The Cordova daily times., 1918-04-10
PAGE SEVEN

I'VE lad gcrten ~SGout Tslree' feet
down, when the fellow next to me, aft :
err a mighty stroke with his pick, let go
Of the handle, and pinched his nose
with his thumb and forefnger, at the
same time letting out the explosion,
"Gott strafe Zoe pink, I'm bloody We'll
gassed, not alf / amt" l quickly
turned in his direction with an inquir-
ing look, at the same instant reaching
for my gas bag. I soon found out what
was ailing him. One Whit was enough
and Llost no time in also pinching my
nose. The stencil was awful. The rest
of the digging party dropped their
picks and shOvels and beat 1t for the
weather side of that solitary pick. The
officer came over and inquired why the
work had suddenly ceased, holding our
noses, we simply pointed in the direc-
ton of the smell. He went over to the
pick, Immediately clapDed his hand
over his nose, made an about turn"
and came back. Just then our cap
tain came along and investigated, but
after about q minute said we had bet
ter carry on with the digging, that he
did not see why we should have
stopped as the odor was very faint.
but II necessary Sa would allow US our
gas helmets while digging. He would
stay and see the thing through, but he
had to report back to brigade head
quarters Immediately. We wished that
We were captains and also had date
! at brigade headquarters. With our gas
helmets on we again attacked that hole
and uncovered the decOmposed body Of
a German the pick was sticking in his
chest. One of the men tainted. was
that one. Upon this our lieutenant
halted proceedings and sent word back
to headquarters and word came back
that after we filed In the hole we could
knock off for the night. This was well
come tidings to us because
Next day the general changed the
dot on his map and another emplace-
ment was completed the following
night.
The OdOr from the dug-up, decOm-
posed human body has an effect which
is hard to describe. 1t first produces
a nauseating feeling, which, especially
after eating, causes vomiting. This re-
lieves you temporarily, but soon a
weakening sensation follows which
leaves you limp as a dishrag. Your
spirits are at their lowest ebb and you
feel a sort of hOpelessness and d mad
desire to escape it all, to get to the
open fields and the perfume of the flow
ers in eighty. There is d sharp.
/, prickling sensation in the nOstrils,
. which reminds one Of breathing coal
gas through a radiator in the floor, and
, you want to sneeze, but cannot. This
: was the effect on me, surmOunted by q
vague horror of the awfulness Of the
thing and an overcoming reflection
, that, perhaps l, sooner or later, would
, be in such a state and be brought &c
| light by the blow of pick in the hands
: of some Tommy on a digging party.
I Several times I have experienced this
=. OdOr, but never could get used to it
/. the enervating sensation was always
+ wonder why such things were counte
o nanced by civilization and all the spice
+ and glory of the conflict would disap
r pear, leaving the grim reality. Blu
after leaving the spot and filing you
lungs with deep breaths of pure fresf
I air, you forget and once again want II
be "up and at them"
ITO be Continued