davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1918-10-31
Has Lots to Tell When He Returns

The following letter was received
by Mrs. William Tabor Of Prairie du
Sac from her brother, Emmett G..
Calvin, who, until three years ago,
resided in Sank county.
Somewhere in France.
Sept. IS, 1918.
Dear Sister and family
1t has not been long since l wrote
your last letter but as / have time
now | will write again.
| haven't received a letter from
you for quite a while, but I think
nothing of that This last week I got
two letters dated August and II.
| expect you would like to know
where | am. We have been on the
fighting line since Sept. LIST. We are
holding what is known as a quiet
sector 1t gets rather noisy some
times. 1t sounds a great deal like
northern Wisconsin when they are
blasting stumps. | can keenly dis
tinguish between a shrapnel and a
gas she'll l have never had to use
my gas mask yet.
We have turned in our hats and
have only our steel helmets. Some
of us have G. T. H. caps which we
can wear around camp. Otherwise
helmets must be worn and gas masks
in alert positions. / don't think
Wayne would fancy a gas mask. They
are a dear friend to a soldier
l am still at signal work. At pres
ent l have regular hours of duty, four
hours on and eight hours off, My
hours are from two to six p.@ m. and
two to six a. m. The rest of the time
| have to sleep, eat, wash clothes, take
a bath, etc. Time passes, rapidly. =
Three Of us, live in a sort of "a dug.
out six feet by eight feet. 1t is com
Portable, and as one of us is always on
duty we have enough room. The
other two fellows are from Wiscon-
Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1918-10-31
Chilly in England

Mr.. and Mrs. Lewis Prothero have
received letter from their son, j. E.
Prothero. written in, part as follows:
Winchester, Eng.
Sept, Is, 1918.
Dear Mother and All:
AS l have a little time this evening
I will write few lines. 1t being Sun
day we have done scarcely nothing
except eat and sleep.
Our captain took us for hike into
Winchester this p. m. and most every
one enjoyed it immensely. We are
about three miles out from Winches
ter, so it made quite a hike after max
ing our rounds about the city. The
sights certainly were fine. Some of
the interesting things were the mar
row streets, old brick and stone build
ings, and high walls brick and
stone The most interesting building
/ saw was said to be 700 years old.
Most of the houses and all of the
buildings are right on the street The
houses are closer to the street here
than the stores are over there. You
can stand in the gutter and touch the
door knobs. All buildings are made
of either brick or stone. Some of the
houses which have g small lawn
Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1918-10-31
Picture Of Merrimack Bridge

Cyril Cooper of Reedsburg, now in
France writes in part as follows:
We are going to move before long
into Tours. We are about twenty-five
minutes walk from there now We
are in a railway engineers camp here
now and know they'll be glad to get
rid of us as we take up a lot of their
room.
We sure have "Y" here. Two
large rooms, one for services and en-
tertainments and the other for read
ing and writing. | went to church
last night We have entertainments
about every night. There was Col
onel from General Pershing's staff
talked to us d few minutes the other
night. General Pershing and staff
went through the post office not long
ago but it wasn't the first time | had
seen him as we had a review for him
and Secretary Baker when he was
over here.
1 saw a picture of the bridge at
Merrimack the other day going to
Victor Schaefer. Someone from Bara
boo was sending it to him. 1t looked
rather natural or ct least the sand
bar did. l went over to the river Cher
yesteday. There are two rivers right
near here the Loire and Cher they
meet here. There sure is some pretty
scenery here but it can't come up to
the "Barab0o" or Wisconsin.
Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1918-10-31
Life a Camp Randall

