The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1918-10-04
Boston Young Woman Has an
Unusual Experience.
IN TRENCH WITH SOLDIERS
In Midst of Fierce Bombardment for
Four Hours-keeps Her Nerve Dur
ing Storm Of Noise and Bursting
MetaI-Boche Filings About Every
thing He Has Into viIIage-OrderIy
Saves CoIonel's Life.
By MAMMALIAN FOSTER.


An experience not often shared by
women in this war was that of Miss
Mary o. Clark of Boston, Mass, now
Y. M. G. A. canteen worker in
France. For no less than four hours
Miss Clark was in the midst of
fierce bombardment by the BOche
guns, part of the time lying ewith a
detachment of American soldiers in
an open trench. In the same attack
later two Red Triangle workers, DR..
John BrOwnlee Voorhees, of Hartford,
Conn.,, and f. w. Ballew of Licking
ton, ILL.,, were hit by shell splinters
and severely injured.
The village where Miss Clark's can
teen is situated Is in an advanced pO-
sitiOn close to the front line trenches.
Until the day in question, Sunday,
the Huns had not paid much attention
to this particular part Of France be-
hind the lines. However, in this par
ticular part Of the war zone, the TOul
sector. there is no telling where his
mornings hate will break forth. In
this case, apparently, he was only bid
ing his time to wipe this particular vii
lage off the map.
The day dawned brilliant with sun
shine. Shortly after q. m. Miss
Clark was getting ready for break
fast when the first shell sailed in
over the roof tops and landed in
dump-heap not more than so yards or
so from her open window. The first
crash did not startle the Y. M. G. A.
worker. She looked out just in time
TO see the dump-heap fly skyward, de-
scending presently in showers Of
brick, dirt farmyard and other debris.
A second shell followed Immediately,
upon which pandemonium broke loose
In the hamlet. The detachment of
American troops billeted there came
pouring out of doorways and windows,
all intent on seeing what was going
on; and with them came few scatter
ing French peasants, the remnant of
the villages former population.
Time to Move.
AS the shells by this time were fall
ing thickly among the roofs and al
leys near by, Miss Clark decided it
position. Accordingly she locked her
trunk, and picking up what small valu-
ables she had with her, she made her
way into the street.
A French peasant was Just passing
Miss Clark recalled that the woman
ucc xyo sting M tipa but &c che ou
Miss Clark she paused long enough
to inquire: "Are you afraid, Miss?"
Miss Clark hasn't decided yet whether
she was at that exact Instant; how
ever, she shook her head, when the
French woman, bidding her to follow,
made off down the village street.
Halfway to the end of the street the
Y. M. G. A. worker encountered the
colonel in command of the billeted
troops. He and the regimental chap
lain were looking out of their quar-
tiers, watching the bursting shells.
However, as there was lull now,
they invited Miss Clark to join them
at breakfast.
The party was hardly seated when
again uprOar broke loose. At the
same time regimental messengers
brought the news that already there
were several casualties in the town.
Things began to happen then, one
after another. A shell pitching over
the roof tops laid waste nearby
house, and was followed Immediately
by another still nearer. "Yeu'll have
to move out Of here" the colonel told
Miss Clark. Down the street, just
beyond the town limits, was a refuge
trench laid out for just this emer-
gency, and the colonel directed Miss
Clark toward it. Once she was head
ed in the right way, the colonel and
the chaplain went off to see what was
taking place elsewhere.
Takes Chance With Soldiers.
II was evidently much. Miss Clark.
when she reached the trench, found
1t already occupied. A section of
troops, acting under orders, was stand
Ing there on the alert; and after q
gasp at the sight of woman, an
American woman into the bargain,
there In the midst of that shell fire,
they made haste to help Miss Clark
into the trench. They even tried to
tuck her into a sheltered corner in one
or the zig-zags, the man there CIV
ing up his place. Miss Clark, how
ever, would not let him move; and
taking her chance with the soldiers,
she stood up among them.
Shells were again falling everywhere.
Presently a runner brought In the
news that the regimental chaplain had
been killed, and that the colonel's or.
derby had been slain also while stand