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THE NEZPERCE HERALD
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NEZPERCE, IDAHO, THURSDAY, IANUARY 16, 1919
Subscription, $1.50
Circulation, 1,400
Officiai Paper Lewis County
1. 21, No. 33
the
TORY DIRECT FROM
THE BATTLE FIELDS
icom Billups Vividly Portrays
lis Experiences In the Great
American Campaign In
France.
harlcs Bascom Billups, Avho
over thirteen months inten
serviee back of and on the
ng line in Prance, Avas un.
t of our boys to return from
i"real thing" over there, and
dong after his arrival the sad
is of the death of Basil Yate:
illed in action in the Argonne
ist on Oct. 8—Avas received
i. In the memorial service,
at the Community church in
[ city Jan. 5th, for the dead
I, Bascom Billups was pre
fed upon to relate some of his
[ experiences, which held the
ivided interest o£ the large
fence. We give his story,
i, Avhich covers the time from
(sailing of his regiment to his
jg dangerously Avounded in
(Chateau Thierry fighting
[ 11, 1918. Mr. Billups said:
t Camp Mills, N. Y., on Nov.
1917, our captain gave orders
as to have everything packed
[veiling so we could take the
[clock train. We didn't knoAv
le we were going, but every
thought avc Avere on our Avay
^Bancc.
Hat night at 12 Ave took the
for Ncav York City, Avhere
|Hld ship Tanadoris was Avait
Hlor us in the N. Y. harbor. In
Honvoy there Aver e eight trans
H, but avc AA-ere not very avcII
^Bcted (or at least that is Avhat
Hhought), as there Avas only
■battle ship and one destroy
Bid that didn't seem like much
Hction for such a long and
Herous journey. Most of the
|B were seasick and I myself
Bp-cry sick for fn-e days.
Hr company—E of the 116th
Hneers-—had the guard on
B and F company had the job
Board in Avhat avc called the
pOAv's nest", Avhere they watch
p[or submarines and other ves
K that Ave were liable to meet
me going over.
«ft er AA'e Avere out seven days,
destroyers met us to take us
Mv to harbor. On December
Bp suav land, small islands off
Hoast of France. On Decem
Hoth avc arrived at St. Neza
HPranee, but Avere kept on
Bl till Dec. 12th, before land
e French people gave us a
;y Avelcome, and avc had a
of three miles to camp, Avhere
smained for three days. Then
regiment Avas again divided
•small groups, and avc Avere
sto different divisions AVhieh
[short of their quota of men.
le third day 120 men, includ
hyself, were sent to the 2nd
keers. We were placed in box
and the weather at this time
I A-ery cold; avc had a dis
able trip. jWhen Ave landed
[ville, Avhere the 2nd Engin
fwere located, avc Avere not
lo our companies immediate
ht put in barracks under
Intine for 30 days. The
1er here was very cold and
pod supply was limited. But
I quarantine Avas lifted, avc
Iseut to our companies. 1
»signed to Co. A. Here avc
lenty to cat and a very good
go sleep, Avhich made it seem
pike 'home.
Ithe 15th of March Ave Avere
lo the Toul sector, at the
|of Menil a Tour, Avhere we
Iharge of an engineer dump.
Inp is Avhere supplies are
I until needed at the front.
|we Avere visited very often
Irman airplanes, and it gai-e
I pretty shaky feeling while
ibombs Avere dropping about
fecuously.
I Toul sector is Avhere the
leans first entered the real
En the trenches. One night
■of the Germans made a raid
K American trenches.
Kr had been very rainy and
Lund Avas slick. An Ameri
|y Avas out of his trench and
Sen by one of the Germans,
p the German shot, the Sam
(éet slipped and he fell. The
he had killed
The
supposing
n, started proudly off. The
tot up and Avinged the Hun
t Avas brought into camp.
:ficers asked him what he
ft. of the Americans. He re
"We Avili never lick you
3 Americans, for you-don't
when you are hit."
fay 5th aa-c AA-ere started on
ly to the Chateau Thierry
front. One day we traveled thru
French trenches and reached a
little French town where we rest-1
ed four days. On May 9 we made
18 miles to another French town,
where we took charge of another
engineer dump. But were here
only 10 days when our captain got
orders to move us to the front.
So on May 29 were again loaded
on French trucks. This time we
rode a day and night and during
the night our trucks were bombed
by German airplanes, but the
trucks were 100 yards apart and
old man Boche missed his target.
