Emmons County record., 1918-03-21


through the bureau doorway upon two
shiny new crutches:
"How was wounded, Monsieur !?
Yes, my right leg. When? It was
in one Of the attacks at Tahure. We
came out Of the trenches that day.
More, Monsieur? All. yes,-we were
running Notwithstanding burst
before me and threw me down. It
was all wire, barbed wire, there
stretched zig-zae, 80, Monsieur.
was stepping over when it burst at
my feet-it tore away part Of this
leg-the chief doctor took the rest
of it of, Monsieur.
There is long pause. Ferdinand
reaches for his handkerchief, because
this extended and difficult anecdote
has brought the perspiration out up
on his forehead. AS he moves, one
of the crutches slips and falls with
clatter to the floor. "A quick smile
of confusion succeeds the perspiration
as the soldier stoops for his crutch.
He is evidently relieved when he has
another question to answer.
Hospital? / was taken to K,
Monsieur. Perhaps it would have
been better for me if had not had
to lie two days between the trenches.
How? When came to my senses l
found was caught in the barbed wire,
my clothing, Monsieur, and couldn't
move far enough to get myself free.
There the brancardiers found me
they couldn't come before-the firing
was too heavy-one could not blame
them, Monsieur. Oh, yes, was very
weak when they came, seemed to
have spent much time sleeping there
but / was lucky, don't you think,
Monsieur?
"What do / want to do for work :?
A shoemaker? No! A farmer
again? !-'ill that be possible-with
my leg?~ Truly, Monsieur, I had
never thought.
Behind him comes Emile E.
from the Vesges, an older man-forty,
perhaps. He, too, wants to be cob
ler. It is the work which seems to
attract most of them for the bench
it offers. His right leg also was
missing.
II was canal boatman before
Monsieur. Yes, want to 20 back
to it if can. I can steer and handle
all the ropes-the boats are very
steady, you know" He smiled at his
intended drollery. "My wound? In
the Somme fighting, Monsieur. They
attacked us-we could not hold our
position-that was all. Lots of us
went down. don't know what struck
me-shell, perhaps, Monsieur-here il
struck. He bent forward and touch
ed his "pilon' about four inches below
where his knee had been. perhaps
not so bad wound at first. was
unable to bind it with my other molle-
there (the spiral wool puttee of the in
fantryman) and that stopped the
blood, yes, Monsieur. The Germans
took me prisoner. l had been lying
for more than day there when they
came upon me. had tried to crawl
back but could not. The thirst was
terrible, Monsieur-worse than the
wound, perhaps.
"My leg? The German doctor took
it otf-yes-and they kept me for 8
time-until l was well, they said
Then they sent me back to France
l was too lame to be of service, was ii
not so, yes, Monsieur" He looked
down at his "pilon." II have my liv-
ing to make now-I am strong, will
any help be given to me? Here are
my papers-they tell"
c., another applicant, had beer
a chauffeur. in Bordeaux thin wisr
of man with a boys yellow nous.
tache on his lips. 1t was infnites-
imal, but it had been carefully pointed
with soap in lieu of wax. He wanted
a leg, (which would bend, so l may
drive again." His story was bit
different.
1.-TWO of US were taken prisoners at
Maticourt. Wounded? Oh, no
Monsieur. Both of US strong and
unhurt, though it had been bad day
We were just unlucky ones-that was
all. We were only two-and of what
good are just two prisoners. Only
good to be shot, what, Monsieur? We
thought so. But other prisoners ar
rived-that saved us, no doubt, yes
Monsieur. In Germany We were not
too unhappy, but there was not enough
food. We were put to work in a
stone quarry because we were
| StrOnr One day n great hlock foil