A few days ago Cyril E. Johnson,
Erwin A. Krohn, Jabweck, Reeds
burg, Harry A. Wiseman, Ableman;
and Fred II. Schacht, Fred J. Terry,
Paul E. Cross and Merl c. Okern,
Baraboo; went to Madison for mill
tary training. Mr.. Cross, son-in-law
Of Mr.. and Mrs. ]. l.. Bonham, writes
for their first experiences there as
follows:
We were met at the train by an of
fcer who took us to the armory and
were examined for the 'flu," then we
were ordered to the mess hall for din
ner. Everybody was hungry and we
had a good mess" which consisted
Of boiled potatoes, roast beef, and
gravy, white bread and "ole," milk
and tapioca pudding 1t was simple
but there was plenty of it. We were
then ordered back to the armory and
there we waited until we were or
dered to grab our baggage and march
to Camp Randall The barracks are
all new and each barrack sleeps la
men. There are five barracks practi-
cally completed and two under con-
struction. The Sank county men are
quartered in company A, first bar
racks, temporarily. Everything is
new in the barracks.
We have narrow cots to sleep on
with mattress and have been issued
three army blankets. The windows
must all be open all night and many
of the boys didn't sleep much on &C
count Of it being cold. The heating
plant is not as yet completed but
expect to have heat for tomorrow
night. We have so far only one case
of 'flu" AS we are not organized
yet we haven't any regular routine.
Lights out at ten, up at $50, and
march mile to morning mess. To-
morrow we take our physical exam
ination then are measured for uni
forms. We are not allowed to be
away from barracks except in charge
of an officer. We expected to get an
hour or so Off tonight but no such
luck. The boys are all anxious to get
down town to get tobacco, stamps, etc.
They are all happy bunch After
evening mess, while marching back
to barracks, we are allowed to-
whistle and sing, and from the sound
| guess everyone took part. Tonight
the boys are out in front of the bar
racks singing. They sure are a hap
Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1918-10-31
Shells Burst Over His Head

Walter r. Cunradi writes to rela-
lows:
| am still behind the first lines but
within hearing of the terrific cannon
aiding. l like France very much hav-
ing seen quite a little of it already.
Travelling three days and three nights
on freight car is quite an experience
sleeping on the hard floor and being
j0lted and thumped and other incon-
veniences connected with this mode
of touring. We were recompensated
for all this by viewing the beautiful
scenery, the interesting towns and
the things connected with the war
Anti air craft guns firing on an enc
my machine woke up all up the other
night. 1t was right over our heads
and the noise and cracking of the
bursting shells gave us a real taste of
war.
At present we are billited in the
stable on a big estate. Have nice
comfortable beds of straw, and the ex-
treme cool nights make up wrap our
selves in our blankets.
The weather of France is great now
as we had a much needed rain and the
great grape crop looks fine now. In
fact all crops of France have been
good. All she needs is a more mod
ern way Of handling the crops, as I
noticed very few grain binders in the
harvesting season, but instead the
women were out tying up the grain
Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1918-10-31
Home by April

D. M. Quiggle, 120 Pine street, Bar
aboO, has received letter from Ray
mond R. Ebert, who was employed by
the Northwestern line at Baraboo for
some time in the baggage room. He
made his home with the Quiggle fam
lily. The letter follows:
st. Sulpice, Oct. 5.
Dear Mr.. Quiggle:
Received your most welcome letter
several days ago, and was glad to
hear all about yourself, etc.
You spoke that Frank would be
called soon. He probably will receive
training, but he will never see serv-
ice over here. BY the time he is
trained we boys will be on our way
back home. The war is about fin
ished and l expect to be in Chicago
sometime in April.
l am switching these French box
cars and everything every day. 1t is
not bad job. l have a regular crew
am assigned; also engine crew. We
go to work the same time every day.
l have been to Bordeaux Eve or six
times and about three weeks ago,
when | was in, | saw French briar
pipe l bought it. thought you need
ed a French pipe in your collection.
l can't send it, so will keep it and
give it to you on my return to the y.
S. A.
The nights are getting quite cool
here. We sleep with all our blankets
over US. The eats were quite rotten
for a while, but have made some new
changes and are eating better every
day. The grape crop is all picked.
The French farmers are busy making
wine; | have watched them make
wine, but it is too sweet when new.
Tell Flanagan / would like to have
him for our engineer over here. He
would soon find himself a French
girl. Tell Bill hello for me.
| haven't much news in stock this
time, so please allow for my letter be
ing so short and will do better the
next time.
Tell Mrs. Quiggle | Often think Of
her swell raisin pie; wish l could
nave one over here.
Will close; good luck to all.
Yours truly
RAYMOND R. EBERT.
Co. C. Det., 54th Eng. Ry.
A. P. O. 705., A. E. f.
Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1918-10-31
Americans Use Captured Trains

