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The Henry County Weekly
A Weekly Newspaper Devoted to the Interests of McDonough and Henry County.
VOL. XLIV.
INTERESTING LETTER FROM
LIEUT. TIMON BOWDEN
Now at the Front in Trenches
of France. Experience with
American Boys “Over
There” Touchingly Related.
The Weekly is permitted to
publish the following letter from
Mr. Timon Bowden, who has re
cently received his commission as
Lieutenant, to his father, Mr. J F.
Bowden, which is deeply interest
ing to his friends as well as others
here:
France.
Sundav.
July 7, 1918.
My Dear Papa :
Am now in a rest camp after do
ing my first stay in the trenches.
Was relieved in time to have a hol
iday on the fourth. Sure wish
that I could have been at home
with you. and 1 thought of everv
one so much, and I do every day.
Don’t know how long I will he
here, but am sure that 1 will be on
my way back to the trenches be
fore many days.
Late yesterday afternoon I walk
ed up the road a few miles towards
the front., to a little village that
the Germans had ravaged some
time ago. And under a grove of
trees were a group of American
troops resting, on their wav back
from the front, and they were sing
ing. “Abide With Me, Fast Falls the
Eventide, the Darkness Deepens,
Lord, With Me Abide.” The last
time I heard this was back in Mc-
Donough, this time it was “Some
where in France.” Mv ears, still
warm from the thunder of battle,
eagerly drank in the soft cadences
of the old familiar hymn, The
Major commanding the column,
his'officers by his side, stood just
where I was on the fringe of the
gathering, in the darker shadows,
but dimly seen ; many of the towns
people were collected, scarce under
standing, yet held in a spell by the
soft sweetness of the music. And
never before in Alien land had
home come back to me as in that
twilight hour.
For a moment or two the singing
ceas.ed ; the hymn was ended. The
roll of the guns but a mile or two
away seemed strangely unusual,
even they were silent. A few low
crooning notes, scarce a whisper,
like the sighs of the night wind in
the tree tops, and then came, to
those who listened, “Lead Kindly
Light Amid the Encircling Gloom. ”
Who in this world to whom these
lines are familiar could have re
mained silent? Many had been con
tent only to listen at the previous
hymn, but with, the gray shadows
deepening around us until all was
indistinct, no mortal soul so dull
ed but stretched out its being to
the great God of battle.
Over the old square lined with
high pitched gables, its quaint old
church tower a shapeless blot, on
the sky. against which the lurid
light of battle stabbed the dark
ness, the plea for guidance rolled
on and upward to the very gates
of heaven.
No rank or pile there, hut one
great appeal from the very human
souls of that wayside group, in
deed. a song of prayer wrung from
those who felt that amid the dang
ers so real, so near, only One
Power could lead them in the way
of safety.
That song ended, the circle be
gan to waver a bit, but the soldiers
were loathe to break the solemn
spell cast, by the soul stirring songs.
Just another, sergeant, someone
pleaded. The circle steadied, and
for a moment the guns were silent.
Then with a deafning crash, a near
by “Hawitzer” rent the very heav
ens. and lit the sky tor an instant
with blood red glare. There was :
the silence of awe, then “Onward, i
Christian Soldiers, Marching as to
War,” the sergeant felt the call of
the guns and boldlv led that song
of battle. That sound of terror
so close, so compelling, had roused
in every heart the dread call that
has taken them far from home,
from ease and safety, from friends
and families, but these be the
things for which we fight. And it
is onward we are going, there is no
doubt in our minds, no hesitation
in our actions. No fear can be al
lotted to these brave lads who, in
Judge Searcy Announces.
His numerous Henry county
friends, with those over the en
tire Flint Circuit, are pleased to
know that Judge Searcy, whose
formal announcement appears in
these columns, has no probability
of opposition for another term.
