USA > Indiana > Decatur County > History of Decatur County's part in the World War, 1914-1918 > Part 14
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The ladies prepared fifteen bushels of potatoes for the burgue, at the home- coming.
This report was furnished by MISS CLARA HAMILTON, General Inspector of Garments. ELIZA J. CRISLER, Secretary of the Chapter.
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"PAP" THOMAS WOMAN'S RELIEF CORPS
The Woman's Relief Corps, Auxiliary to the Grand Army of the Republic, is composed of the mothers, wives, widows, daughters and sisters of Union soldiers, sailors, and marines, and other loyal women, who would aid and assist the Grand Army of the Republic in caring for the Union veterans and their dependent ones, and perpetuate the memory of their heroic dead; to cherish and emulate the deeds of our army nurses and all loyal women who rendered loving service to our country in its hour of peril ; to maintain true allegiance to the United States of America, to inculcate lessons of patriotism and love of country among our children and the communities in which we live.
"Pap" Thomas Woman's Relief Corps No. 113, Greensburg, was instituted May 21, 1888, by Miss India Hackleman, of Rushville, with twenty-seven charter members.
April 6, 1917, when bells rang and whistles blew announcing that the United States had declared war against Germany, our citizens were assembling at the Y. M. C. A. to witness the presentation and raising of a large Flag by the Woman's Relief Corps to that institution.
Patriotism and anxiety filled the hearts of the people as on that memorable Fourth of July, 1776, which made the occasion doubly impressive and one never to be forgotten. And when the call "to arms!" came, the Woman's Relief Corps responded as promptly to the assistance of our "boys in khaki," as did our mothers and grandmothers for the "boys in blue," in the days of '61 to '65.
We now realize what they endured during the four long years of the great Civil war. Yet with all the anxiety and heartaches the work never lagged ; every- thing that loving hearts and busy fingers could do for our soldier boys and sailor ladies was done.
No call was unheeded, hundreds of pajamas, hospital shirts and surgical dressings were made ; sweaters, helmets, scarfs, wristlets and socks were knitted, (one member, Mrs. Mary McKay, knitted eighty-one pairs of socks, six sweaters and one hundred wash cloths.)
Money was contributed to the Red Cross, Y. M. C. A., Y. W. C. A., K. of C., Win the War Fund, Salvation Army, Devastated France, the Belgian and Ar- menians. Liberty Bonds, War Savings Stamps. and Victory Bonds were bought by individual members, amounting to over $40,000.00.
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Aemstrelredamus Alardus, a noted scholar and historian of the fifteenth century, gave to the world the well known adage, "Blood will tell," and it is as true today as it was five hundred years ago, as the service flag of 344 stars, dedicated in the honor and memory of seventy-three sons, 258 grandsons, and thirteen great-grandsons of members of the Woman's Relief Corps, Grand Army of the Republic, and soldiers of Decatur county, clearly demonstrates; thirteen of the stars have turned to gold. There are also four red crosses on it, two for soldiers' daughters and two for granddaughters, who served as Red Cross nurses.
The officers, during the World war were: President, Eliza J. Crisler ; vice- president, Alfaretta Havens; junior vice-president, Jennie Shirk.
Two hundred dollars was given toward furnishing the Memorial Hospital when completed.
Submitted by,
ELIZA J. CRISLER, Corps President.
DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
The Daughters of the American Revolution is a patriotic organization com- prised of lineal descendants of the men who fought for American independence.
"Lone Tree" Chapter of Greensburg was organized April 6, 1907, by Mrs. William A. Guthrie, at that time State Regent, with sixteen charter members. Since then there have been fifty-nine on the chapter roll, nine have died, three have been transferred and five have withdrawn, leaving a membership of forty- two.
At the May meeting in 1917, held just one month after war was declared, these loyal patriotic women decided to serve no refreshments at their meetings during the war, the hostess to place $2.00 in a war fund of the chapter instead, each member was also assessed 25c per month for this fund.