Attorney and Mrs. A. J. Gemmill
have received the following letter
from Corporal Ralph Sanderson, son
of Ernest Sanderson of this city:
France, September 20, 1918.
Dear Mr.. and Mrs. Gemmill:
BY this time you have given up lock-
ing for a letter from me, so | will sur
prise you by writing. l have a little
time this morning, as l am now one
of the two mechanics of the company,
and the trucks are all out, so l have
nothing much to do now. | have
full stomach, as | helped serve the
breakfast this morning, and so had all
the pancakes and syrup l could eat,
instead of the usual two or three.
We have started another drive, and
the trucks are getting the hardest
grind yet, over mo MANS land" con-
crete trenches, etc. | went up with
them yesterday, and was surprised to
see the Americans using German wag-
ons, trucks, and even narrow gauge
railroads and cars. 1t was complete
surprise to the Germans, l guess, as
seven thousand prisoners were taken
and several trucks, and even whole
trains. In one instance Boche troop
train pulled into the station and un-
loaded the troops in the hands of our
waiting dough boys" Our boys
learned from these that another train
of troops was due soon, and so waited
and took that in the same way.
The Germans are tickled to death
to be taken prisoners. Several of our
boys who could speak German were
used as interpreters for the prisoners
and nearly all of them are Of the opin-
ion that the war is most all over but
the shouting" One gave the Ger
mans three more months, but most of
them say six months. One prisoner
had been in the German army one day,
and in the trenches one hour when he
was taken.
Today our trucks are hauling civil
ians who have been held by the Ger
mans as prisoners in the towns we
have taken, so on the whole, with
what the papers say of the way the
United States is responding to the de-
mands Of the war, things look very
encouraging at present.
CPL. RALPH l.. SANDERSON.
Co. F, 101st Supply Train.
26th Div, Am. E. F.
Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1918-10-31
Getting Wounded

Frances Rabuck writes to his rela'
tives at La Vale. in part as follows:
l suppose you heard that [ was
wounded. Well, wasn't. / wae just
naturally hit, and got ride to the
hospital, where they cut off a few
steaks, and now I'm getting along
fine Wounded is a big word and
legs, 3one arm, and the bottom half of
your head shot off, We get good treat
ment here, and have as good time as
can be expected around such a place
Time goes fast, and it certainly does
MT seem like six weeks since | left the
front, but the calendar says it will be
six weeks tomorrow.
There are three fellows in here
who had their tonsils removed a few
days ago. They are pretty sore yet,
but are getting along fine. We have
some fine nurses here. They are all
good looking, but none of them look
as good to me as a certain nurse
know back in the old u. S. | wish you
had been my nurse for about two
weeks after | was hit. | bet you would
have had enough to keep you busy.
couldn't turn over either way, so you
can imagine the nurse had swell
time of it. You've got to hand it to
these nurses. When st. Peter starts
handing out his war medals, he will
have to give first prize to the Red
Cross nurse and second prize to the
doughbOys.
Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1918-10-31
in France:


France, September 16.
day. Well, Louie, / have been trans
lines to let you know am feeling fine
and hope you are. Here l am writing
on box, in my pup tent out in the
woods. We have been having lots of
rain lately. but the sun is shining to-
day. Well, Louie and l have trans
ferred into another company and l like
it better than the company l left. We
have fine bunch Of boys, and l be-
lieve the finest bunch of officers in
France. There is only one fellow from
around home in my company. Say,
Louis, if you take daily paper, save
the papers from September 1 on, and
when l come home can show you
where 1 have been. I believe l could
surprise you a little if | could step
over there and tell you some of my ex-
periences. How does farming go? I
suppose you will soon be filling silo.
The climate here seems about the
same as there. The farming here in
France is carried on a great deal diff
ferently than there. Farmers here all
live in villages and bring their stock
to town every night. There are quite
few goats here and the people use
goats milk as well as cows.
l was in one village where they were
threshing, and the separator was
about one-fourth the size of ours. They
raise some nice wheat here, but have
not seen any corn. Well, must close,
SO write soon. I haven't got any mail
for five weeks, but will get it. after
while.
Tell everybody hello for me. Now
you write right away.
Your brother,
PVT. HERBERT f. FAIR.
Co. A, 149th M. G. Bn.
A P. o. 715, Am E. F., via N. Y.
Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1918-10-31
- -
IN CAMP AND
FIELD
This Paper win Be Glad to Print Short Letters Items OF
News From the Sank County Young Men ia the
Army Write Short Extract From
Letters and Send to This Office

