Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1918-08-13
ColOTed Boys Arrive Safely at Camp
Custer. Michigan.

arriving dL SdIHp. DuTlHy the NnOie
trip we were given great send off by
both white and colored people, who
seemed 10 know in advance that the
West Virginia troop train was on its
way.
At Toledo we were met by the Red
Cross and served with lemonade and
cake After a long but pleasant ride
we reached camp about p. M, Tues
day.
The boys have taken to army life
with jump, and our captain has just
finished making a speech in which he
says: 'that he expects and believes
that we will measure up to the stand
ard of the colored American soldiers
and maintain the record they have es-
tablished." | am glad to say that
fulfilled The duty you commanded me
to undertake to the best of my ability,
and by the good conduct of all, arrived
at camp without a mishap.
Respectfully yours,
GEORGE STROTHER,
18th Provisional Co., 100 Depot Brig
ade, Camp Custer, Mich.
Eleven members of the 1918 class
not waiting to be selected and sent
to camp have already volunteered.
The navy seems to be the preferred
branch of the service for them. as sew
en- of the eleven have signed up for it.
One, Marshall Clarence Moler, has en-
listed in the Marines, while three will
take chances in the army and are
already at Camp Meade.
Henry Clay Knight, John Arthur
Roberts and Arthur Boreman Roberts
are members in the Army. The Navy
boys are Norval r. Davis, M. Michael
Wire, David Folk, James Curtis Simp-
son, Harry Leonard Brown, Emmert
j. O'Bryan, Charles Lee Sager. Nor
val Davis has joined the aviation
branch Of the Naval service.
A beautiful service flag was I'M
furled with appropriate ceremonies at
Bethany M. E. Church, Bardane, Rev.
w. H. Best pastor, Sunday, Aug. A..
The flag bore seven stars representing
as many young men from the church
now in the service of their country.
They are f. Clifton Bell, in the flying
service, Ithaca, New York; Herman
Smallwood, Camp Shelby, Miss, Sam
uel Heintz, Training School, Richmond,
Va, Paul Rodriguez, somewhere in
France; Edmund D. McGarry, Camp
Taylor, KY; Howard T. Smallwood,
Camp Handbook, Ga. An offering of
$40 was taken for the war fund.
Interesting glimpses of the war zone
are presented in a letter from DR..
William Neill, Jr., to his father DR..
William Neill received here a few days
ago. DR.. NELL is an operating sur
geon in hospital Immediately back
of the American lines where the letter
was written, June IS The big guns
kept up an unceasing roar within
hearing of the hospital, but they oc-
casion very little discomfort after one
becomes accustomed to them.
A baseball game was played there
on Decoration day, he writes. One Of
the heavy batteries of the American
army was firing in the same field while
the game was in progress
The firing annoyed the players some
what until the thind inning when there
was a tie in the score. After that the
game became so absorbing that the
horrors Of war were forgotten
Except when the fighting is spirited,
the hospital surgeons have a compare
lively easy time of it, working eight
hours and resting sixteen every day.
At other times when the Boches are
attempting to advance they are kept
busy. DIR. Neil has been on duty as
long as three days and nights without
rest.
II don't see how any real red blood
ed American can stay OF this. 1t is
sad to think Of the great numbers who
try to avoid service on one excuse OF
the other" is the stab the Doctor
makes at the Stacker in the last para
graph of his letter.
War scenes in France and Belgium
were depicted in an address Friday
Aug. in the Court Room by Rev
Father Savage, who had experienced
more than three years in the armies
of the allies as chaplain and interpre-
ter. His description of trench fight
ing gave his audience a view of the
great struggle more graphic than any
of them could obtain from reading
about it. He counselad our peOpls to
be united and 30 support all war &C
tlyities until victory is won. Father
Savage is guest of the students of
Holy Cross College summering at
Shannondale.
Relatives here have been notified of
the safe arrival of John d. Cockrell
and Harvey Davis, two Charles Town
boys in France. They were in the
training school in Richmond, Va, less
than two months before starting over
seas.
James NJ. Lynch, of Halltown. has
enlisted in the Army Mdical Corps,
and left for Washington, this week
lie was qualified for limited service.
The death Of Fred Mahoney who
was killed in battle in France was
communicated to his brother Council
nan Archie nahoney in Charles Town
on Wednesda5 Fred enlisted in Tho
army IN MOI lie, Alabama, and wen.
10 .rarce carly this year.
Capt j. =. Burns who has been i'm
charge Of the army hospital at Fort
McHenry, Baltimore, has been 2ronpot-
ed to Major. He is now CHIEF surgeon
in Base Hospital No 90 at Cam
Meade
Earl Casey who left Charles Town
in December to enter the signal corps
at Camp Meade is another county boy
to reach France, his arrival there this
week being announced in a message
to his parents Mr.. and Mrs. J. +.
Casey.
Thomas Moore, son Of the tate Jesse
Moore Of nearW eaverton, Md, wasrun
over wednesday morning by 4 passen
ger tram whilst crossing the track at
StoneDraKers Crossing d few miles
north of that place. He lived but a
short while after the accident. The
horse drawing the buggy was killed
and the vehicle totally demolished.
his two little nephews accompanying
him escaped, though they are reported
seriously hurt. i ,va> = al
Lieutenant Nelson T. Snyder, of this
county, has been transferred from
Camp Jackson, Columbia, S. c.. TO
Fort Sill, Oklahoma
Lieut.. Thornton Perry who mas been
IN aviation service in France distin-
gulshed himself at an Athletic meet
IN London on July l, by winning the
Officers Championship in a hundred