davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1918-05-04

fidence of the thrower, In that he
knows 1t will not explode until re-
leased from his grip.
1t Is a mechanical device, with a
lever. fitted into shot at the top.
which extends half way around the
circumference and is held In place at
the bottom by a fixing pin. In this pin
there is small metal ring, for the
purpose of extracting the pin when
ready to throw.
| You do not throw bomb the way
baseball Is thrown, because, when In
| narrow trench, your hand is liable
to strike against the parados. traverse
or parapet, and then down goes the
bomb. and, In couple Of seconds or
so, up goes Tommy.
In throwing. the bomb and lever are
grasped In the right hand. the left foot
is advanced, knee stiff. about one and
a half Its length to the front. while
the right leg. knee bent. Is carried
slightly to the right. The left arm is
extended at an angle Of As degrees.
pointing In the direction the bomb Is to
be thrown. This position is similar
to that of shot putting. only that the
right arm Is extended downward Then
you hurl the bomb from you with an
overhead bowling motion, the same as
In cricket, throwing II fairly high in
the air, this in order TO give the fuse
chance to burn down so that when
taIx
plodes and gives the Germans no time
to scamper out of its range or to re-
turn 1t.
AS the bomb leaves your hand, the
lever, by means of spring, Is projected
into the air and falls harmlessly to
the ground few feet in front of the
bomber.
When the lever flies off il releases
a strong spring, which forces the firing
pin into a percussion cap. This ignltes
the fuse, which burns down and sets
off the detonator, charged with fulmi-
nate of mercury. which explodes the
main charge of ammonia.
The average British soldier Is not an
expert at throwing; it is a new game
to him, therefore the Canadians and
Americans, who have played baseball
from the kindergarten up, take natu-
rally to bomb throwing and excel in
this act. A six-foot English bomber
\ will stand In awed silence when he
| sees little five-foOt-nOthing Canadian
outdistance his throw by several yards.
l have read few war stories of bomb
ing, where baseball pitchers curved
their bombs when throwing them, but
pitcher who can d. this would make
| "Christy" Mathewsoh look like piker,
and Is losing valuable time playing in
the European War bush league, when
he would be able to set the "big
league" on fire.
We had cushy time while at this
| school. In fact, to us it was regular
vacation. and we were very sorry when
one morning the adjutant ordered us
to report at headquarters for trans
portation and rations to return to our
units up the line.
Arriving at our section, the boys
once again rendered us the glad mitt,
but looked askance at us out of the
corners of their eyes. They could not
conceive, as they expressed it, how a
man could be such blinking idiot as
to join the Suicide club. l was begin
ming to feel sorry that had become
member of saidNciub and my life to
me appeared dOubly precious.
Now that was sureenough
bomber was praying for peace and
hoping that my services as such would
not be required.
The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1918-05-04
a25 BOY SCOUTS ENLIST.

The roll OF honor OF the boy scouts
OF Philadelphia now numbers 225 in the
national military and naval service.
The scouts are represented In all
branches. the report says.
The scout membership In Phlladel-
phia totals $500, and represents about
one-tenth of the youth Of the city avail
able for scout duty.
Every effort will be made to enroll
every youth I'm the city scout move
ment. There is. war work for all. In
Guiding the Liberty loan. War Savings
stamp, Red Cross and various other
campaigns which are being held from
time to time in which the scouts have
been playing an important part.
The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1918-05-04
SCOUTS KEEP OUT OF COURT.

THE Judge OF the juvenile court In
Portsmouth. o., has named scout
Executive Klnsey MS one of the pro.
stationary officers to deal entirely with
delinquent boys. The Judge made the
statement that in his year and half
In the juvenile court he had never had
a Scout appear before him for trial.
lie hopes to interest these boys ~
scout work, which he feels would mean
a great reduction of juvenile delin-
Quency.
The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1918-05-04
The Joys Of the bath are de-
picted by Empey in the next in
staIIment
(To BE CoNTINUED)
Great Writera Iaxx

Shelley had an indolent vein. He
was very fond of the water. and many
Of his finest poems were composed as
he idled at his ease In boat. He
made the best of his short life. how
ever, and that cannot be said for Cole
ridge, who seemed to be afflicted with
that lack of will to work which some
people call lazlness. He had one Of
the greatest minds, but he left even
his finest poems mere fragments.
The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1918-05-04
WHERE FARMING
IS PROFITABLE
The Future of Great Possibilities.

