French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1916-1919, 1919-02-20

"'IS lii Otnce O1-Laundcy, Ice s.
Fuel Co.
DAVIDSON, Feb, S.-After long months
of anxious, not to say agonizing sus-
pense, in which hope alternated with
despair, Mr.. and Mrs. M. w. Gran
lord received official notice by wire
from Washington Wednesday night
that their son, Reid Crawford who was
wounded in an engagement in France,
July IS, died from his wounds the
same day
The family was promptly notified
by cable that the young man had been
wounded, character of the wound I'M
determined, but since that notification,
had never been able to get f.'rther di-
rect and reliable information as TO
whether the young fellow was alive
or dead. MIR. Crawford and Other
members Of the family, through all
these months have been making every
effort to learn something about the
boy writing to Washington, using the
good Offices of the Red Cross and of
the Y. M. C. A. at home and over
seas. Lut nothing at ali could be hear.l
In the last few months DR.. Thos. w.
Lingle in the Y. M. C. A. work in
France has been actively in search Of
information, but his last letter said
that he had not gotten as yet single
clue by which to trace out the history
of the case since that first and only
official report.
Rumors Of various kinds, apparent
ly traceahle to reliable sources had
from time to time reached Mr.. Gran
ford, some OF a discouraging nature
and others quite the reverse and war
ranting a belief on the part of the pa
rents that their son was yet alive aid
that in due time their fears were to De
joyfully relieved One report was to
the effect that one of the Davidson
boys. an old friend Of Reid Crawford,
had been wounded and that he was
getting along we'll. But until last eve
ming there had been nothing positive.
And long silence of the boy himself
had, however convinced all the friends
of the family here that the young SCI
der }.:ui died and pr05ab ; only II :
ant on IN
any hope that Reid was still living.
The following excerpt from a letter
written to his mother from Franco
when he was at the front ami constant
ly exposed, to the fire of tha enemy
attests his attact ment to high IDEALS
t1ee confidence and strength If lis
faith in God and his man'' courage
and readiness 10 face death sr@e:'--
Would yoI have eiieved I9p;'er,
that my nerves VOID have st&tAi up
as they have being constantly Under
shell fire for 2 mo2th? But have
:,ael and am i:.',y y:s- a-s well as 'aH
he. Do YOU knc y how Lave stood Il
as I have? By constant PRAYER a''d
reading of the Bible. My, YOU baRs no
idea what a comfort it has Teen to me
4, read Gods ;ForG and to be IN cen
cant communal tiCH with lIrh i'll
n9aver. I feel His presen c with e
al: the time. all I am To- tie IeS'S'
hit excited when a shell hits neal Io-
| have His peace with ne. ] 9EhF: .
Father, do for me as Thou k1oWeSt
best, and all viii be well.
..sThen. that wonderful f. '"teenth
c1,anter of John: If my life is spared
Won may be sure 1 am going to aim at
the higher life. To live for God an6
for Won. nv dear mother, is all
want. But. if God ssees fit to take me-
am ;,el fectly resigned to Ills WILL ana
T have no fear at meeting Him, for
am irving to live clean, upright llfe'
and I think viii he ready II he callS
me.
deepest love to all; your son.
"REID."
.,zid Crawford, % years of age wien
no died. was a member of the Elgnty-
+1ira company, Sixth Regiment OF the
IT. s. Marines He went to France
early last spring and fought with MS
COMPANY in the battles OF Chateau
r-,iorrv ReIleau wood, scissors aho
other lesser battles. He received MS
mortal wozad on July 49, passing
{, as lust learned here, on the
same day.
cnN AE 7 ! RRIVV