Iowa Old Press

Emmetsburg Democrat
Emmetsburg, Palo Alto, Iowa
Wednesday, April 9, 1919

WAS IN MANY BATTLES ON WESTERN FRONT
P.J. Carmody Injured in Arm and Knee. Has Two Brothers in Germany, Four
Brothers in Service

P.J. Carmody, who was mustered out of the service at Camp Dodge on March 28,
was a pleasant caller Monday. He left France March 8 and arrived at Newport
News ten days later. He went across a year ago. After landing at Brest, he
spent some time in the old Napoleon barracks and was transferred to a camp
in the Algerian mountains near Alsace Lorraine. He spent several weeks in
the trenches in that section and was also in the Toul sector. He was a
runner from the front lines to the officers headquarters. He knew many
privates and several officers who were killed in the Alsace trenches. Late
in September, Mr. Carmody was placed on duty near St. Miehl. He remained
three weeks. The losses of the Americans were, he says, very heavy. From St.
Michl he was transferred to the Argonne Forest where the casualties were
also heavy. The American forces in that sector did not learn of the close of
hostilities unti tow hours after the armistice was signed.

On August 31 Mr. Carmody was wounded on the Alsace Lorraine sector. He was
running with a message from the front ot the officers' headquarters when the
trenches ahead of him were shelled. A tree three feet thick was cut off and
pitched lenghwise ahead of him. He was thrown to the ground by the shock and
was unconscious for twenty minutes. At first he did not know that he had
been injured. His left knee cap was weakened and his left arm was partly
paralyzed. He will probably never regain the full use of his arm. His left
knee is some better though it still bothers him. He delivered his message
and was asked to make a return trip. Shortly after starting he fell to the
ground and had to be taken to a hospital where he remained for two months.
For three or four weeks he moved about on crutches. Mr. Carmody was in the
regular army for two years but he did not serve on the Mexican border. He is
28 years of age. His regiment captured the first two towns in German
territory on the Alsace front tht fell into the hands of the Americans.

The runner has often a very perilous time of it. Snipers and shooters are
constantly watching for him. At night he has to carry his provisions to
locations where he can secure them readily when he is trying to steer clear
of the sharp shooters, artillery and poisonous gasses. The mustard gas, he
says is very severe. Some times it is found in water in ponds and creeks.
When the soldiers wash their faces the gas may blind them. Chlorine gas, he
tells our reporter, is pleasant to smell. However, a few whiffs of it is
ruinous to the lungs of the soldier. The gas hangs around damp places and in
underbrush where it does deadly work. It is hard to shoot it up the sides of
hills or mountains because it generally lowers. It usually settles in damp
places.

Mr. Carmody's brother, Will, in now in the army of occupation in Germany. He
is in the artillery branch of the service. He was in the battles at Chateau
Thierry, Verdun, and the Argonne Forest. He was never injured and so far as
has been learned, was not in a hospital. He went overseas about a year ago.
His third brother, John, is also in the army in Germany. He is in the
hospital corps. He was never injured.

His fourth brother James did not go across. He was stationed at Camp Dodge
for some time. He was mustered out a short time ago.

Chris Skow is Dead
Chris Skow, who lived in Walnut township for many years, died at Graettinger
last Wednesday. The funeral was held on Friday. Services were conducted at
the Danish-Lutheran church. The burial was in the parochial cemetery. Mr.
Skow was 76 years of age. He is survived by his wife and one daughters.
Definite particulars have not yet been learned. Mr. Skow was one of the
upright, substantial farmer citizens of the community and had a wide circle
of friends. All will learn with genuine sorrow of his death. He lived to a
ripe old age.

Chas. Myers Invests in Emmetsburg
Frank Myers has sold his residence property in this city to his son, Chas.,
who recently moved to Emmetsburg from Remsen. He has bought the Herman
Paulson Barber shop on Main street. He took possession last Thursday. Mr.
Myers paid $2,500 for his father's property. He is a good barber and has
many warm friends in this city. The Democrat wishes him success.

Iowa and Her People
There are 490,500 families in Iowa. Of these 336,000, or 69 per cent, own
their own homes. Happy families and material prosperity are an excellent
foundation for good citizenship.
Population...2,358,066
Rural Population...1,080,116
Urban Population...1,277,950
Foreign Born Population...264,169
Natives of U.S., not born in Iowa...541,983
Iowa born...1,555,914
Negroes, Japanese, Chinese, Indians, etc...16,744
Married Persons...981,043
Increase in population in ten years...146,016
Population per square mile...42.4
Persons engaged in gainful occupations...788,684
Number of automobiles in state...350,000
There is one automobile for each seven persons in Iowa- and none is ever
without gasoline.
Iowans spend fifty million dollars every year for automobile tires.---Iowa
Magazine.

