Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1917-11-20

or other. It was an ambulance when
had had the body blown OF, and some
one had built 4 couple Of little bucket
seats out Of empty bacon boxes.
Bacon boxes or not, It certainly look.
Cd Ike q million gold dollars to me at
that moment and I wasn't SO slow
about nabbing It The engine was all
right, 30 decided to take chance on
the rest Of 1t holding together until
got my officer through the city anyway
I pulled around In front Of the head
quarters, and the officer jumped In.
It seemed as though the whole city
was being torn from It's very founda
lions 90 terrible was the din. The
houses were going down In every quar-
ter, and on the face Of 1t 1t looked like
pure madness to 60 through at all
Wagons, horses. autos, bicycles, were
piled up everywhere. Men, women and
children, soldiers and civilians were ly-
ing dead and dying In every street. !
should say that about 30 per cent OF the
shells were landing In the Grand place,
and the buildings were falling all
around and practically covering up the
road.
We had q straight run Of about 200
yards before we got to the worst part
of It, and certainly saw to It that the
old bus made the most Of what she
had. We were going at pretty good
pace when we hit the main square Of
the city, but II seemed to me that we
were Just crawling
: There is a sharp corner as one turns
out of the square. and knew 1t would
be impossible to twist her around 1t at
the pace we were going, 80 | tried
stunt I had read about racing drivers
doing on the hairpin curves. gave
her more power. jammed on the brake.
and we skidded around on two wheels
,ye were between the devil and the
we could take were too long consider.
Ing the flX we were In.
: The bacon boxes held together all
right, and we got out Of 1t without be-
Ing touched, but II was more by pure
luck than anything else. What got
my goat was that during the whole
thing the officer sat there with cigar
In his mouth and monocle in his eye
and didn't even look as though he was
nervous.
When we got back to our own head
quarters he said "Thank you" and re-
marked to another officer that zone
Id fool had escaped wearing a
wooden uniform that day "by the
breadth of a gnat's eyelash." pre-
sumo he was referring to me. and l
agree with him heartily. Believe me.
that ride did me out Of years growth.
certainly pitled our transport men
during this time as never pitied them
before. They could not help being
nervous while waiting to go through
the city, which they had to do, as there
was no other way for them to 60. The
too, suffered heavily.
All night the bombardment continued
with unabated fury. yet our supplies
went through the city to the men just
the same.
The next morning ! was ordered to
report In my car to young officer OF
the intelligence department The Off
Ger told me that he had orders to go
Ypres to a little place called
Potijze and to report himself to the
divisional commander there.
There was absolutely no other way
to get to Potijze except through Ypres,
and you may be sure we were feeling
none too pleasant about the prospects
We had to 60 slowly, even at the start,
as the road was filed with all kinds OF
transports. After we got through the
village Of vlamertInghe we found the
going little BETTER aud we got along
faster. The road from Vlamertinghe to
Ypres Is almost straight, and one can
see right into the city-before one comes
within two kilomcters Of 1t.
As we swung into this straight
stretch | noticed several German aero
planes over the city. and 1t was plain
to be seen that they were dropping
bombs. This time they were dropping
petrol bombs, and the instant they ex.
ploded they would spray petrol all
over the place and flame would shoot
up into the air. In this way they were
setting fire to the city.
It was q sight that ] shall never for
get The shells were falling just the
same, and, what with the ground fairly
from the terrific explosions,
the smoke from the bursting shells and
burning houses, the flames and dust
that filed the air, 1t made scene that |
would need Dante to describe and do
It justice.
The thought that we were to attempt |
the passage through all this was terri.
flying. An awful fear, almost panic.
seemed to grip me, and l lOnged to
Jump from that car and hide my face
from the flaming hell which seemed to
be stretching out its tentncles of fire to
draw us into its gaping nav.
felt weak all over and was wet
with cold perspiration. looked at the
officer, almost praying that he would
give the order to stop, but even as !
ooked / knew there was no chance OF
that. He was as white as death, but
here was a look of determination on
his face. and the clenched teeth and
set Jaws gave no promise Of his back.
ng down.
think the bulldog grit that he was
helped LIE, for resolved that.
while might get so weak as to be un
,ble to drive that car. I would stick BY
him as long as / could hold out And
be certainly showed that he was
white" clear through, for he tod me
% stop a moment did. and he got
,ut Of the car.
Robinson" he said. 1--WE just been
that there won't be any need
'or you to come any further. 1t Is
often business, and as there are am
,ulances going up all the time, ! can
ret lift In one and will stand just as
much chance Of getting through as
hough you were to take me. don't
believe In any one taking unnecessary
.isks. and In this case 1t would be risk.
c~d N oor fnO md Il L