The Jasper news. [volume] (Jasper, Missouri) 1898-1924, 1918-02-14
Edwin Cordz Writes from South
Carolina,

Moultrieville, S. c., Feb. 3, 1918.
Mr.. Arthur f. Drake.
Jasper, Mo.
Dear Mr.. Drake: promised when
] was home on a furloush Christmas
that l would write you upon my des-
tination from Jefferson Barracks.
This finds me OH the remote south
west corner of small island, known as
Moultueville, South Carolina. 1t is a
small Island of sand located out it the
Atlantic Ocean, four miles cast oil the
coast Of Charleston. Our camp is in
front of the Battery of Jasper which is
fortress 200 yards from the beach.
Upon moments notice these i'm
mense 10-inch guns peep over the
fortress from the battery pit, in which
they are concealed, the range of the
enemy's ship located Immediately in
the plotting room by the asmuth
scale, and fired by electricity in which
projectile weighing GOO, pounds its
interior filled with explosive "D", and
its estimated distance 10 miles, flies at a
tremendous rate of Sreed, and when its
target is hit it eXplodes, tearing and
demolishing everything coming in
contact with its force.
am only 800 yards from Old Fort
NIoultrie, located to the right of the
battery of Jasper. II is very antique
and old looking, covered with dead
grass and weeds, and in its center is
the Old prison in which in its re-
mote corner is buried the famous old
Indian Chief "Osceola," who starved
himself to death after being captured
and confined to the prison during the
year 1858. If this old fort could speak
it would fill the pages of many volumes
of interesting history. Then setting
alone out from the shore OF this island,
presume about 800 yards distance,
lies old Fort Sumter" the start and
the first victory of the Civil War.
We have been under quarantine since
my arrival here and will remain so
until danger of all contagious diseases
is past. | am restricted to certain
quarters in tents and certain districts
of drill.
! rise 5:l5 n. m., retiring at 9p M,
my daily routine OF work consisting
briefly of lectures and oral recitn ions
upon the large defense guns. rifles,
drawing and locating parts OF rites and
guns, first mid, laws and orders, hygiene
and committing To memory certain
general orders, calisthenic exercises
twice daily, drilling to hours day,
sentry duty of "a hours in turn.
have filed my application blank,
turned in my recommendations to my
superior officers, and for my previous
military training and my work have
accomplished here, was recommended
to still superior officers OF company,
made up OF young college men in
South Carolina, which leaves for
France in few weeks, for an advanced
CLERICAL position in the financial de-
partment. | was called yesterday for
an examination in trigonometry for the
plotting room wnlcn is used in finding
the range of ships and firing the large
guns. | took the examination but
showed my preference for the CLERICAL
in which ] was assured as soon as |
am relieved from quarantine.
My fnce and hands are brown as a
mulutto, due TO the wind and exposure,
but ! am getting MS fat as can be.
Never had better health or felt better in
my life.
My parents sent me the Jasper
News and rs read letter from Men
del Drake, of the L. S. n. on the coast
of Ireland, Thought OF my promise to
you and have eudeavored TO give you a
few lines. Trusting all is well and may
hear from you at an early date.
Yours very sincerely,
Edwin s. Cordz,
Recruit Camp, Battery of Jasper,
Moultrieville, S. C.