Daily Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1918-191?, 1918-04-03


From the train we went into ambu-
ianccs for a short ride TO the hospital
ship Panama. Another palace and more
angels. don't remember the trip
across the channel.
I opened my eyes; I was being car
ried on n stretcher through lanes Of
people, some cheering. some waving
flags. and others crying. The flags were
Union Jacks. I was In Southampton.
BlIrhty NJ last. Ny strctcher was
ssrcwn with flowers. cigarettes. and
chocolates. Tears started 20 run down
my cheek from my good eye. ! like a
BOBBY was crying. Can you beat III
Then into another hospital trnin. a
fve-hour ride 20 Pnlgnton. another am
bulnnce ride, and then I wns carried
into Munsey wnrd Of the American
women's War hospital and put into n
real bed.
This real bed was too much for my
unstrung nerves and tainted.
when came 10, q pretty Red Cross
nurse was bending over me, bathing
my forehead with cold water. then she
left and the ward orderly placed n
screen around my bed, and gave me q
much-needed bath and clean paiamas-
Thcn the screen vns removed ard q
bowl OF steamlng soup was given me.
II tastcd delicious.
Before finishing my soup the nurse
came back TO ask me my name and
number. she put this information down
In a little book and then asked:
"where do you come fromi" I an
swcred:
"From the big town behind the
Statue Of Liberty" upon hearing this
she started jumping up and down.
clnpplng her hands. md calling out 10
three nurses across the ward;
"Come here. girls--at last we have
got a real live Yankee with us"
They came over and besleged me
with questions. until the doctor ar
rived. Upon learning that 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 tendcrly removed
my bandages and told me. after view
ing my wounds. that he would have TO
take me TO the operating theater Inn
medlately. Personally ! didn't care
what wns done with me.
In a few minutes. four orderlles who
looked like undertakers dressed In
white. brought a stretcher TO my bed
and placing me on II carried me out OF
the ward. across courtyard TO the
operating room or pictures" as Tom
my calls II.
don't remember having the anes-
thestic applied.
When I came to l was again lying In
a bed In Munscy ward. one Of the
nurses had drJped a large American
flag over the head Of the bed, and
olnspcd I'm my hnnd was smaller flag,
and II mnde me feel good all over 10
again see the "Stars and Stripes"
AZ that time ] wondered when the
boys IN the trenches would see the
emblem Of the ''land Of the free and
the home Of the brave" beside them.
doing its bit In this great war Of civil.
llzntlOn.
My wounds were very painful, and
several times at night l would dream
that myrlnds Of khakl-clothed figures
would pass my bed and each would
stop. bend over me. and whisper, "Thc
best OF luck, mate"
Soaked with persplratlon i would
awake with a cry. and the night nurse
would come over and hold my hand.
This awakening got TO be a habit with
me until that particular nurse was
transferred 20 another ward.
In three weeks time, owing 10 the
careful treatment received. was able
to sit up and get my bearings. Our
ward contained seventy.flye patients,
90 per cent OF which were surgical
cases. At the head of each bed hung
a temperature chart and diagnosis
sheet. Across this sheet would be
written &c. S. W." or as. w." the for.
mer meaning gun shOt wound anu the
latter shell wound. The IS. W." pre-
dominated. especially among the Royal
Field artillery and Royal engineers.
About forty different regiments were
and many arguments en-
sued as TO the respective fighting abll-
ity Of each regiment. The rivalry was
wonderful. A Jock arguing with an
then a strong Cockney ac-
cent would butt In In favor Of Lon
don regiment. Before long u Welsh
man, followed by member Of u York
shire regiment. and, perhaps. a Cana
dian intrude themselves and the argu-
ment wakes loud and furious. The
patients In the beds start bowling for
them 10 settle their dispute outside
and the ward Is In an uproar. The
head sister comes along aud with a
wave OF the hand completely routs the
doughty warriors and agnln silence
reigns supreme.
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