THE EATONVILLE DISPATCH, Eatonville, Washington, December 27, 1918 Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by E. Ruth Brewer brewerer@att.net 08/09/04 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ************************************************ THE EATONVILLE DISPATCH A Weekly Paper For Tacoma Eastern People Third Year, No. 72, December 27, 1918 Eatonville, Pierce County, Washington Pg. 1, col. 1 LOCAL AND PERSONAL For Sale-Sow and 7 pigs. Joe Fogel, Eatonville. 2t CORRALLED "Rope thrown; hog tied and branded. Billie belongs to me." This message came over the wire to Mrs. Fred Steere December 9, meaning that Sergt. H. A. Steere was married to Miss Grace L. Potter of San Diego, Cal., at Los Angeles on the 9th inst. The newlyweds will make their home or the present in San Diego. A large number of friends and relatives are extending congratulations, in which The Dispatch wishes to be included. W. N. ("Bud") Scoggins has rented and occupied the ranch north of Eatonville, formerly the home of Robert Esselstein and family. Our old friend, Sid Potter, has returned to his home in Eatonville for the holidays. Sid will stay only a short time, after which he will return to his position with the American Nitrogen Products Co. at Lake Bunzen, B. C. Mrs. Susie Wenk of Seattle is visiting with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. T. C. VanEaton, since one day last week. Mr. Wenk plans to be here for Christmas, after which they will return to their home. The rotund countenance of Walt Guske is again seen in our city. Walt is home for the holidays and then will return to his employment for the Puget Sound logging company at Cedar Rapids, Wash. Curtis Hedberg and Lawrence Fairburn expect to leave for W. S. C. about Jan. 1, where they will take up their studies, including "campustry" and the "art of fussing." Pg. 1, col. 2, 3, & 4 HUNGER DRAWS THE MAP (map and story of the hunger in the world, with note as to where the US is sending food.) pg. 1, col. 2 Miss Mahaffie of the Eatonville high school left for Everett Tuesday evening where she will spend Christmas with her relatives. Miss Gladys Brown expects to leave soon for her home in Yakima, where she will spend the holidays with her relatives. Signe Green, a student of the W.S.C. is spending the holidays with her parents in Eatonville. Sid Potter, the ancient plumber, is back again for a few days. Sid is helping Uncle Edward operate British Columbia. George Smith and Harold Griffiths dished out the candy to the kids at the Christma tree at the church last Sunday night. The weather east of the Cascades is quite chilly, with snow, and prospects for more. S.A.T.C.-Scratch away the cooties. S.A.T.C.-Stick around till Christmas. R.O.T.C.-Rolled oats and tomato catsup. R.O.T.C.-Rats, onions and tom cats. Private "Burkey" Brewer is now under quarantine at W. S. C. with the mumps. "Merry Christmas, Burkey." PROPERTY CHANGES Clinton Smith has sold his 17 acre ranch adjoining the Eatonville city limits on the south to Olaf Malcolm, and has purchased the residence property of Sim Hunter on Center Street and Orchard Avenue, where he will locate shortly. Pg. 1, col. 3 TIE-MAN SUFFERS FRACTURED SKULL Jesse McCray, a tie contractor working near Ashford, had the misfortune to slip from a pile of frosty ties upon which he was working and fell backwards to the ground several feet below, sustaining a fractured skull and other minor bruises. He is in the Eatonville General Hospital for treatment, his wife and young son having attended him down last Wednesday. CACHE YOUR KEROSENE LAMPS The strike of the electrical workers employed by the City of Tacoma came to an end Thursday with the adoption of a salary schedule satisfactory to both parties. It is reported that the operators received the salary demanded by them, while all others in the strike received a substantial increase and all have returned to their customary duties. Private Harry Nensen of the artillery unit, U. S. A., who has been stationed in Newport News, Virginia, returned to his home in the Ohop valley Tuesday evening to spend Christmas with his relatives after an absence of several months. Harry is not yet out of the army, but expects to be mustered out within two weeks. The Eatonville Lumber Co. logging camp closed last Saturday morning. The mill closed Monday evening and all employes had holidays on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. The planer mill started again Friday morning, but it is expected that the saw mill will not be in operation again for three weeks or more while undergoing necessary repairs. Pg. 1, col. 4 Miss Rorke of the Eatonville high school, whose home is in North Dakota, is spending the holidays with relatives in Kapowsin. PIONEER PASSES AWAY Mrs. Josephine H. Nelson died Thursday morning, Dec. 19, after a lingering illness. She was born in Christinia, Norway, in 1851, and came to Eatonville 26 years ago, settling on the homestead, where she passed away at the age of 67 years. She leaves to mourn her loss her husband, Paul Nelson, two sons and two daughters; George H. Nelson who is in the service in France; Alice, both residing on the homestead in Eatonville, and Mrs. Elizabeth Tharliefson of Victoria, B.C. Funeral services were held at the Lutheran church, Muck Creek, Sunday at 1o'clock, under the direction of the A. W. Merrow Co. Appropriate music was rendered by a male trio. The many floral offerings were beautiful. Burial was in muck Creek cemetery. SAILOR HOME ON FURLOUGH Frank VanEaton, formerly of the U. S. S. South Dakota, has been assigned to a naval station near New York