Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1918-07-19

swered:
"From the big town behind the
Statue of Liberty" upon hearing this
she started jumping up and down,
clapping her hands, and calling out to
three nurses across the ward:
"Come here, girls-at last we have |
got a real live Yankee with us"
They came over and besieged me 1
with questions, until the doctor ar
rived. Upon learning that | was an
American he almost crushed my hand !
in his grip of welcome. They also
were Americans, and were glad to see
me.
The doctor very tenderly removed
my bandages and told me, after view
ing my wounds. that he would have to
take me to the operating theater inn
medatcly. Personally l didn't care
what was done with me.
In few minutes, four orderlles who
looked like undertakers dressed In
white. brought stretcher to my bed
| and placing me on IL carried me out of
the ward, across courtyard to the
| operating room or pictures" as Tom
my calls It,
don't remember having sNe anes-
thestic applied.
When came to l was again lying In
bed in Munsey ward. one of tho
nurses had draped u large American
flag over the head of the bed, and
clasped in my hand was smaller flag,
and Il made me feel good all over to
again see the "Stars and Stripes
At that time / wondered when the
boys in the trenches would see the
emblem of the "land of the free and
the home of the brave" beside them.
doing its bit in this great war of civil
lization.
My wounds were very painful, and
several times at night / would dream
that myriads of khaki-clothed figures
would pass my bed and each would
stop, bend over me. and whisper, "The
best of luck, mate"
Soaked with perspiration would
awake with cry, and the night nurse
would come over and hold my hand.
This awakening got to be habit with
me until that particular nurse was
transferred to another ward.
In three weeks time, owing to the
careful treatment received, | was able
to sit up and get my bearings. Our
ward contained seventy-five patients,
90 per cent of which were surgical
cases. At the head of each bed hung
, a temperature chart and diagnosis
sheet. Across this sheet would be
written &c. S. W." or rs. w." the for
mer meaning gun shot wound and the
, latter shell wound. The rs. W." pre-
, dominated, especially among the Roya
Field artillery and Royal engineers.
About forty different regiments were
represented, and many arguments en-
sued as to the respective fighting abil
ity of each regiment. The rivalry wa'
, wonderful. A Jock arguing with Al
Irishman, then strong .Cockney nc
cent would butt In in favor of Lon
4 don regiment. Before long Welsh
/. man, followed by member Of York
Y shire regiment, and, perhaps, Cana
dian intrude themselves and the argu
I ment wakes loud and furious. TIL
= patients In the beds start bowling 70
|. them to settle their dispute outsid
/ and the ward is in an uproar. TIL
Y head sister comes along and with
wave of the hand completely routs tn
|. doughty warriors and again silenc
reigns supreme.
v Wednesday and Sunday of each wee
k were visiting days and were locke
n forward to by the men, because the
= meant parcels containing fruit, sweet
@ or flags. When patient had Il regula
V visitor, he was generally kept we
supplied with these delicacies. Grei
o Jealousy Is shown among the men &
!. to their visitors and many word wal
n ensue after the visitors leave.
When a man Is sent to II convale
q cent home, he generally turns over h
a steady visitor to the man In the ne'
@ bed.
y Most visitors have autograph album
and bore Tommy to death By askir
4. him to write the particulars of h
wounding in same. Several Tommi'
o try TO duck this unpleasant job by tel
d ing the visitors that they cannot writ
" but this never phases the owner of II
Il album he or Sne, eeHeTAllN she, oll'I
\ to write it for them and Tommy
70 stung into telling his experiences.
y The questions asked Tommy by Wis
~ tors would make clever joke boo
TO military man.
70 Some kindly looking old lady vi
|, stop Mt your bed and in sympathet
.. voice address you :. You poor DO
wounded by those terrible German
u. You must be suffering frightful pal
NJ bullet, did you say? Wen, tell N
80 | have always wanted to know, did
in hurt worse going in or coming out|
Tommy generally replies that he d
r. not stop to figure it out when he WI
~ hit.
10 one very nice-looking, overenthu
Pc aS'ic young thing, stopped AT my b
n aud asked, '"Nhat wounded you in t
,s fGceT
NJ IN polite but bored tone | a
-, | SNnrod "a rife bullet"