around them are enclosed WITH high
brick or stone walls or it may DO a
hedge fence. I believe England has
some of the finest farm land in the
world
We had about ten-hour train ride
after getting off the boat, and / surely
saw some fine country. The farms
are most all small, we'll kept and are
all fenced with hedge fences. They
certainly are fine looking sight. q.
It is fall here now. Small grain is
in the shock and potatoes ETC., are
about ripe. | have not seen any corn
since | have been here. | don't think
they raise it here. The rainy season
is just starting. 1t is damp and
chilly and the fire feels pretty good.
We are located in barracks and have
a small coal stove in each barrack.
The food here is pretty good and
we have enough to eat. For supper
we had beans, bread, butter, and
coffee. | cannot tell you very much
about our trip across as l cannot give
you the sailing or landing dates. We
had a safe trip and saw nothing of
subs" You see there are lots Of
things that would interest you but I
cannot mention them now.
If you wish you could knit me
pair of wistlets and send the sweater
| feel as though l could wear three or
four sometimes. [ think every soldier
ought to be provided with one as they
are so warm.
| received the helmet day before
we left Camp Merritt and sure was
glad. The last letter l received from
you was written August Fl and for
warded from Camp Johnston. l got
it after / was on the water about a
day. l sure hope l get some before
long l hope you will all keep well.
/ must close now as meeting begins
soon. Write me often and tell me
the date on which you receive this.
With love to all,
PR. J. E. 'PROTHERO.
A. A. r. Draft Camp Johnston,
American e. F.,
via New York
Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1918-10-31
Does His Washing

Mechanic Louis c. Schara writes to
his folks at Prairie du Sac in part as
follows:
| saw some mud hens and wild
ducks last week and how | wished l
could have had my shot gun. There
are also deer around here but have
not seen many fish.
This is certainly beautiful coun-
try but the people are about on hun
dred years behind the times. They
wear wooden shoes, work with oxen
and the buildings are built of stone.
We wash and shave every day so
mother when l get home you can de-
pend upon me for the washing; we
have inspection every week. Must
close now. Best regards to all.
MECHANIC LOUIS C. SCHARA,
Machine Gun Co.,
54th Infantry Seq,
American E. F.
Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1918-10-31

There's the land, where we're going,
that's nameless
And the rivers all run God knows
where
There are lives that are erring and
aimless
And deaths that just hang by a
hair.
There are hardships that nobody rec
kons,
There are valleys unpeopled and
still;
There's a 1and-Oh! it beckons and
beckons,
And want to go and will!
And then well return from over the
sea,
And we'll all be glad when that
time has come;
With the good old peace and liberty,
And our long days work is done.
Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1918-10-31
Cassed in France
via New York

The following letter is from A. N.
Kramer to Mrs. A. A. Cooper, Bara-
boo. The young man is son of Mr..
and Mrs. Ed. E. Kramer of Sioux City,
formerly of Baraboo.
France, Sept Il, Is.
Dear Friend:
Your letter of June received few
days ago and certainly glad to hear
from you folks and also glad to know
that every one is we'll and happy. We
are doing our best over here to end
things as soon as possible and if the
people of the good old states keep up
the good work we'll be back soon, at
least | hope so, for things look fairly
good now. AS for myself, I'm back Of
the lines for awhile as | was gassed
during the month of June and my
lungs are very sore yet but I think
will be over it in time. Would like to
tell you a few experiences I've had
but the less said the better for all con-
cerned, for you know the danger in
telling too much and if happen to be
l.
to tell.
Well | am at the end so must close
for now, hoping this finds you all well.
Write whenever wou find time.
ART KRAMER.
Convalescent Camp No.
A P. o. 1858,
Am, Exp. Forces,
France.
The young man is author of the fol-
lowing lines.
| wanted the Army, and | got it.
| worked and drilled like a slive.
1t was eight hours day, and | done
And nothing ahead but a grave.
| wanted the Army, and l got it.
It's the cussedest place, that l
know
From the big dizzy buildings, that
screen it,
To the deep, death like tombs be-
Some say, cts a fine place to shun, y
Maybe; but there's some-as
would trade it
For no place on earth, and I'm one.
The summer, no sweeter was ever
The sunshiny tents, all athrill;
The cruisers af1oat, on the river;
The sentinel at watch on the hill.
The strong life that never knows har-
ness,
And at night, the bugle call
The freshness, the freedom, the far
ness
90! God" how I'm stuck on it all.
The drilling, and the sun that blinds
you
The Captain, who's as tight as a
drum.
The cold fear, that follows and finds
you
The silence that bludgeons you
dumb
The game that's older than history,
The tents, where the weird
shadows slant;
The stiffness, the moonlight, the nays
terry;
I'd bid them good-by-but can't
Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1918-10-31
Hunting Germans