The State organization was assigned the furnishing of knitted garments to the boys on the battle ship "Indiana." "Lone Tree" Chapter spent $338.45 for yarn and knitted 264 garments for these boys, and for forty enlisted men of the county. These knitted outfits consisted of sweaters, helmets, scarfs, wristlets and socks.
The committee in charge of the yarn and knitting was: Mrs. Will Haas, chairman ; Miss Anna L. Riley, Mrs. Ben Wolverton.
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Clothing
DAUGHTERS OF AMERICAN REVOLUTION, GREENSBURG, DECATUR COUNTY
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Feeling that the undertaking was more than could be borne alone the execu- tive board which was comprised of: Mrs. Charles H. Johnston, regent ; Miss Anna L. Riley, vice-regent ; Mrs. George Deiwert, recording secretary; Mrs. Charles L. Ryan, corresponding secretary ; Mrs. Will Haas, treasurer ; Miss Sadie Baker. historian; Miss Rebecca Montgomery, registrar, went before the County Council and in the absence of the regent, Mrs. Johnston, the recording secretary presented to the council the work the ladies of the D. A. R. proposed doing to aid the winning of the war and asked help to carry it forward, an appropriation of $100.00 was made for which "Lone Tree" Chapter was very grateful.
An ambulance was fitted up and sent to France by the Indiana D. A. R. to which $35.70 was contributed.
The National Society made a loan of $100,000.00 to the Government at the time of the Third Liberty Loan drive, "Lone Tree" paying $42.00.
Other contributions made from the chapter treasury were: Y. W. C. A., $10.00; Y. M. C. A., $10.00; restoration of the village of Tillaloy, France, $22.00; Christmas fund for battleship "Indiana", $10.00; Armenian and Servian Relief, $10.00; United War work, $10.00.
Under the able management of Mrs. C. H. Johnston, regent, 1,474 garments, weighing 1,207 pounds, were collected, listed, weighed and packed in March, 1918, as Decatur county's contribution to the Belgian-French relief. This work was done in the old Review office building on East Main street, through the kindness of Mrs. Jessie Hart Woodfill.
The second drive for this relief was in September, 1918, and was held in the Woodfill building, northwest corner of the square, which through the kind- ness of Wirt Woodfill, was contributed for this purpose, at this time a more thorough canvass of the county was made, resulting in 4,218 garments weighing 3,372 pounds.
The following is the record of the chapter by individuals: Knitted 195 gar- ments, sewed 331 garments, made thirty-three layettes, spent 979 hours in Red Cross cutting room, 796 hours in surgical dressing room, thirty-two hours so- liciting in various drives, thirty hours packing Christmas boxes for the boys over seas ; gave 200 books to cantonments, gave 135 magazines, gave twenty Christmas boxes, gave forty-two comfort bags.
Contributed to Red Cross, $120.00, Y. W. C. A., $71.00; Y. M. C. A., $107.00; K. of C., $20.00; United War Work, $270.00; Armenians, $100.00;
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Hostess House, $25.00; War Mothers, $8.00; Clothing, $20.00; Liberty Bonds, $10,600.00 ; War Savings Stamps, $3,005.00.
Quite a large shipment of trench candles was sent to the Navy League, this work was under the direction of Mrs. Charles Zoller. The trench candles were made by cutting the columns from newspapers, five of these strips were wound very tightly into one candle, tied with a string, boiled in paraffin or candle wax one-half hour. Three of these candles set in a triangle and lit would boil soup or coffee and would burn from twenty to thirty minutes. A number of clubs and Sunday school classes made trench candles.
Five of the members were war mothers, representing seven service men.
Mrs. Charles H. Johnston was regent at the beginning of the war, and Miss Anna Riley at its close.
OMEGA CHAPTER OF KAPPA, KAPPA, KAPPA
Omega Chapter of Kappa, Kappa, Kappa was installed at Greensburg, In- diana, February 22, 1907, with the following six girls as charter members : Lelia Robbins Christian, Mary Little Tremain, Mary Isgrigg Hamilton, Ruth Bonner Meek, Helen Baker Lumbers and Anna Bird Thomas.
