Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-04-03
CHATTER XVII.

CHhPI Elk HNNll.
From this nrSt-aid post. after In
oculatinG me with anti-tetanus serum
10 prevent lock- / was put into an
ambulance and sent TO q temporary hos
pi;al behind tho lines. To reach this
hospital we had to so along road
about live miles in length. This road
was under shcll fire, for now and then
fare would light UP the sky-a trc-
mcudous cxDlosion-and then the road
seemed to trcnblc. We did not mind
though no doubt some OF us wished
that a she'll would hit Us and end our
misery. Personally. I was not parti
GUAR 1t was nothing but bump, jolt.
rattlc, ana bang.
Several times the driver would turn
around and give US "Chcero. mate.
we'll soon he there fine fellows.
thOs" ambulance drivers. a lot OF them
70 West too
Wc gradually drew out OF the hre
mcnsc IuEout Strctchcrbearers car
rlcd mo down a number OF steps and
placed me on white table in a bright
~ Lighted room.
\ scrGcan, OF tho Royal Army Mcdl-
cal Corns removed my bandaSes and
cut or my tunic. Then the doctor. with
has sleeves rolled UP, took charge. lie
winked at me and l winkcd back. and
Jicn he asked. How do YOU feel.
smashed up hit""
answered: I'm all right, but I'd
Give a qutd for a drink OF Bass
lie nodded II the sergeant who dis
appeared. and II! hc darncd IL he didn't
return with glass Of ale. could
only o.Cn ny mouth about a quarter
OF an Iucn bat | got away with every
t~op OF that ale. II tasted Just like
Dlirlft-. and that is heaven to Tommy.
TIC doctor said something 10 an or
dcrIv. the only word ! could catch was
"chlorofornl," then they put some kind
o. an arrangement over my nose and
mouth and 1t was me for drcamland.
when opencd my eyes was lying
on s,rctchcr, in low wooden
building. Everywhere I looked I saw
rows OF Tommics on stretches. some
dad 10 the world. and the rest with
fars In their mouths.
The main topic of their conversation
was Biighty. Nearly all had grin
on their faces. except those who didn't
have enough face left to grin with
] grinnel with my right eye. the other
was bandaEcd.
observation-disclosures came In and began
tn carry the Tommies outside. You
could hear the chug OF the engines IN
tho waiting ambIlanccs.
was put into 4 Ford with three
others and away we went for an ciSh
teen mile ride. Keep out of n Ford
when YOU are wounded. insist on walk
Ing. It'll pay you.
was on a bottom stTclCNcT. nc
lad right across from me vas smashed
up something horrible.
Right above me was man from the
ROYAL Irish Rifles. while across from
him was n Scotchman.
We had zone about three miles when
I heard the death rattle in the throat
or the man opposite. lie had gone 10
rest across the Great Divide. l think
at the time I envicd HIN.
Tho man OF the Royal Irish Rifles
had had his left foot blown off. the
joitinE OF the ambulance over the rough
road had looscned UP the bandagcs on
HIS foot. and had started ii bleeding
again. This blood ran down the side
of the stre;cher and started dripping.
II way lying on my back. too weak
TO move. and the dripping of this blood
got IN my unOandaged right eye
! closed my eye and pretty soon could
not open the lid: the blood had con-
gcaicd and closed il. as II il were glued
down.
An English girl dressed in khaki was
driving the ambulance. while beside her
on the seat was Corporal of the r. a.
NJ &. They kept up a running con-
versation about Blighty which almost
wrecked my nerves: pretty soon from
the stretchcr above me. the Irishman
became aware OF the fact that the
bandaGc from his foot had become
loose; 1t must have panied him horri-
bly,. because he yelled in loud voice.
IF you don't stop this bloody death
wagon and fix this damned bandaGc on
my foot I VIII get out and walk"
The girl on tho seat turned around
and in Il sympathetic voice asked. Poor
fellow. are you very badly wounded?"
The freshman. at this question, let
out howl of Indignation and an
swcrcd. Am I very badly wounded,
what bloody check: no. I'm not wound
cd. 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. ] was too weak to thank
him, but II was great relief. Then
| must have become unconscious, be-
cause when I reEaincd my senses, the
ambulance was at standStill, and
my stretcher was being removed from
| IL.
1t was night. lanterns were flashing
here and there. and could sec
strctchcrbcarcrs hurrying to and fro
Then / was carried into a hospital
train.
The inside Of this train looked like
heaven 10 mo, Just pure white, and we