The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-07-24

clothing. He promised that their re- 1 quest should receive attention. and
 for the rest of the day we were hap- py in anticipation of the comforts l to come.
 That night when we reached the
 pit head we were ordered to stand
 to attention in a line. The non-com-
 missioned officer in charge of our
 guaN then told us were about to re- lceive the bath the Britishers had ask , ed for Almost before the words had left his lips we were carried off our fleet by a strong stream of water di- rected straight at us from a hose-pipe held by soldiers.
 Struggling to our feet, in many
 cases only to be dashed down again, we began a wild stampede for our 'huts. the hose following us all the time
 I At last, drenched through, and
 with the senses almost knocked out of us, we reached the huts. stumbling and sprawling over each other in the | mad rush. How the Germans enjoyed that joke; their loud guffaws reached us even after we had closed the doors. 1 A further unpleasant surprise await ed us, for our huts had been treated | l ing. The place, indeed, was flood led with water, and our bed-b board and scanty blankets were soaked through. l The weather; at this time was bit terly cold, the ground being hard with
 frost
 That was miserable night for us. Nowhere was there a dry spot to be i found and our guard took a delight
 in looking in to witness our misery. l By morning our clothes were frog
 en upon us, but we had slept in spite tof our unhappy condition. Alas! two slept never to wake again. Their poor bodies were as stiff as their cloth ing when we went to rouse them. One was a young fair haired Eng
 lishman, who suffered from wound
 in his side and another in his foot. The other was a Frenchnnan, who had been prisoner before entered the
 mine as captive.
 What happened to these two bodies I know not. We left them lying up-
 Ion the bed board when we went to
 the mine, and they were gone when we returned at night.
 Murdered! There is no miIder term 1 for, their fate. as their deaths were Ecertainly due to the brutal conduct of German military.
 1 ndI Qe1yi three HlSn I6A SICK at In01r iwork, including ''Scotty'' They were carried out, to be sent into hospital, Jour guard told us. We never saw ] them again.
 For nearly two years remained in the mine. During that time. saw
 many sights that revoled tny soul
 and created in me a burning hatred
 of all things German.
 It was in January of this year that made my escape. I had been
 watching my opportunity for some
 time, but the outlook seemed hope Hess.
 My clothes had long since become mere rags. and I had been served out
 with a pair of French soldiers red brooches, ragged khaki tunic and a Belgian cap. Consequently I present. ed, doubtless, comical appearance I but we were not stick1ers for looks and were thankful for covering of any sort.
 The mine was situated on the out
 skirts of Essen in open country, the ground around our huts being fenc- ed with barbed wire. Guards were ! placed at intervals around this fence during the day, but at night the dogs were depended upon to give the alarm. These dogs were turned loose
 in the enclosure and I we'll knew if would be fruitless to attempt to get away through them.
 + Only one plan seemed feasioIe-a desperate one truly, but then the cir lcumstances were desperate. For ! weeks I thought about it before l had a chance top ut it into opera l tion.
 Almost unexpectedly my chance
 came at last. One night I was awak. i@~ A1x that something required attention in the mine, something that the old la- l borers employed during the night could not do. As I was an experienc-