After leaving the trucks, we
marched till 3 p. m., when we
stopped at a little French town
for dinner. We were out of ra
tions, but the inhabitants had de
serted the town and left a great
many chickens, rabbits and pota
toes, so we prepared to eat. As
this was near the front, in our ap
proach, we met a great many wo
men and children leaving their
homes, having with them only a
few clothes and looking sadly
weary. Before our meals were
cooked we had to leave them and
start on our way to the front.
After marching an hour or two we
received orders to go to a differ
ent front.
When it got dark Ave came to
a steep mountain, which avc either
had to climb or go around thru
a very dense forest, so our captain
chose the forest. Going thru these
Avoods avc had to hang on to each
other's coat tails to keep from
getting lost. No one Avas alloAved
to talk above a whisper. We were
close to the German lines and
could hear the big guns roaring,
and the machine guns were very
busy all the time.
After getting-thru the forest
we came to a road which avc fol
loAved for about two hours; then
to a field of grain. We
we came
started thru this and got lost and
wandered around for tAvo or three
The men Avere just like
hours.
tired dogs, and could hardly take
It began to rain,
to an old
another step,
and finally avc came
chateau
Avhere I suppose some
French farmer had lived, but it
had been deserted by its owners.
Here avc laid down to rest, right
in the rain.
Some of the boys no
than touched the ground till
After a feAv
more
they AA-ere asleep,
minutes rest, Ave started on. When
AVe had marched about another
hour, day began to break and aa c
had to stay in the woods all that
day, to -keep hid from the Ger
mans.
About a mile from these woods
found another French tOAvn
that had been deserted. Here avc
got a Ecav potatoes, chickens and
"abbits which tasted mighty good
to us as it had been about 36 hour s
had eaten anything.
After staying in these woods
for tAvo days, avc started again
on our way to the front just at
dark. We marched all night and
when day break came on us avc
sec'n by the Germans, as
they had several observation bal
loons up ; and they can see several
miles with their poAverful field
glasses. The first thing avc knew
they were shelling us with their
heavy artillery. This
first experience under shell fire.
No one can imagine what kind
of a feeling it is to be under shell
fire unless they have been right
AVC
I
since we
were
Avas our
there.
The first three shells killed sev
and Avounded
We AA-ere close to the
eral of our men
some more,
woods, so stayed there that day.
Here Ave dug ourselves in, laying
limbs of trees oA-er the top of our
trenches and covered them OA r er
Avith about three feet of dirt to
protect us a little from the shrap
After finishing my
net shells,
dugout, I Avent out to get some
leaves for a bed. While out there
the Germans began shelling _us
again : a piece from the outside
of a shell fleAv by me and cut off
a small tree close to the roots. I
decided right then that I didn't
need any leaves for a*, bed ; and I
almost ruined my dugout trying
to get into the small hole I had
left for a door.
Towards evening avc started
again on our way to the ( hateau
When Avith in
Thierry front,
four miles of this front, the Ger
began to shell the roads ;
and the shells fell all around us,
and some of them almost on top
of us. When -within about a mile
of the front, we heard a truck
doAvn the road; and the
shooting one
mans
truck passed us it seemed to me
like they started shooting all the
comme
Germans
pounders at it, as it was coming
from the front and could be heard
very plainly by them. When this
Avere
j faster ; and those shells flew all
' around us.
if that fellow driving the truck
was going one mile an hour he
was going sixty, but he didn't go
any too fast to suit me.
it must have been a miracle the
way we went over those roads
that night without losing a man.
When we reached the front
there was a small town there by
the name of Bouresches, it Avas
here Ave learned that the German
drive had been partly stopped by
the Marines tAvo days before, and
this town had been taken from
the Huns by 78 Marines just a
feAv hours before Ave got there.
But Avhen Ave reached it there
were only 11 Marinos left out of
the 78, but they Avere still holding
the town. They Avere very glad
to see us land in there even if
avc were the 2nd engineers. We
also learned that this was the
famous Belleau Avood, later called
the Hell Avood, which T think is
a very good name for it.
The next night the 2nd engi
neers Avere put dn the front line.
We Avere shelled a great deal the
next day by the German artillery.
At this time Ave had no artillery
support at all, as it Avas a newly
established line and the artillery,
had not yet been moved in. That
night the Germans came over and
tried to lake the town and here
was some scrap. For about 2 Y?
hours, machine gun bullets Avere
flying so thick and fast that it
sounded like a strong Avind Woaa-
ing thru a bunch of trees. But
they finally gave it up as a bad
job and started back to their own
lines Avith what few men they had
left. Dead and Avounded Germans
were lying thick, but our losses
were very light.