Tri Kappa is a State organization having in all sixty-three (63) chapters and the Indianapolis Association. The object is to bring girls into close unselfish relationship, which shall be beneficial to others as well as themselves. The chief aim heretofore has been charity but during the war all energies were centered on the war instead, with a few exceptions.
The active chapter roll now contains thirteen (13) names, and they are Mary Ainsworth, Helen Bussell, Helen Brown, Lurene Edkins, Cory (Mrs.) Ernest, Christina Flint, Lillian Hamilton, Isabel Hamilton, Mabel McCoy, Mar- garet Miller, Hazel Thompson, Helen Woodfill, Anna Welsh. and Mabel Welsh.
The associate roll: Lelia Robbins, Mrs. Henry Christian, Jr., Bright Em- mert, Kathryn Eich Guthrie (Mrs. Guy), Mary Isgrigg. Hamilton ( Mrs. Frank), Fanny Gregg Hamilton (Mrs. Erle), Mae Montgomery Harrison (Mrs. Carlos), Florine Meek Hunter (Mrs. Herbert), Ethel Ewing Lanham ( Mrs. Will H.), Ruthe Bonner Meek (Mrs. Homer G.), Louise Mendenhall Stevenson (Mrs. Emmert), Jessie McCoy Schlemmer (Mrs. Norman), Anna Bird Thomas ( Mrs. Fred L.), Mary Little Tremain (Mrs. Lee).
The inactive: Bonnie Applegate Donnell (Mrs. Clifford), Indianapolis,
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Indiana; Gail Boyd Butterfield (Mrs. Jack), Cincinnati, Ohio; Louise Belser Boggs (Mrs. K. A.), Ft. Dodge, Iowa; Helen Baker Lumbers (Mrs. Leonard), Toronto, Canada ; Marie Braden Wagner (Mrs. Arthur M.), Shelbyville, Indiana.
Alumnae: Lulu Braden Crawford (Mrs. Raymond), Connersville, Indiana ; Mignum White Cookson (Mrs. Thomas), Bloomington, Indiana; Ruth White Buskirk (Mrs. Hayes), Indianapolis, Indiana.
The pledges are: Mildred Emmert, Louise Ewing, Marjorie Jerman, Dorthea Miller, Adelaide Robison, Helen Thompson.
Two deaths have come to Tri Kappa, one member, Florine Hunter Woodfill (Mrs. Robert) and one pledge, Edith Nordmyer.
The officers for the present year, 1919-1920 are: President, Mabel McCoy ; vice-president, Isabel Hamilton ; recording secretary, Lurene Cory ; corresponding secretary, Mary Ainsworth ; treasurer, Hazel Thompson.
The regular meeting of Tri Kappa came on Saturday, April 7, the day fol- lowing the declaration of war. It was all so new, few realized just what war really meant or in how many ways it could affect every American.
Soon, however, the Red Cross opened its cutting and sewing and surgical dressing divisions. Tri Kappa tried to do her share in sewing, doing the first work on pajamas. An all-day meeting was held at the home of Mabel McCoy for this purpose, the girls furnishing the garments individually.
The fete for the benefit of "Sox for Soldiers" was quite a success. It was held in the Court House Park, the night was conducive to the sale of ice cream, the cakes were donated, and people were very generous so that the chapter was much gratified to realize $58.00 for the evening's work.
Throughout the summers of 1917 and 1918, the members of Tri Kappa each gave at least one day a week to the work of the surgical dressing shop, some of the girls going on the regular day and some other day or days besides.
Several years ago Tri Kappa compiled a cook book, known as Tri Kappa Cook Book, which ranked with the "Six Best Sellers" the income from these books for the year was invested in Liberty Bonds.
At the State convention in 1917, it was decided to give the money otherwise spent for the publication of the fraternity magazine (The Cross Key) to buying and equipping an ambulance. This was done and the Tri Kappas all over the State had the satisfaction of knowing that the ambulance was in active service in France. In March, 1918, a small sum was realized from a euchre and five hundred party
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given in the K. of P. hall, and was turned over to the Red Cross. March 30, 1918, the cook book money was again invested in Liberty Bonds.
