The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1918-10-11

cling. Every mile or two would make |
my way carefully to the barrier to see
II conditions were any better, but 1t |
seemed to be the same all along. felt |
like a wild animal In cage, with |
about as much chance Of getting out |
The section Of the country In which
I was now wandering was very heavily
wooded and there was really no very
great difficulty In keeping myself con-
cealed, which did all day long. striv-
ing all the time to think Of some way
in which I could circumvent that
cursed barrier.
The idea OF a huge stepladder oc-
Cured to me, but searched hour after
hour In vain for lumber or fallen trees
out Of which could construct one. II
I could only obtain something which
would enable me to reach \ point
about nine feet In the air 1t would be
a comparatively simple matter to
jump from that point over the electric
fence.
Then thought that perhaps could
construct 4 simple ladder and lean 1t
against one of the posts upon which
the electric wires were strung. climb to
the top and then leap over. getting
over the barbed wire fences In the
same way.
This seemed to be the most likely
plan and all night long sat construct
ing ladder for this purpose.
I was fortunate enough to find
number OF fallen pine trees from ten
to twenty feet long. / selected two Of
them which seemed sufficiently strong
and broke OF all the branches, which
/ used as rungs, tying them to the
poles with grass and strips from my
handkerchief and shirt as best I
could.
It was not q very workmanlike
looking ladder when l finally got
through with 1t. I leaned it against
a tree to test 1t and 1t wobbled consid-
erably. 1t was more like a rope lad
der than a wooden one, but strength
ened it here and there and decided
that 1t would probably serve the pur-
pose.
/ kept the ladder In the woods all
day and could hardly wait until dark
to make the supreme test. II 1t proved
successful my troubles were over ;
within a few hours would be In a
neutral country out of all danger. II
failed-I dismissed the idea sum-
marily. There was no use worrying
about failure; the thing to do was to
succeed.
The few hours that were to pass
before night came on seemed endless.
but l utilized them to REINFORCE my
ladder, tying the rungs more securely
with long grass which picked In the
woods.
At last night came, and with my
ladder in hand made for the barrier.
In front OF it there was a cleared
space of about one hundred yards,
which had been prepared to make the
work of the guards easier in watch
ing it.
I waited in the neighborhood until
heard the sentry pass the spot where
was in hiding and then I hurried
across the clearing, showed my ladder
under the barbed wire and endeav-
ored to follow it. My clothing caught
| in the wire, but / wrenched myself
clear and crawled to the electric bar
| rier.
My plan was to place the ladder
against one Of the posts, climb up to
the top and then jump. There woulG
be q fall of nine or ten feet, and
might possibly sprain an ankle oil
break my leg, but If that was all tina
stood between me and freedom
wasn't going to stop to consider it.
put my ear to the ground to lister
for the coming of the sentry. Their
was not a sound. Eagerly but care
fully I placed the ladder against tn
post and started up. Only a few fee
separated me from liberty. and m.
heart beat fast.
had climbed perhaps three rung
OF my ladder when I became awar
Of an unlocked for difficulty.
The ladder was slipping.
Just as l took the next rung, tn
ladder slipped. came in contact wilt
the live wire, and the current passe
through the wet sticks and Into M
body. There was blue flash, m
hold on the ladder relaxed and fel
heavily to the ground unconscious.
OF course, / had not received tn
; full force of the current or l woul
\ not now be here. I must have RI
= manned unconscious for a few me
but I came to just in time t
Near the German guard coming, an
;}I\e thought came to me If didn't &c
at44 ladder concealed at once he woul
ye@At even though, fortunately for mi
|. II vs. an unusually dark night.
, Alled the ladder out OF his pat
: and sR down fat on the ground ne
: sevenN1eet away from his feet II
} pass-dNS 30 close that I could hay
: pushedsFhe ladder out and trippe
him up.S
, 1t occurred to me that l could hay
climbed back under the barbed vii
} fence and waited for the sentry to r
turn and then felled him with a bio
7 on the head, as he had no idea,
t course, that there was anyone In Il
a vic{pftv T xyor1tdu'f haua hcSffatk