A day or tAvo later we had or
ders to take a certain part of
woods Avhich the Germans Avere
holding. We started at day break
and Avhen the German lines Avere
reached Ave had some very stiff
fighting, but with machine guns,
rifles and a feAv hand grenades
we soon drove them back. After
fighting this way for a feAv days,
the Marines and Engineers had
taken the greater part of the
Avoods.
On June 11th my company Avas
•sent about one mile back of our
front line to put up some barbed
Avire entanglements, to help pre
vent a German advance in case
they got to us and made one.
We had been working there
about tAvo hours Avhen the Ger
mans began shelling us Avith high
explosive shells. Six of the boys
and myself Avere driving stakes
to string the Avire on Avhen Ave
heard a shell coming that sounded
like it was going to light right
on top of us, so avc dropped doAvn.
This Avas our orders as a man al
lias a better chance for his
ways
life lying doAvn than standing
when a shell explodes near by.
We had no more than hit the
ground Avhen the shell hit. It
did get over me and lit square
behind me. Tavo of the fellows
who Avere lying behind me were
blown to pieces. Tavo others Avere
also killed, another received five
wounds in the legs and arms and
I received seven vvounds in my
right leg and four in the left.
Thus avc had four killed and two
Avounded out of the seven of us
Avho were Avorking at that place;
one man out of seven getting
aAvay without injury.
We Avere picked up in about
half an hour by some of our oavu
men and Avere taken to a first aid
station Avhere our avouikIs were
Avrapped to prevent bleeding.
Then Ave Avere moA-ed to a field
hospital ; and operated on about
II o'clock that day. We remain
ed here ten days, and had fine
doctors and nurses, but the pain
was so great I didn't sleep hardly
any during that time. I Avas then
taken to base hospital No. 27 at
Angers, about 150 miles behind
the lines Avhere I had still better
care, as they were not so crowded.
I was here nine Aveeks, and Avith
out money. The Red Cross kept
us in smoking tobacco, etc.
After leaving here I Avas sent
to Saveney to base hospital No.
8. I stayed there.one Aveek, and
was then sent to Brest AA-here the
old steam ship Princess Matopia
Avas waiting to take us back to the
good old U. S. A.
We were on the Avater 10 days,
and it seemed like a very long
trip. We ran into a big storm
tAvo days out from Ncav York har
bor, and they tied us in bed to
keep us from falling out.
I was certainly glad to reach
the States, since I Avas no good
for further service in Prance. 1 1
Avas placed in the U. S. general
hospital at Rahway, X. J., where
good doetors and nurses gave me
excellent care until my furlough
home, where I'm having the time
of my life.
From my experiences, I want
to say right here that the govern
ment ought to keep Germans from
coming to this country ; and that
young German who shot down Li.
Roosevelt and his air ship and
just lately offered to join the U.
8. army air service—if they'd let
me meet him first, he wouldn't
join any army of Uncle Sim's.
LOCAL NEWS.
Need hay? Call up the mill.
This is the Aveek to hell» starv
ing Europe.
Community church box social,
Friday, Jan. 24.
Dr. Schilling coming Jan. 20-21.
Hoav about your eyes?
Box social, Friday night, Jan.
24th, 'Community church.
Banker Ernst Wienss returned
yesterday from a business visit to
Spokane.
County Attorney G. C. Pennell
AA'as in Ho yesterday on profes
sional business.
W. F. Johnson came in from
Spokane Saturday to look after
his interests here.
Karl C. Franke, the tomb stone
man, Avas up from Kamiah Fri
day, en route to Cottomvood.
Lost—Boston bull dog; collar
with brass plate on top; answers
to name of Ted. Reward for infor
mation. • Ernst Wienss.
Bernice Thomas is said to b*e
so far recovered from his re/ent
serious illnessi at Camp LeAvis
that he Avas allowed to sit up
Tuesday.
County Auditor Schnell was
called to Orangeville Saturday by
the serious illness of his father,
Avhose condition is reported some
Avhat improved at this time.
Frank Zolber, one of the big
farmers of the Vollmer section,
returned last Thursday from a
visit AA-ith his sister, Mrs. Carl
Williams, and family at Kenne
Avick, Wn.
Harry C. BüIoav returned the
latter part of the Aveek from Gal
arnfmlle, Alta., Avhere he has
been engaged in farming for the
last several years. He plans to
try his luck again on good old
Nezperce prairie. His folks and
many friends are glad to have
him back.
