davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1918-08-08

is now held by the French. They tell
that the other day when our fellows
first went in the trenches that the
Boche put up a big sign, Welcome,
80 Division" What they don't know
| tell you that there is some German
territory that has been captured and
about US is hardly worth knowing,
and yet our pens and tongues are
tied.
Well I am still at the same job
feeding the multitude. It's steady
job, every day, and all day, Sunday
as well as all other days. We hear
very little news from the real fight
ing front, but imagine there is not
much doing. It may be the lull be-
fore the storm, or it may be that every
body is tired of this scrap. Some
dayit will end and whole lot of us
are coming back, and | hope no worse
off for this little jaunt. There are
some big guns, they say 12O milli-
meters in size, booming away just
now. but the fellows don't even seem
to hear them, but keep right on writ
ing or issuing grub. There is big
battery near us but it don't mean bus
mess, as we are a little too far away
for them to do any damage, and then
they say that as these people here
are all related to those people over
there and were married and inter
married and friends and neighbors to
them that they will not shell each
others towns, and l guess it is so, as
the casualties in the last year down
here have been almost nil.
Well folks, I suppose you are all
busy with the duties of the day and
having the happy thought of the
golden wedding in mind. My best re-
CARDS to you in this happy period of
your lives.
Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1918-08-08
TRANSFERS IN
REAL ESTATE

Joseph Brick to st. Luke's Catholic
congregation, land in Franklin; $4,000.
A. E. Graham to Mrs. Cora Wilson,
land in city of Baraboo; $500.
August Schlieckan to Henry Schliec-
kan, land in Westfield; 81.
Charlotte Steuber to Chas. A. Steu-
Der, land in Honey Creek; 81.
VIM A. Pillep and others to George
Vernuth, land in Sank City; $1,000.
Leonard Hartman to Frank Rosen-
baum, land in Prairie du Sac; 81.
Albert Ziegler to August o. Ziegler,
land in Fairfield; ST..
Herman Rau to Ed. S. Hull, land in
Winfield; 81.
Martin Sprecher to Nicholas Schnei-
der, land in Prairie du Sac; $4,000.
Rose Sweet to Mary Deagan, land in
Baraboo; $3.50.
Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1918-08-08

in Boches. Our colonel came over be-
fore We started and he was most par
ticular-like in pointing out a bunch of
rock where he wanted our battalion to
halt.
"The major said all right, that he
would stop his four companies right
on the line of them rocks, and then we
started We got it right in the nose,
from every Dutch gun in front of US,
but the boys jest yelled and laughed
and away they went. Say, they didn't
pay no more attention to the major
when we came to them rocks than if
he hadn't been there at all.
81 went back to give him a message
from my captain and he was standing
by the rocks and up came the colonel
and the colonel gave the major blink
ing hell for not stopping the battalion
where he said, and the major was
madden n a hornet, and he double
damned the colonel right back again
and he. said: How the crucified dam
nation could I stop them crazy, wild
eyed sons of perdition? If that hog
faced crown prince and his whole
damnety damn Dutch army couldn't
stop them what the hell could do
And Those Marines.
The soldier paused and from the
smile on his face it was plain that he
was again fighting over the famous
battle at Chateau Thierry I spurred
him into action again by asking him
whether the marines were good fight
ers or not.
Good fighters" the soldier said:
"say, every time | see marine
want to go up and give him kiss,
eff they ever get started again they
will never stop till they get to Berlin.
Now, you listen to me, | know, Say,
do you know what I saw them double
crucified rippety blankety damn ma
rines do?
"They had taken three trenches and
was stopping in the third to fill their
pockets with grenades and bombs be-
fore tackling the next trench that was
chuck full of Boches. The Dutch was
using mustard gas and we was all
wearing our masks. The grenades
! wuz passed around.
Carry Grenades in Masks
"The marines filled their pockets
and hung 'em on their belts and then
they seemed to decide that they need
ed more for the fob than what they
had so what did those crazy nuts do
but whip off their gas masks and fill
'em up with grenades and then, carry
ing their masks like they was market
baskets, up they jumped and down
they comes on the Dutch in the next
trench all spraddled out, and they
bombed 'em till there wasn't nothing
but jest grease spots left.
90, you marines, boys, my hat is
certainly off to you"
And likewise your infantry and your
artillery.
Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1918-08-08
Meets Old Friends in France

