Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1918-08-01
Shepherdsown Jefferson County, West Virginia. Thursday August
Why He Prefers Living Out Doors.

Russell B. Frye, the fiancee Of Miss
Eleanor Bonsall, Of Philadelphia, who
has friends in Shepherdstown, has writ
ten an interesting letter telling of some
Of his experiences in France. Mr..
Frye, who is a Massachusetts man, is
member of the ambulance service, and
is quite near the battle front. He says:
"We are living the out-of-doors life
for change, and it is certainly the
healthy life. Our little pup tents are
pitched behind a convenient hedge.
Three days ago We moved out OF the
town, where we had been living in
cellar for about two weeks, and are now
in an open field. We are slightly clos
er to the front than before, but in
much safer place, for the towns make
the best Hun targets.
"Now that we have left the town,
there's no harm in my telling you few
little incidents that occurred there.
We were living in a wonderful house in
the centre of the town, where two i'm
portant streets met at right angles.
When we took possession, we wondered
why this building wasn't taken over by
troops, as it was the best house in the
town. 1t wasn't long before we learn
ed the reason, however.
"The first afternoon, while we were
arranging our beds in the parlors and
living rooms, the Huns dropped few
shells nearby, to welcome us on our ar
rival. One little house two buildings
away from us, was the first to 60, and
il disappeared in hurry, can tell
you. A few of us rushed to the door to
see what had happened, and | reached
there just in time to hear shell whistle
overhead, and see it crash through the
roof Of house just across the street.
BY the time our curiosity was satisfied
and we rushed down cellar, where we
remained till the storm blew over.
1--WE weren't disturbed again till the
following night about 2 a. m. was
peacefully sleeping when Becker, whose
bunk was next to mine, poked me in the
ribs. 'Hey, Minnie, let's co. he said
in his usual quiet way. They're bounc-
ing them in close, and the cellar looks
good to me- reached for my shoes
and was just pulling them on, when
there came a crash diagonally across
the square. put on more speed, and
just reached the cellar, when, with a
swish and roar, the next one landed
on our front doorstep. The cellar win
dow blew in on us with a shower of
dirt and glass; but the shell was too
small to wreck the house, although most
of the windows were broken by the
conclusion.
"The next morning another arrive
tore hole in the main street about
Is yards from the room where Ted
Wall and were sitting. We were
thrown against the wall and staggered
for a second; but soon managed to
grope our way through the dust and
dirt which filled the room, and reached
our cellar abri safely. Neither Of us
was hurt the least bit, not even by fly
ing glass.
"Well, after few experiences like
this, the cellar appealed to us so much
that we moved our beds down there,
and even during the day while reading
or writing, we often went down there.
"The hospital with which we were
connected was in church on another
side of the square. A few days ago
the authorities decided that the cross
roads was an unhealthy location, and
moved out into this open field, where
we were ordered to follow them, and
we weren't sorry to leave that town,
either. We are off the main road and
out in the country where there is not
a shell hole within half a mile. We
expect to be here only few days more
before going back 'in repos' with our
division, which has already been at the
front longer than usual"
"Have already told you of my new
duties? To vary the monotony the
lieutenant has shifted the work among
the non-coms, and besides looking af-
ter the barracks now have charge
Of gasoline, oil, tires, tubes and other
parts which are constantly being re-
placed and twice week go after gas
in the Packard truck; and as parks
are always quite a distance from the
front, have the opportunity OF seeing
the cities now and then"