Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 219, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 October 1917 — A Maniac in the Trench. [ARTICLE]

A Maniac in the Trench.

An officer writes about an incident which is probably one of the most gruesome that has been recorded of life in trenches: One night as a working party under Lieutenant Rathbohe was proceeding down a communication trench, they were fired upon from dose quarters. On inquiry Lieutenant Rathbone ascertained that the shots came from a soldier who had run amuck, and had posted himself with loaded rifle and fixed bayonet farther down the trench. Lieutenant Rathbone borrowed a rifle, and, accompanied by Corporal Feldwick, advanced along the trench until in view of the mentally deranged man. They then advanced with rifles at the ready; the officer calling upon the man to surrender. Receiving no reply, they then dropped their rifles and rushed him, and after disarming him took him to the nearest dressing station. Corporal Feldwick, who is a prisoner of war, has also been awarded the Albert medal of the second class.