The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1918-08-29


Relief society visited the prison and
brought us handkerchiefs. American
soap-which sells ut about $50 Z
bar in Observation-Disclosures and
other little articles. nil Of which were
American made, but whether they
were supplied by the American re-
lief committee or not don't know.
At any rate. these gifts were mighty
useful and were very much appre-
ciated.
One day I offered button OF my
uniform to one Of these Belgian ladies'
as souvenir, but q German guard
saw me and I was never allowed to
go near the visitors afterwards.
The sanitary conditions In this
prison camp were excellent as q gen.
eral proposition. One night, however.
discovered that had been cap
tured by Coolies"
This was q novel experience to Se
and one that would have been very
willing to have missed, because In
the flying corps our airdromes are q
number Of miles back OF the lines and
we have good billets and our acquaint-
ance with such things as "cooties" and
other unwelcome visitors Is very lim-
tied.
When I discovered my condition, I
made holler and reused the guard.
and right then got another example
Of German efficiency.
This guard seemed to be even more
perturbed about my complaint than I
myself, evidently fearing that he would
be blamed for my condition.
The commnndant was summoned
and I could see that he was very an
cry. Someone undoubtedly got q So
we're reprimand for It.
was taken out of my cell By q
! guard with rife and conducted about
quarter Of mile from the prison
to an old factory building which had
been converted Into an elaborate fumi-
eating plant. There I was given q.
pickle bath In some kind Of solstseds
; and while was absorbing it' my
clothes, bed clothes and whatever else
had been In my cell was being put
through another fumigatiag process.
While was waiting for my things
to dry--it took perhaps half IN hour
had chance to observe about one
: hundred other victims of ''cooties"--
German soldiers who had become In.
I Tested In the trenches. We were all
nude, Of course. but apparently II was
e not difficult for them to recognize me
rs foreigner even without my uni
form on, for none Of them made any
attempt to talk to me. although they
e were very busy talking about me. I
9 could not understand what they were
saying. but knew I was the butt Of
r most Of their Jokes and they made no
J. effort to conceal the fact that I was
l. the subject Of conversation.
When ! got back to my cell found
i that It had been thoroughly fumigated
u and from that time on had no furthel
It trouble with "cooties" or other visi
I. tors Of the same kind. t
p As we were not allowed to writ
N anything but prison cards. writing wal
le out OF the question: and AZ we had ~
II reading matter to speak Of, readinI
a was nil. We had nothing to do Il
ID pass away the time. SO consequently
he cards became our only diversion. fol
we did. fortunately. have some O
N these.
is There wasn't very much money 90 {
h. rule In circulation. and think for onc'
e. In my life held most Of that, not du'
e to any particular ability ON my par
st In the game. but happened to hav
~ several hundred francs In my pocket
Of when shot down. But we held lot
terry that was watched without quit
ar such intense interest rs that. Tn
I'd drawing was always held the day bcfor'
ID to ieara who was the lucky man. Their
N. was a. much speculation as to VIII
Of would win the prize AZ II It had beel
I'd the finest treasure In the world. tn
I'd great prize was one-third Of loaf 0
IN bread. Through some arrangement
4 which I never quite figured out,
lie happened that among the eight or te
officers who were there with me. ther
We was always one-third Of q loaf Q
ut bread over. There was just one q y
on Of getting that bread. and that waS
g- draw lots. Consequently that was whs
of started the lottery. believe II q ma
nd had ever been inclined to cheat h
nd would have been sorely tempted In thi
Mt instance. but the game was played al
cit solutely square. and II q man had bee
as caught cheating the chances are tha
mt he would have been stunned by th
,st rest OF the officers as long as he wa
In prison. was fortunate enough
We win the prize twice.
In
ed
A. he was travelling with 9TH
III nrisanara toNxard ariaa0