The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1918-10-04
:Washburn Boy Is
Slain In France
PRIVATE CARLAKNUDTsoN is THE
FIRST LOCAL SACRIFICE TO
CAUSE OF LIBERTY
"kILLED IN ACTION"
9.
=. IS BRIEF MESSAGE
SOLDIER WAS GRADUATED FROM
HIGH SCHOOL JUST BEFORE
CALLED TO THE FRONT

A sacrifice to the cause of humanity
and world freedom, Carl A. E. Knudt-
son of Washburn fell on the field OF
battle in France, Thursday, September
~ The information came last Sun
day afternoon, when a. telegram to
his mother from Washington, said
that her son had been KILLED in ac-
tion." No more details have been
received but the word at hand tells
sufficiently that Carl died glorious
death-as a good soldier in the thick
OF the fray.
Few were better loved than Carl.
The news of his death came as a
shock to many in Washburn and vi
cinity, where he had spent nearly IL
years. His mother for the past month
has been visiting her daughter, Mrs.
Harry Solenberger, on a farm near
Garrison, and the sad news was tele-
phoned to her on Monday by another
daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth Johnson, no.
on the Knudtson farm, about four
miles west of Washburn. Many SYM
rathize with the bereaved mother,
brothers and sisters, and will join
with them in memorial service at
the Methodist church at 3 o'clock
next Sunday afternoon.
Carl is the first Washburn boy to
lose his life in the struggle for World
Democracy; another, Joseph Pirkl,
who was killed in France, recently,
lived here for a time, but Carl was in
every sense a Washburn boy, except
by birth. He was brought up here,
: however, received. his education here
ana but fof ~ short III down the Mis-
sissippi river a couple of summers
ago, he lived and worked around here
for the best part of fifteen years. He
was genial and made friends readily;
he was earnest and Industrious in ev-
erything he undertook and in every
other way represented the best type
of North Dakota young manhood. The
loss is only reconciled by the know
Drafted on April 29 last, Carl Knudt-
son left here for Texas camp, where
he soon won distinction as a marks
man. He was in camp only short
time, when as a private Of Company
M, 1853 Infantry, he was sent across
seas. In the early part of August, he
wrote: Life is getting more interest
ing as the real stuff is at hand"
Evidently he was soon in the trench
es and getting his baptism of fire, for
under date of September 6-only six
days before his death-he wrote:
well, war is more than a mere pros
pect to me now; it has become real
business. Uncle Fritz's fireworks
seemed really exciting at first but it
now has become matter of fact and
I look forward to it with the inten-
ton of doing my part before we can
return to the greatest spot on the
globe-'the good old U. S. A. "
Letters from Carl this week indi-
cate he was in excellent spirits. His
health was improving and he had
gained six pounds in weight No
word has been heard recently from
his brother, Emanuel, who also land
ed in France the past summer.
Carl was graduated from the Wash
burn high school, together with Don
aid A. King, at special exercises
shortly before he left with the draft.
He had finished his four years of
work there, working his way through
after great deal of personal; .sacri-
fee and effort. He was the school
ssjanitor the past year; in previous
years; he earned money by working
lat the hotel and in other places. lie
always had ~ job. He used his splen,
did strength to advantage in athletic
activities on the track and in the gym
nasium. He was captain Of the bas-
ketball team the past; two winters,
He practically received all his school
n. II BUY MORE STAMPS ss-==
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