Gilpin observer., 1918-09-19


spent the night wandering north
guided by the North Star which had
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 II
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
I was now wandering was very heavily
wooded and there was really no very
great difficulty in keeping myself con-
cealed. which did all day long, striv-
ing all the time to think of some way
in which I could circumvent that
cursed barrier.
The idea Of huge stepladder oc-
CURED to me, but searched hour after
hour in vain for lumber or fallen trees
out Of which could construct one. II
! could only obtain something which
would enable me to reach q point
about nine feet in the air 1t would be
a comparatively simple matter to
jump from that point over the electric
fence.
Then I thought that perhaps could
construct a simple ladder and lean it
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 ladder for this purpose.
I was fortunate enough to find a
number Of fallen pine trees from ten
to twenty feet long. I selected two of
them which seemed sufficiently strong
and broke of all the branches, which
I used as rungs. tying them to the
poles with grass and strips from my
handkerchief and shirt as best 1
could.
looking ladder when finally got
through with 1t. I leaned it against
a tree to test It and it wobbled consid-
erably. 1t was more like a rope lad
der than q wooden one, but strength
ened 1t here and there and decided
that it 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 a few hours would be In q
neutral country out Of all danger. If
failed-I dismissed the idea sum-
marily. 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 I utilized them to re-enforce my
ladder, tying the rungs more securely
with long grass which picked In the
woods.
At last night came, and with my
ladder in hand made for the barrier.
In front Of it there was a cleared
space Of about one hundred yards,
which had been prepared to make the
work Of the guards easier in watch
ing it.
waited in the neighbOrhood until I
heard the sentry pass the spot where I
was In hiding and then 1 hurried
across the clearing. showed my ladder
under the barbed wire and endeav-
ored to follow 1t. My clothing caught
in the wire, but l 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 l
might possibly sprain an ankle or
break my leg, but II that was all that
stood between me and freedom I
wasn't going to stop to consider It.
I put my ear to the ground to listen
for the coming Of the sentry. There
was not sound. Eagerly but care
fully / placed the ladder against the
post and started up. Only a few feet
separated me from liberty. and my
heart beat fast.
I 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 with
the live wire. and the current passed
through the wet sticks and into my
body. There was blue fash. my
hold on the ladder relaxed and I fell
heavily to the ground unconscious.
OF course, had not received the
full force OF the current or I would
not now be here. / must have re-
mained unconscious for few mo-
ments. but 7 came to Just In time to
hear the German guard coming. and
the thought came to me II didn't get
that ladder concealed at once he would
see 1t even though. fortunately for me,
1t was an unusually dark night.
pulled the ladder out Of his path
and lay down fiat on the ground moi
seven feet away from his feet. He
passed no close that cOuld have