Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1918-07-24

to say, "Look around" I did SO; a bull
let caught me on the left shoulder. It
did not hurt much, just felt as If some
one had punched me in the back, and
then my left side went numb. My arm
was dangling like rag. fell forward
In sitting position. But all the fear
had left me and 1 was consumed with
rage and cursed the German trenches.
With my right hand felt in my tunic
for my f1rst-aid or shell dressing. In
feeling over my tunic my hand came
in contact with one of the bombs which
I carried. Gripping it, pulled the pin
out with my teeth and blindly threw 1t
towards the German trench. I must
have been out Of my head, because l
was only ten feet from the trench and
took q chance Of being mangled. II
the bomb had failed to 60 into the
trench I would have been blown to
bits by the explosion of my own bomb.
BY the flare Of the explosion of the
bomb. which luckily landed in their
trench, saw one big Boche throw up
his arms and fall backwards, while his
rifle few into the air. Another one
wilted and fell forward across the
sandbags-then blackness.
Realizing what a foolhardy and risky
thing had done, was again seized
with horrible fear. I dragged myself
to my feet and ran madly down the
lane through the barbed wire, STUN
bling over cut wires, tearing my uni
form, and decorating my hands and
legs. Just as was about to reach
No Mans Land again, that same voice
seemed to say, "Turn around" did
so, when, Crack" another bullet
caught me, this time in the left Shout
der about one-half inch away from the
other wound Then it was taps for me.
The lights went out.
When I came to was crouching in
a hole in No Mans Land. This shell
hole was about three feet deep, so that
it brought my head a few inches below
the level of the ground. How reached
this hole I will never know. German
"typewriters" were traversing back
and forth In No Mans Land, the bull
let's biting the edge of my shell hole
and throwing dirt all over me.
Overhead shrapnel was bursting.
I could hear the fragments slap the
ground. Then I went out once more.
When I came to everything was silence
and darkness in No Mans Land. I
was soaked with blood and big flap
from the wound in my cheek was hang
ing over my mouth. The blood run
ming from this flap choked me. Out Of
the corner of my mouth would try
and blow it back, but it would not
move. I reached for my shell dressing
and tried, with one hand, to bandage
my face to prevent the flow. I had
an awful horror Of bleeding to death
and was getting very faint. You would
have laughed If you had seen my
ludicrous attempts at bandaging with
one hand. The pains in my wounded
shoulder were awful and was getting
sick at the stomach. gave up the
bandaging stunt as bad job, and then
tainted.
When I came to, hell was let loose.
An intense bombardment was on, and
on the whole my position was decided
~ unpleasant. Then, suddenly, our
barrage ceased. The silence almost
hurt, but not for long, because Fritz
turned loose with shrapnel, machine
guns, and rifle fire. Then all along our
line came cheer and our boys came
oyer the top In charge. The first
wave was composed of "Jocks." They
were magnificent sight, kits, Tapping
in the wind, bare knees showing, and
their bayonets glistening. In the first
wave that passed my shell hole, one Of
the "Jocks." an immense fellow, about
six feet two inches in height jumped
right over me. On the right and left
Of me several soldiers in colored kits
were huddled on the ground, then over
came the second wave, also "Jocks."
One young Scottie, when he came
abreast Of my shell hole, leaped into
the air, his rifle shooting out Of his
hands, landing about six feet in front
Of him, bayonet first, and stuck In the
ground, the butt trembling. This Inn
pressed me greatly.
Right now can see the butt Of that
gun trembling. The Scottie made
complete turn In the air, hit the
ground, rolling over twice, each time
clawing at the earth, and then re-
manned still, about four feet from me,
in sort Of sitting position. called to
him, "Are you hurt badly, Jock?" but
no answer. He was dead. A dark red
smudge was coming through his tunlc
right under the heart. The blood ran
down his bare knees, making horrible
sight. On his right side he carried his
water bottle. was crazy for drink
and tried to reach this, but for the life
of me could not negotiate that four
feet. Then became unconscious.
When woke up was in an advanced
first-aid post. I asked the doctor If
we had taken the trench. "We took
the trench and the wood beyond, all
right" he said, "and you fellows did
your bit; but, my lad. that was thirty
six hours ago. You were lying in No
Mans Land in that bally hole for day
and half. It's wonder you are alive"
He also told me that out Of the twenty
that were in the raiding party, seven
teen were killed. The officer died Of
wounds in crawling back to our trench
and l was severely wounded, but one
fellow returned without scratch. with