Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1918-09-13

1 travelled rapidly. considering my
difilculties, and swan a couple Of
Canals mat night, covering in an per
haps ten miles before daylight. Then
located In some low bushes, lying
there all day in my wet clothes and
finishing my sausage for food. That
was the last Of my rations.
That night / made perhaps the same
distance, but became very hungry and
thirsty before the night was over.
For the NEXT sir days still figured
that l was In Germany. and was Nv
ing on nothing but cabbage. sugar
beets and an occasional carrot. always
In the raw state just as I got them
out OF the fields. The water I drank
was often very rank. One night / lay
In a cabbage patch for an hour tapping
the dew from the leaves with my
tonguei
During this period ! realized that I
must avoid meeting anyone at all has
ards. was In the enemy's country and
my uniform would have been q dead
give-away. Anyone who captured me
or who gave information from which
my capture resulted might have been
sure Of handsome reward. / knew
that II was necessary for me to make
progress as fast as possible, but the
main consideration was to keep out Of
sight, even II It took me year to get
to Holland, which was my objective
From my map estimated that I was
about thirty-fve miles from Strassburg
when / made my leap from the train.
and II could travel In q straight line
had perhaps one hundred and nifty
miles to travel. AS 1t was, however,
was compelled to make many detours.
and / figured that two hundred ana
fifty miles was nearer the extent Of the
Journey ahead Of me.
In several parts Of this country I had
to travel through forests of young pine
trees about twelve feet high. They
were very close together and looked
almost as II they had been set out.
They proved to be a serious obstacle
to me because. could not see the stars
through them and ! was relying upon
the heaven to guide me to freedom. !
am not much Of an astronomer. but ]
know the Pole Star when see II. But
for II wouldn't be here todayl
believed 1t rained every night and
day while was making my way
through Germany and Luxembourg.
My invariable program ut this stage
Of my journey was to travel steadily
all night until about six In the morn
ing, when I would commence looking
around for a place wherein to hide
during the day. Low bushes or woods
back from the road, as far as possible
from the Travelled pathway, usually
served me for this purpose. Having
found such q spot would drop down
and try to sleep. Ny overcoat was
my only covering, and that was usu-
ally soaked through, either from tho
rain or from swimming.
The only sleep I got during those
days was from exhaustion. and 1t usu-
ally came to me towards dusk when
1t was time for me to start again.
1t was a mighty fortunate thing for
me that was not smoker. Somehow
have never used tobacco in any form.
was now fully repaid for whatever
pleasure had foregone in the past a.
q result of my habits In that partic-
ular, because my sufferings would GER
tainly have been intensified now II, In
addition to lack of food and rest, ]
had had to endure a craving for to.
baccO.
About the sixth night was %
drowsy and exhausted when the time
came for me to be on the move, that
was very much tempted to sleep
through the night. / knew. however,
that that would be a bad precedent to
establish and I wouldn't give In.
/ plugged YEARLY along and about
II o'clock. after had covered perhaps
- Il Mk "