The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1916-07-08
The Strange Case Of
a Buried Soldier
BY r. A. Mitchell
BY r. A. Mitchell

/ Whlch the nght occurred. Blanc 3
friend, Louis Devaure. serving in the
same company, saw him fall and when
the fight ceased went to him and took
him up. To all appearances Blanc was
dead. but Devaure could find no wound
! Surgeons 10 whom the case was refer
red surmised that the man had been
| killed by the air pressure OF a missile
| or, having weak heart, had sue
ment
Devaure secured coffin, or, rather,
box, and buried his friend near a
ravine that ran through the battlefield
That night severe rain set In.
swelling a tiny stream that ran
its banks. In the morning Devaure
visited his friends grave and found
that the flood had widened the rayine
and the end OF the box containing the
body was exposed. Moreover, the end
had been removed. This removal as
tonished Devaure. who. looking into
the box, found Il empty.
He was as much surprised at this as
he had been TO discover that his friend
had been killed In battle without any
sign OF having been hit. After study
ing the possible causes OF the absence
of the body he arrived at the conclu-
sion that the water as IL receded took
the body with 1t. But this did not nc
count for the removal OF the end OF the
box.
During the day several attempts Were
made 10y the Germans 20 recover the
ground through which the ravine ran.
They made a Judgment, but were not
able TO hold It. During the lighting
Devsure was slowly retreatlng in the
ravine. where he and his comrades
were less exposed 10 the German fire,
and while giving way before the enc
my he passed the protruding end OF
the box from which his friend had dis
appeared
What was Devaure's establishment TO
see the soles OF pair OF boots I'm the
place where his dead comrades boots
should be had he remained buried!
At evening the ground contended for
remained I'm possession OF the Ger
mans. Devaure told some OF his com
rades Of his having failed 20 find
Blancs body and OF his having after
ward seen the soles OF boots In the
box during the retreat. lie was laugh
ed at for his story
However, the contention for Blanc's
burial place was not yet over. At
daylight the next morning the French
made another effort 10 possess them
selves OF IT, In this fight Devaure was
not I'm the ravine. but one OF his
friends, Pierre IArrabee. passed right
under the box In question. The French
were again dispossessed, and LARA
bee reported that he had stood where
he could see into the box. the sun
lighting its interior, and Il was empty.
Devaure was forced 90 the conclu-
sion that his first view was correct and
that in his second he must have been
mistaken, though he had been as sure
OF seeing n pair OF soles as he was OF
seeing the box that contained them.
A wood bordered this much fought
over region and when night fell the
Germans, after Smelling the wood, adj
vanced To take II. Devaurc's com
pany was among the forces used in re
repclling this attack. Amid the fash
ing OF guns, the glare OF searchlights.
the roaring and the shouting, the two
opposing forces contended for the
wood. While Devaure's company were
pressing forward he saw man rise
Of "a 90
ment 20 look NJ the French as IL TO sat
isfy himself whether they were friends
OF enemies Then. evidently assured
he turned toward the Germans and be
gan 10 fire at them with his rife
What was Devaure's astonishment
TO see In the white haggard face or
this man his friend Blanc!
Devaure was more nearly paralyzed
with terror at this ghostly being than
Aat the frightful scene about him. The
ghost fell back into the ranks OF the
French. Devaurc seized his arm, and
the ghost turned.
"Louisr'
"Antoine!"
These words were spoken, though
hOl HtdNu ny tiNitI lbI Aht nut
Devaure was assured that his friend
stood with him I'm the flesh.
When day came and the fighting
ceased Blanc recounted his remarkable
adventures 10 his chum.
He had come TO consciousness with
sense OF suffocation and chilled feet.
which were resting against some oh
stacle. With a spasmodic effort he
forced this object away and felt rush
Ing water. which soon engulfed him.
Feeling that he was inclosed except nj
his feet, he pulled himself in that al
rection and struck water M OF about
It's surface. Finding a bank. he scram-
bled up II and. realizing that he might
be among enemies. lay still till there
was light enough 10 see the road. Then
he went there and hid
During the next day. seeing Germans
coming. he ran 10 the rayine and had
just time To crawl again into his cot