During the summer Tri Kappa was glad of an opportunity to help in supply- ing the surgical dressing shop with scissors. Later in June a request came for sweaters and six of the girls promised to each have one ready by the first of September.
Tri Kappa placed Red Cross mite boxes in the different business houses and discovered this to be the easiest and quickest way of all to make money. Up to March, 1919, fifty-five dollars and thirty-nine cents ($55.39) had been col- lected from these boxes. On September 16, the Tri Kappas had charge of the open- ing night at the South Side Picture Theatre. The proceeds, which amounted to $25.49 were given to the Red Cross.
In November, 1918, Tri Kappa adopted a French orphan, Joseph Perrony, and received the first letter from him April 16, 1919.
To the numerous drives, as Red Cross, Y. M. C. A., Y. W. C. A., and United War Work campaign, Tri Kappa has always contributed.
Another interesting, as well as profitable, service was the Treasure and Trinket Fund. As usual, people responded generously and soon a large number of pieces of old jewelry, thimbles, etc., were received and ready to send to the United States Treasury, and were duly acknowledged.
One thing of which Tri Kappa feels justly proud is the Red Cross record of one of its members, Bright Emmert. Early in April, when Red Cross organiza- tions began to take definite form, Bright, with her sister, Mrs. Stevenson, went to Indianapolis and fitted herself to take charge of the surgical dressing division of Red Cross work in Decatur county. Upon her return she immediately assumed the responsibility, giving up absolutely everything else that she might give of her best to the Red Cross ; and it was largely through her efforts that it became the capable efficient organ .that it was. After managing it a year, she turned it over to Mrs. Baker, but of course continued her work in it, giving the help that no one else was in a position to give.
Prepared and submitted by Miss Mary Ainsworth and Miss Isabella Ham- ilton.
PSI IOTA XI WAR WORK
The Sigma Chapter of Psi Iota Xi was organized at Greensburg, Indiana, June 19, 1917, the charter members being Miss Margaret Robison, Miss Laura
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Woodfill, Mrs. Helen Kennedy Russel, Miss Mary Woodfill, Miss Rachael Turner, Mrs. Sarah Porter Hodges, Miss Helen Doles and Miss Willa Robbins.
The members of Sigma Chapter of Psi Iota Xi outside of the charter mem- bers are: Ruth Sefton, Mrs. Vera Thomas, Helen Batterton, Florine Tillson, Marguerite Tillson, Helen Newhouse, Mabel Emmert, Mildred Robison, Mrs. Alice Reed, Jessie Robbins, Dorothy Siling, Mrs. Mary Woolverton Swift, Nell Browning Lathrop, Mrs. Marjorie Arbuckle.
Pledges : Helen McConnell, Victoria Woolverton, Mrs. Ross Reed.
The war work of Psi lota Xi started immediately. Knitting bags were made by the girls and sold, the money being used to buy socks for the soldiers. Christ- mas boxes were filled and sent to the Rainbow division. Work was done in the surgical dressing shop. Twelve sweaters were made and donated; sixty refugee garments were made ; also twenty-four hospital shirts, bandages and shot bags.
A market was held in November, 1917, and $50.00 was given to the Red Cross.
In 1918, the picture show was taken over and $50.00 was given to the Red Cross.
One hundred dollars was given to the Psi Iota Xi war fund which was do- nated to a hospital. The money was made from a dance, ice cream social, and serving election dinners at the polls.
A French boy was adopted. A box of books was sent to Camp Beauregard. Prepared and submitted by ALICE REED (Mrs. Ross)
VISIT OF TRAIN OF WAR RELICS
October 1, 1917, a train of quite a number of freight cars was side-tracked between Franklin street and Broadway. This train was loaded with different kinds of guns being used in the war. Two box cars were filled with all sorts of small fire arms and war relics. Disabled soldiers of our allies were with the train in charge of an officer.
