Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1918-06-05


wounded?"
The Irishman, at this question, let
out a howl Of indignation and an
swered, "Am I very badly wounded,
what bloody cheek; no, I'm not wound
ed, I've only been kicked by canary
bird"
The ambulance Immediately stopped,
and the corporal came to the rear and
fixed him up, and also washed out my
right eye. I was too weak to thank
him, but it was a great relief. Then
I must have become unconscious, be-
cause when I regained my senses, the
ambulance was at standStill, and my
stretcher was being removed from it.
1t was night, lanterns were flashing
here and there and 1 could see stretch
er-bearers hurrying to and fro. Then
I was carried into hospital train.
The inside Of this train looked like
heaven to me, just pure white, and we
met our first Red Cross nurses; we
thought they. were angels. And they
were.
Nice little soft hunks and clean.
white sheets.
A Red Cross nurse sat beside me
during the whole ride which lasted
three hours. She was holding my
wrist; thought I had made hit, and
tried to tell her how I got wounded.
but she would put her finger to her lips
and say, eyes, know, but you mustn't
talk now, try to go to sleep, it'll do you
good, doctors orders" Later on
learned that she was taking my pulse
every few minutes, as was very weak
from the loss of blood and they ex-
pected me to snuff it, but I didn't.
From the train we went into ambu-
lances for a short ride to the hospital
ship Panama. Another palace and more
angels. 1 don't remember the trip
across the channel.
/ opened my eyes; was being car
ried on a stretcher through lanes of
people, some cheering, some waving
flags, and others crying. The flags were
Union Jacks, 1 was in Southampton.
Blighty at last. My stretcher was
strewn with flowers, cigarettes, and
chocolates. Tears started to run down
my cheek from my good eye. I like
BOBBY was crying. Can you beat it,
Then into another hospital train, a
fve-hour ride to Paignton, another am
bulance ride, and then was carried
into Munsey ward Of the American
Women's War hospital and put into a
real bed.
This real bed was too much for my
unstrung nerves and I tainted.
When I came to, pretty Red Cross
hof hipr o.
my forehead with cold water, then she
left and the ward orderly placed a
screen around my bed, and gave me a
nuch-needed bath and clean pajamas.
Then the screen was removed and a
bowl Of steaming soup was given me.
It tasted delicious.
I Before finishing my soup the nurse
| came back to ask me my name and
number. She put this information down
in little book and then asked:
"Where do you come from?" I an
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 real live Yankee with u.s.
They came over and beSieged me
with questions until the doctor ar
rived. Upon learning that I 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 i'm
mediately. Personally I didn't care
what was done with me.
In few minutes, four orderlies who
| looked like undertakers dressed in
i white, brought stretcher to my bed
| and placing me on it carried me out OF
! the ward, across a courtyard to the
operating room or pictures" as Tom
my calls it.
| I don't remember having the anes
thestic applied.
When came to 1 was again lying in
a bed in Munsey ward. One Of the
nurses had draped a large American
flag over the head Of the bed, anC
clasped in my hand was a smaller flag
and it made me feel good all over tc
again see the "Stars and Stripes"
At that time I wondered when the
boys in the trenches would see the
emblem of the 'land Of the free an(
the home of the brave" beside them
doing it's bit in this great war Of civil
lization.
My wounds were very painful, an(
several times at night I would dream
that myriads Of khaki-clothed figure:
would pass my bed and each woult
stop, bend over me, and whisper, 'Th'
best Of luck, mate"
Soaked with perspiration I woul'
awake with a cry, and the night nurs
would come over and hold my hand
This awakening got to be habit witt