Glen Richards has received the fol-
lowing letter from Lieutenant Otto
Ritzenthaler, who is somewhere in
France:
Friend "Brinley:"
Your little note in mothers received
and as do not know your proper adj
dress, I am ansWerinf1 in the same
way. SO you had quite a siege or
sickness. Well that's unfortunate, of
course, but I'm glad your name is on
the convalescent list now Don't be
over anxious about getting in the serv-
ice too soon, because sick man in
the army has my sympathy, unless he
be fortunate enough to get to a base
Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1918-08-08

hospital quickly. There is plenty that
you can do at home to help the cause
if you wish. Of course we need you
all-the more we get, the sooner we
will be back-and I'm glad the boys
Curry, Warren, Peck etc. of the Cir
Gus City are all coming. | often meet
someone | know over here. The last
one was Sterl Wilmington. He is here
with US now at school. He's a sergeant
in the marine corps.
The boys are all giving a good ac-
count of themselves over here, are
they not? And we are just getting
started now.
Of course, it would be folly to try
to estimate the probable end of this
affair yet, but hope and expect to be
back with you all in due time.
I've had few touches of the things
you read about, but nothing serious
has happened to me yet Many of
the boys who left home with us are
no longer in the company, so | could
not say much about the bunch. Your
letter reached me while / was absent
from the company, as I stall am, but
when l left them they were all fine.
I've got quite a spell of work to
do tonight, so | leave you now. I'll
try to reach you occasionally, if you
wish, but usually it's rather hard to
write, as we're always on the way
somewhere or else in the field.
Your sincere friend,
RICK
Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1918-08-08
Wounded In Battle

Mrs. Robert Walluck has received
the following letters from her son,
William Smith, who is at present in a
hospital in England:
June %, 1918.
Dear Mother:
am in the Australian hospital
wounded in a raid on June 20. | was
shot in the leg just above the knee.
4 have been in the operating room
twice and feel pretty fair now, so do
not worry about me, mother. | ex-
pect to be sent to England in couple
of days. My leg panied me quite a
bit for the first few days. 1t was pref
ty hard work getting to the line to
the dressing station, as it had just
rained that day and it was very muddy.
When [ arrived at the station | was
covered with mud and both my
trouser legs were soaked with blood.
[ was hit by a piece of shrapnel.
suppose you'll have heard by this
time that | am wounded. One thing,
mother, don't worry about me, as
will be all right when the wound is
healed. It was lucky that it missed
the knee. In two more months, moth
er. I'll have been in the army one
year. I think I'm doing my bit, as
still am young and won't be Of mill
dary age for draft in the states until
TALL. | had been in the front line II
DAYS before | was wounded. A few
boys of my 4Sth company were also
wounded.
Well, | guess this is all, mother,
Best wishes to the rest of the folks.
Your son,
WILLIAM SMITH
July 3, 1918.
Dear Mother: -
Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1918-08-08

acres of cabbage out ways, rather
billy now end rlates M ta.~h Of
home and looking toward Bal4ngers.
The land seems to be good, but crops
are backward unless the season is
later than Wisconsin. They use "a
foot grain drills. No very prosperous
farmers by looks of buildings, all Of
which are one-story.
At 1880 just crossed the Erie canal.
Some pretty good roads, paved like in
front of home almost to Buffalo. A
nice level country now All the people
along the way quit their work and
wave at us.
Camp Mills, July Is.
We are all feeling good considering
the long ride and not much sleep for
two nights Tonight we sleep in tents.
No barracks here, not even Y. M. c.
A. No more gun practice in u. S. A.
We're waiting for full equipment, then
we cross the pond. There are 10000
soldiers here On the way here saw
the statue of Liberty, the 63-story f.
w. Woolworth 10c store, came under
the Brooklyn bridge, and as we
reached camp we saw six aeroplanes
high above us. New York is a dirty,
muggy place. hope later to get a
pass to see the sights in the city.
Your loving son,
PVT. GRANT E. BURTON.
OK Div % d o2Otb M n IN
Camp Mills, L. l., n Y.
Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1918-08-08
Enjoyed Trip Crossing Water

