Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-04-20

Eventually stood UP and commenced
TO pace the eight feet which separated
the door from the back wall OF the
cell -Four short steps travered the
Journey, and 1 walked miles before
threw myself down on the apology for
q bed. 1 was suffering intensely from
thirst. and the pangs OF hunger added
to the burden of my woes.
Anger accentuatcs thirst, and I was
angry. Mental visions Of Colonel
Busch arose before me with amazing
clarity, and remember that on ono
occasion 1 relieved the tension by
shouting a the pitch Of my voice. You
blnkin' German pig! II you stood with
in reach OF my hands your age would
not save YOU" My cry OF eSecration
echoed loudly along the corridor. tenn
porarily tearing tho heavy veil o.
silence by which l was enshroudcd.
That and nothing more.
I could not sleep. My brain was on
FIRE. Anyway the boards were hard.
and I found it impossible to twist my
body into a comfortable position.
pulled of my jacket, made il into 4
bundle. and used /; for Il pillow. Then
took off my boots and removed tho
stud from the neckband OF my shirt.
for the darkness seemed to be chok-
ing me. But slumber still cluded me:
the gates leading TO the land OF for
getfulness were shut IN my face.
lay and tossed about on these
boards in torment The injustice and
i!leEality Of II all throw me into
fever. was bcsieged by wild out
bursts Of futile rage. and on several
occasions I sprang from my bed and
| banged on the door with my fists.
| There was no response. An impossible
gulf appeared to separate me from tho
rest OF humanity. 1T must be like this
In the grave" ! Eroancd.
After an intcrminable period
Gained down q bit. told myself that
nothing was to be gained by giving
promp,ings Of despair. Memory re-
called TO me the old saying. Time
flies" And I began to count the sec
oads hopefully. One, two three" AS
l whispered tho words I tapped with
the middle finger OF my right hand
upon the boards. gave It up. For
me tire did not fly. not even on lcadcn
wings, !; moved slower than men on
crutches: II grovelled: it drawled: bu.
4; did not fly. Heavens! How 1t tot
tered and dawdled in its stride!
Stretched at full length on the
boards. I clenched my teeth and vowed
that would see !. through. and when
cape from Germany IL I had to fight
every Inch OF the road. Strange
thoughts come to a desolate man. Ac-
cording TO Edmund Burke. darkness
Is more productive OF sublime ideas
than light" Under certain c;rcum-
stances that may be so. but when. In
addition to darkness. one has as COM
Dany hunger and thirst and an un-
comfortable longing for revenge, the
subliTnity business descends below zero.
At least that was my experience.
CRUFT GUARD S;ENACED
HIM WITH GUNN-BUTT
MY cell door was opened at noon.
at the first sound OF approaching foot
steps ! had Jumped from of my bed
and was beating the door with my
hands I was afraid that whoever was
there in the corridor might pass by
unhecding. which does not sound very
heroic. but has the virtue OF being
the truth. The silence and the gloom
had done for me what the bullets and
the shells Of the Germans had never
been able to do: they had played upon
my nerves. and to such an extent that
as / stood there tensely cSpectant
was trembling worse than any aspen
leaf
The door. I repeat. opened at
noon. In the dim light ! beheld the
burly form OF n German guard. In his
right hand he carried a gun with n
fixed bayonet. He had turned the key
with his left hand.
/ spoke to him in German. For
the love OF God let me out into the
passage for q few minutes" I said
Keep back from the door or / will
knock you senseless with the butt OF
my rifle" he answered gruffiy II
cannot let you out even for n moment
| 1t would be disobcyinE orders. Here
is another guard coming with your
bread and water"
The second Hun was as surly as the