The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1918-08-15

August 'th, l9lN.
TO The Mother Father and Family Of
Eether Long.
Lancaster. Ny.
Dear Friends II am writing YOU
first as a friend and then as an Off
Ger of the Piggott Red Cross Chapter
Your boy is dead. this you already
know. the saddest of news to you.
While he was drowned he died as
much a soldier as # he had died on
the battle fields of France He had
answered his countrys call and was
doing his duty and we honor him.
No doubt BY now you know the
particulars as will he sent you by the
Board here just want to tell YOU
the things that ! know loved ones
want to know.
Sunday. rs you know was extreme
ly hot. These troop trains carrying
several hundred soldiers stopped at
81. Francis, a station a few miles
above here to give the boys a swim.
Your boy was missing when the boys
lined up for the train and his clothes
were found on the banks Of the river
the body was not recovered until late
Monday evening. The Red Cross
there looked after the remains under
the instructions Of the Local Board
here and was kept as long AS possible
There were arrangements made there
for services at the Methodist church
and this being Piggott Chapter head
quarters. we were asked to come. but
the Board, this the Local Exemption
Boardl decided as We were nearer
the railroad and the Board here. that
he be brought to Piggott. We ar
ranged then for services here, Rev
Mcclure Of the Methodist church con
Quoting the services. There were
beautiful flowers from the Red Cross
Ladies at st. Frances and we got
many pretty ones here from loving
mothers. ! was present at the ser
vice with other women We did
for your boy what we should have you
do for ours He was buried Tuesday
Afternoon. "Old Glory" was draped
over the casket and flowers too, and
many prayers were uttered for you
who did not know. May God Bless
You.
The lady at st. Francis will write
you also am to send your address
to her | asked that | might have
your address as soon as received and
Mr. Sneed brought me the Telegram
to read
The Identification tag worn around
the neck was removed, this | held in
my hand, the name "Rether Long"
and some numbers were all that was
on them. Someone suggested that
this was a policy number, but don't
know about that, the tag was kept
by Mr. Sneed
Now ifthere is any questions you
should like to ask me, write and ask
them. | shall be so glad to hear
anything concerning your boy or give
you any information | can.
These are dark days, days Of trag-
edy. There is only one to whom we
may go and He is "A present need in
every trouble God alone can com
fort you Sincerely,
mrs. Lura Brown,
Secty., of Red Cross, Piggott, Ark.
A letter from his son, Jasper Math-
ews, has just been received by his
father, Silas Mathews, giving an in
teresting account Of his trip overseas.
Jasper is delighted with his work
and the treatment he is receiving
over there. His letter will be read
eagerly by his friends back home, in
which he says:
Located in France.
Thursday, July 18th, 1918.
Dear Father IL have been in France
about one week. The most of the
time has been spent in travelling We
think that we are now located for
good in fine Camp which is quite
a long distance from the war front.
We have been here only three days