Mrs. A. BIanck, Third street, has re-
ceived the following letter from her
son, Private Albert Blanck, who is
somewhere in France: -.
My Dear Folks:
AS you may know by this time that
| have arrived over here safely and
am in the best of health and hope
that this will find you all the same.
Presume that by this time you have
received the mail that | have written
since being over here as | wrote sew
eral times. Haven't received any
mail yet since being over here but ex-
pect some soon now as it is about
time. Well, how's everybody at
home? Hope we'll and healthy.
Well, suppose it is getting some
what cold now as it usually does
about this time already. 1t is some
what warm here during the daytime
but at night it is quite cold. Has
dad gone hunting yet or don't he in
tend to. this year? l suppose he will
not have time. Well I'll get plenty of
hunting here only I'll hunt for differ
ent game and | presume you know
what kind of game that is. Hope that
the girls are writing frequently so
that | may hear from them often and
get all the news.
Well must close now and will write
soon again, trusting and hoping all
are we'll and that we may be together
soon. With best regards and love to
all as ever.
Your son,
ALBERT.
331st Machine Gun Bin
Co. A. American E. F.
A P. o. GIG. 4
Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1918-10-31

In France,
Sept. 10th, 1918.
Dear Father and Mother:
| have been so busy that l haven't
had time to think for week, SO quite
naturally have not written any let
ters. get pretty hungry for letters
myself but am pretty slow about writ
ing There is but very little to write.
We are still going to school and
spending a lot Of Uncle Sans good
money in powder and explosive.
l have been appointed as mem
Der of the general court-martial
since arriving and have been sitting
csses every night now for more than
a week. l like this work, Of course,
but to have that to take up my even
ings when | want to study is more
than I care for. They seem to stick
me with this job. You know we used
to say that it took worthless man
to make a good juryman--
The boys have surely been making
themselves felt, down on the front,
dad. | have been talking with some
Of them that have been there and
they seem to feel very much encour-
aged in the way things are going, but
I am afraid that the war will last for
sometime yet. | was in hopes that we
could finish them this fall, so / could
get home, but | guess not. However,
if we don't get them this fall, we'll
get them next spring | surely want
to get a good crack at them with
these four cannons that l have out
here beside my door.
| am not favorably impressed with
the country around here. They say
this is the poorest part of France and
it certainly must be, if France is any
good at ALL You know they always
send the artillery to some poor part
of the country for the reason that
they tear up the land so, they are so
rough.
| wish | could get you one of my
pictures when I have gas mask, he'll
met and few other things on. | am
surely some sight.
You know the more l think about
the Germans the more | hate them.
They are certainly keeping me away
from home and are likely too for
some time.
Say, dad, | wish you would go and
have The Baraboo Daily News sent
to me- l probably would not get all
of them, but if | could one, once in
awhile, it would help.
Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1918-10-31
sin also and we have pretty good


sin also and we have Pretty good
times.
. wish | had picture of the inter-
ior and exterior of our house to send
to you. We have lots of good scenery
here and very good climate; but wa
are told that it SHOWS here next
month.
My work doesn't take me to the
trenches so as yet / haven't been
down into the trenches.
| have seen whole lot of France
and will have lots to tell you when
we get back. l have felt fine ever
since l have been here. l must close
for today.
Your only brother,
EMMETT.
Headquarters Co.,
A. E. F., 53rd U. S. Reg. Inf,
Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1918-10-31
Anxious to Fight

Mrs. Fred G.. Schultz has received
word from her sons, George B. and
Louis NJ, in France. They are both
in good health. When the wounded
boys are taken to the hospital, they
want to know how soon they will be
able to go back to the trenches. They
take it real good naturally.