The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1918-12-13

ana war Savings stamps.
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Cross supplies From the food boxes
sent him from Berne he was able to
build himself up physically 80 that
he was able to live on the raw po-
tatoes, carrots and turnips which he
dug out Of the fields while making
his way toward the frontier.
The next day Puryear spent In the
forest porting over his map until he
had memOrized every detail of 1t. Just
before day broke he met two men go.
Ing to work. He avoided them, but
later was unable to avoid lone civil
ian who passed him. but who said
nothing.
The next night Puryear took up his
long journey toward Wa+dshut, Go kilo.
meters away.
The third day 1t rained heavily all
day and Puryear picked out small
barn and climbed through window
and thence went up to the loft. The
owner or the barn and his hired
hands moved farm machinery about
In the stable below, but did not come
upstairs. That night the rain lessened
and Puryear continued his journey.
In the darkness he took the wrong
road, a, mountain road which finally
ended in trail and then ceased alto
| gether. For three hours he stumbled
about on n mountain top in sleet and
snow. tearing his hands and face on
| brambles and making but little prog
ress in the brush and cutover timber.
| Finally he struck another road which
he followed until daylight. With the
dawn he again took refuge In the
woods.
All that day he spent porting over
his maps, endeavuring to locate hlnr
self. BY nightfall, however, lie had
| decided upon his course. That night
he struck tributary Of the Rhine and
followed 1t to where II crossed the
main road leading to Waldshut. When
he struck the main road Puryear
found sign reading: "Waldshut
Thirty Kilometres" On the night OF
| Wednesday, October o, Puryear got
within few miles of WalGshut. In
order to be sure of his directions he
climbed to the top Of a mountain
nearby from which he could see trib.
utaries entering the Rhine. Puryeai
also was supplied with view of VALID
shut which he carefully compared with
the town below.
Puryear planned to cross the Rhins
ut the point where the current strikes
the north shore and then rebounds to
The south bank. lie figured upon be
!Ig carried by the current across to
the Swiss shore. For six hours he
carefully watched the shore for the
appearance Of sentries, but no one
having passed the spot he had chosen
he decided to make the attempt tO
swim across.
Cold Plunge In Rhine.
He crawled to the river edge, took
off all his clothes except his shirts
and underwear and trousers and dip.
ped into the icy stream. The strona
current Immediately swept him down.
stream ut a terrific rate. Dangerous
whIrlpools and currents abound In this
vicinity.
After half an hours alternate swim.
ming and floating the Icy water began
to affect the young aviator.
II thought 1t was about all over
with me-" said Puryear. II became
dizzy and fought hard to be able to
distinguish the shore had left from
the Swiss side. About thirty feet from
the bank my hand In swimming
touched rock, but before / could pull
myself up the strong current
wrenched me back into the deep water
again.
II was fast becoming weaker and
weaker. The banks were rocky and
steep and l could not get hand hold
anywhere. feared that / would be
lost at the last moment. Finally
grasped projecting rock and hung on
10 1t until recovered my strength In
part Then / climbed up and out OF
the water and fell down exhausted.
For several minutes lay there weak.
and trembling with the cold and fear.
II had been carried far below
Waldshut. Along the shore ran a
railroad and / knocked at the first
crossing keepers cabin. The latter
when he learned that was an Ameri.
can. greeted me warmly. took OFF my
wet clothes, chafed my trembling legs
and gave me stiff glass Of brandy.
Them as II was time for breakfast, the
crossing keeper routed his children out
OF bed and the two kids and myself ate
hot milk and bread from the same
bowl.
later was taken to military
post where the Swiss officers kindly
gave me dry clothing. At Zurich
Swiss cSticers paid my hotel bills and
gave me civilians outfit from head
to foot. cannot thank the Swiss n,i-
thoritles and civilians too much for
their kindnesses to me-. At Rheinfel-
der the Swiss frontier officer exam
ined me and then teIephoned &c the
American embassy at Berac"