The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-09-25
A Race Between
A Blown Horse
And a Sound Man
By WILLIAM CHANDLER

When the great European war brok
out Ben Iddings, an American, nine
teen years old, was seized with de
sire to see something of the fracas
He had no preferences for either side
but found 1t more convenient TO go (,
England and enlist there. Having
been national guardsman at home
he knew something of the duties Of {
soldier and was enrolled with a corp:
that crossed the channel after the frs
expeditionary force of regulars. He be
longed to the cavalry.
One cold day in December he was
scouting with small portion of hi:
regiment when they encountered su
perior body of uhlans and were not
only put TO fight, but scattered. Ben
instead of getting started toward the
lines of the allies was headed in the
other direction. 1t was near nightfall
and he got away from his pursuers
under cover of the darkness Wander
ing about, he came upon house.
Quite sure of welcome from any
Belgian, he rode boldly up to the door
and shouted. An old woman appeared.
Ben told her that he was soldier in
the British army and received a well
come. He was invited to put his horse
In an clubhouse and make himself at
home In the dwelling.
The oldest daughter of the family
was a pretty girl year or two younger
than Ben. He was a good looking
Young fellow, and the girl could not
conceal her admiration for him. AL
ready Red Cross supplies for the Bel
gians had begun to arrive from Ameri-
ca, and when Ben avowed that he had
come from that liberal land the whole
family was quite ready to fall down
and worship him. They persuaded him
not to try to regain the British lines
until the next day, when some expe-
dent might occur to them by which
they could assist him to do So
Early In the morning Ben was awak-
ened by men talking German under his
window, and the Belgian girl raped
at his door and warned him that uh-
lans were below. Ben sprang out Of bed
and hurried on his clothes, and the girl
led him to garnet, where she hid him
under some old furniture. The uhlans
found his horse in the shed and de-
manded to know where its owner was.
They were invited to search the house,
which they did, not overcarefully, and
70 Al - 4,,I r.,.t.~ so
they made Off. taking Ben's horse with
them.
Scarcely had they departed when a
violent snowstorm came on, with
high wind which blew the snow in
huge drifts. The family with whom
Ben was In hiding owned an old sleigh,
but the horse had been appropriated
by the army. 1t was suggested that
II they could borrow horse some one
might drive Ben in the sleigh to a
place where he could make run for |
the lines Of the allies A boy about |
fifteen years old volunteered to scour |
the country for horse and found one |
that had been left In barn by sol |
der who had taken better one In his |
place. The boy brought the horse home.
and, since there was harness at hand,
the animal was hitched to the sleigh.
The Oldest daughter, whom they call
ed Elizabeth, was selected to drive the
American eastward. He doubled him
self up under the seat, and blankets
were used to cover him. When all was
ready the girl touched the horse with
the whip and Ben left his hosts, fol-
Owed by blessings as one coming from
The liberal land.
German troops were passed on the
road. and had II not been that a pref
y girl was driving it is doubtful IL the
couple In the sleigh would have got
very far. Twice German soldiers de-
,ated whether or not they should take
he horse, but In the first case Eliza
,eth kept them OF by a smile. and In
he second IL was decided that the ami
nal was not worth appropriating.
But after these two escapes they en- /,
ountered a third, more serious. Ap- In
reaching a house, Elizabeth saw a
nan in the uniform Of uhlan leaving :
with the evident intent 20 intercept !
er. She concluded that he was In
eed Of a mount and would take any
one he could get. Applying the whip,
be succeeded In getting by the house
efore the uhlan reached the road He
allied on her TO stop and when she !,
ushed on fired a shot over her head.
he paid no attention 10 this, and the /,
ian followed her on a run. ii
The horse was already winded and
cspite a sound drubbing could not be n
rged TO a pace that would enable his Il
river 20 gain on the man. she noti- q
ed Ben that he would be captured. Z
I'd he came to the conclusion that be
lust fight fos his liberty. He had his
,voiyer. but a fight within the enc
Us lines was liable 10 call new enc =
les. and he preferred some other
ethod.
They came % a rise In the ground Y
! the other side Of which was deep 81
sil0w on either side ~ the road was (,
ditch that had been filled with snow. \
hen they reached the bottom % the
spression Ben. Who had come out =
ON under the seat and was boxing
out for means Of esespe. seeing the
5ft. jumped into n. sank 70 his waist
a managed % set the rest q his =,
,4v under before the purSuer came 4,
enc ssr,uuf ppr fNw nfff FfiTaiHsfh =.