John Silvers writes to his parents
at Walton as follows:
June 7, 1918.
Dear Father and Mother:
Will now take time to write you a
few words to let you know that / am
we'll and hope these few lines will find
you the same. About all / can say
is that I like it fine over here and I
am having a good time. Had fine
trip over. Tell the boys around home
not to be yellow, but to come over
the water. Don't forget to tell me all
the news when you write.
l will close. Hope this reaches you
o. K. | am, as ever, your son,
JOHN H. SILVERS.
Co. G.. 131 Inf.
American Exp. forces.
Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1918-08-08
From Rev. E. c. Buffers


Rev. C. E. Buffers, formerly Of the
M e. church at North Freedom, writes
to friends at Viroqua. His wife is at
Cincinnati as will be seen by the let
ter. His address is Captain c. E. But
ters, Headquarters 32d Division
Quartermaster, Am. Elk. Force, Am.
P. o. 734, France. He writes:
Since writing to you last we have
made big move and are now in hear
ing of the guns and in the area Of do
ing things, although in what is term
ed quiet sector. We have been here
for over a week. And when we first
landed after we had been here
maybe an hour we saw an air battle
between anti-air m achines and aero
planes, and things were popping
pretty fast up in the air almost over
us, and one of my sergeants remark
"I thought you said this was a
quiet sector; I can't see it that way"
But he has, like everybody else, got
ten so used to it in short week that
where we issue rations to see the
bombs bursting around some Boche
plane in the air. We had good view
Of a Boche plane attack one of the
French observation balloons, set on
fire, saw the two Frenchmen jump
with parachutes and land safely, and
yet the bombs could not get the plane.
Where we are now is much differ
ent than back Of the lines where we
were. Here the cities are more like
American Every house has a front
yard and the roads are reasonably
wide and they are all on the Swiss
chateau style. Gee but | would like
to tell you just where we are. know
you would he surprised. Enough to
guess maybe when I tell you that
there are mountains around us, and
quite high ones, at that. | made the
| trip here in automobile about 100
miles a little more, and it was a most
wonderful trip. This part of France
| is not so rainy as where we were
and the soil seems much better. The
| farmers work the land right up to the
wire entanglements. They don't
seem to take the war seriously at all
! but go about their business like every
| thing was peaceful.
The day before yesterday received
big bunch of letters, seven from
Fannie. She is now in Cincinnati
and I guess does not find it so hot as
| it was down in Texas. She is like
me-she does not like Texas. If
| didn't like the United States so much
I would think that France was the
finest land ever. I like it's people
| its eats, its customs, it's churches
its wonderful scenery, and all of it.
1t seems that every place I go has
some new and added beauty or some
curious custom or architecture. Why
have in my mind built house a
hundred different ways. And talk
about beautiful streams of water!
! Here they have them and it is warm
enough where we are to go in swim
ming, which have been doing almost
| every evening | live in a very plea
SAINT home Have a big room, still
with feather beds on. The lady of the
house is German, but does not speak
| the German language. She simply
lived under the German government
before the war, and that alone made
| her German. Before the 1870 war she
was French Now maybe you can
figure this all out and know practi-
cally where we are, especially when
Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1918-08-08

WI Sc 11IlAdOOtA OCCAhOA AAAh AHh0 ~
ceived the following letter from her
son Clifford:
Camp Mills, N. Y.
July 81, 1918.
Dear Mother:
Just a few lines today to let you
know | am we'll and hope you are the
same Will give you little account
of our trip from Custer to Camp
Mills:
We left Custer at o'clock and ar
rived at 1890 at Detroit, where the
Red Cross served us with sandwiches,
milk, fruit and then gave us cigarettes
and postcards. From there we passed
through the Detroit tunnel under the
Detroit river into Windsor, Canada,
where they again gave us postcards
with stamps. The country is very
level all along the way through Can
ada Then we got back again into the
Scranton, Pa, we left the train for
a thirty-minute walk which we greatly
needed, for we had been riding for "a
hours and were getting tired of sit
ting still. After the exercise the Red
Cross gave us a lunch and then we
continued our trip through the hills
of Pennsylvania. We passed through
some very pretty scenery and saw a
good many coal mines. In these hills
they have a number of summer resorts
and at Mounte Pecono there is a very
beautiful lake which reminded us of
Devils Lake.
We took a ferry from Hoboken to
Long Island, where we are now locat-
ed. Don't think we will be here much
longer, for we have all our equipment
and are ready to leave whenever the
orders are given. We boys were down
town last night taking in the sights of
the big city. Expect to go down again
today
Had long talk with Dean Luce last
night; ran across him down town. 1t
seemed good to meet someone from
our home town in big city like New
York.
You would not know me now, for
I'm as tanned as an Indian and have
gained 80 pounds since have been in
the service With love.
From your son,
CLIFFORD.
Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1918-08-08
One of Five Chosen for Officers
Training