The total Red Cross roll in
LeAvis county is 1863, a total to
be proud of. The Kamiah total
is 249, instead of 230, as reported
in these columns last Aveek. Kam
iah, like the rest of this patriotic
commonwealth, has been right up
and over the top at every oppor
tunity.
Mrs. A .E. Sickler came in Tues
day night from Savageton, Wyo.,
for a visit with old Nezperce
friends. She reports conditions
good with the Nezpercers noAv lo
cated in and about Savageton ;
and she also brings the report
that no word has been received
by her from her sons, Eph. and
Wm. Testerman, since Oct. 27.
The last report she heard of Eph.
was that he had recovered from
the Avound he received and return
ed to his old command for active
service. The boys belong to Co.
B, 2nd Engineers, AA-hich certainly
had a fighting career.
C. Bascom Billups finished a
very much enjoyed furlough Avith
his homefolks and old Nezperce
friends this morning and began
his return trip to the government
hospital at RahAvay, New Jersey,
Avhere the army surgeons hope to
remove the effects of his avouikIs
as far as possible ere he is dis
charged. While the eleven wounds
he carries m his legs and feet yet
make the use of crutches more or
less needful, he manages to get
around considerably without
them, and the inconvenience did
not prevent him from greatly en
joying the èntertainment the old
home gave him. As a suggestion
of the feeling the community
bears him, it tendered him, thru
Joe Mitchell, a purse of +80 to
help make his return trip to the
hospital as comfortable and pleas
ant as possible. For this and the
many other kindnesses extended,
he asked The Herald to extend
his sincere thanks to all.
Good Ones at The Artie.
Marguerite Clark in
Man, Poor Man," Friday night.
The first shoAV starts at 6:30
sharp.
Mack Sennett comedy with
Marguerite Clark Friday night.
Four changes of program week
ly. Get your program.
Always a warm house.
Rich
( t
Nolen Hollen Returns From Over
seas.
X'olen Hollen, avIio has been in
the aviation service at an English
base for the past several months
returned to this country about a
month ago and after being at
Camp LeAvis three Aveoks, Avas dis
charged and reached home here
Monday, Avhere a hearty and glad
Avelcome aAvaited him by his par
ents, Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Hollen
and his many old friends and
school mates.
Nolen enlisted in the aviation
branch at Spokane about a year
ago, and after spending a season
at Ft. Wright Avas sent east to
Camp Morrison, Va. Here he en
deavored for several months to
get an overseas berth, and finally
succeeded, but had only just com
pleted the intensive training he
received in England and Avas on
the point of transfer to France
when hostilities ceased. HoAvever,
he appreciates the experience he
had, and after it's all over is glad
to be back. home.
Memorial for Carroll Rowe.
Once again Nezperce Avili meet
and pay tribute to a hero; one
Avho gave his life for America and
freedom and democracy. The
floAvers that may be given' the
family and the services next Sun
day evening at the Community
church only sIioav in a very small
Avay, the appreciation and the
sympathy of this community.
The services Avili consist of an
thems by a mixed choir under the
direction of Mrs. Elizabeth Pen
nell .
Reading of the Honor Roll—-the
names of all who are "under the
colors."
Reading of an original poem by
Sunt. Skinner.
.Addresses by Re\-. George Ellis,
Miss Retta Martin and Rba-.
Claude B. Martin.
The Odd Fellows Avili attend in
a body.
Those desiring to give floral
tributes to the bereaved family
see Rev. Martin.
Red Cross Meeting.
A meeting of the Nezperce
Branch of the Red Cross Avili be
held Friday evening, January 17,
at 8 o'clock, in the Red Cross scav
ing room to elect officers and to
transact such other business as
may come before the meeting.
Ev-efy member is earnestly in
quest ed to be present. A complete
report of the activities of the
Branch during the past year will
be read.
For (he benefit of ladies Avho
are not acquainted Avith the lo
cation of the sewing room, it may
be Avell to state that the banquet
hall of the Fraternal Temple
building has been used for this
purpose for over a year.
Enjoy Pleasant Surprise.
A pleasant surprise party Avas
given Miss Louise Davis, by a
number of her young friends Avho
gathered at the L. E. Williams
home, in Mohler, on Jan. 13th,
the event being the young lady's
eighth birthday.
Many interesting games Avere
played and a general good time
Avas enjoyed by all until a late
hour, Avhen dainty refreshments
Avere served by Mrs. Williams,
after which the children departed,
each wishing Miss Louise many
happy returns of the day.
