastic. along with little
touch of contempt for the kind of pco-
pie who deal in irresponsible slander
without a thought or care Of how
much harm they may do. or how much
harm they may cause. After Jim had
told his very interesting story last
summer. he went back 10 New York
and joined his ship and resumed his
pcrilous work In the merchant service.
Upon his return home a few days ago
his friends told him of the slanderous
stories that had been circulated about
him. some representing him as having
been sent to prison as a German spy,
Is- Thai A.i ~ sist he to
when he announced himself on his WIS.,
it to the editor Tuesday.
But the reader does not want to get
hn hat hn
ny much concerned about those stor-
les. He is too honest and generous for
anything like that. On his own ac-
count he was amused and on account
of the people who had been talking
about him he felt more or less disgust:
but he was not taking the matter to
heart in any kind of way.
1T is fact, though. Jim," the editor
told him that there was Il depart
ment of justice man down here looking
you up, because he came TO see me.
and got copies OF the paper containing
your story. He asked me all kinds OF
questions about you, and | told him
everything he wanted to know"
Sure" quietly commented young
Moore. The country is at war. The
department of justice is onto its busi-
ness. and it is not difficult to imagine
that the investigation Of citizen who
may have returned from the enemy's
country might be of Importance. And
between you and |, ! might tell those
silly lubbers who have been doing all
that talking some things that would in
tercst them sure enough-and If they
could only come and talk to me maybe
would: but | have not time to hunt
them up. They are not worth 1t. so
let them go"
Speaking of his adventures since he
left Yorkville last summer, Jim said
he had made four more trips across,
but had not had any more narrow
squeaks-not on the sea. He said that
he had been travelling between France,
England, Holland. Norway and the
United States: but had not seen any
more U-boats. He told Of carrying
coal up the Seine river. swapping 1t for
butter. cheese and other products
which were taken over to England and
of Jolly times he has been having
abroad as well as in New York.
"Well. arc you going back to the
merchant service?" he was asked.
mo. don't think so." was the reply.
How 1t might strike others l do not
know: hut think have done my bit
there. That is the way 1t looks to me
now. But can't tell you what I am
going to do. The fact is l have never
done what | thought was going to do.
| would think l was going to do one
thing and before got into II. would
find myself doing another. When left
here expected to be gunner: but II
turned out that the quartermaster was
not exactly acceptable, and so l was
made quartermaster In his place while
he took my place as gunner. 1t was
quite n promotion, with more authority
and more pay: but | am not going
back right away"
"But you can't be content to quit"
suggested the editor. You, a kid not
yet eighteen with all that stock Of
service and adventure to your credit.
You do not mean to say that you have
enough"
Enough. nothing" Jim snapped
back half resentfully. Don't think |
could get enough OF what Is going on
now do you? have not done anything
yet. and want to do something. What
/ want Is to get into the Red Cross am
bulance service. ] want n big motor
with Jim Moore. Yorkville,
:. c., painted on the sides OF II, and !
want that ambulance to become known
as the most useful. efficient and fear
less in the whole American service.
That Is what | want. and II | can get
a chance | am going to do it-either
that or help push up the daisies in
France"
Jim said that he would probably re-
main about here for some weeks; but
ne does not know. 1t will be three
wears before he can be drafted under
present laws, and in the meantime he
hopes to have accomplished something
that will give him a right to feel that
he has done his share.