The Colorado statesman., 1919-02-22

eral prisoners and rescue three wound
ed infantrymen. For his work That day
he received the ID. 5. G.
The pride of the Frances Negro
complement was Private Elmer Nc
Cowan, of No. 669 LennoX avenue,
however. No longer will Il certain
Harlem pugilist be sole poSsessor of
the title of THE Harlem Coffee Cool
er," for Private Elmer McCowan's
fame on the battlefield of France
with potfull of coffee, which he was
simply determined to carry to his
commanding officer, right across No
Mans Land, will certainly remain at
tached to him for the remainder of
his life.
MCGOWAN was CARRYING dispatches
far up in the front lines, on laison
duty on the morning of Sept. 26, when
white officer said to him, more in
jest than seriously:
Say, Mac, next time you come this
way bring me pot of coffee, won't
you?"
Yes, sir" replied MCGOWAN, with
emphasis, as he left the trench with
dispatch for il distant point, while Il
perfect hail of bullets whistled over
the field through which he made his
way.
Half an hour later the fighter was
seen coming back to the trench to the
white officer who had asked him for
the coffee. In McCOwan'S hight hand
he held the handle of the tin contain
ing tie steaming coffee. For mo-
ment II seemed that the Germans were
undecided as to whether or not to stop
hostilities and let the dispatch carrier
bring the can of coffee safely to his
own lines.
Foe Centers Fire on MCGOWAN.
Then all the fire in that particular
sector appeared to be concentrated on
MCGOWAN Those in the trench held
by the Third battalion saw the bullets
fairly rain about MCGOWAN, who stood
for an instant the picture of indigna-
ton, looking in the direction of the
Boche trenches. Suddenly he was
seen to place one finger over Il spot
in the side can. Then II second and Il
third finger spread over other spots.
one bullet tore off McCowanS he'll
met. and he stood in that field hold
ing the coffee can with three fingers
spread out and shaking his fist OF
his other hand ut the Germans as he
shouted imprecations at them. Then
he made his way to the American
trench. There We're three holes in the
can holding the coffee, and some of
the coffee had leaked out, but Nc
Cowan had saved most of it.
Strange to say, the bullets had pass
ed through but one thickness of the
container and We're spent before
reaching the other side. They reposed
among the coffee grounds. Also, and
this is attested TO by the officers of
the Third battalion, MCGOWAN picked
Il I,..t l.,,IIn OF Ia al.
where it had spent itself before reach |
ing his body.
So friendly was the attitude of Ne |
gro trooper and white officer on board |
the France toward one another that /
when MCGOWAN was in the midst of
his story he saw Major 'Esperance I
and Lieut.. George Miller, battalion ad- |
jutant, approaching and stopped talk /
ing. The major, as he passed, noticed /
the silence on the part of MCGOWAN.
well, Mac, what's the matter?" he |.
asked the private. BE sure To tell that /
story about the coffee can. I'll vOuch |.
for it,"
Says Rabbits Foot Saved Him.
MCGOWAN credits his escape from |
death that day to Il rabbits foot Il
Harlem girl gave him when he left |
home to fight in France. The Officers
OF tne oOJin say McOOWitll, even dIter
being gassed, saved the lives of many
wounded during that September day
battle, and whenever a tough task was
to be undertaken the slogan among
the 369th men always was "Send for
Mac!" Often times MCGOWAN was
dragged from little quiet crap game
in the trench to do bit of special
service and invariably he was the
means of rescuing one or more wound
ed while he was engaged in this spe-