His entire record as judge has re
ceived unanimous endorsement,
and The Weekly takes special
pleasure in reproducing the fol
lowing from the Jackson Argus:
“Since being promoted to the
bench Judge Jearcy has measured
up to the expectations of his
friends and admirers. He is a
student of the law, presides with
dignity and fairness, and rules
with impartiality between all liti
gants. He has won a warm place
in the affections of the bar and
the people and is a very popular
jurist. Judge Searcy is a man of
most charming personality and
enjoys the friendship of thousands
of citizens over the Flint circuit,
and it will be a pleasure for his
friends to honor him with their
suffrage in the primary of Sep
tember 11.”
It’s In the Air.
Windblown pollen, carrying the
bacteria that .inflame nose and
throat and cause hay fever, is
abroad in the land. One remedy
is known to give relief and com
fort from choking, gasping asthma
and tormenting hay fever. This
reliable remedy is Foley’s Honey
and Tar that spreads a healing,
soothing coating on the inflamed
membranes, stops irritating coughs
and summer colds. Anyone who
has once used this standard cough
and cold remedy will accept no
other. The McDonough Drug Co.
this remote part of France, sang
again their hymns of prayer and
praise. To some, perhaps, their
words had almost faded from mem
ory, but from home and Sundav
schools and churches, too, the lines
came echoing back over all the
years. The last line had died away
echoing up the narrow streets.
“America,” shouted the sergeant.
Sharp to attention came the sol
diers and America rang out as clear
as a bugle call, and so ended that
gathering of pathos and devotion.
Slowly I started hack for my vil
lage, the houses grew smaller as I
reached the outskirts of the town,
and blank darkness with all its
hidden dangers lay in front of me.
For a moment a soft glow from the
guttering candle of a, wayside
shrine picked out a figure, whose
coat of blue, told me a Comrade of
France, sought comfort there in
prayer. And T felt as if again a
child, when I. too, knelt in prayer
at my mother’s knee. And I felt
like singing, “Lead Kindly Light
Amid the Encircling Gloom. The
Night is Dark, and I Am Far From
Home, Lead Thou Me On. ”
Yes. sir, it will make you think
a bit when you are what you term
“over there.” But we have got
the old "Bosh” by the neck now,
and it' won't he long before we will
be “over there,” and we all want
ic to be soon.
Everything in the way of busi
ness is moving along as you would
have it. I am sure. And 1 trust
that all are well, and enjoying life
in its every xohase.
I am getting along fine, health is
splendid, and don’t suppose that I
could be feeling better.
Papa. I think of everyone of you
and miss you so much every day,
and continue to write me often,
there is nothing that dues me so
much good. I will write you at
every opportunity.
With lots of love to you and all,
[ am. As ever your bov.
TIMON,
Previous to receipt of the fore
going letter Monday, Mr. Bowden
had received the following cable
gram last Thursday;
Pais, July 81.
Here buying equipment. Some
town. Am well. Much love.
Lieut. Timon Bowden,
McDonough, Georgia, Friday, august 9, 1918.
New Classified List
Returned to Board!
Below is a full list of white and
colored registrants reclassed and
returned to the local board to be
placed in class I.
White.
John Henry Conkle
Robert Selfridge'
Alonza Watson Rape
J. C. Nash
Luther Morrison*Moss
James W. Mitchell
Lee Adam RoseUerr'y
R. H. Payne
Elijah Arnold Fields
C. W. Chappell
Homer Watson Bledsoe
James Henry
Samuel Askew Wall
Claud Alexander Moss
J ohn Roscoe Loan
William Champ Coker
Clifford Lee Stone
Wayman Emmitfc Smith
John Thomas < )ash
John Green Jones
Samuel D. Speer
Everitt James Cofer
James Nelson Rape
Malone Fields
H. H. Fannin
T. H. Glass
Charles Lawson Moseley
William R. Pritchett
Ray mon d CalfH'ppor
Robert Rofe Bailey
Marvin Evan Foster
Robert Hendiev Daniel
James Harrell Goodman
Joseph James Fields
Virgil J. Hawkins
Lendon Pharr Rosser
William Odell Crawford
Thurber David Trainer
Howard Swann A'
Wayman Cawthoiv
Eugene Elijah Coß'kle .
