Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1919-01-31

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wagging. Sailor Bill took a dry fan
mel shirt from his pack, wrapped the
dog In 1t and informed us
me and my mate are going below,
so the rest OF you lubbers batten down
and turn In"
We all wanted the honor of sleeping
with the dog but did not dispute Sail
or Bits right to the privilege. BY
this time the bunch were pretty sleepy
and tired, and turned In without much
conxing, as 1t was pretty near day
| break.
Next day we figured out that per-
baps one of the French Riddles had
| put the dog In the grain bin, and, in
the excitement of packing up and leav-
Ing, had forgotten ne wss there.
Sailor Bill was given the right to
| christen our new mate. He called him
Jim. In a couple of days Jim came
around all right, and got very frisky.
Every man in the section loved that
dog.
Sailor BIZ was court-martiaIed for
his mixlfp with the quartermaster-ser
geant, and got seven days field pun
ishment No. j. This meant that two
hours each day for a week he would
be tied TO the wheel of a Timber Dur
ing these two-hour periods jim would
be at Bits feet, and, no matter how
much we coaxed him with choice NOR
sells Of food. he would not leave until
Bin was united. When Bill was loose
Jim would have nothing to do with him
just walked away in contempt. Jim
respected the kings regulations, and
had no use for defaulters.
At a special meeting held by the
section Jim had the oath of allegiance
read to him. He parked his consent,
so we solemnly swore him In as a
soldier of the Imperial British army,
fighting for king and country. Jim !
made a better soldier than any one
Of us, and died for his king and coun-
try. Died without whimper of COM
plant.
From the village we made several
trips to the trenches; each time Jim
accompanied us. The first time under
fire he put the stump of his tail be-
tween his legs, but stuck to his post.
When carrying in" If we neglected to
give Jim something to carry, he would
make such a noise barking that we
soon fixed him up.
Each day Jim would pick out q diff
ferent man of the section to follow.
He would stick TO this man. eating and
sleeping with him, Until the next day.
and then 1t would be some one else's
turn. When man had Jim with him,
Il seemed as If his life were charmed.
No matter what he went through, he
would come out safely. We looked up
on Jim as good-luck sign, and be-
Iieve me, he was.
Whenever 1t came Ikey Honney's
turn for Jim's company, he was over
ioyed, because Jim would sit in digni-
led silence, listening to the jew's-harp.
Honey claimed that Jim had soul
Tor music. which was more than he
would say about the rest of us.
Once, at daybreak, we had to go |
over the top in an attack. A man in !
he section named Dalton was select /
I'd by Jim as his mate in this affair. +
The crew of gun No. 2 were to stay
n the trench for overhead fire pur- {
,osesl and, If necessary, to help re-
,el probable counter-attack by the |
inemy. Dalton was very merry, and S
hadn't the least fear or misgivlngs as q
o his safety, because Jim would be q
With him through 1t all. h
In the attack, Dalton, closely follow Il
d by Jim, had got about sixty yards
alto No Mans land, when Jim was hit d
a the stomach by bullet. Poor old fl
i'm toppled over, and lay still. Dalton S
lrned around, and, just as he did so, Ii
re saw him throw up his hands and f,
MI face forward. 81
key Honey, who was No. 8 on our "
un, seeing Jim fall, scrambled over Il
ne parapet, and, through that rain of ii
lells and bullets, raced to where Jim ci
as, picked him up, and tucking him
nder his arm. returned to our trench
/ safety. If he had gone to rescue a !,
ounded man in this way he would :. :,
ave no doubt been awarded the Vic -
ria Cross. But he only brought in !"
Dor bleeding, dying Jim. !,
Ikey laid him on the firestep along =,
de of our gun, but we could not at -,
nd TO him, because we had important =,
ork to do. So he died like a soldier. ~
Ithout look of reproach for our -
,artless treatment. Just watched our ~
cry movement until his lights burn -,
out. After the attack, what was left
our section gathered around Jims ;.
oodstained body. There wasn't dry ~
e in the crowd %
Next day we wrapped him In a small AZ
lion Jack belonging to Happy, and -,
IA him to rest. a Soldier of the King. ~,
We put little wooden cross oves -,
) grave which read: e.
PRIVATE JIM, w. w.
MACHINE-GUN COMPANY ~
KILLED IN ACTION
APRIL 10, 1916. ~
A DOG WITH A MANS HE ART. ~,