The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1916-03-10
FRENCH sAPPERs THRILLING
STORY
German Shell Explosion Traps Them
N Mine Gallery.

Paris. March 3.--The story OF the
three French sappers, who we're
buried alive for hours during the bat
tie of Verdun and who finally dug
their way out to safety, is told In de-
tall by one of them who arrived in
Paris on a hospital train this morn
Ing. He said:
with my friends, Bernard and
Jean, was posted In trench at the
edge of the Vauche woods. The enemy
showed disposition to attack and.
according to orders, the three Of US.
with a charge OF powder, fuses and
tools. started down a mine gallery to
I'LL the mine chamber to lay the
wires and to pack the gallery behind
It. We did this without difficulty and
we're on our way back when a heavy
explosion shook us. Had our mine
guns gone on already I hear stones
falling said one of ny comrades. We
rushed forward; the gallery was full
Of gravel. We realized the horrible
truth; We we're walled up. An enemy
she'll had exploded afoYe the gallery,
causing the roof 10 III in.
We examined the walls In feferish
haste. We are done for, said Jean.
We were not afraid Of death--it was
all part Of the game. but we do not
Ike to die there In the darkness
How long can We stay hereg Jean
asked again. There Is plenty Of air
and the gallery IS roomy. but there Is
nothing 10 eat | replied. Well. what's
The good If feH hours more or
iess2' he said Why waltz for one
have already made ~ my mind He
took out his revolver. but | stopped
him and sald. Don't be fool Let ua
.ait while: we may hit on some way
out"
The frst horror having passed oy-
or. we began to discuss ways and
means. lei us wait patiently for our
nine 10 explode Il Il makes : big
enough hole we can dig through into
T. said
We sal down In silence and could
hear all lie sounds Of battle above
IL. for the earth is good conductor
Of sound. Ne tried to distinguish the
character Of the various vibrations.
30 AZ not In miss the noise when our
mine exploded Finally we heard n
and we rushed forward through Al
wave OF hoI air. Hone strengthened
our arms and We pIisd our pick fu-
fiously. but our packing had been -
Nell done That II took ua two huuFH
Isfore Ks got into The emptY mine
chamber I listened hut the sound Of
firing SEEMED so far N that | Judged
here was thick layer OF earth be-
tween us AID the outer world Then
ifops fell nnon US Ne we're going 10
b. Hooded 10 much The better. al
Ian. We zhall die more quickly.
Something trirklsd down On my
Iips and recognized the taste. I'll
sas blood. and realized that II blood
AS coming through He could nj be
ar from tie surface With renewed
hope We sci 10 work again. but rather
fur We started fall Of earth
shich nearly buried n We wefs all
injured. Harnard's Leg being broken,
leans head cut and my left arm
broken isanite our pain We epnfIn.
led our efforts aud after a while ae
.ame on , number Of dead bodies OF
Germans. which had rolled TO the bot
nm Of the crater which the mine 81
lloaiOn had made
After n hour Of digging and
=TasIing among these bodies se got
1T into tn Hir, 10th ny comrades
ssre ~ exhausted that they tainted.
watched DER them. being sheltered
rom shells and bullets by the steep
Iides Of The crater After eight hours
zaitinE ambulance attendants found
II and by TINT time He had but little
ifs left In -