Mrs. Ed. A. McGilvra has received
the following letter from her nephew,
J. E. Congdon, Jrt, stationed at
Fort Sheridan. The young man is a
son of former Secretary ]. e. Cong
don, who is well remembered here in
Y. M. c.. A. work having been here
for four years beginning in 1895.
Mr.. Congdon was married June 3, 1896
bringing his bride here. They lived
here until September, 1899. While here
two children were born to them,
James and Mildred. The latter attend
ed Baraboo High, last year being her
junior year. James is a senior in
Park College, Parkville, Mo-, where
the family will move in September.
Three younger children Walter, How
ard and Dorothy will attend school
there also.
James E COngdon, Jr., in Officers
Training camp writes as follows:
Well | am in the army now for a
change and not so very far from you
either.
A couple weeks ago [ got letter
from the president of our college that
he had been requested by the war
department to appoint five of the
leaders in his college for training
camp here. He said that / was one of
the men selected and asked me IL
would accept. | Immediately wired
back that I would and as result
am here.
1t is a great life here but we have
10 work aWfully hard. They keep US
going Is hours a day. From in the
morning until at night, and the only
time that we have to ourselves is
from to $50 when the lights are out
and we have to be in our hunks. They
are terribly strict here, and their dis
cipline covers the most minute de-
tails of our life.
We started out drilling the first day
we got here, and we have been drill
ing and hiking ever since. In fact
am on my feet just about all the
time. We are drilling and hiking with
our rifles and cartridge belts on now
and my shoulder is sore from carry
ing it. When we are not drilling we
study, and have lectures by the Off
GERS on various phases of military
life. Of late we have been working
out tactical problems in patrOlllng
and advance guards. We are study
Ing trench warfare a little bit, but the
s-rY1rgh a sic has hann laid on omen war
fare. Last week I had to help dig a
trench, but outside of that most of
our training is in bayoneting and open
warfare.
Last night three fellows in our com
pany got a pass to stay out until IL
o'clock. but they stayed out a lit
lie later than that and that morning
thew were in the guardhouse Tney
were the most surprised aud scared
bunch of fellows that | ever saw. They
marched them down our company
street this morning as is customary,
with a guard with gun behind each
one of them. and there was no grin OF
Fbrayado, or smile of recognition on
Their faces. They looked like three
whipped dogs. But you see they are
in the army now and subject to it's
discipline. -i'>'iait
With lots of love,
Your nephew,
JAMES CONGDON.
18th Company S. A. T. c.
TIL
Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1918-08-08
Your nephew,
JAMES CONGDON.

18th Company S. A. t. c.
Fort Sheridan, Ill.
Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1918-08-08
Describes Trip From Camp Custer

Mrs. Elizabeth Steinbrink has re-
ceived the following letter from her
son Clifford:
Camp Mills, N. Y.
Tu1v 81 1919
Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1918-08-08

Mrs. Robert Walluck has received
the following letters from her son,
William Smith, who is at present in a
hospital in England
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-01-01
Iobbing Trade Grows In Vol
une From $82.658.6oO In
1916 to $o6,488. $50 In 1917
EITY'S MANUFACTURERS
EMPLOY 80, 1877 PERSONS
Only Item Which Shows Loss
Il That Of Strong Drink. the
Place oil Which Is Taken by
Increase in orthwhile ~
ticles

