Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-08-23

naval squadron. After l had finish
ed my military service passed ex-
aminations to get into the service OF
the railroads. After three years OF
this work | was the victim OF a rail-
way accident and my left leg had to
he amputated. On the restoration OF
my health. I took up my career Oh
sport again. and though with only one
leg. gained medal in an interna-
tional swimming contest in the Tiber
in Rome.
Then travelled all over Europe on
nv bicycle studying the different peo-
plcs, and my dream has ever been TO
see Italy great and prosperous.
have been all over France. Belgium
Holland. Germany. Russia, and so on
and even to the Arctic polar circle
where, on account of the ice. l was
Obliged to remain some time with the
E.squimaux of Lapland. l crossed
Austria and Poland and finally came
back to Rome, and to my family. Att-
or some months of rest | went to AL
eyandria and travelled all along the
course of the Nile and through Egypt
and Nubia. In all my journey OF ex-
ploration travelled about twenty
thousand kilometcrs. and | had to en-
counter tempests Of snow. ice. wolves
hycnas and to suffer every kind oi
privation.
came to the war zone with
everything necessary. hoping to join
the Alpini. | have been to Sagr;do
in the neighborhood Of Gorizia, on the
hills of Castclnuovo, and in my going
about | have always observed whcth-
or the telephone lines had been dis
turbed, and ] searched the fields In
the hope OF seizing some perfdious
spy. am now well known to almost
all the officers and soldiers. ! an
certain that I could penetrate into th'
cncmy's camp and study their posi-
,ions and discover their batteries
without being seen by them. The road
which leads from Cervifinao TO Monta-
cone Is most closely watched. but
took out Of the-way paths and passed
through fields Of maize. now stoopins
down and now hiding myself when
saw patrols, and presented myself
to the general Of the brigade al
Monfalcone and asked 10 be taken in
to the grenadiers. The commander
of the royal carabinieri telegrapheJ
to Rome for information regarding
me. This was Of the best and so
was again sent to Cevignano tc
await some superior decision.
Now | turn to your royal highness
I implore you to put me into some
company and so to let me have the
hope Of either dying for the Patria
or of entering among the first into
Trieste.
With the expression OF my eterna
gratitude, l am.
Your royal highncss's most devoted
Enrico Toti.
The Duca d'Aosta, the commander
of the third army, realized his BRAY
ory and ability and he was allowed tc
he enrolled as a bersagliere.
For many months he was employed
in the war zone rs a letter carrier
and messenger. Finally, in January
1916, Major RaZinni. commander ol
the third regiment of bersaglierc hi.
cyclists, permitted him to go into tho
trenches; he was an incompatible
sentry: he worked as a digger o'
mines or in clearing the ground-ht
carried what loads he could; he was
perfectly happy.
But when on the 9Th of August his
battalion was ordered to attack the
peak Of Quota So (near Monfalcone)
ne insisted on following his compan-
ions, and, to repeat the words Of his
colonel:
He was one OF the first to reach the
cncmy's trench, throwing bombs ant
| fighting as he could with his gun. fol
he had learned how to aim and to fire
by holding the barrel of his gun un.
der his right arm pit and sustaining
himself on his crutch with his left.
He was wounded three times
Dripping blood he fired and shouted
to his companions: viva rItalia,
Viva Trieste, Viva 1 Bcrsagilcri"
At his third wound he fell to the
earth, got up, took two or three steps
then leaning on his gun. he graspet
his crutch, the poor symbol Of the
weakness which for the love OF hi.
country he had known how to trans
| form into strength and hcroism. ant
he hurled 1t in defiance at the flying
enemy. Then falling back. nc died