Some idea of the great wealth that
the Western Canada farmer had In
view few years ago is now being real
lied. The amount received from the
sale of wheat, oats. barley, fax ana
rye In 1917 was $27O,OOO,O0O, while the
sales of live stock at Winnipeg alone
netted $4O,OOO.OOO additional. OF this
sum hogs alone gave over eleven mil
lion dollars. The Increases at Calgary
and Edmonton were over 6K million
dollars.
This money, so easily earned, Is be-
Ing spent In improvements In farm
property, purchasing additional land.
buying tractors, automobiles, and IN
proving home conditions, providing
electric light, steam heat new furni-
ture, pianos, buying Victory bonds.
paying Off old debts, etc.
Over five hundred tractors were sold
In Southern Alberta In 1877. one
implement agent reports that the IN
crease in his business In 1917, over
that of 1916. was equal to the total
business in 1915. 1t Is the same story
all over the country. And 1t Is not
this evidence alone which proves the
advancement and growth of the three
prairie provinces, but the large In
crease In the number of settlers; the
Improvement in the extent OF the cul-
tivated areas and agricultural produc-
tion; the increase In value of which
over 1916 was S77,OOO,000.
This wonderful progress that has
been made In agriculture in Western
Canada is but the beginning which
marks the future of the greatest agri-
cultural country on the continent.
showing future of great possibilities.
There are millions of acres yet I'M
titled, and of land as good as any OF
that which is now giving its owners a
return Of from twenty to thirty dollars
an acre, figures that in many cases
represent the cost of the land, with all
cultivation costs included. 1t Is true
that the cost of production has In
creased during the past few years, but
the price of the product has also in
creased to figure which leaves a
large balance to the credit of the pro-
Queer.
The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1918-05-04

ynopss-Fired with the loss Of
Arthur Guy Empey American living In Jersey CITY,
England ensts private In the British After
a officer London he
the big and
brief period of training
frone trenches where he takes
while the bullets whz overhead Empey
death the trenches
Empey desperate fight
The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1918-05-04

Percentage increases are shown toe
I'm another way. leading to the sams
conclusion, from consultation of the
Department of Labor's review of
prices. Taking 100 as the index num-
Der of normal production In the de-
cade from 1890 to 1000, the Increases
in prices Of farm prducts have
slightly outdistanced the increases in
his needs. Pct.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1918-04-18

Judge Peacock, weathercock of this
county, reports LIS inch rain. This
is sure a good soaker and the beauty
about it is that it all went into the
ground, putting it in excellent shane
for corn, etc. 1t was a big thing for
the wheat crop.
Uncle Billie Littlechild shipped in
three cars of stock steers last Sunday
from Kansas City. He will put them
in his pasture and feed them cake
until about September 1st, then sell
them making handsome profit on the
deal.
sas, shipped in several cars of cattle
last Thursday from his ranch in Lin
coin county. AS he owns a ranch on
the Smoky he will summer them here
as pasture is much cheaper here than
there.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1918-04-18

their cigarett before the sui
phur burns off, 1t surs burns your
tongue.
Near the quarry where we are
working now a German plane drop
ped several bombs the other night.
They Lit in an open field which is the
best place for the darned things to
drop. They made good watering holes
there.
I must close and chase back to the
quarters.
Your truly,
Andrew J. Croft.
Co. A 23rd Engineers, A. E. F.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1918-04-18
FROM CHESTER RIGGS

