The Advocate and news., 1899-01-11

How Miss Barton Was Protected.
Clara Barton, the New Voice tells US,
has told her friends, very quietly, lit
tie tale Of personal danger incidental
to her services during the Franco-Prus-
sian war After the battle of Saarbruck
the German Red Cross Hospital was full
to overfowing. The Grand Duchess Of
Baden-Baden was in control, while Miss
Barton was her chief aid Among the
patients In the prisoners ward was a
handsome young sub-lieutenant, whose
serious wound and patient spirit at
traCted Miss Barton's attention. OF
course he was cared for. Miss Barton
soon left him in hospital, while she went
forward with relief work at Strasburg
and Metz.
When the Commune struggle was near
ing defeat in Paris she left Metz to go
to Paris by way OF Switzerland and the
border Alps-a roundabout journey to
reach the French capital, but necessary
on account Of military movements. She
was comfortably placed, and knew moth
ing of the nights events until the French
frontier had been crossed. There she
learned that her life had probably been
imperiled.
Nearly all through the night a young
French officer had stood on the perilous
"knife-board" outside Of the car, where
the guard passes along from carriage to
carriage, hanging by the little hand-rail
used to aid the railroad man. AS was
NJ, AhnN,
sengers to communicate with trainmen
Toward morning Miss Barton had been
aroused by sharp scuffle at mountain
station; but, seeing nothing, had given
1t no further attention. Two men, as she
afterward learned, were on board and
occupying a carriage next to her own,
who had followed with the intention Of
robblng and possibly numbering her,
having accidentally learned Of her pos
session OF large sum of money. They
were French thieves, and, being alone In
their compartment, had freely conVersed
about the affair, using the peculiar Pa
risian argot in their speech They were
not careful enough as to being over
heard, doubtless deemlng their iargOn
unknown. A young Frenchman, evidently
a soldier, sat in the next compartment,
and was aroused to attention by their
speech. He had seen and recognized
Miss Barton, whom he evidently knew,
and he understood the argot Of his neigh
bors. Finding no possibility Of commu-
nication with the guards, he crept as
noiselessly as possible out Of the COM
partment window, and at serious risk
got on the guard-board.
He hung there for a long time, pistol
in one hand and the other on the rail
above. Two compartments beyond was
Miss Bart0n's, next to him that of the
thieves. Their talk showed that they
would not stop short OF murder IL that
was necessary. The act was to be at
tempted after the alpine descent began,
and Just before reaching leading sta
tiOn on the French side. Something,
however, compelled the engineer to
draw up at a station nearer the summit
than the usual place, and the French
officer managed TO attract attention. Be-
fore the thieves knew what had hap
pened, their carriage doors were opened,
and after brief conflict they were tied
and gagged; a trainman and the young
soldier remaining within as guards
Weapons were found on the captured
men, and on arrival at division sta
ton they were recognized as outlaws.
Miss Barton was then informed of her
escape. The Frenchman who hung on
the perilous knife-board to protect her
proved to be the sub-lieutenant she had
been interested In at the Saarbruck hos
s,fko