Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1918-08-20
NUMBER "a.

I came to I said to myself. Emp. old
boy, you belong in Jersey City. and
you'd better get back there as quickly
as possible"
The bullets were cracking overhead.
I crawled a few feet back to the Ger
man barbed wire, and In STOPPING po-
sition, guiding myself by the wire. I
went down the line looking for the
lane we had cut through. Before
reaching this lane I came to a limp
form which seemed like q bag Of oats
hanging over the wire. In the dim
light could see that its hands were
blackened, and knew 1t was the body
of one of my mates. I put my hand
on his head, the top Of which had been
blown of by bomb. Ny fingers sank
into the hole. I pulled my hand back
full Of blood and brains, then ! went
crazy with fear and horror and rushed
along the wire until I came to our
lane. I had just turned down this lane
when something inside Of me seemed
to say, "Look around" I did 50; bull
let caught me on the left shoulder. 1t
did not hurt much, Just felt as II some
one had punched me In the back. and
then my left side went numb. My arm
was dangling like q rag. fell forward
In a sitting position. But all the fear
had left me and I was consumed with
rage and cursed the German trenches.
With my right hand felt In my tunic
for my hrst-aid or shell dressing. In
feeling over my tunic my hand came
in contact with one Of the bombs which
carried. Gripping 1t, pulled the pin
out with my teeth and blindly threw 1t
towards the German trench. I must
have been out Of my head, because
was only ten feet from the trench and
took a chance Of being mangled. II
the bomb had failed to 60 into the
trench I would have been blown to
bits by the explosion Of my own bomb.
BY the flare Of the explosion " the
bomb. which luckily landed In their
trench, I saw one big Boche throw up
his arms and fall backwards. while his
rifle flew into the air. Another one
wilted and fell forward across the
sandbags-then blackness.
Realizing what foolhardy and risky
thing I had done. I was again seized
with horrible fear. I dragged myself
to my feet and ran madly down the
lane through the barbed wire, stum-
bling over cut wires, tearing my uni.
form, and lacerating my hands and
legs. Just as I was about to reach
No Mans Land again, that same voice
seemed to say. 'Turn around" did
so, when. crack" another bullet
caught me, this time In the left shoul-
der about one-half inch away from the
other wound. Then 1t was taps for me.
The lights went out.
When I came to I was crouching In
q hole in No Mans Land. This shell
hole was about three feet deep. so that
1t brought my head few inches below
the level Of the ground. How. reached
this hole I will never know. German
'typewriters" were traversing back
and forth in No Mans Land. the bull
lets biting the edge Of my shell hole
and throwing dirt all over me.
Overhead shrapnel was bursting.
could hear the fragments slap the
ground. Then I went out once more.
When came to everything was silence
and darkness In No Mans Land. !
was soaked with blood and big dap
from the wound In my cheek was hang
ing over my mouth. The blood run
ming from this flap choked me. Out Of
the corner of my mouth I would try
and blow 1t back, but It would not
move. reached for my shell dressing
and tried, with one hand, to bandage
my face to prevent the flow. had
an awful horror Of bleeding to death
and was getting very faint. You would
have laughed II you had seen my
ludicrous attempts at bandaging with
one hand. The pains in my wounded
shoulder were awful and was getting
sick at the stomach. gave up the
bandaging stunt as q bad Job, and then
tainted.
When came to, hell was let loose.
An intense bombardment was on. and
on the whole my position was decided
ly unpleasant. Then. suddenly, our
barrage ceased. The silence almost
hurt, but not for long, because Fritz
turned loose with shrapnel machine
guns, and rifle fire. Then all along our
line came q cheer and our boys came
over the top In charge. The first
wave was composed of "Jocks." They
were q magnificent sight. kits, Tapping
In the wind, bare knees showing. and
their bayonets glistening. In the first
wave that passed my shell hole, one Of
the "Jocks," an immense fellow. about
six feet two inches In height jumped
right over me. On the right and left
Of me several soldiers In colored kits
were huddled on the ground, then over
came the second wave, also "Jocks."
One young Scottie, when he came
abreast of my shell hole. leaped into
the air, his rife shooting out OF his
hands, landing about six feet In front
Of him, bayonet first, and stuck In the
ground, the butt trembling. This I'M
pressed me greatly.
Right now I can see the butt OF that
gun trembling. The Scottie made a
complete turn in the air, hit the
ground, rolling over twice. each time
clawing at the earth. and then re-
mained still, about four feet from me.
In sort of sitting position. I called to
him. "Are you hurt badly, Jock" but
no answer. He was dead. A dark red
smudge was coming through his tun!:
right under the heart. The blood ran
down his bare knees, making horrible
sight. On his right side he carried his
water bottle. was crazy for drink
and tried to reach this, but for the life
Of me could not negotiate that four
feet. Then ! became unconscious.
When woke up was in an advanced
first-aid post. I asked the doctor II
we had taken the trench. I'VE took
the trench and the wood beyond. all
right" he said. ''and you fellows did
your bit; but, my lad. that was thirty.
six hours ago. You were lying In No
Mans Land in that bally hole for day
and half. It's q wonder you are alive"
I1o oIco told mo that ont of tho twenty