Catoctin clarion., 1918-10-17
By MAMMALIAN FOSTER.

BY MAMMALIAN FOSTER.
An experience not often shared by
women In this war was that OF MISS
Mary O. Clark Of Boston, Mass, now
q Y. NJ. c. A. canteen worker In
France. For no less than four hours
Miss Clark was IN the midst of a
fierce bombardment by the BOche
guns, part Of the time lying with 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 LeXing-
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, a 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 8 n. m, Miss
Clark was getting ready for break
fast when the first shell sailed In
over the roof tops, and landed In a
dump-heap not more than 80 yards or
so from her open window. The first
crash did not startle the Y. NJ. G. A.
worker She looked out Just in time
to see the 6"mp-heap fly skyward. de-
Sccnding presently In showers of
brick. dirt farmyard and other debris.
4 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 a few scatter.
ing French peasants, the remnant of
the villages former population.
IHlc 70 mOtci
As the shells by this time were fall.
Ing thckly among the roofs and al.
leys near by, Miss Clark decided it
was time to seek some less exposed
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
was wasting no time. but as she saw
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. NJ. G. A. worker encountered the
colonel In command of the billeted
troops He and the reglmental chap.
lain We're looking out Of their quar-
ters, 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
We're 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. "Youll have
to move out of here" the colonel told
Miss Clark. Down the street, just
beyond the town limits, was 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.
1t wus 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
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 sheltered corner in one
of 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 failing everywhere,
Presently q runner hreugbt in the
news that the reJimenral chaplain had
been killed, and fhat ere cc'onNl's "v-
derly had been Slstn y ssI v'''ile stard.
ing beside tire tolCnei. - later run
ner brought the report that the order
ly had saved the colonels life by
leaping in front of his commander
when the shell burst
The fire now was mixture of Shrap-
mel and high explosive shells. Walls
u.erp falling ayeryWhpre and when Ono