The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1918-08-29
The Canon City Record Thursday, August 80, 1918.

tors OF the same kind.
As We were not allowed to write
anything but prison cards, writing was
out Of the question; and as we had no
rending matter to speak OF, reading
was Mi. We had nothing TO do to
pass away the time, so consequently
cards became our only diversion, for
we did, fortunately, have some Of
these.
There wasn't very much money as a
rule In circulation, and think for once
In my life held most OF that, not due
TO nny particular ability on my part
in the game. but I happened TO have
several hundred frames in my pockets
when shot down. But we held n lot
terry thai was watched without quite
such Intense interest as that. The
drawing was always held Ia. day before
to learn who was the lucky man. There
was as much speculation as to who
would win the prize as IL ii had been
tbe finest treasure in the world. The
great prize was one-third OF a loaf of
bread. Through some arrangement,
which ! never quite figured out, 1t
happened that among the eight or ten
officers who were there with me, there
was always one-third OF loaf of
bread over. There WIS just one way
of getting that bread, and that was to
draw lots. Consequently that was what
started the lottery. believe IL a man
had ever been inclined to cheat he
would have been sorely tempted in this
instance. but the game was played alb
soIuteiy square, and il man had been
caught cheating the chances are that
he would have been stunned by the
rest Of the officers as long as he was
in prison. l was fortunate enough to
win the prize twice.
One man-and I think he was the
smallest eater In the camp-wcn Ii on
three successive days. but II was well
for him that his luck deserted him on
the fourth day. for he probably would
have been handled rather roughly by
the rest OF the crowd. who were grow
ing suspicious. But we handled the
drawing ourselves and knew there WIS
nothing crooked about 1t, so he WAS
spared.
We were allowed to buy pears. and
being small and very hard. they were
used as the stakes in many q game.
But the interest In these little games
WAS as keen as IL the stakes had been
piles of money instead OF two or three
haif-staryed pears No man was ever
so reckless. however. In all the Ntting
as to wager his own ratlons.
BY the most scheming and sacrific-
ing 1 ever did in my life l managed to
hoard two pieces OF bread (grudgingiy
spared at the time from my daily ra-
tiorrs). but was preparing for the day
when should escape-if ever should
II was not sacrifice easily made
either. but instead of eating bread
ate pears until l finally got one piece
OF bread ahead: and when 1 could
force myself Ia stick to the pear diet
again. u saved the other. piece from
that days allowance, and in days ia
come had cause Ia credit myself fully
for the foresight. ---~.x~
Whenever a new prisoner came In
and his German hosts had satisfied
taken down all the details-that is all
he would give them--lie was immedi-
ately surrounded by his fellow prison
ers. who were eager for any bit of
news or Information he could possibly
give them, and ss rule he Was glad
to tell us, because. IL he had been in
the hands of the Huns for any length
OF time. he had seen very few English
officers. -------.-r--J
The conditions of this prison were
bad enough when a man was in nor
IL
Gus TO subject a wounded soldier to
the har,lships and discomforts Of the
place. However. this was the fate OF
poor private wc discovered there one
day in terrific pain. suffering from
shrapncl In his stomach and back. All
of US officers asked to have him sent
to n hospital. hut the doctors curtiy
refused saying IL was against orders.
So the poor creature went on suffering
from day to day and was still there
when I left-anothcr victim of Ger
man cruelty.
AT one time In this prison camp there
were French marine. French flying
officer. two Belgian soldiers, and OF the
United Kingdom one from Canndn. two
from England, three from Ireland. a
couple from Scotland. one from Wales.
man from South Africa. one from
Algeria, and New Zealandcr, the
latter being from my own squadron. a
man whom thought had been killed.
aud he was equally surprised when
brought into the prison to find me
there. In addition there were a Chi
nsman and myself from the U. s. A.
1t Was quite n cosmopolitan group,
and A. one typical Yrishman said