Lose Their Only Boy
Mr and Mrs Edward Donovan of Estherville mourn the death of their only son,
Edward, who passed away in St. Anthony's hospital at Carroll Monday evening
from the effects of a surgical operation. The remains were brought to
Emmetsburg last evening and will be interred in St. John's cemetery. Edward
was perhaps ten years of age. He was a bright, promising, cheerful boy. His
loss will be felt keenly by the parents and their two daughters and by
numerous local relatives and friends. The young are often missed more than
those who are older because there is so much of promise in them and because
childish innocence is appreciated by all. Mr and Mrs Donovan and their
little girls have the sincere sympathy of a wide circle of friends in their
bereavement.

Surprise Mr and Mrs Jolliffe
A surprise silver wedding was given Mr and Mrs A.J. Jolliffe, living
northeast of town, last Wednesday evening, March 25, when about thirty-five
immediate relatives gathered at their home to remind them of the
twenty-fifth anniversary of their marriage. A short time after all had
arrived, a sumptuous wedding dinner was served, of which all partook
heartily and enjoyed immensely. After talking over old times and enjoying a
good time generaly, Mr and Mrs. Jolliffe were presented a number of silver
articles, such as knives, spoons, forks, etc, which they very graciously
accepted, and which will no doubt be held by them in years to come as
remembrances of the happy occasion. All present report a very fine
time..---Mallard Independent.

Bad Man Visits Cylinder
A floater, who gives his name as Joe Moran, came to Cylinder a short time
ago and arranged to do farm work for Ora Combs. He stated that he would be
willing to stay for his board until Mr. Combs could decide if he would be
satisfactory. On Saturday he concluded he would quit and commenced abusing
Mr .Combs. Just then Louis Mitchell, a neighbor, happened along and
listening for a few moments to his abusive language, told Mr. Combs that he
would not stand for any such conduct. Moran picked up a hammer and threw it
at Mr. Mitchell hitting him in the face, tho not seriouly injuring him. Mr.
Combs phoned to Sheriff Jackson, who ordered the marshal at Cylinder to
arrest the stranger. He was brought to Emmetsburg for a hearing. He was
arraigned before Justice Stuehmer and was bound over to await the action of
the grand jury, which will meet in September.


RETURNS FROM FRANCE WAS IN SIGNAL CORPS
Charles Joynt Was In Telegraph Construction Work Overseas

Charles Joynt who arrived home from overseas on Thursday, will take his old
position as operator in the Milwaukee depot. He went across early last
spring. He was in the signal corps and spent the summer and fall months
constructing telegraph lines through France. The Americans found it
necessary to build lines of their own in order to haul their trains
promptly. The lines extend from Breit to Tours, Bordeaux, Marseilles and
other important places. They will now be taken over by the French
government. The French have good railway tracks but they are not strong
enough for the heavier American cars. Their locomotives are large but their
cars do not carry over ten tons while American cars will bear several times
this weight.
Mr. Joynt found the French people quite hospitable but he soon became tired
of trying to make them understand English. He spent considerable of the
winter 100 miles south of Paris. In January he had a furlough and took a
trip into the Pyrenees mountains, which are close to Spain. American
soldiers were not allowed to cross the border into Spanish territory. Mr.
Joynt spent a day or two at the resort where Harry Thaw attracted so much
attention but he assures us that he did not try to put on any of Thaw's
airs.
The winter south of Paris was very mild. Farmers did not gather their
vegetables and grass remained green. There were one or two light falls of
snow but the beautiful remained only a day or two.
Mr. Joynt had more freedom than was allowed the ordinary soldier. He was
permitted to go about in the various places he visited and he had good
opportunities of studying the customs of the people. He often attended
services in the French churches. He liked their music and found the interior
of their edifices beautiful. French priests, like Americans and those in
other European countries celebrate mass in Latin but their accent is
different. They seem to be earnest, eloquent preachers but of course he
could not understand them.
Although he had no experience with cooties, Mr. Joynt was required to take
all that was coming to him in two delousing machines in France and one in
New York. He says this is an experience that the American soldier really
enjoys. Those wishing to learn particulars should consult him. Of course he
is glad to be back. He feels well paid for his experience abroad.





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