Evening star., 1918-08-18
Daredevil FEATS
seen AT F|SMETTE
Hospital Men Ignore Perils
!. as Crack Prussian Guard
Plunges Into Battle.
PRIVATE 0'NEILL A HERO
BY JUNIUs B. WOOD.

4 BY JUNIUs b. WOOD.
fableSram to The Sunday star and
HChicago Daily News. Copyright, 19ls.
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY AT
fHE FRONT. August IA (delayed).-
a few months ago James O'Nein OF
Haverford avenue, West Philadelphia.
changed the bright brass buttons OF
helIhop of the ST. James Hotel to the
klive drab uniform. Then came the
hight at Fismette Monday just across
khe vesle river from Fisnnes-replete
with deeds of daring. Private O'Neiil
kraduaeed from mere hospital order
n to an unusual hero.
Fisnette is not more than hamlet
kf aedozen houses along a single
Street, snestling in foothills which
Sristls with German machine guns. In
he cellar of one of these houses Is an
American dressing station which
kares for those wounded in defending
the bite" we hold on the north bank
kf the vesle. sharp thorn in the
5ide Of the Germans.
A Make Spot an Inferno.
On Monday the Germans made a de-
kermined counter attack with 1000
hen of the crack Prussian Guard
Division, supported by minenWer1ers
fbomb throwers), machine guns ana
flame throwerS, against our troops un-
DER Mai. Allange Donnelly OF the
Pittsburgh, Pa -four hundred" max
ing the little spot an actual inferno
Though the attack was repulsed the
dressing station was a busy spot
The temporary bridge which we
threw over the river to replace the
bridge dynamited by the retreatins
Germans had loose planks that rat
tled at every step and was hit by ma
chine gum bullets from the hills IN
The background and shaken by ex-
nloding shells. 1t was the only means
af communication through Fismes to
The hospitals in our rear areas. All
Ehe spleen of the enemy was vented
IN firing on this bridge, the connect
ing link between the death hole in
ffont and safety in the rear.
itThere were many brave men tnere
on this morning. though the act OF
O'Neill stands out on account OF the
captains, all suddenly plunged into
the center of the war from hum
drum civilian medical practice. the
uther orderies and drivers OF the am
tJulances were just ordinary boys un-
known outside their own neighbor-
hoods a few weeks ago. who were
also doing their duty.
IS Story Of Flimsy Bridge.
The first ambulance loaded on the
sheltered side of the wall was ready
to start on it's dash down the narrow
street with load Of wounded when
Mai. Hartung bethought himself of
pan gone. This is how he tells the
sfory- -
iss i6Nefll, who will see whether the
Midxs is still there I asked.
I will, sir said o'Nein. He was
lat OF the cellar before I could snap
Yer the village and the bullets were
:ying-down the street Hugging the
iuildtngs on one side, he lodged
GROSS, then Rugged the buildings on
;kex other side and lodged across
gain; then he disappeared around
corner, running like the devil. I
" aited at the door and feared that I
6ad seen the last of him, but in fiye
minutes he was back again, putting
ifom the exercise.
~ Its all right he said. The
ridge will hold, sir Then he sa-
nerlike attitude.
1.-THE ambulance got across a few
iainutes later and we followed. After
We had gone O'Neill made five more
rips to the bridge to see whether it
vas safe before the ambulances
harted. When the bridge was finally
hot away he went again, waded
Icross the river, got food at the other
hde, put it on his back and on his head
md carried it to men in a dugout."
iFormer Cycle Policeman Drives.
Erhen touring car ran the gantlet
II death in the little str ct swept by
herman machine guns, and when 1t
fade turn to cross. the river 1t was
y full view of the guns on it's tanks,
his continuing until it reached the
Hreets of Fismes, on the opposite
tIde. Private Walter tFrosch Of Mount
oliver. Pittsburgh. former motor
Maj. Frederick A. Hartung of Mount
Oliver, Pittsburgh, who had charge
~ the ambulance companies, and
Haj. Edward NJ. Hand of Corapolis,
Ra-, one of the regimental surgeons,
We're the passengers.
H'Beat it to the bridge. slow up there
ind when you are across give it
ten," said Maj. Hartung. Frosch bent
touble over the steering wheel. just
fith his foot on the acceierator,
karted the car and. crossed the
fridge. How the three men escaped
inscathed Is miraculous. The dag
losis tag for the little car showed
teadlight smashed by a bullet and
hree holes in the lower wind shield.
lne could put finger through the
fpper panel of the wind shield A
Juliet had gone through the left mud
suard, shrapnel had hit the side Of
| door and fifteen bullets had gone
through the canopy.
!; Accounts for -Four Dead.
Corp. George s. Fariai Of Bradford,
Pa personally accounted for four
lead during the fighting at Fismette.
He marshaled a platoon against an
.ntrenched position.
Lieut. Milford W. Fredburg of
aidgeway. Pa. advanced later in the
night, when the street was entirely
;iwept by the concentrated fire of
three machine guns, volunteered and
eook the first company across another
arm OF the river: penetrated the Ger
man lines and in the morning sur
Drised them and swept them with our
.nachine guns.
Private Raymond Trainer of Paoli,
Pa. courageously used machine guns,
tions, and protecting ambulances re-
turning loaded with wounded.
Private John s. Warmth of Cum
berland Wall. Pa. grenaded a nest Of
machine guns successfully at tic
klish moment.
Private James e. Harden, Conneils-
Vile, Pa, was q night member of q
S0&09EWz009 Phone Fra
IH DIR. Fl. E. SMITH
III Is Looked Upon by Thousands
ia pAor,le aS <ha Ra1< D.sol~.~