Funston, Kansas, March 3Gth.
Dear Folks:-
I am feeling so good this morning
that couldn't keep from writing a
few lines. 1t rained of and on all
night last night and afternoon, I
hope it keeps it up all day
l have just had breakfast and swept
under my bunk, it is now 7:30 1 am
working in the personel Office now,
helping to check up the transfer fell
lows Yesterday we checked up nearly
a thousand that are leaving. I am on
the transfer myself and no doubt be-
fore you can answer this will be gone.
ALI of the boys from this company, ex-
cept the Sergent and Corporals are
leaving They are staying to train
the new bunch. The officers are look
ing awful blue, they wanted to go1
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1918-04-18

thing for most Of these European
nations engaged and am doubly sure
that it is going to be . great thing for
our nation. The price viii be large but
let's do it with will. We will never
be called upon to make sacrifices like
France and England have been max
ing al: along.
Write right back and tell me all
over here about things over there. I
saw where the committee had rec
commended the same price for the
1918 crop of wheat.
Well, Aunt, / have several little
French sweethearts already but have
not developed a case with any of
them yet. I am learning to talk pretty
well, but don't have much time TO
practice. work thirteen hours each
day during the week, but Sunday is at
my leisure and pleasure and :ener-
ally use the morning bicycling and in
the afternoon call upon some French
family.
Love to everybody,
Lieut. Walter F. Sites
U. S. A, P. o. 718, A. E. F.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1918-04-18
FROM FLOYD MAYNARD
FIT. Sill, Okla, April L.

I T. Oil, Ohld., April L.
Dear Mamma and ALL
Well, 1 received your letter so will
| answer it. We only get our mail once
day now as we are out on a hike
with our trucks and the 10 Lasson
Company is with US; we are about
forty miles northwest from Fort
Sill in the mountains. The first day
we camped at the Government Fish
cries, they are close to Medicine
Park and yesterday evening we made
camp at what they call Lost Lake,
it is sure lost too, right in between
two mountains, the trees are so thick
and the roads so rocky, that the last
eight miles took us over an hour. To-
night we are camped at Snake Island,
1t sure Is pretty place with big
high mountains on all sides and ever
greens all over them. There is only
two companys of ITO motor section,
A. and B. Otis Elton is in Company A
and l am in Company B. He is along.
1t takes large place for all of us to
pitch our pup tents. 1 counted the
teams in the Lasson Company no
when we passed them this morning.
they had 81 teams of mules and 256
teams of horses all hitched four to-
together and all tan harness and brass
trimmed, it sure was pretty as they
were all matched, besides there were
200 mounted counting officers, med
lcal wagons, canteen wagon and a
Y. M. c. A. with writing paper, books
and magazines, also a big field phone
graph. We are travelling just like
they do in France I think we will
get back next. week Wednesday. 1t
sure is fun as long as it don't rain but
sleeping on the ground or rocks here
rather is not very soft with four army
blankets.
l got my pictures the morning 1
left but just got them about an hour
before I started so couldn't send them.
There are coyotes here everywhere
and it sounds like a million bowling
now. We saw seven deer this after
noon about 800 o'clock and then
heard them go down through the
brush which sounded like they were
tearing all the trees down trying to
get away.
Well, there is nothing more to tell
as tonight's mail has not come in on
account of the bad roads, 1 suppose
it will be in about 10 o'clock. The
trucks do not not travel as fast as a
car.
Love to all,
Floyd Maynard
Section.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1918-04-18

up to date the gas has not reached
back to our quarters at night and sell
dom is the gas alarm sounded at day
time.
Work is the motto over here Be
lieve me when one gets around and
sees things and realizes just how
things are, he will do things that he
would have said he couldn't have done
before. To see ammunition wagons
sinking to the hub and to think how
we need the shells to dish over to the
dutch, then is when one wants to go
at it. The real test of the roads is to
ride back to quarters about five miles
or so afer working all day.
We have great times to pass the
time away and forget our troubles.
Again 1 must say that you could not
find a bunch take things like our
bunch does. Of course there is plenty
of grabbing and knocking but that
seems to be one of the requisites of
an American. The most satisfied ones
just want a plenty to eat and a pay
day once in a while. We have not
been paid for over two months. We
are now looking forward to our seven
day leave entitled to our troops
after four months here
Perhaps you will be surprised when
l tell you that 1 have not felt the
slightest sickness. Is a puzzle that so
many are on the sick calls daily.
nothing serious though. This life
seems to agree with me different than
civilian life.
They pulled one over on US the other
day by setting the time ahead one
hour. We received our first mail to-
day. The Lawrence papers had me on
the delinquent list of classifications.
but that was over two months ago.
Don't seem possible that time can fly
so fast, but we have been over lots
of territory in that time.
Sleeping is fine here if the feas
don't find you and the planes don't
drop bomb too close. The barrages
are annoying at times. One started
the other morning, I'm telling you
right here it made one wonder.
Had my first casual mishap today.
Eating hard tack and broke the fill
lngs from my teeth. Received the
papers o. K, just could read the writ
ing. Please address plainly and when
you send anything pack strongly.
1 wish you could see buncn Of
American boys trying to talk to the
French. Like one fellow said, tell
them you want a sandwich and they
will get you a loaf of bread. Laugh,
one cannot help but laugh till his
side hurts at times. Have lots of fun
with the French seven day matches,
the fellows light the match and light
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1918-04-18
CAMP LEWIS, WASHINGTON

