The Washington herald., 1918-05-24

me to the phone and said our first
war order had arrived and that Mrs.
Hartman had said should be the
nrst to be detailed for the work, mas
much a. I happened to be the first
volunteer for amulance work. I was
given the privilege Of selecting my as
sistant. so asked for Mrs. Mix. q
member Of Company A, and delight
ful young woman. We were ordered
to the engineer camp. twenty-four
miles into Virginia, to remove two
men who were IN with the measles.
Our ambulance being In the shop,
We borrowed an ambulance trailer
and after everything was In readiness
and we were keen to start, In com
pany with an orderly. drove to the
Washington Barracks for nnal orders
from Capt. Phelps. only to learn that
the two "measIey" men were so i'm
proved they were not to be removed
from camp. Naturally We were
chagrined. but on being told we could
be sent later. were satisfied. Our
splendid commander had come direct
to the barracks, from a luncheon. to
: witness the start Of the first expedi-
ton for real war service. as wen as
our secretary-treasurer, MIS-. Copley
Hewitt.
Sends Substitute.
Mrs. Hartman had an important
meeting at Secretary McAdoo's office,
so I drove there and as she had also
promised to give q five-minute talk
to the Girl Scouts. who were having
q rally in the Zoo grounds, she was
. compelled to send a substitute, so Mrs.
Copley-Hewitt was chosen and was
sent to so instruct her. On arriving
at the park found the Scouts in
charge of Mrs. Coleman and Mrs.
Rainey giving their program. which
was very entertaining. made my
way through the groups and spoke to
Mrs. Coleman. explaining the change
in Mrs. Harriman's plans. and i'll a
few moments Mrs. Copley-Hewitt ar
rived. 1 introduced her to the ladies
in charge, then left to report to head
quarters. where found the work
over for the day. Right here I want
to mention Mrs. Copley-Hewitt. An
English woman. tall, commanding and
charming in appearance. More than
agreeable in her manner, tactful and
with marked executive ability. Mrs.
Hewitt came to America for a visit.
but the danger of the war zone kept
her from returning, because Of her
mothers fears, SO her husbands loss
was one gain for she is invaluable
and beloved by all US.
Friday morning Mrs. Copley-Hewitt
called me and said we might be or
dered to the camp that day: she
would let me know later as she was
then going to the Union Station to
bid farewell to our commander and
her daughter. who were leaving for
New York. I waited until noon and
not hearing. concluded the trip was
on. so went to mothers. At LIS p.
m concluded to call the Highlands-
my home-and ask whether q phone
message had been received for me.
learned Mrs. Hewitt had called and
wanted an Immediate. call from me.
At i've minutes of . o'clock called
and to my surprise and delight, learn
ed was to be ready by 2:3o O'Clock
to go to the Engineers Camp at
Belvoir, Va, in company with Mrs.
Rucker. member of Company B, and
bring up two sick soldiers.
Fractured Leg.
One had a fracture Of the leg, the
other was an appendicitis suspect.
rushed from the house into nv ma
chine and up to the Highlands, where
hurriedly got into my uniform and
reached headquarters. 1905 Massachu-
setts avenue. our starting point. just
one minute after 2:30 o'clock. 1 found
Mrs. Rucker there and in q few
moments Mrs. Copley-Hewitt appeared
with the orderly, and away we start
ed. As both men were reported able
to sit up. the trailer ambulance was
not taken, so Mrs. Rucker drove her
cara touring car-with seating ca
pacity for five. Our first war duty!
/ could hardly realize my dream had
come true.
The route lay over a familiar road,
through our beautiful Potomac Park,
across the Potomac River and over a
smooth military road, that takes one
to Arlington Cemetery, from that road
\ up over . hill to historic Alexandra.
Zone Of my fayorits drives with mother
and beautiful scenery everywhere, but
doubly beautiful under the circum-
stances We drove through Alex
andria and passed the church-Christ
|Church-that Gen. Washington attend
ed when he lived at Mount Vernon.
After leaving Alexandria, we followed
hs Mount Vernon boulevard, a won
1erfui road. almost as smooth as
asphalt. went across Four Mile Run,
made famous during the civil war.
Vernon we turned or and took the
pccoquan Pike for a distance, and at
fork in the road turned to the left
md went through the woods, q dis
ance Of three miles. until we reached
he camp.
Only One aworse5
Only once before in my life have 1
ncountered q worse road than the
hree-mile stretch through the woods.
he camp was beautifully situated on
be bank Of the Potomac and at this
bint the river was very wide.
After q slight delay we found the
pspital tent and our two patients,
nd were not a little dismayed to find
10 man with a fracture hardly able
sit UP, but after consulting with
physician In charge. we procured
small box to rest his legs on, and
acing him In the tonneau and the
her one beside the driver. started
return trip. wonder whether
per people are impressed-by dis
ices as 1 am! felt the three rniles
bad road endless, when we ap-
ached the camp, but found II SEEM
rather q short ride on our return,
ough / must admit 1t was still as
kh- As this was an engineer camp
truck me as being more than
hge that the road was so neg
bd. however. the innumerable
ches, brush bridges and wire en-
Elements We saw in this wooded
ch, proved the soldiers were
idle.
sr we reached the main road. ons
task was over and we made
pdid time: At one point We passed |
small colored boys who had been