"When we came down I found my observer unconscious. I thought he had been hit, but he had only fainted from the cold.
"You big rummy," turning to the observer and swiping one of his cigarettes from the open box on the table—"You big rummy, I told you you had better surround something hot before starting—a bowl of oatmeal or coffee.
"Gimmie a light now."
All five are awaiting their transfer to the American flying corps.
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STARS IN A HERO'S ROLE.
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Movie Actor Plays Sapper in a
Real Rescue.
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Among the candidates for officers' commissions at the A. E. F.'s training schools is a former movie star who has served his apprenticeship with the British Army. To see him now, few would recognize him as one of the high steppers under the bright night lights of Broadway as he was a year ago. Seized by a sudden impulse, he enlisted in the British army without waiting for America to get into the war and now in return for faithful service, has been given an opportunity by that government to fight under his own flag. Several other Americans who have also worn the British uniform, and who were sent to the school for the same purpose, tell this story of one of the former screen star's experiences:
In the darkness—locomotives, auto lights in the fighting zone—a heavily loaded truck was struck by a train. The truck was overturned down an embankment, imprisoning the two men on it, killing one almost instantly and seriously injuring the other. Spurred by the latter's groans and appeals for help an officer was directing a squad of men with crowbars and sticks in an effort to lift the truck when the former actor came up. The men were making no progress in budging the heavy wreck while there was a possibility, if they did, that it would crash down on the still living man.
"I think I can get the man out, sir if I may try," the New Yorker said saluting the officer.
"Who are you?" the officer asked surprised at the interruption.
"I'm a Yank, sir," he replied, using the popular designation for Americans in the British army.