The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1918-07-11

and painless death" it would have been
more to the point.
When we had read our Instructions
we knew we were In for II sood and
plenty.
What Atwell said is not ft for pub,
licntion. but l strongly seconded his
opinion or he war, army and divisional
headquarters in general.
After Il bit our spirits rose. we were
fu~ll-fiedged spy-catchers, because our
instructions and orders, said so.
We Immediately reported to the
nearest frehch estaminet and had sew.
eral glasses Of muddy water, which
they called beer. After drinking our
peer we left the estaminet and hailed
an empty ambulance.
After showing the driver our passes
we got In. The driver was going to the
part OF the line where we had to re.
port.
HOW the wounded ever survived a
ride In thai ambulance was inexplica.
Die to me. 1t was worse tina riding on
Il gun carriage over n rock road.
The driver Of the ambulance was a
corporal of the r. A. NJ. c., and he
hhd the wind up" that is, he had an
aversion to being under fire.
l was riding on the seat with him
while Atwell was sitting In the ambu.
lance, with his legs hanging out of the
back.
AS we passed through a shell-de.
S'roSeo village Il mounted military po.
ilcelnan stopped us and informed the
orlVer to be very careful when we got
out on the open road. as it was very
dangerous, because the Germans lately
hhd acquired the habit OF Smelling it.
Inc corporal asked the troopcr If there
was any other way around, and was
informed that there was not. Upon
ms ne got very nervous and wanted to
turn DacK tut we insisted that he pro.
iced and explained to him that he
would get into serious trouble with his
commanding officer IL he returned
without orders; we wanted to ride,
walk.
From his conversation we learned
that he had recently come from Eng.
land with n draft and had never been
under fire, hence his
We convinced him that there was not
much danger, and he appeared greatly
relieved.
when we at last turned into the open
Dad we were not so confident. On
each side there had been n line OF
trees, but now, all that was left OF
them were torn and battered stumps
The fields on each side of the road
were dotted with recent shell holes,
and we passed several In the road 1t.
self. We had gone about half Il mile
when a shell came whiStling through
the air and burst in n field about three
hundred yards to our right. Another
soon followed this one and burst on
the edge Of the road about four hun.
dred yards In front Of US.
| told the driver to throw in his
speed clutch, as We must be in sight
Of the Germans. ! knew the signs:
that battery was ranging for us, and
he quicker we got out OF It's zone OF
fire the better. The driver was trem.
bling like n leaf, and every minute I
expected him to pile us up in the ditch.
| preferred the German fire.
In the back Atwell was holding onto
the straps for dear life, and was sing.
Ing ut the top Of his voice:
We beat you at the Marine,
We beat you at the Alsne.
We gave you hell at Neuve Chapelle,
And here we are again.
Just then W. hit n sinall shell hole
md nearly capsiZed. Upon a loud
yell from the rear I looked behind, and
there was Atwell sitting In the middle
of the road. shaking his fist at us. His
equipment. which he had taken Off
upon getting into the ambulance, was
strung out on the ground, md his rifle
was In the ditch.