New Britain herald., 1919-05-05
PLAINVILLE NEWS
DECEASED SOLDIER
AWARDED CITATION
Private Francis Barnes, Killed in
Action, Showed Great Bravery
WILLIAM HASTINGS DEAD

WILLIAM HAD mud DEAD
Old Resident Found Dead in Bed
Cost OF refreshments Itisca--Sun-
,av 1ravcl Hcayy-Forty Hours
Devotion SHAREHOLDER News Items.
Priyate Francis Barnes was Plain
vllc's first soldier TO be killed on the
battIetjelds of France, and he is also
the first Plainville soldier although
deceased, to receive a citation for
bravery. The diploma, has been sent
to his mother Mrs, Harriet Barnes of
Broad street is signed by Douclas
Potts, colonel commanding the 1O2d
Infantry, and is officially recorded in
the history of the regiment The cita.
ton received is as follows:
"American Expeditionarv
Forces in France
... "102d infantry.
This ccrtfies that Private Francis
Barnes was distinguished in action
against the enemy at Seicheprey on
April 20 1918, by such courage and
Soldicrly conduct AS to win this hon
orable mention in general orders of
thlS regiment
NNlGned) 'DOCGLAS POTTS.
"tOlOnel Comma nding'
II was just about Il year ago that
the town was saddencd by'news of the
young soldiers death. Since that time
many documents concerning him and
his fighting life have been received bv
his mother. Many and varied reports
battlefield and local people were in a.
quandary as to which story was true.
One report had ii that his body was
blown to pieces by the explosion of
a shell. This report has been denied
within the past week by returned
veteran Of the 1929.
AS he tells the story. Barnes vOlun-
! feered for duty in an advanced listen
| ing post on the day of April 20. He
know the duty WAS hazardous but did
! not finch. He said gOodby to his
companions and went out with anOth-
| er soldier. Whether he was struck in
| the listening post, the relatcr was I'M
| able to say, but thought that he was
! He denied that the body was mutilat-
| ed and blown to bits by a high cXplo-
, siNe she'll He was with another COM
| panN at the end of tho battle, and,
| when returning, saw the body Of a
| soldier lying on the ground The fell
| low looked to be asleep, and. upon
reaching the body, he was Mortified to
see that it was Barnes and he was
| dead. He reported him to his COM
pany, Company T. as killed in action
| and has told Mrs. Barnes that the
! body was buried with care and was in
| good condition. Other soldiers from
! the boys own company have told
| many and varied les of his death
| and it would seem that they were con-
| fused. His personal effects have been
sent to his mother.
| The citation will be framed and the
committee having charge of the cele-
| bratiOn in honor of the returned SOL
| diers will ask for its Use on that date
when tho history OF every local man
and his deeds will be known to the
! public
| William Hastings Dead.
| William Nj. Hastings was found
! dead in bed at his home in this town
| yesterday morning. Medical E,xa min
! er j. G.. Moody pronounced death as
! due to cerebral hem orrhage. Hast
| ngs was 60 years of age and was
! born is Winsted on January |, 1869.
| He was we'll lln own in thus town where
| he resided most of his life. He was
| employed in Southington. A daugh-
| ter in Waterbury, and two brothers,
| Frederick Of this town, and Glover of
| West Newton, Mass, survive him.
The funeral will be held tomorrow
| afternoon at / o'clock from the Bail
| ey Undertaking cOmpanN's parIors
and nterment will be in Winsted. The
! funeral will be private.
Refreshments Go Soaring.
War tax must now be paid for cat
ing ice cream or drinking sodas, and,
as ~ result, Plainville confectioners
! are having trouble telling their many
| patrons. The advanced price went
into effect during the past week and
many have been the complaint
! lodged by those desiring the sweet
| nesses Ice cream cones have gone
from five to six cents, a 10-cent dish
! of ice cream now costs | | cents | .
| cent dish II cents, etc; Soda has in
| creased likewise. The tax has been
imposed by the government with the
| express demand that it be paid, not
| by the merchants but by the people,
| The dealers must even keep the tax
! must keep accurate fluctuations of the
| various drinks sold and the prices
| charged for each. Detailed sheets in
| connection with the tax must also be
ton has left the employ Of the Berlin