Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1919-01-21

ing my wounds. that he would have to
take me to the operating theater Inn
mediate4y. Personally l didn't care
what was done with me.
In few minutes, four orderlies who
looked like undertakers dressed in
white. brought stretcher TO my bed
and placing me on II carried me out OF
the ward, across a courtyard to the |
operating room or pictures" as Tom
my calls 1t.
don't remember having the anes-
thestic applied.
When l came 10 was again lying In
a bed in Munsey ward. One of the
nurses had draped n large American
flag over the head of the bed, and
clasped in my hand was smaller flag.
and II made me feel good all over to
again see the "Stars and Stripes"
At that time / wondered when the
boys in the trenches would see the
emblem of the "land of the free and
the home of the brave" beside them,
doing its bit in this great war Of civil
lization.
My wounds were very paints, and
several times at night l would dream
that myriads of khaki-clothed figures
would pass my bed and each would
stop, bend over me, and whisper, The
best of luck, mate"
Soaked with Precipitation l would
awake with a cry, and the night nurse
would come over and hold my hand.
This awakening got to be habit with
me until that particular nurse was
transferred to another ward.
In three weeks time. owing to the
careful treatment received, l was able
to sit up and get my bearings. Our
ward contained seventy-hve patients,
90 per cent of which were surgical
cases. At the head Of each bed hung
a temperature chart and diagnosis
sheet. Across this sheet would be
written &c. S. W." or rs. w." the for
mer meaning gun shot wound and the
latter shell wound. The rs. W." pre-
dominated, especially among the Royal
Field artillery and Royal engineers.
About forty different regiments were
represented and many arguments en-
sued as to the respective fighting abil-
ity of each regiment. The rivalry was
wonderful. A Jock arguing with an
Irishman, then a strong Cockney ac-
cent would butt in in favor of Lon
don regiment. Before long a Welsh
man, followed by a member of York
shire regiment, and, perhaps, Cana
dian intrude themselves and the argu
ment wakes loud and furious. The
patients in the beds start bowling fol-
them to settle their dispute outside
and the ward is in an uprOar. The
head sister comes along and with O
wave of the hand completely routs the
doughty warriors and again silence
reigns supreme.
Wednesday and Sunday of each weel
were visiting days and were looked
forward to by the men, because the!
meant parcels containing fruit sweets
or flags. When a patient had regular
visitor, he was generally kept wei
supplied with these delicacies. Grea
jealousy is shown among the men a
to their visitors and many word war
ensue after the visitors leave.
When IA man is sent to a GONZALES
cent home, he generally turns over hi
e steady visitor to the man in the mex
E bed
e Most visitors have autograph album
and bore Tommy to death by askin
him to write the particulars of hi
, wounding in same Several Tommie
try to duck this unpleasant job by tel
e ing the visitors that they cannot write
d but this never phases the owner Of tn
album he or she, generally She offer
d to write it for them and Tommy
!, stung into telling his experiences.
S The questions asked Tommy by Wis
| tors would make clever joke boo
u to a military man.
Some kindly looking old lady wi
e stop at your bed and in sympatheti
voice address you: you poor DO,
: wounded by those terrible German
You must be suffering frightful pail
/ A bullet, did you say? Well, tell M
Il 1 have always wanted to know, did
e hurt worse going in or coming outT
p (TO BE CONTINUED)