April 3rd, 1918.
| Nothing new has turned up regard
ing the departure of our regiment
| (34S F. Al, so far as 1 know, al
| though several men from each battery
and some from headquarters COM
pany have been transferred to depot
brigade and sent east-probably on to
| France.
1t seems that those who show but
little interest or ability in getting
ahead in the technical training neces-
sary in artillery service are the ones
that are transferred. 1 under stand
that the same is taking place in the
infantry regiments stationed here
only on a larger scale.
Some of the men are very anxious
to go across and a few have volun-
teered and have been sent with those
leaving for the east. Some non-coms
have given up their warrants in order
to leave and others have expressed
themselves as intending to do like
wise at the next opportunity. For
myself, 1 would like very much to go
across now but shall wait for events
to shape themselves. Since leaving
hospital I am again attending signal
school where we get visual signalling
of all kinds, and use of the buzzer;
also getting one hour each day in cleo
tricity and the practical side of con-
Meeting batteries used in telephone
and telegraph work While I am not
by any means making the progress /
would like in these studies, still,
don't intend to deliberately quit them
The past two weeks our regiment
has been on the rife range with the
signal detail, getting one half of each
day in practice there. The regiment
and our company have developed
some splendid shots, but 1 wasn't one
Of them. 1 was pretty fair at slow
fire but poor at rapid.
Our bad luck regarding quarantine
is still with US: We had it redaced to
a sort of limited quarantine for two
weeks and were completely tout" for
for measles again.
Men of the next draft are arriving
now. Looking out across the parade
ground this morning 1 could see men
drilling in the old familiar civilian
garb.
About two weeks ago we had half
days practice with our gas masks. We
were taken through the 3tgas house.
and also treated to a light lombard
ment of gas shells while marching
along intended to prepare US for |
actual work under similar conditions. |
Those masks are disagreeable things |
to wear but at least we can live while |
breathing gas through them-that |
much I know-but I'd hate to have |
much work to do while wearing one |
Sam F. Peacock,
Hdqrs Co., 34S F. A. Camp Lewis, |
Tacoma, Washington.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1918-04-18
LETTER FROM ANDREW CROFT
Somewhere in France.
March %, 1913.

March %, 1913.
Dear Folks
After seveal attempts to write, to-
night 1 will try to get off some kind
of letter.
We finally landed here after several
days riding across France which was
a long, tiresome journey but the
sights kept US lined up during the
day. Our first few days here were
trying ones as we had no place pre-
pared and the weather was against
any effort to better things. Rained
for several days then showed for
two days. For the past week we have
been having beautiful hot spring days
but frost every night.
We are really seeing things that a
few months ago we believed were
impossible. Now we can see and hear
but still one wonders how such things
can be possible and still say that the
world is in its advanced stage of civil
ization. Of course as we neared the
sounds of the big guns and exploding
shells our anxiety was to see the real
thing, that one failing of the Amer
leans, too inquisitive, but it doesn't
take long to take all such stuff out
of your system.
l am afraid you would be dissap-
pointed with this mode of war fare
compared with what you went through
with. Fighting in the air and buried
in the ground is the whole thing here
1t seems to be the custom of telling
that you can hear the big shells
whistle. Well, 1 had the pleasure to
hear some Fritzies coming, as you
used to say, duck low, 1 must confess
that that is only instinct, but they
were to the side and exploded The
Frenchmen are the ones to watch,
when any Fritzs starts coming, if the
French start double time then it is
time to move. They say it is true that
If one comes several more will follow
and as far as / have seen it has work
ed every time. The most enjoyable or
exciting time was several German
planes crossing No Mans land and
getting over US. Our planes came and
such time when the anti air craft
guns began shooting. Believe me we
took to cover when the shells and
planes were bursting over us. Things
were getting a little too interesting
about that time. We have our tin
lids but like Empey say in his book
Over the Top, shell proof until
shell hits them. The most favored
trick of the Germans is to shoot gas
over on our side. We were equipped
with English and French masks. but
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1918-04-18