J. N. Blankeiislftp
Hilton Cawthon
John Jackson •MOwart
‘-'Em Gar ham V ,C • ft*
Stark Perry / * V
fit. W P,oW« i‘ * .
Oscar Tidwell
Byron Marston
Willie Wesley Reagan
Tom White
John Homer Stephens
John Newt Clark
William Charles Wilson
Samuel Reese McKinley
. Carl Shaw
Alvin Greenberry Bryans
William C. Winn
Paul Morris
Jasner Clarence Willard
Charley Nail
Frank Lee Carter
Joe Thurman
Samuel Hugh Coker
Hugh W. Farris
Pinkney May Martin
Willie Davis Calloway
William Harkness
Colored.
Raymond Middlebrooks
Robert Stafford
Clarence Wise
Andiew Johnson
Murr Simmons
Virgil Hunt
Gussie Goldsten
Howard Flemister
John Henry Cloud
Tom George
* Albert Fainbro
Willie Gresham
Ed Watson
Dan Childs
Adam Cleveland
John McKibben
John Edwards, Jr.
George Fletcher
William Riley Davis
Arthur Goodman
Charles Stroud
Sammie Wooten
Tom Swann
Clarence Smith
Jesse Colwell Beck
Ernest Hinton
Howard Weems
Alonza Welch
Lonis Turner
John Metts
Charlie Watson
Crawley Canady
John Turner
Thomas Augustus Arnold
Lensa Gleaton
Crawford Pitman
Troy Weems
Roy Hardy
Thomas Hill
Raymond Barnes
Homer EUis
Will George
John Barnes
Arthur Smith
W illiams
John Me Day
William Grant
Virlin Hindsman
LIEUT. CHARLES COOK
SEVERELY WOUNDED
#
Writes Mother Cheerful Letter
Describes Life in Trenches
and Hospitals. American
Soldiers Can Whip Huns.
Mrs. W. F. Cook of Cusseta re
ceived some weeks ago the fol
lowing letter from her son, Ljeut.
Charles Harold Cook, who was
wounded in France. Lieut. Cook
is a brother-in-law of Mrs. Helen
Dunn of McDonough, and his let
ter will be read with much inter
est here —
A. E. F., France, June 25.
My Dear Mamma: —
Well, since 1 wrote you last 1
have been moved about two hun
dred miles and am now in a post
hospital. This hospital system is
the most complicated thing you
ever saw. Since I was shot, 1
have been in no less than five, in
cluding the regimental first aid
station. You start out with the
regimental station and each one
you pass sure adds to your treat
ment. Finally you land in a base
hospital a long distance back of
the lines. That is where I am
now, and where I will stay until
wound is completely healed. Came
down here two days ago in one of
Uncle Sam’s hospital trains.
lam still in bed. The doctors
say, though, that I can get up
jn another week or ten days. I
don’t feel had at all except that
my arm pains me, of course. It
•watf a very painful wound. Glass
and .fragments from wrist watch
were left in it by the bullet and
• plwe l he. euferged rip
get them out. It alrigW
though and in two months I’ll be
ready for the fight again.
Don’t worry about me. lam in
the very best of hands. This hos
pital unit is composed of doctors
from John Hopkins University,
Baltimore, so you see in whose
hands 1 am. I could get no bet
medical treatment anywhere in
the United States, and the nurses
are perfectly grand to me. My.
every wish is gratified.
1 suffered from my wound more
before it was dressed than I have
at any time since. It was twenty
four hours before 1 reached the
first aid station after being hurt.