Koepl-Heck.
Married, on Tuesday, Jan. 34,
in the Chapel of the Catholic
school at 8 o'clock a. m., George
Koepl and Aurelia Heck. Best
man, Joe Koepl, brother of bride
groom ; 'bride's maid Margareta
Heck, sister of the b7-ide. The
Avedding feast was at the house
of the groom's mother, Mrs. Clara
Koepl, two miles east of town.
Only the nearest relatives and
friends AA-ere present.
Booth Fathers Soldiers' Legisla
tion. ,
Patriotic measures to .protect
the civil rights of returned sol
diers and sailors in the service of
their country were introduced hr
the Idaho senate Friday by Sen
ators Daniels of Camas and Booth
of LeAvis county. Mortgages and
indebtedness pending against sol
diers cannot be prosecuted under
the terms of the act.
!
James Carlisle, our new county
surveyor, Avas up from Kamiah
Monday tt) take his oath of office,
and he talks of making Nezperce
his permanent headquarters.
NEW COUNTY OFFICERS
DON WORKING HARNESS
1
Oaths Administered Monday and
Business Proceeding Smooth
ly.—Commissioners
In Action.
.
All the neAvly-elected county of
ficials on Monday morning went
thru the required formula which
clothes them AA-ith the "full pow
ers" of their several positions,
except Miss Norma Wilson, of
Kamiah, county superintendent of
schools-elect, who is convalescing
from an attack of influenza and
could not be present; though she
hopes to report for duty before
the board adjourns at the end of
next Aveek. In the meantime, Miss
Martin, the retiring incumbent of
the office, is taking care of its
duties.
The ncAv board of county com
missioners—of Avhich Messrs. I.
J. Longeteig and Harley Huggins
are serving their initial terms and
John F; Pomeroy his second term
—Avas organized by the election
of the later gentleman to the
chairmanship. The usual big
grist of the first session in the
year confronted the board and it
set about disposing of this in a
very businesslike manner, and ex
pects to have the slate clean by
the end of the week.
Routine road matters, accounts
and action on official bonds have
been the principal features of en
tertainmejit thus far this week,
and this morning the board took
a trip to the grade recently com
pleted at the Stevenson crossing
of LaAvyer's canyon and took a
look over it, being very favorably
impressed by Avhat they saw.
Action was taken on deputies
for the offices of sheriff, assessor
and collector, each being allowed
one regular deputy at a salary of
.+95 per month. A salary of +3
per day Avas fixed for extra
deputies for the sheriff.
The board favors the carrying
on of Boys and Girls' club Avork
and ordered an allowance of +1 ,
125 per year for this Avork, pro
A'iding a like alloAvanee is made
the Federal Government. The
Avork is to be carried on in connec
tion Avith the county superintend
ent's office.
Sheriff A. W. Mitchell filed
the appointment of W. J. Smith
as his regular deputy.
The jury list for the current
vear Avas made up and filed.
Rochdale Shows Flattering In
crease.—Install Bean Plant.
The Nezperce Rochdale Com
pany—the clearing house of farm
products of this rich section—has
grown to be about the biggest in
dustrial plant in the open priarie
country. This fact was disclosed
at the semi-annual meeting of its
stockholders held in this city
Tuesday afternoon, Avhere a good
attendance was had and the ses
sion Avas full of business and in
terest. President N. H. Jacobs
presided and Secretary II. A. Von
Bargen took care of the minutes •
of the meeting, while Manager
B. L. Cole gave the record of the
business done by the company
during the past six months.
This statement of business
handled during the unusually try
ing period Just closed shoAved net
earnings of +9,219.77, a 50 per
cent increase over the same period
last yeaf*. The total business for
the six months amounted to +239,
191.95, and increase of +92,247.05
over the next previous report.
An important feature of the
meeting Avas the decision to in
stall a complete bean-cleaning
plant, including polishing and
drying equipment. This is some
thing the territory has much need
ed, especially since the bean ac
reage has become so large a fac
tor., in our farming industry.
Thirteen new members haA-e
been admitted to the organization
during the past six months, and
George P. Christenson Avas elected
to the board of directors, to suc
ceed George I. Lynn, resigned.
This is indeed an institution
that the citizens and the farmers
in particular may AA-ell point to
Avith pride.
Box Social.
The young people of the Com
munity church Avili give an old
fashioned Box Social ; a Aveek
from Friday ca-c. A program con
sisting of a short plav and negro
ministrels Avili be given ; after
Avhich the boxes Avili be auction
ed off.