City, since the South Dakota was partially dismantled and transferred to the transport service. He arrived home Thursday afternoon on a short furlough which he hopes to have extended, granting sufficient time for his making a visit to his sister, Mrs. Wenk, in Seattle. At the expiration of his leave he will report to his regularly assigned station, Pelham Bay, New York. Pg. 1, col. 6 ANOTHER FORD THEFT N. W. Smith, resident of Puyallup, but located temporarily in Eatonville while shipping pilling, is minus one Ford car since about 10 p.m. Friday of last week. At the close of the day's work he drove the Ford into the city barn and at 9 o'clock satisfied himself that it was there yet. Two hours later when he again investigated, the car was gone. He gave the alarm immediately and George Martin and City Marshal Greene responded, the trio joining the chase with Martin's Overland. Mr. Smith was sure that the thieves would soon be overhauled because of his low supply of gasoline, and as a consequence the speed was not so great as it would have otherwise been. The Ford was found last Monday on a side road near Tanwax hall and was brought in to Kipper's garage. No clue as to the identity of the thieves has yet been uncovered. J. T. Clark, who has been confined to his home with an injured foot for some time past, is again able to walk with the assistance of a cane. Private Will Elmlund, who has been back East for several months, has returned home. Pg. 3, col. 1 & 2 LETTER FROM LIEUT. RIED Bordeaux, Dec. 12, 1918. My Dear Eva: Another Sunday is here and I am still here also, but thanks to the Lord we are through with killing and shooting and it is only a matter of tie and formalities that delays the final closing of the greatest war in history. What a joyful time and celebration they have been having in France every day since Nov. 11! And I guess they are entitled to it. The orders are coming out now to send some of the troops home; in fact the first boat load left Liverpool yesterday. We are making ten transports out of freighters here at Bordeaux and I guess they are doing likewise at some of the other points along the coast. No matter how things go, you can rest assured that I will be home just as soon as there is a possibility of my getting there. Now, don't worry one bit about not doing things to suit me. Whatever you see fit to do I know is alright and you are doing that I feel sure. Today is one of those dark and dreary days with an occasional rain, cold and chilly. Just one of those kind of Sundays that you and a always spent sitting around the house reading the paper, playing music and napping, but this afternoon as I have no wife to spend the time with I am doing next best and writing to her. If you can follow my explanation I will try and tell you about a little party that a Frenchman gave to some American officers yesterday evening. To begin with, we did not arrive at the house until about 9:30, which is about the proper hour in France. After pulling three or four times on a funny little knob on the door and standing in rain perhaps five minutes, a maid opened the door and said, with a gracious little bow: "Entre Monsieurs." So we entered, and other maid showed us upstairs to fancy bedroom where we put our overcoats and caps. Then we went downstairs and as we entered the drawing room the master of ceremonies announced in a loud voice your name and attachment. For example: "Lieut. Reid. Section Engineers' Staff." I commenced to think that it was some show, because it was just like the big foreign receptions you see put on the stage. Then they marched you along a line of people and you shook hands with everyone and said how delighted you were to be there, when as a matter of fact you wished you were in your bed asleep. Remember, that all this time I am doing my best trying to talk French, because no one talked English except when we officers talked to each other. Then they started to dance and oh my, such a jamble. The music was a waltz alright, but the French way of waltzing is about as much like the American way as Ellis, Ks. is like New York City. You drag and you pull and then they walk on your feet, and of course they say "Oh, pardone", which helps a hell of a lot especially if you have ingrown toenails. Oh, it was some time! Then some bright Frenchman who could say "drink" escorted us to the buffet lunch and to make a long story short t was the best lunch "I ever drank," for you don't eat French lunches, you drink them. You ask did they have punch? No, my dear, they only had champagne, and these "Frogs" drink it like water. Water, you know, in a Frenchman's eyes is only for bathing, and they do very little of that! Just add a little more talc instead. After hoisting a few champagnes, naturally people began to get more sociable and some kind hearted lieutenant offered to play "an honest to God" rag-time and we had one good one-step dance, which was the only pleasure of the evening. After several more walkings on our corns and some "parlaying" of French, together with lots of cigaret smoking (you know everyone in France, men and women alike, smoke cigarets, some sane guy decided it was time to go home and started the procession by saying "Bon nuit" (good night). And such "Bon nuiting" you never saw. You would have thought everyone was at least going around the world instead of going home and being sensible. Kissing, had-kissing, and then some more kissing. It a d-d good thing the Dunkards never got to France, for with the addition of kissing of feet, I am afraid a Frenchman never would get home. Finally we got started and when I got into my