Immdiately atter the attack the
Germans laid an artillery barrage
in the back area of our position
and it was so heavy they couldn’t
carry me through it, consequent
ly I had to stay in my hole until it
was over. I stuck it out, though,
and finally got in next day. What
do you know- about that for una
dulterated cruelty? Fritz knew j
we would probably have some j
wounded after the party and he |
figured he would cut them off
from the first aid station with his
artillery. They think they are
wise birds at this war game, but
the Sammies are teaching some
thing each day. They are begin
ning to realize that when we get
enough men over here there will
be no more No Man’s Land. It
will belong to Uncle Sam. Let
me tell you what one American
unit did recently. During their
their stay at the front they re
pulsed at least a dozen attacks
without ever letting a single Ger
man get into their front line
trenches, and at the same time
advanced their owm line about
two miles. What do you know
about that? Isn’t it wonderful
for new soldiers? This isn’t hear
say. I’ve been all over the scene
of action myself.
You people back home have no
cause for worry. Just sit steady
in the boat and the victory will be
finally ours —the Stars and Stripes
have never felt the sting of defeat
and it is too late now.
Inspired by the principle which
it represents, Uncle Sam’s lad’s
will be invincible. “He is thrice
armed who has a just cause, and
Mr. Walter Hightower
Seriously Wounded.
In a difficulty in the early part
of last Monday night, Mr. J. Wal
ter Hightower was shot and seri
ously wounded by Carleton Hen
derson in Stockbridge, the bullet
penetrating the stomach and mak
ing five perforations of the intes
tines.
Mr. Hightower was placed in an
automobile and hurried to an At
lanta hospital, where an operation
was performed as quickly as pos
sible, and at last accounts the pa
tient was doing well, though his
condition is necessarily still un
certain.
The affair is deeply deplored
not only in Stockbridge, but over
the entire county, the victim’s
numerous friends trusting he may
safely pull through, and as he has
survived thus far the chances are
in his favor.
Henderson was taken to Atlan
ta by Sheriff Ward and placed in
jail, where he still remains. He
is said to be a stranger in Stock
bridge and but little known of him.
Rape-Greer.
A marriage of interest to a wide
circle of friends was that of Miss
Ruth Rape and Mr. W. J. Greer,
which occurred in Atlanta Sunday
morning, Dr. Porter officiating.
Mr. and Mrs. Greer Bre two of
McDonough’s most popular young
people, the groom possessing bus
iness ability of highest order, and
at’'present T’teti'ffipartant.,
position of Assistant Cashier Cirri
National Bank, and Tttlifiemirr
good wishes and congratulations
are extended them.
After a three days stay in At
lanta they returned to McDonough
and were supper guests Tuesday
night of the bride’s parents, Mr.
and Mrs. J. W. Rape. For the <
present they are residing with the
groom’s mother, Mrs. H. H. Greer
Husband and Wife.
Mrs. Frank P. Wood, Box 18, R .
F.D. 2, Morrill, Me., writes : “Fo
ley Kidney Pills help me so much
My husband also has received
much benefit from them. He was
so lame he could not stoop ov ; i
and now he feels no pain.” Lame
back, sore muscles, stiff joints,
rheumatic aches and pains are
quickly conquered by Foley Kid
ney Pills. Don’t neglect your kid
neys nor mistake symptoms of ov
erwoked or disordered kidneys
for the “slowing up” of age. The
McDonough Drug Co.
As The Weekly goes to pres“
Mr. John Bond of Ellen wood
hands in the first open cotton boil.,
found Wednesday, Aug. 7—among
earliest record in this section.
ours is just, as sure as there is a
God in heaven.
In conclusion, let me insist that
you not worry about me. I’ll be
alright in just a few weeks. lam
perfectly contented. My aopetite
is working ninety miles per hour
and the army “chow” has never
beeiA)etter.
Regards to all my friends a !
home. Love to all the family,
with a large portion for yourself,
Lovingly, Cbas.
P. S. —Am enclosing a little sou
venir —fives marks of German
money —that once upon a time
belonged to a real German. He
doesn’t claim it any more, though,
as he departed recently for the
place where all dead Germans go.
Chas.
$1.50 A YEAR