Business was pretty good in Rich
naond In 1917. thank you!
Large gains were shown in both
manufacturing and the Ioboing trade
III the city for tho year over 1915,
the total value of the output OF the
manufacturing interests Of Richmond
for 1917 having been s11~5.StS.tss
against si0T.IsT.25a In 1915. an in
lerAs1 Of ~ss.s.o.s3s. This gain shows
|A healthy and steady growth in manu-
fsSAa4sag here i~nGNsating an increase
oyer the Seai. 1915 OF sts,655,a2S.
Jobb.ng trade for the year has
shawn al marked a n increase, the
1aa sa.es for the year having been
ss7s0 against S~S2.65s.s90 IN
4 al increase In the volume Of
aaasrss ~ st2.S3e. GEO. The total ia
4G5 at,oye that OF 1915.
aE. every department of
nslnes9 ms gone ahead. Under the
4 automobiles. bicycles.
a9s3 9pasn4thss there were 3it
mta ..toyed IN 1919 with 81 total
ase o output oT st.sf5,Se Last
rat there were TSG persons employed
~ Ehese lines OF work. with an out
al vatged at more than $1,000 600.
Nsfs"se i, Loss Proves n Gain.
I re serH interesting and notable
.ynss' III trade falls under the head
W whteh IN 1915 read beer, lqIor,
Iii ,eral water and tee with a total
80 2s5.eG0. In 1917 this item
N 'hottlers. soft drinks, mineral
Iwssar, &es-sSS1. 500" However. an the
IA ness totals show great Increase IT
evident THAT the manufacturing in
.eTests Of Richmond graudly rallied
5rssfa THIS Business Toss" Of some
ike two and one-half millions,
Isrccsas.y when one compares this
k~n of the 1918 3ohbing trade re-
Itwsrt groceries. confectiofss, liquors.
fsgaTs. and tobacco-s2t,64p,o 500.
twf:n groceries. coufections, soft
Drinks, cigars and toeaccp-S2A,s6s.-
|s4e.t'
a*nder the comprehensive teGn or
ErrovfSse,as'' The ibUtTtg total of l9l8
|Mas s1as5G,20e while III 1915 the
Notri WAS sts.etl,2@e.
The output OF the several forms IN
which tnhaceo Is manufactured here
tconsinued on Page Threel
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-01-01
Auto Bandits
Evade Police

Pittsburg. Pa. Dec. sl-State police
tonight. on the road from Butler to
p~itksburg. are hot on the trail of three
Pittsburg bandits who. In a high-pow-
cred automobile loaded with loot are
heading for Pittsburg.
Beginning last Friday night the trio
executed one daring raid after an
other, always being able to fee from
pursuit.
Their first raid was on h Evans
City i~nterurban station. Last night
they plundered a hardware store at
Transfer. In a night dash across
try they hurried to Butler where they
looted the cash drawer of the Pitts
burg, Harmony and New Castle line.
and robbed a number of homes In the
heart of Butler.
BY this time the state police got
on their trail and the chase toward
Ptttsburg began, At Portersvtlle In
attempt was made to head them OF but
The bandit car sped through the main
street. Another futile attempt TO
stop them was made at Harmony.
Motorcycle police late tonight are
stationed at all roads leadings to the
city prepared to a~pprehend the trio.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-01-01
FRENCH TROOPS WIN
BRILLIANT VICTORY
ON ITALIAN FRONT
Rainbow Division Under Cen
eral Miche'er Storm euton
Line in Monte Tomba Sec
tor-Success Il Unexpected

London. Dec. 3I.--Tnto the dying
hours OF ItaIy's darkest year Frances
rainbow divisions have sent a bril-
liant ray.
"A notable victory" the Rome wa
Office announced, has been won by the
French auxiliary army. General
Nichsler-ferneriy General Petain's
first lieutenant in the field-eent hrs
troops into the mountain battle with
the watchword of the Marine and Yer
dun, Win" They did. With ire
si~ttble dash they Etormed the lines
or the Teutons In the sector of Monte
Tcrnba. throwing the defenders back
a. considerable distance and taxing
1890 prisoners. SEVEN e~ETfsyoFr-~zss
sixty machine guns are arsong the
booty. 1t is the first victory ON the
Italian side since the Isonzo disaster.
The whole Kingdom Rome dispatches
showed tonisht. is throbbtng with JOY
ard confidence,
Berlin officially admitted the defeat
thif afternoon. The German war Of
fee in its announcement stated that
"Frenc infantry attacked and sue
cceded I'm penetrating parts of the
German positions around Monte Tom
ba."
To Berlin. and In fact. to the world
at large. tbs French success came "A
tremendous surprise. No one in mill
tarS circles had believed there was
any chance at this time for a success
frl counter-move on the italian line.
II the Lattns could hold their own I'M
iii snow fell. and then use the winter
for reorganization. IL was believed all
that could be done was done. Again
and again dispatches from all sorts of
sources had told OF the continual
Teuton re~inforcenents. had represent
ed the Austro-German front as super
formidable. Military speculation far
CONTINUED on Second Page.)