Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-06-25
EDMOND AUGIER,
HERO OF FRANCE
Shot Against a Wall by a Boche
Firing Squad, but Escaped
With His Life to
Happiness
By HENRI BAZIN
Sto6 Correspondent Of the Evening Ledger
IN France.

stor Correspondent q the Evenino Ledger
PARIS, June 8.
TNHIs is one story among the unwritten
i million Of France. And it came TO me
around Robin Hoods barn, through an
eXigency Of warfare which necessitated a
weekly trip to an old town close to Paris in
order that I might revel in clean linen.
For the existing coal crisis has closed many
a laundry, ana It was only by chance was
able to find an old lady in Boulogne on the
Seine who agreed to render me regular
lavery.
All winter she has served me faithfully.
And have come to know her passing well.
The other day upon my weekly call she
shyly invited me TO a wedding breakfast.
Her daughter. who had been nurse in a
Paris hospital, was about to be married,
and after the ceremony at both church and
marie, modest dejeuner would be served
in the garden under q white -blossomed,
sweet-smelling acacia tree. Would Mon
sieur honor me with his sympathetic COM
pC7y?"
And answered, "oui, Madame. ct avec
pay sir"
And so I went to Boulogne this June day
with bunch of roses, And I met the eight
guests and the bride a pretty, Gark-eyed
o.,
a reforme, in the uniform Of sergeant Of
chasseurs. He was about thirty, brown
haired, brown-eyed, the right leg stiff at
the knee, the right arm wthered across the
forehead from temple to temple a iivid scar.
Romance That Began in a Hospital
He had met his bride in the hospital,
where she had nursed him. And the little
god with the arrow had done the rest They
were going to a Brittany village, where the
husband had a little farm and where they
would live out their young and, ! pray, old
lives.
After the meal, over the coffee and cigar
cites, he told me his story, while all the
company listened and his young wife held
her arm about his neck During the telling
there was silence save his voice. the gentle
signing of summer breeze through the aca-
cia and the occasional song Of two canaries
whose cage hung from its trunk.
His name is Edmond Augier. He is a
Breton, a farmers son, hardy and strong
one Of those Of whom II Is said in his native
province that they have soul riveted to the
body and whose heart is of oak" '1ame
chevillee au corps ct en- occur de chene"
He had been a sergeant in the - Bat.
TALON of the --Chasseurs. In February
1916, he was on patrol outside the French
lines. His work lay in the open close to .
shattered wood. He heard a noise, and
in investigating was separated from hi.
five companions Advancing cautiously, ht
found himself suddenly confronted by eight
Uhlans Turning quickly he endeavored &c
escape but finding this impossible he stood
ground behing tree and dropped three OF
the enemy with revolver and rife. The Other
Ave furious at resistance from a single
man, fell upon him, and after capture tied
him TO the tail Of one of their horses, drag.
ging him at a slow trot within the German
lines.
Wounded, bruised and exhausted thai
destination was reached Augier's clothe.
had been torn open on the way, and ir
untying him his captors saw he wore q
scapular about his neck. This one. Mon.
sieur," he said to me as he opened HIS uni.
form. one Of the Uhlans struck him ir
the face, saying, "See how 1t has protected
you"
And then he was taken before an oflce,
OF the Boche, who, after hearing his tale
condemned him to be shot against a wall
Without either food or drink, he wa,
thrown into cellar, and at daybreak IN,
next morning led forth for execution VIII
four fellow Victims. al civilians All ~
men. one the Mayor of the occupied via
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