The school children were taken in line through the box cars and then lined along the side walk to hear the speeches of the men.
When the men arrived on an earlier passenger train they were met by Walter W. Crisler and Dr. C. A. Kuhn, who took them over the city by automobile, out to the I. O. O. F. home, and to the high school where Professor Jerman assembled the school and had the visitors talk to the pupils and teachers.
Another train of like description visited Greensburg in the spring of 1918.
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WHEN THE AEROPLANES CAME
The first aeroplane was scheduled to visit Greensburg on July 4, 1918. The bird man, Lieut. Swem, of Washington City, whose father was born and reared here, came, but the plane failed to be sent from the field in Ohio. The people watched until sundown but no areoplane arrived.
In the fall of 1918, four Government planes came in the interest of the Liberty Loan drive. The people for miles around congregated on the public square to see them when they arrived. The west tower of the court house was crowded with people anxious to be the first to see them. The landing was made on the Hamilton place, just north of town. The Liberty Guards were placed on guard and no one was allowed within the field.
When the men went down town it was discovered that they really looked like other men.
It was, indeed, a day of great excitement for the citizens of Greensburg and the surrounding country.
A MYSTERIOUS CHARACTER
In the winter of 1917-18 a woman, giving her name as Jeanette Mosley, ar- rived in Greensburg and took rooms in the Watson Flats on West North street. She claimed to be a French woman, who had been educated in Germany, and with her husband, father, brothers, uncles and nephews in the various armies of the allies to the number of seventeen, and herself an ex-aviator, she created a great deal of excitement and speculation. She attended all public meetings, knit all the time, and talked incessantly. Finally she contracted small-pox, and upon her recovery left Greensburg. The last heard of her she was dressed in Khaki coat, trousers, leggings and cap, acting as a street-car conductor at Indianapolis, on the line running out to Nordyke & Marmon's manufacturing plant, where Liberty motors for the aeroplanes were made.
ALBERT MAUDLIN'S EXPERIENCE ON TORPEDOED SHIP IN MEDITERRANEAN
The fatal trip for S. S. Albert Watts. We left New York October 29, about 6:30 p. m. and had a very enjoyable trip all the way across. We arrived at Gibraltar November 20, 1917.
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We had a cargo of 777,240 gallons of gasoline, 120,000 gallons of benzine, 400,000 gallons of fine oil.
We left Gibraltar November 23, after taking on a supply of fresh water, and were progressing finely until on November 28. about ten minutes before 8 o'clock there was a submarine sighted on our starboard. and all ships opened fire immed- iately and continued to battle until about nine o'clock when part of the crew went below for breakfast, as nobody had breakfast that morning. I was on watch in the crow's nest and the battle started again before my chance for "chow" came so I didn't eat that morning. About 12 o'clock the same day we were struck just under the foremast, when I happened to be on watch. Benzine cans, hatch covers and parts of the steel deck flew all around me like shrapnel, but luckily none hit the mark. I lost no time in coming a little nearer the water's edge for I slid down the forward guy wire and went back and took my place on the gun, but there were no more shots fired.
The ship was leaking gasoline and benzine from the hole made by the torpedo ; and as we were nearing Genoa Harbor, according to rules of the sea, we were forced to light what is called a pilot light, something similar to torches carried in parades, and the sparks caught fire to the gasoline on the water, and it looked like certain death ; but the captain, who was Captain Hunley, rang up for full speed ahead in the engine room and started a zigzag course, and the increased churn of the water by the propeller cut the fire off so we were safe once more.
The next morning, November 29, Thanksgiving Day, we were anchored just inside of the break water, and about one-half mile from shore ; when we were storing ammunition away and cleaning everything up in general, includig our- selves, about ten minutes before 12, an Italian came along side, peddling fruit. tobacco and trying to smuggle drinks abroad and lighted a cigarette and threw his match in the water, consequently setting the oil on fire once more. The blaze spread so rapidly that it was useless to try to save anything only ourselves and lucky to get off at that. The young Italian was burned to a crisp.
