The bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-05-12
QUICK THINKING
SAVES SOLDIER
British Sergeant Tells Of Daring
Exploit in Letter to
Rector.
HuRLS HAND BOMB and RUNS
Wins Promotion and the Distinguished
Conduct Medal for Sensational
Escape From German Patrol.
ling Squad-Saved From
Prison by Bomb.

London.-Captured by a German pa
trolling squad, escaping through the
use of hand bomb which was over
looked when he was searched and mar
rowly escaping with his life in rain
of shell fire ore some of the expert
ences which won promotion for Sergt.
Arthur James Brooke and also the dis
.tinguished-conduct medaf In letter
to the rector of the church at his home
in Manchester, which was printed re-
Gently in an English newspaper, Ser
geant Brooke gives the details of his
daring escape:
Il can hardly tell how thankful l
am in, being able to write you this day
after the troubled experiences Of Sun
day night last. l have had many ex-
citing times previous to this occasion,
but nothing to be compared with this
last one. took out my party Of scouts
at half-past six In the evening and ar
ranged them in various positions
across the marshes. Having done this
l remained with one small party.
Everything seemed all right, SO of
! went myself to push farther on. But
before doing so intended seeing an
other small party in another position
on my way. got as far as my men
should be, but could not find them any
where. Something was wrong some
where, l thought. Suddenly heard
someone coming and, it being very
dark night, could not see who it was.
They passed me toward our position.
l looked around to see If anybody else
was coming and saw another man.
Cup went my rifle at ready and
said, Who are you?
"'Working party was the reply in
good English.
Dropped Patrol With Shot.
"'Come here, working party said.
He came until saw he was German,
and then he dropped at shot from
my best friend, my rifle. then turned
to do those who had passed me some
thing also and did succeed in damag-
ing one or two. However, they came
from all directions for me and soon
had me a prisoner. They took away
my best pal, the rifle, and my ammuni-
ton. Next went my cap. Following
this the beautiful scarf which you sent
was taken from me, also my letters.
after they had got enough souve-
Mrs half a dozen Of them commenced
to drag me toward their village. While
I was being taken away terrible
struggle was taking place between one
other scout and other Germans in
wood. This half dozen took me about
two hundred yards toward the village
and then left only one tall man, over
six feet, with me. Now was chance
for me, thought. l said short pray
er asking him to help me get back to
my comrades safely.
"Then l suddenly thought Of bomb
which had carried with me. 1t was
not in a pocket where / had put my
other things, but was in a slit in my
leather jacket. l suppose that is the
reason they overlooked it, for it was
still there. / then managed to get it
out, but found I could not pull out the
safety pin with only my right arm.
However, l did the trick by hitting
him on his temple with it, dropping
him without a word. on I made as
fast as my legs would carry me, and
at once out came another lot to get
me.
"Still the bomb was left. stopped.
nu7,ed ont the pin and threw the bomb
among them. 1t put more Of them out
Of the fight, but still they kept after
me. They were only few yards from
retaking me when our machine gun
.opened fire on them. l was safe from
them then, but was in danger of being
shot down by our own gun which had