The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1918-10-22
BUCLER' SMITH
ORDERSBANQUET
Swallows Three Dozen Raw
Oysters as Preliminary
Appetizer.
STORY OF FRENCH CAFE
Billy" Smith, Talks Of His Life
as Pugilist and Tells Some
Thrillinr war Expariences.
STORY OF FRENCH CAFE
(By Bert Fort.)


With the American Army Northwest
of Verdun.-U. N. S.)-Bugler BILLY
Smith. of Sumter, s. c., former pugilist
breezed into the back room of a pat
'ronized French cafe on the edge of the
battle zone. The place had the atmos-
phere of the Latin quarter. Around q
gigantic table sat French and Ameri-
can soldiers and newspaper corre-
spondents. Buglar Smith was accom-
panied by his bunkie, Private Arthur
Lensing, of Wisconsin, and Private
George w. Hinton, an artilleryman
and the son of an automobile dealer in
Hope, Ark. Smith placed a bundle on
the table, which he opened, revealing
three dozen muddy oysters wrapped in
an old copy of the Echo de Paris.
Blue Eyes BuIged.
At the sight of oysters, Smiths
merry blue eyes bulged. But how
have been dreaming of you, my beau
ties" drawled the bugler, addressing
the bivalvesD while everybody else
around the table grinned.
Il used to close my eyes out there in
the front line and picture myself
pinching lemon on bluepoints in half
shell covering plattering as big as
tiiio Stlu EoIIlllIl, men L WOulu
dream l was dipping into an oyster
stew. reckon | would face forty boche
batteries to get oysters or a broiled
lobster. While / was in the line l
swore l would annex some oysters the
first day l got leave of absence If I
had to spend years pay for half
dozen of them"
Bugler Smith produced a rusty jack
knifo and tried n bo tp
the amusement of the poilus, but
failed. Lensing got out an old cork,
screw and had better success. Hinton
allowed that he wasn't so keen for
oysters. but compromised by eating
two covered with French mustard.
He Was Sure Hungry.
The other thirty-four oysters disap-
peared by swift gulps. While still
smacking his lips. Smith startled the
French mattresses by calling for
meal. His order, among other things
was for dozen eggs, for three; three
beefstcaks and side order of roast pork,
French fried potatoes, tomato salad,
cheese, jam, land anything else that
was kicking around loose in the pam
try"
Decided on Banquet.
While waiting for the meal. Smith
addressed the correspondents:
1--WE decided to have a banquet.
Army chow is first class, but you know
how fellow likes change, even from
home cooking. Well, l decided some
time back that, as fellow never
knows how many days, or even hours, !
he has left in his life. would spend
my spare hours and change just eating.
never did need a tonic to help me
eat. 1t just sort of comes natural.
Il used to box a lot in the ring and !
on the stage, and 1 was buck and
wing dancer and baritone singer in
too.
II fought at 1872 pounds. Had the
bones in both hands pretty well |
broken. and haven't got any bones in
my nose, either"
Still on Deck.
Hereupon the bugler gave ocular
evidence by twisting his nose about as
hough 1t were rubber. He went on:
Been wounded twice and gassed, but
IN still on deck. Our fellows been Civ
ng Fritz hell back there. But it's
lothing to what we are going to give
lin.
when the fellows saw Germany's
'eace offer, they sure did hoot. Every
amned one OF them Is eager to give
ritz knockout before peace comes.
Thought I was done for in the last
crimmage we were In. My; hut those
,achine gun pills certainly did whistle
lose to my head"
Some one asked Smith II he was going
settle down In France after the war.
Nothing doing" he replied. "I want
stick as long as there Is any fight /
ig, and then. as the darkey said. the l