The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1939-04-27

just pulled in o a siding. and Bolshevik soldiers had crowded into the
station where they could buy hot tea and vodka. And as Pat Strong
Russian.
Pat couldn't understand him. He came to port arms while the
tried to pull the gun away, but the Russian a a powerful brute. He
spun Pat around and threw him in a snow bank. A couple nor Amer
leans came running up. He threw them into the snow bank, too. and
made a mad dash for the station.
That's where Sam came into the picture. As provost guard, he
rated a sentry box down at the end Of the platform. He a the
fight just as the Russian broke loose and started into the sta
tion' and he came out on the run. With the other three Ameri-
cans at his back he started after him.
Says he: Il went bursting into the station as if the whole U. S
army was stepping o N my heels. That station WI full of Boshies,
singing, talking and yelling. Lots of them had rifles. some of them had
hand grenades tied to their belts. But I didn't have time to look over
the grenade situation just then. That big Russian had found himself a
rifle. I was five feet inside the door when I spotted him, but he must have
seen me first because he was raising his gun"
1t Was a Question Who Would Shoot First.
Sam had a As automatic, and it a a question of whether
he o the Russian could shoot first. Without even taking time
out to think. he whipped that automatic up and let go. The big
the station. "Those Ruskies were surprised" says Sam, land SO
was l. For a second-wen-I almost opened fire o the whole
bunch of them, but l caught myself just in time"
1t was a tough spot and Sam knew it. Here wa a whole roomful Of
wild Russians and he had just shot n Of their pals. If he started out
the door, some of them would be sure to begin shooting. If that hap
pened, there'd be general disorder. with go Americans fighting a whole
troop train full Of Bosheviks. And what was more to the point, it would
be curtains for Sam.
Il had to use my head" he says, land 1 decided I'd bluff
them. l stood in the middle of the floor, waved my pistol over
their heads and pointed to the door. And then happened the
thing that probably saved my life. In swinging my arm l tight
ened my grip o. the pistol to keep from dropping it. And in
doing that I squeezed the trigger too hard. BANG! of she
went again. That bullet struck somewhere behind the bar and
down came a lot of glassware"
Sam says the falling glass created a terrible racket The Russians
must have thought a shell had burst in there. They turned and STAN.
peded for the door. and Sam says they went through it like a Kansas
tornado. In ten seconds there wasn't a Bolshevk in the place.
"And where were the other three fenows?" says Sam. "They
were outside, turned into a rear guard. When they heard those
shots inside and saw all those Ruskies pnng out. they ran for
camp to tell the others the Russians had eaten me alive and
were coming to eat them, too"
Sam says he certainly did NOT feel like a hero when he went into
that station. He just didn't have time to think about it. 1T was only
I've often thought afterwards. suppose I hit one of the grenades those
Russians had tied to their belts"
Boy that WOULD have been a n adventure.
copyrsht-wNu Service.