along with their men after they had
trained them.
Last Wednesday all of the men in
Funston went out and paraded be-
fore General Wood, the line of men,
horses and wagons was several miles
long. AS we passed the General there
was two moving picture machines
taking our pictures. I never saw such
a grand sight in my life. There were
several ladies present, including Miss
Margaret Wilson, and they just
danced jig as the boys went past
Our top Sergent was riding an army
horse at the parade which ran through
a fence and broke the Sergents collar
bone and dislocated his shoulder
1 have one picture left which I will
send you.
Lovingly,
Chester Riggs,
Machine Gun Co. 353rd Inf
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1918-04-18
"SOME WHERE IN FRANCE"
March 7th, 1918
Mr.. and Mrs. W. F. Sites
Wa-Keeney, Kansas.

March 7th, 1918
Mr.. and Mrs. W. F. Sites
Wa-Keeney, Kansas.
Dear Folks
I will write you few lines this
morning 1 don't know whether you
can read it or not for 1 am writing
sitting propped up in bed. I am in
the hospital and have been for about
ten days. 1 feel pretty good but they
won't let me get up yet. Don't know
what has been ailing me but think it
is just bad case of grip, the doctors
said at first that 1 was threatened
with pneumonia. know / could hard
ly get my breath for three days. I
feel fine now and think 1 will out be-
fore long. 1 was in the Port Hospital
at first, then they transferred me to
base hospital which was about 100
miles away and l am there now. I
have very good treatment, real Amer
lean Red Cross nurses. They were the
first American women 1 have seen
since leaving New York.
Well, l received letter from you
folks few days before / took sick
and will say that it certainly was a
pleased boy that read it. 1t was a
mighty good letter and built up my
morale wonderfully. 1 got short let
ter from Ike the same day and that
is all the news 1 have had from Ora
ham county. 1 read in the papers
about some big snow storms out over
Kansas and Nebraska, but at your
writing they seemed not to have ar
rived yet.
Well, I admire your optimism about
the war soon being over, but 1 GER
tainly see nothing on this side that
indicates any such possibility Prob
ably the press over has changed its
tune by this time. They have to hand
out a little peace talk one in while
so as to keep the people familiar
with the term. The Developments in
Russia have probably prolonged the
war six months or longer than it
would otherwise have taken If I get
there to help you harvest year from
this summer I will be doing pretty
well. There will be some awful fight
ing this spring and summer, and I
will be in it, but 1 don't believe it will
be decisive. I figure we must have
twice their strength to break through
and it remains to see how large the
U. S. forces will be that are ready to
go into it. General Pershings system
is to have every man well equipped
and trained before he takes part in
any fighting. I think / shall have fin
ished my course here some time in the
fore part of April and will then go to
the front 1 hope, but am not quite
sure yet. If 1 go to the front I will
be attached to an organization as
for a month or so to
further my training. There is rumor
America as instrll tors in the con-
,entration camps, but 1 don't believe
afioat some of US will be sent back to |
here is much to it.
Of course if things were SO that
Gould / would lots rather be there with |
you folks tilling the soil this summer, |
han being over here at war, but this |
lure is a great and am glad I am in |
t trying to do my bit on the firing /
inc. 1 believe this war is great |
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1918-04-18

For Sale-Red Amber cane seed,
1917 crop, tested and recleaned. J. H.
Carpenter, Wa-Keeney. Adv. ct.