Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1916-08-19

hospital ut Neullly, where l can have
every comfort.
"Of course you won't worry about
me. | will be just as good as new
soon, and really this is true.
THE Germans peppered the life out
of my car. No one goes over the road
in daylight, but the fellows brought
me back the next day a handful of
bullets taken from it, and said they
could get me II bushel more IL l de-
sired them.
''For three days / was not allowed
to eat or drink. and could hardly move
in bed. My spirits were high, too. /
will try to write better and take more
pains Goodby. WILLIAM.
"NeuilIy-surSeine, July 10, 1916"
Later ne wrote:
Dear Folks:
"Well, am here and fine. This
is a wonderful hospital and they
surely treat You great am just
getting back to normal and have
no temperature. The doctors here
are the best in the world and surely
know their business.
when my wounds heal up. which
they are fast doing. | will be just as
good as new, no scars at all | am
very happy here and hope every day
that you are as happy and never worry
about me think have done a
small part Of a great work, and my
medaille shows what the French think
of my services. 1t is given for dis
cipllne and valor, and by the way,
what nmuses me, there is an annual
pension of 10Of, have been treat
ed wonderfully since | have it given
to me
Il am the only ambulance boy who
has been given Medaille, and am
told that Mr.. Balsley, an American
aviator, Is the only other American
who has it, WILLIAM"
Driving Under Fire
Another letter wildly describing the
experiences of ambulance drivers at
the front was sent by the young
American who volunteered to take
charge Of the first ambulance provided
by members of the New York stock ex-
change. In that letter to his parents
the writer says:
Wei. I'm still alive and kicking. but
the Lord only knows why finally
started work at Verdun on the DIST
Of June. quit the 18th of July /
hope never 20 put in reign of terror
like that again The first night we
started we were greeted with a gas
attack and had TO wear our masks for
about three hours. Luckily they were
the weeping Kind. that is. il mikes YOU
cry like the devil IL you breathe
enough of it, it makes you very sick,
but ii wasn't the asphyxiating kind.
We Went from Nerdun To poste dc Sc
cours. just behind the first line
trenches. about 500 yards away from
the BocheS, II was in the cellar of
what remained of a house: the resi-
OF the place was nothing but piles of
bricks, etc. There was another post
half way between, and another IA little
further to the left
The road out was under continual
shell tire all the time. and the second
night they Sheled the poSte de secours
very heavily. came up the road. and
inst al the entrance to the little town
met Waldo. who said that they were
Smelling the place and to be careful
started on, and then whistle and
hoom-iuSt ahead of me at the side
of the road "a shower of stones. etc.
no damage. | went on. got into
bunch Of soup kitchens which were
blocking the road aud stalled my mo-
tor. | got out 70 crank ii, just got it
going, when the next one arrived
something hit me on the ankle and
knocked ne over, got up found my
leg all wet and no feeling in it. SO
concluded was wounded
Il got in the car and started back
10 Nerdun 10 get ii fixed ! got about
three hundred yards away and then
began TO feel things in it. so felt it
again. 1t seemed all right. and my
hands weren't red, SO / concluded |
wasn't wounded, and it must have been
q piece OF brick that hit me. so |
turned around and went back again
and some more shells arrived Found
Dawson, and we took to a shell hole.
and lay there about fifteen minutes.
Barber and Johnson were lying uni
der their cars just In front Of US.
let up for while and we went on I'd
the poSte. Found another man chang
ing a tire in front of the poSte. with
part of the front Of his car gone. I'D
invited me TO aid him. : couldnV re
fuse but / never teit 80 like killing
person In my life. The crazy ldio1
sitting there changing a shoe. viii