Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-11-25
OTTAWA BROTHERS
GASSED IN ACTION
IN OCTOBER BATTLE
TWO SONS OF MICHAEL SCAN
NELL WRITE LETTERS ON THE
SAME DAY. EACH TELLING OF
BEING GASSED WHILE FIGHT
ING IN DECISIVE BATTLES.

An Ottawa family, that of Mr. and
Mrs. Michael NJ. Scannel, 116 Jones
street, received two letters from their
sons, Chris and William, who are in
France, each letter telling of the
writer having been gassed in action.
BY a strange coincidence, these let
ters We're written on the same day
Oct. %, and each boy declared he was
getting along fine. Both boys were
in hospitals when writing, and. Of
course, neither knew the other had
been gassed
William Scannell is a member OF
the 1920 machine gun corps, a com
pany that has been through some of
the hardest fighting of the closing bat
ties of the war In his letter he de.
clared that, in the words of the Gen
eral Pershing, it would be heaven, hell
or Hoboken by Christmas.
Chris Scannell is a member of Com
pany A, 301st heavy battalion, Ameri-
can tank corps, and has been fight
ing with the British forces
The letters from the boys read in
full:
Oct 2, 1918.
Dear Father:
Well. pa, how is everybody at home
these days and how is the weather? =?
| received all your letters and news.
papers, also newspaper clippings, and
all the letters all of you wrote | re.
ceiyed a letter and there was some
tobacco in the envelope, but no writ
ing, only it had the name, Agnes h.
and have been thinking it was
Agnes Rigden who sent it, 1t surely
was all right.
have not heard from Charlie In a
long time. 1t is funny he don't write.
His division has been fighting pretty
hard battles and am afraid that
something has happened to him. The
Germans are sure getting he'll The
last battle | was in | received bad
dose OF gas, and it made me pretty
sick, but | feel fairly good now, if
there are no after effects from it.
Don't worry, though, for | will be o.
X. again and ready for fighting again
soon, hope.
1T is heaven, he'll or Tioboken by
Christmas according to General
Pershing, and ! hope he is right and
that we will have it over before win
to
will always write when | have a
Echance, so cheer up and dent worry
| Tell mother not to worry.
With love to all, your son,
W. SCANNELL.
Evening, Oct. 2. 1918.
Dear Mother Father and All.
Well, you no doubt are wondering
! what Is the mater with me. | have
not had an opportunity to write line
! since Sept. |. Since then, folks, az
you probably know, we have beer
through some hell and inferno, bu
| am out without a scratch | am il
a base hospital getting through, al
Fritz saw fit to give me a little gas
and then the exposure has made m,
little stiff. but am feeling fine now
and my old carcus is lucky at that
have not seen Jim Whyte or any
body from home | understand tha
Jim's company lost havily. but hop
it is not true. Believe me, we ha,
enough, but want you to know tina
the Germans felt our presence, any
way.
How is everybody at home thes
days? 1t is still warm here, but rain
a great deal. This is a fine place
am in. may be out soon.
Well, folks, there is absolutely II
news, as | saw a civilian yesterda
for tho first time in two months. S
good-by and good luck.
Your son, CHRIS T.. SCANNELL.