Evening star., 1918-02-18
STAR SAVES
INJURED MAN IN wreck
Burrows Under Debris and Makes
Rescue That Had Seemed
Hopeless.
BY JUNIUS b. WOOD.
Especial Correspondence of The Even
ing Star and Chicago Daily News.)

By JUNICS b. WOOD.
Especial Correspondence Of The Even
ing Star and Chicago Daily News.)
WITH THE AMERICAN ExPEDI-
| TIONARY FORCES IN FRANCE, Janu-
ary 23.-Among the young candidates
for officers commissions at the expe-
dition's training schools is a former
| motion picture star, who has served his
apprenticeship with the British army.
To see him now few would recognize in
him one of the high-steppers under the
bright night lights OF Broadway of a
year ego. Seized by a sudden impulse,
he enlisted without waiting for America
| to get into the war and now, in return
for faithful service, has been given an
opportunity to fight under his own flag.
Several other Americans, also wearing
the British uniform, who were sent to
the school for the same purpose tell
this story of one of the former screen
stars experiences.
In the darkness-1ocomot auto
mobiles. everything running without
lights in the fighting zoneA-a heavily
loaded truck was struck by a train. The
truck was overturned down an embank-
ment. lmprisoning the two men on 1T,
killing one. almost instantly and seri-
ously injuring the other. Spurred by
his groans and appeals for help an Of
crowbars and sticks in an effort to lift
the truck. when the former actor came
up. The men were making no progress
in budging the heavy wreck, while
there was a possibility. if they did. that
it would all crash down on the still
living man.
II think can get the man out, sir, If
I may try" the young New Yorker said,
saluting the officer.
who are you?" the officer asked. SUR
prised at the interruption
Pm Yank. sir" he replied, using
the popular designation for Americans
in his majesty's forces.
Whats your rank?" continued the
officer, determined that the man be
rescued properly if at ALL
Master engineer, sir" the man in
uniform answered.
Either that was sufficiently high or
unknown to be satisfactory to the Off
Ger. for he at once assented with:
You may try. Lend him hand.
men"
The "Yank" took a shovel and started
tunneling under the truck. As he
wormed himself into the little hole, the
and he pushed the dirt back with his
hands to others, who threw it aside.
After an hours work he had the dead
man out. Another hour and he had bur-
rowed molelike to the side Of the other,
who still was conscious.
DO you want to take chance? 1t
will be torture getting out" he said to
the suffering one.
Anything to get from here. to die
outside" the man gasped.
A rope was showed in and he tied it
around the mans legs. Slowly, while
he guided the wounded body, his COM
rades pulled the two men back through
the narrow tunnel.
%H,1t al tvs n
mental orders for your efforts" said the
officer to the exhausted ''Yank," and he
did
The injured man had an arm broken, a
shoulder crushed and fractured skull
He was rushed to a hospital on a
chance that he might be saved after so
much effort The work was not in vain,
for a few days ago a letter was re-
ceived from him. well again at his home
in England, saying to the former movie
star:
"The latchstring of this home In Lei
cester is always out for you"