Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1917-09-04


carry me because you've got about all
any Of you can do to navigate alone.
It doesn't look as If It's going to be
any better here very soon. You all
proceed to the rear, and if you can get
some one to come after me Ill be
obliged to YOU"
They accepted the proposition be-
cause it was good advice, and, besides,
It was orders. I was their superior
officer. And what happened right
after that confirmed me forever in my
early, Kentucky bred conviction that
there is q great deal in luck. They
couldn't have travelled more than fifty
yards from the shell hole when the
shrek Of high explosive seemed to
come right down out Of the sky into
my ears, and the detonadon which In
stantly followed shook the slant1ng
sides Of the shell hole until dirt In lit
tie dusty rivulets came trickling down
upon me. Wounded as l was, l drag
ged myself up to the edge Of the hole.
There was no trace anywhere OF the
four men who had just left NE. They
have never been heard Of since. Their
bodies were never found. The big
shell must have fallen right among
them and simply blown them to bits.
1t was about quarter to 7 In the
morning when l was hit. lay In the
shell hole until in the afternoon, suf-
fering more from thirst and cold and
hunger than from pain. only hoped
the Germans wouldn't drive our men
back over me. At 2 o'clock batch Of
sixty prisoners came along under es-
cort. They were being taken to the
rear under fire. The artillery bom-
bardment was still practically undi-
minished. l asked for four Of the
prisoners and made one Of them get
out his rubber ground sheet, carried
around his waist. They responded
willingly and seemed most ready to
help me. had a revolver empty and
some bombs in my pockets, but l had
no need to threaten them. They half
dragged me toward the rear.
Carried to the Rear.
It was trip which was not without
incident. Every now and then we
would hear the shrek Of an approach
ing "coal box" and then my prisoner
stretcher bearers and / would tumble in
one indiscriminate group into the near
est shell hole. If we did that once We
did it a half dozen times. After each
dive the four would patiently reorgan-
ize and arrange the improvised stretch
er again, and we would proceed. Fol
lowing every tumble, however, l would
have to tighten my tourniQuets, and,
despite all could do, the hemorrhase
from my wound continued to flow so
profusely that was beginning to feel
very dizzy and weak. On the way LII
I sighted our regimental dressing sta
ton and signed to my four bearers to
carry me toward it. couldn't talk
German. The station was In an OLD
German dugout. Major Gilday was at
the door. lie laughed when he saw
me with my own special ambulance
detail.
"Well, what do you wapt?" he asked.
"Most Of ALL" l said, 81 think l want
O drink Of rum"
He produced it for me instantly.
"Now," said he, my advice to you Is
to keep on travelling. You've got fine
special detail there to look after you.
Make 'em carry you to Pozieres. It's
only five miles, and you'll make 1t all
right I've got this place loaded up
full no stretcher bearers, no assistants,
no adequate supply Of bandages and
medicines and lot Of very bad cases.
II you want to get out Of here IN q
week Just keep right on going now"
AS we continued toward the rear we
were the targets for number OF hu-
morous remarks from men coming W
to 60 into the fight.
"Giye my regards to Blighty, you
lucky beggar," was the most frequent
saying.
"Blf me-" said one cockney Tommy
there goes one O tn Canadians with
an escort from the kaiser"
Another man stopped and asked
about my wound.
"Good work." he said. I'D like to
have q nice clean one like that my
self"
I noticed one Of the prisoners grin
ming at some remark and asked him If
he understood English. He hadn't spo-
ken to me, though he had shown the
greatest readiness to help me.
Certainly I understand English" he
replied, speaking the language perfect
". II used to be waiter at the
Knickerbocker hotel In New York.
That sounded like voice from home,
and wanted to hug him. l didn't
However, can say for him he must
have been q good waiter. he gave me
good service.
OF the last stages Of my trip to Po'
zieres I cannot tell anything, for l ar.
rived unconscious from loss Of blood
The last / remember was that the for
mer waiter, evidently seeing that
was going out, asked me to direct him
how to reach the field hospital station
at Pozieres and whom to ask for when
II - - -