We all jumped over board to get to shore the best way we could, some swam, some couldn't swim and were picked up by harbor boats so we only lost one civilian, who jumped overboard on the wrong side and burned to death.
The ship burned fifteen days and when it finally went out for want of some- thing more to burn, they just pulled it out of the way and run her on the beach and if one were to enter Genoa Harbor today he could see her lying on the beach with no more work for the Albert Watts, for she has made her last trip.
The crew returned on the S. S. Orion and arrived in Philadelphia February 21, 1918.
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EDWARD J. HARBISON SAW LONGEST CONTINUAL SERVICE OF ANY MAN IN DECATUR COUNTY
When America entered the great World war, no one did more to arouse the feeling of patriotic duty among the men than Edward J. Harbison. Mr. Harbison had been in continual army service from 1890 until 1916.
In 1890, at the time of the Indian uprising in the West, Mr. Harbison en- listed September 8. This war lasted from 1890-91 ; in this uprising Sitting Bull was killed. During the Spanish-American war he served in Company E, Second Infantry. They landed at Seboney, Cuba, June 24, 1898, and from July 1 to 11 was in the battle of Santiago DeCuba, under General Shafter. Upon returning to America the landing was made at Montauk Point, N. Y. The commander was "Hell Roarin' Jakie" Smith. They sailed via San Francisco, August 21, 1900, on transport "Sherman" for China to take part in the Boxer uprising, and upon land- ing at Japan to take coal they found an order for them to hasten to the Philip- pines, instead, for the insurrection, where they remained two years. The battalion was commanded by Capt. Edmund K. Webster.
Company E's commander was Harrison J. Price. Upon returning to the United States, May 2, 1902, he re-enlisted in Company M, Third Infantry, at Ft. Thomas, Kentucky. Col. John H. Page commanded the regiment and Capt. Frederick R. Day, the company.
After the death of President Mckinley, while the body was in the vault, Mr. Harbison was one of the guards stationed at West Lawn cemetery, Canton, Ohio.
At the expiration of this term of service he re-enlisted in Company D, Ninth Infantry, and was transferred to Company L, where he was made corporal, after- wards he was made sergeant and was transferred from Company L to Company H.
During the Mexican border trouble the Ninth Infantry was stationed at Camp U. S. Troops, Lerado, Texas, and on July 22, 1916, Mr. Harbison was re- tired as first sergeant, Company H, Ninth Infantry.
The Ninth Infantry was known as the "fighting ninth." It was organized in 1799, and continued as an organization until the World war, when it was divided and scattered, like the lost tribes of Israel.
Upon his request for service during the World war, Mr. Harbison was
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placed in charge of the recruiting station at Greensburg, and also assisted in the station at Indianapolis, serving from July 10, 1917, until September 30, 1918.
Medals received by him from the Government were: Indian wars, 1890; war with Spain, 1898; return to Cuba, 1898-1902; Philippine insurrection, 1899; Liberty medal, World war, March 24, July 22.
DECATUR COUNTY'S MEN WHO WERE DECORATED FOR BRAVERY
Benjamin T. Strain was a corporal in Company 45, Fifth Marines, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross in recognition of his gallant conduct and extraordinary heroism at Chateau Thierry June 6, 1918. This medal was awarded by John J. Pershing, commander-in-chief.
It was in this battle that Benjamin Turner Strain, the first Decatur county boy to be killed in action, made the supreme sacrifice, and went into the west to meet his Great Commander in Chief.
Walter Thomas Moore served in Company L, One Hundred Nineteenth In- fantry, Thirtieth division. He was recognized by the French Government upon his capturing thirty-five Germans single handed, two of them being officers. He was wounded by a machine gun bullet from an aeroplane and was sent to a British hospital.
Carl J. AmRhein was also rewarded by the French Government with a medal for excessive heroism and bravery exhibited by him in breaking up the enemy's lines in the campaign at Soissons. He was a sergeant in Company G, Ninth regi- ment, Second division. Carl was shot through both thighs and the thumb of his right hand by a machine gun bullet.
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