The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-07-19
What Befell an
Ammunition Train
BY F. A Mitchell


the pan-European war broke out was
studying aviation and determined to
go to the war In the flying corps. He
went to England, where he was COM
missioned an aviator and was sent to
Belgium.
Brentwood became very expert with
his machine and made many a valua-
BILE reconnaissance for British generals,
but the most valuable work he did for
his side was in another line entirely,
though without his aeroplane and. for
that matter, without an accident to 1t
he would not have been In position
to accomplish the feat
John was soaring one day while the
enemy was making strenuous efforts
to capture British position OF great
value. The Germans had rained a
hailstorm Of explosives at the position
for thirty-six hours. then charged it.
They took 1t, and 1t was retaken and
taken again several times. John was
up in the air directing the British gun
ners where to fire when he saw long
ammunition train beneath him moving
toward that part Of the German line
which was engaged. Signaling the
fact and its location. it was lombard
ed, with the result that a number of
the men operating 1t were killed.
While he was looking at the train
something gave way In the machinery
Of his aeroplane, and he began to drop.
He succeeded in starting up again just
before landing, and this Saved his life.
He fell in a thicket OF low growth
bordering a creek. and before the Ger
mans came up to seize his machine he
succeeded In getting away from it and
hiding under some rocks.
1t was not long, however, before he
heard voices nearing him and conclud-
ed that he had better move on, for he
was doubtless being hunted. Hearing
the kissing of locomotive, he knew
he was near the ammunition train he
had seen. He climbed up the bank,
and. sure enough, there within hun.
dred feet Of him was the engine stand
ing on the track without any one visi.
Bile I'm the cab.
John made up his mind to a bold
dash. Running to the locomotives, he
mounted to the cab, and there lay the
engineer mutilated. He had been kill
ed by a shell fragment The missiles
were still coming so thick that John
did not expect to live very long him
self. He determined to take that train
away from where its freight was es.
pecially needed. He knew very little
about locomotive; but, always having
been fond OF machinery. knew enough
to back up. This he did, slowly at
first; but, gathering impetus, and then
reaching a decline In the grade, he
moved quite rapidly. He saw an off,
Ger galloping toward him. frantically
waving his sword, doubtless as a sig
nal for him to stop. but by this time
John was going as fast as the rider
and paid no attention to him. A switch
had been left open, and the result was
that two-thirds Of the train was dump
ed into the creek.
This caused a halt, and John knew
that it was time to set out before any
one could reach him. It occurred to
him that the best chance for him was
to hide under the engine. He succeed.
ed in getting there in time to escape
detection. A few minutes later there
was a babel Of voices about him-offi.
GERS. soldiers and train hands shouting
and gesticulating. Finding the engi-
neer's body in the cab. they supposed
that he had been running the engine,
and his being killed had caused all the
trouble.
1t occurred to John that II he could
reach a point where the overturned
cara were in the creek he might find a
more permanent hiding place. Waiting
till the crowd had left the engine he
peeped and saw that the'car next back
of him was leaning against underbrush
He succeeded in getting from under
the locomotive to this car without be-
ing seen. and then It was an easy mat
ter TO wriggie through the brush and
down to the creek.
John was in the enemy's line, but
there was no necessity for him to be
suspected OF wrecking the ammunition
train. The chances OF his getting back
to his comrades were slight, and he
made up his mind to surrender him.
self when he could do 80 without ex.
citing any especial suspicion. He re-
manned In the creek TIL night made his
hiding more effective; then crawled up
on to the opposite bank of the creek
from the wrecked train.
All was still except periodic booms
There was no evidence OF any one be-
ing near him, and II occurred to him
to take his chances OF getting into the
British lines. This would necessltate
his approaching the German trenches
from the rear, since the two forces
were facing each other and very near
together. Advancing, he soon came TO
the German trenches. He walked over
one Of them without their suspecting
his not being one of them and maneu-
vered among the trees and brush TIL
he suspected the position OF the Brit
ish. Crawling near to them, he whis-
tied God Save the King" in low tone.
who's therer came a voice and a
simultaneous click Of a rife.
Without replying at once John chang
ed his position. then called In a low