bed Imade a resolution that no more French receptions would go on my calendar. So endeth a French dance, or what I would call a social failure. Everything is in the air now as to what troops will start home first, and we are all figuring who is going to be the lucky ones to be home for Christmas. I hope the chance falls to me, but I guess I am not lucky. Here's hoping, anyway. Guess I will go take a nap before supper. Lots of love for you and the girls, and Mother and Ma. Your loving "DADDY.: Pg. 3, col. 6 HENRY B. JAMES' LETTER American Expeditionary Force, Somewhere in France, October, 1918. Dear Father and Mother: As I am now in my little hole in the ground keeping away fro shrapnel and machine gun fire. Well, pa, I have been over the top; have been at the front for days and had a chance to chase some Germans but it isn't very much sport as the timber is very thick and it is like hunting rabbits; but haven't got wounded yet. When I started this letter I was at the front----days, but now I have been ----days here and over the top five times and am nearly all in, for it keeps us going to keep up with them. One day we were after them and they turned their machine guns on us and I had to lay in a mud hole for one hour and a half, but finally got out. Pa. What do you think of the war by this time any way? Think it will soon end. Gee! I do hope so, for I sure would like to be home once more; and Pa, don't send me any watch, for I don't need it over here. When I come home, then if you want to get one you can. Well, how is everything by this time? How is Ma? Is she any better? Tell her I think the war will end soon. It sure will be nice to get home and get some good old fruit and stuff, for there is no fruit in France. Say, what did Frank and Cecil want to leave home for, anyway? What can they do in Haines? Hoping you all make it good this year, I will close, for I am awful tired this evening. So take good care of yourself and Ma, and Leola, you and Jessie write every time, for I like to hear from all, and when I can will send you all a present. So, goodby. From your son, PRIVATE HENRY B. JAMES, Co. C., 36th Inf., American E. F., A. P. O. 776. Pg. 6, col. 4 S. A. T. C. BOYS DISCHARGED S. A. T. C. boys at the State college at Pullman and the U of W. at Seattle have been discharged from the service of the U. S. and have returned to their homes to spend the holidays. Among those how have arrived in Eatonville are Francis Canty, Jesse Nagley and McKinley VanEaton fro U. of W. and Lawrence Fairbairn, Stanley Scurlock, Mattius Kjelstad and Dewey Frederickson from the State college. Frank Hekel stopped over for a day or two in Spokane. Some of the boys will return after the holidays, to complete their studies as civilians. Don't' forget-Fairbairn will have hot coffee, sandwiches and pies all day and night from now on. Charles Jaensch of Ohop bought a Maxwell, but when he awoke in the morning it was not in sight. Mr. N. McLeod recently returned from Palo Alto, Cal., where he had gone to visit his sister and daughter. Chas. Jaensch arrived in Eatonville Monday morning after a hard ride from Ohop. He says he hopped all the way. For Sale-A No. 1, 50-50 alfalfa and timothy hay. Call up 424. FROM SERGT. GEO. MURRAY Base Hospital Day Before Thanksgiving. Dear Mother: How you was? I am feeling fine ("tra bien"). Had a letter from "M. B." and he is feeling good, too. I am assisting the surgeon here in surgical ward and like it. I believe, mother, I should have been a doctor. We have won the war and your baby fought at the Belgian, Alsace-Lorraine, St. Michael and Verdun fronts. I was gassed on the 23rd of may on the last day of the German drive there. Started to say something of causalities, I can't tell you yet. My guns (4) are known to have killed more Germans than any other machine gun battery in the division. My guns alone repulsed a counter attack of over a thousand Jerries on ??? 1 at Baliny, on the Verdun. I have the honor of killing the sniper who killed one general, one major, three lieutenants and four gunners, and with a .45 colts revolver. M. B. has the gun now. I can tell you lots when I get there. The effects of the gas are almost gone, and when I get back you can't tell it. Be good girl. The war is ("finis") done. SCHOOL NOTES The Junior Red Cross Christmas Roll Call was a credit to all the participants, and to the teachers who had so faithfully trained them. The educational advantage of this work was very great. It is gratifying to note commendable progress in the expressional work of both grades and high school. The schools are able to report ?0 percent enrollment in membership and a total of $37.30 in membership dues. The home enrollment has approximately 75 per cent. By unanimous consent of the taxpayers gathered at the Monday meeting at the high school the board decided to extend the Christmas vacation period to Monday morning, Dec. 30, when the schools will resume work. The two days will be made up by teaching two Saturdays. For Sale-A 1917 Ford with a quantity of extra equipments. Les Kipper & Co., Eatonville, Wash. Mr. and Mrs. John Galbraith, Miss Gwenyth Galbraith, Lieut. Jack Jasper and Andrew Anderson were the supper guests of Mr. and Mrs. Geiger Christmas night. Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler and son Wells of Mineral were the guests of Mr. and Mrs. Crowell Christmas day. Pg. 6. col. 6 Mr. and Mrs. Robert Baker of Fox Island have been the guests of her sister, Mrs. F. M. Groe, at the Tourist hotel. Mr. and Mrs. Upright of Tacoma were guests of Mr. and Mrs. F. M. Groe at the Tourist hotel during the holidays.