Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1918-09-21

| served me so faithfully in all my trav-
cling Every mile or two would make
my way carefully to the barrier to see
If conditions were any better, but it
seemed to be the same all along. felt
like a wild animal In a cage, with
about as much chance of getting out.
The section of the country In which
was now wandering was very heavily
wooded and there was really no very
great difficulty In keeping myself con-
cealed, which I did all day long, striv-
ing all the time to think Of some way
In which I could circumyent that
cursed barrier.
The idea of a huge stepladder 0c-
Cured to me, but searched hour after
hour in vain for lumber or fallen trees
out of which I could construct one. If
I could only obtain something which
would enable me to reach point
about nine feet In the air 1t would be
comparatively simple matter to
jump from that point over the electric
fence.
Then I thought that perhaps could
construct a simple ladder and lean 1t
against one of the posts upon which
the electric wires were strung, climb to
the top and then leap over. getting
over the barbed wire fences in the
same way.
This seemed to be the most likely
plan and all night long | sat construct
ing a ladder for this purpose.
was fortunate enough to find a
number of fallen pine trees from ten
to twenty feet long. selected two of
them which seemed sufficiently strong
and broke off all the branches, which
I used as rungs, tying them to the
poles with grass and strips from my
handkerchief and shirt as best /
could.
1t was not a very workmanlike
looking ladder when / finally got
through with it, / leaned it against
a tree to test 1t and it wobbled consd-
erably. 1t was more like a rope lad
der than a wooden one, but strength
ened 1t here and there and decided
that 1t would probably serve the pur-
pose.
I kept the ladder in the woods all
day and could hardly wait until dark
to make the supreme test. II 1t proved
successful my troubles were over !;
within few hours / would be in a
neutral country out Of all danger. II
I falled--I dismissed the idea sum-
marlly. There was no use worrying
about failure; the thing to do was to
succeed.
The few hours that were to pass
before night came on seemed endless,
but utilized them to reinforce my
ladder, tying the rungs more securely
with long grass which I picked In the
woods.
At last night came, and with my
| ladder in hand I made for the barrier.
In front of it there was cleared
space of about one hundred yards,
which had been prepared to make the
work of the guards easier in watch
| ing it.
I waited in the neighborhood until |
heard the sentry pass the spot where |
was in hiding and then / hurried
across the clearing, showed my ladder
under the barbed wire and endeav-
ored to follow it. My clothing caught
in the wire, but | wrenched myself
clear and crawled to the electric bar
rier.
My plan was to place the ladder
against one of the posts, climb up to
the top and then jump. There would
be a fall of nine or ten feet, and
might possibly sprain an ankle or
break my leg, but If that was all that
stood between me and freedom
wasn't going to stop to consider 1t.
put my ear to the ground to listen
for the coming of the sentry. There
was not a sound. Eagerly but care
fully | placed the ladder against the
post and started up. Only few feet
separated me from liberty, and my
heart beat fast.
/ had climbed perhaps three rungS
of my ladder when / became aware
of an unlocked for difficulty.
The ladder was slipping.
Just as / took the next rung, the
ladder slipped. came in contact witt
the live wire, and the current passed
through the wet sticks and into IN!
body. There was o blue flash, m!
hold on the ladder relaxed and l fel
heavily to the ground unconscious.
OF course, I had not received TIL
) full force of the current or | woui'
not now be here. I must have re
NAMED unconscious for few mo
ments, but I came to just in time t
hear the German guard coming, an
! the thought came to nue. If l didn't sc
, that ladder concealed at once he woul
! see 1t even though. fortunately for me
4 it was an unusually dark night.
S pulled the ladder out Of his pat
Y and lay down fiat on the ground nc
= seven feet away from his feet. IL
Q passed SO close that / could hav
+ pushed the ladder out and trippe
i him up.
0 1t occurred to me that l could hay
/ climbed back under the barbed will
s fence and waited for the sentry to r
turn and then felled him with a bio
v on the head, as he had no idea,
n oo,trsa thar there was anyone In IL