Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1918-09-05

Corporal H. N. Parkinson, who was
reported as wounded in last weeks
Tribune, has written the following in
teresting letter containing some of the
particulars of the thrilling experience
he went through:
August 2, 1918.
Dear Myrtle Now you must not be
scared or worried when | tell you that
! am in hospital. In an attack on the
Both | got bullet through my left
thigh, so now am up for rest. Am
getting along fine except for my leg
being little weak, which is due, |
think, to loss of blood. Believe me.
Providence or something took care of
me or | wouldn't be here.
One bullet went through my rifle
stock and glanced off the canister of
my gas mask. Otherwise it would have
hit me in the pit of my stomach, That
happened when | was running along.
Just as Topped down on the ground
| got No. 2 through my leg. | won't
attempt to depict all that took place or
all that | saw on the battlefield. but
possibly when come home you may be
able to coax me to tell some of it. An
that would be of interest to you now
would be my experience, so III tell you
of that the best | can
After was hit | attempted to go on
but soon saw that it was useless and
besides there was an extra Corporal
with me so | gave him charge of my
bunch and crawled into a welcome shell
hole. In there, with the aid of my first
aid packet, | bandaged myself as best
| could, left my pack, belt, pistol and
extra ammunition and started back to
road where knew ] could get shelter.
| had to crawl on my stomach so as to
make as small target as possible. |
no more got out of the shell hole, how
ever, than a sniper must have spotted
me, as the bullets began to go all
around me. | had about 200 yards to
go and | thought crawling too slow, so
| went on my hands and knees with
bullets to assist me in my progress.
5dre made some good time and made
the road all O. X. From there walked
to first aid station, a distance of
about one-half mile, and also walked
from the first aid station to the ambu-
lance. This was about mile, although
it seemed about ten miles before | got
there, Saw Lee at this place and he
was o. K Said he'd get Boche for
it. From there | had about 20 kiIo-
meter ride in an ambulance to a dress
| ing station. From there | rode again
for about an hour and a half to re-
ceving base station. That was about
6 O'Clock at night. Stayed at that place
all night and the next day we were en-
trained and rode all day and night, 80
you see am far from war at the pres
ent time. Would have written last
night, but was so tired that had to
sleep.
feel for the fellows at the front.
because in the last four days we hadn't
seen our kitchen. Had to make and
scrape grub all of that time. Had two
cooked meals in four days, but you new
er hear the fellows complain. You see
the Boches have been on the run SO
fast that out kitchens couldn't keep up
with US, so we forgot all about eats.
Lack of water is the hardest on our
troops though We even drank muddy
water when we were short on it. Be-
lieve me, we will appreciate home when
we get back to the states.
This is a good place here soft beds
and plenty TO eat and nothing to do.
It's the first rest have had though, so
you can guess how appreciate it. We
have two Frenchmen here in our ward
and laugh every time look at one of
them He has moustache that looks
like street cleaner. ! wonder how
you would like me if had moustache
like that
suppose you wonder why ! have not
J written for about three weeks. If you
knew the moves have made and all
have gone through, you wouldn't wond
err at it. ] haven't had any mail fol
about that time and now perhaps it vii
: be month or more before | get any,
. but III get bunch Of it when it does
! come.
don't know how all of the bunch
, are. Don't know whether that com
pany was on the line or not. ! saw
some Of the fellows as came back anC
: they didn't say that anything wal
{ wrong, so | guess they're all o. K.
hope so any way. 1t certainly was too