Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1918-09-04


situation which exists, would be
excused to a great extent. We 60
through the same procedure week
In and week out; see the same
sights, do the same work. and so on;
so about the only thing that fellow
can write reads thus: "Am well and
working hard had nice rain yes
tcrday; the balloon went up again
this evening for the first time since
yesterday evening; had hot cakes
and coffee with sugar and cream
fmilk, evaporated) Sunday morning
for breakfast"
However, have some news of a
different nature to write this time,
which isn't as pleasant as 1t might
be in way, and yet very pleasant
in another, from the fact that | am
alive still. had an awful close call
on the morning Of July 31st. The
commissary which. | was in charge Of,
and In which l was sleeping, was
destroyed by fire, about 4.30 in the
morning. When | awoke the fire
was burning all around me, so I had
to thtni1 quick and act accordingly
without hesitation. There was only
one door n the room in which | had
my bed, and 1t was cut off by the
flames, so | had to go out through
the window, and in doing so was
almost suffocated, and one Of my ears
was burned little. | also sprained
my ankle when hit the ground. But
| am o. k. now, having hard work
ever since. There were two things
that saved mc-first. the wind was
blowing from me. and second, | held
my nerve and didn't get in the least
excited. The first thing | thought Of
was saving my books and records,
and next clothing and personal ef-
fccts, but the place got full of smoke
and SO hot that I decided the best
thing could do was to get to the
breeze and save myself, which | did
by very narrow margin. had
some difficulty in getting the window
open, as my eyes we're full Of smoke
and the flames we're playing peek-a-
boo around me. Had to unlock both
the window and the blinds with my
eyes closed. These French windows
are fine for protection against bur
glars, but the wrong thing for fires.
lost everything | had except a
suit Of underwear and pastcboard
box containing a towel or so, two or
three suits or winter underwear, one
leather logging and one wool leg.
ging. lost about 450 francs $3.50
in our money!, my watch and every
thing | had, amounting to about
$l25; but my losses don't worry me
In the least. | am only too thankful
that escaped alive. 1t was certain
~ an act o; Providence.
In the long run count myself very
lucky. Just the day after the fire I
received notice that | had been made
corporal, which pays about $42 a
month, and last night | was handed
an envelope by one OF the boys.
opened it and found it contained
l25 francs and the list which l am
encloslng; so | am happy to know
that I have a bunch of very good
friends, and prize them more than
money or anything else. So. after
all, I am very lucky indeed.
Mama, you must be beginning to
feel like an old woman when you
think that you have children who
are really getting old! Honest, it
seems that just jumped from Is to
80. 1t doesn't seem long since
was Is, but it has been quite while.
Yet I don't feel any difference; and
as long as one doesn't feel old one
isn't old.
And you. Glenna, like the looks Of
my girl, do you? didn't have to
marry her to get her picture. How
ever, 1t Is customary to do so over
here. The reason that didn't have
to Is that | caught her not looking
and took the picture and refused to
return 1t. will try to have my pic
ture made soon and send some home
will have to wait until | get some
clothes. however.
Don't worry about me, for | am
feeling fine.
Love to all. AS ever,
j. B. Todd. !