The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1918-05-16
CHAPTER v.
Mud. Rats and Shells.

lows, but the sleep that comes from
cold. wet and sheer exhaustion.
Suddenly, the earth seemed 10 shake
and thunderclap burst In my ears. !
opened my eyes-I was splashed MI
over with sticky mud and men were
picking themselves up from the bottom
Of the trench. The parapet on my left
had toppled into the trench, completely
blocking II with n wall Of tossed-up
earth. The man on my left lay still. !
rubbed the mud from my face, and nm
awful sight met my gaze-his head
was smashed to pulp. and his steel
helmet was full Of brains and blood
A German Minnie" (trcnch mortnr)
had exploded In the next traverse. Men
were digging Into the soft mass Of mud
In frenzy Of haste Stretcher-benr.
ers came up the trench on the double
After few minutes OF digging three
still. muddy forms on stretcherS were
carried down the communication
trench TO the rear. Soon they would
be resting Somewhere In France" with
a little wooden cross over their heads
They had done their bit for king and
country. had died without firing n shot
hut their services were appreciated
nevertheless
Later on. I found out their names
They belonged to our draft.
was dazed and motionless. Sud
denly shovel was pushed into my
hands, and a rough but kindly voice
said:
Here. my lad. lend hand clearing
the trench. but keep your head dowi.
and look out for snipers. one ~ the
fritz's Is daisy, and he'll get you II
you're not careful"
Lying on my belly on the bottom ~
the trench. filled sandhags with the
sticky mud they were dragged To IA,
rear by the other men, and the work ~
rebuilding the parupc' was ON. tn
harder ] worked. the better I felt. Al
though the weather was cold. wa
soaked with sweat.
Occasionally bullet would crack
overhead. and machine gun would
Kick w the mud on the dashed IN para
pet. Al each crack | would duck and
shield my face with my arm. One Of
mo o,dcr mon noticed mis- ,c,io, NJ,
min. and vhls,.r.d.
Don't duck nc the crack Of hui.
lot. Nank the danger has passed-yon
never henr IN. an. Tim; wings you
Always remember that II you are going
Ia GEL IL youu go, Il So never worry I"
This made n rr,n, ImnressIon an m.
ot tho time and from then On ,d,nt.
ed his motto. "If you're going Ia r,, I,
,ou1l ge, H."
II h.lped me wonderfully used n,
81 often afterwards Tim, som. n. my
mates dubbed me. III you're rolnr Ia
get II. you1l get n"
After an hours hard work. nil my
nervousness lett me. md was laugh.
Ia: and IokIng with the resi-
Al one O'Clock. dinner cam. nm I'm
the form OF a dixie OF hot stew.
| looked for my cnn,sen. n had
fallen of the fire step. and WINS hnlf
buried In the mud. The man on INV
left noticed this. and told the corporni.
dishing out the rations. to nut nv
share I'm his mess lin. Then he whls.
pered 10 me. "AIways ,ake care OF your
mess tin. mate"
had learned sno,ber max,m N, m.
trenches
T,a, s,.w ,os,.d An. uos .s
,r,,rv os boo, w. 30, ...oaa,,.,' ;,
ne a,o,,ar ,o,nIn. ,a.a,, r. y,
~, man ho, &C.,, W., Tn, ,,.
tho exn,osIon ~, IN. c.rm.r ,,.,cS
mor,or and wa .,a ,ha,, shara -,
SIN wns hungry 90 7 a,,od In Nth
bully ,o., and hIsc,,,s Tn, 7 ar.,,ad
NV water hottie late, an 7 learned
,no,h.r ma,,,, q, ,ha ,ron, TO- go,
| snaringlv with vour ua,.r" tn. ,,tly
hoo, nod. mo ,htrs,v ana ,,, zoo ,I,,o
7 u,os dy,,c ,or a J.,,L ,n, ,,, -
vouId no, ,iloy mo ,o osr ny ,,a,as
FOR water was fas, ,..rn,,g ,ho
| ethics n, tho ,r.,chas
T,,, n,,,, , ,.as on, nm - .
n, oIdsr rnan W. 80 ~ A.. A."
=, 80. =" .'e ~
| f,, o,,, L., n, ~. -, -
nnr,,nrs ut Co.. n'a I'm, 49, o,,a. o.,
low sa.m.a % ,ona :, as no., y, ,,a
| nights rnu,tne
TN, som.,t,n, sho, nos, rv ,ooo
| Nv bcnrt .,o,nod hso,ing AMI J,crc ~