The Washington times., 1916-12-19
YOUTH OF SIXTEEN Is
SOLDIER OF FORTUNE
Wounded in Skirmish at Mons,
. and Returned to the v. s.
as a Stowaway.

His name is Richard s. Castle; he
claims to be a nephew OF Vernon Cas-.
tie. and IL in Washington looking for
work. He's only sixteen years old.
and at tho age when most boys are
battling with elementary problems In
algebra. he's able to tell an unusual
story OF his own life.
lie started by running away from
home. Then he shipped across to
France on board q tramp steamer.
Next he enlisted In the Royal irish
Fusileers. and was wounded In a
skirmish at Mons. Following his re.
covery, he slowed away on board a
liner and came back 10 Boston, arriy.
ing In the latter part OF September.
Since then he has covered the greater
part of the East and South In his de.
sir, TO sec "sonc OF the world"
II was born In Derry. In the prov.
ince OF Tyrone. In northern ireland"
u. said. ION the shores OF beautiful
Loeb Neash."
sailed on Herse Vessel.
lie came TO this country when n
baby. and was brought up in Phiia.
delphia, where, after completing a pub
lie school education a year ago. nc
departed from a home, that, he says,
was anything but home.
In Now York early last spring he
saw signs along the docks. reading
that men were wanted In the British
army. lie shipped on board the An
glo-Saxon, which crossed the Atlantic
with q consignment OF horses for the
French army. Afthr wsrping into her
dock at 81. Nazaire, n port In south.
crn France near Toulon, the young
American received his slender wages
and went ashore to enlist.
Up to Paris he went with the pa
troll In charge OF tho horses, and i'm.
mediately sought out British army
headquarters and attempted 20 enlist.
His claim OF beipg eighteen years old
was not substantiated by his looks.
and he was turned down by the re.
cruiting officer. He haunted the of.
| flee till one day he wasi assigned TO
the regiment OF regiments for him.
the Royal Irish Fusiieers.
in Tresehs. At Mems.
He was sent up to the first battle
line with a detachment OF recruits.
and In a few days was IN the front
line trenches at Mons. The great
already but there was plenty OF
trench fighting to appeal to the young
American.
The first trenches. young Castle de.
scribed as being merely shallow eN.
cayations, where the troops lay behind
! short parapets and hurled hand gren.
ades or directed rifle fare at the op-
posite lines. The trenches OF the
Boches, he said, were only seventy
five yards away. and at points came
even nearer.
shot Below the Knee.
A wound. which he exhibited, he
said was received while he was as
sisting another private TO pull a com
rade, who had fallen. back into the
trench. The bullet hit him below the
knee. and still causes him to limp
slightly.
Incapaeitated for further fighting.
he returned to Paris after a brief stay
In q hospital. The hospital. only a
short distance from the lines. was hit
convalescing and several OF the pa
tients were killed. After"a short stay
at Paris he proceeded down through
southern France to 81. Nazairc.
There he was arrested because OF
his inability to show a passport. He
was held I'm the municipal jail for
twenty-five days, and at the end of
the time was released, the officials
being satisfied that his claim OF be-
ing an American citizen was true,
Returned 10 French Soil.
One night he crept aboard the
Moorish Prince, but was found next
day In the hold, and summarily
placed on French soil again. on his
next attempt he succeeded In board
ing the Virginian. The second day
out he was found hiding behind a
bag of oats. lie was brought up TO
| the officers cabin, where, after
brief arraignment, he was ordered
down I'm the hold again, where he
was compelled to work his way
across in filling buckets with oats
that had become soaked with bilge
water.
He was permitted TO land at Bos.
ton, when he satisfactorily explained
to the immigration officials that he
was an American. After travelling
around this, country for a time, he
came to Alexandria. At present he
is staying at the Gospel Mission,
while looking for job that will en-