New-York tribune., 1900-12-13

STORY OF HIS ESCAPE on THE ANN
vERsARY OF ITS OCCURRENCE.
Winston Spencer Churchill told Of the South
African war 10 a New-York audience for the
first time last night in the ballroom of the
Waldorf-Astoria. The room was filed, and the
audience listened with eager attention TO the ac-
counts which the young war correspondent gave
Of the scenes which he had witnessed and the
experiences which had befauen him. Many men
Of prominence sat on the platform members
Of the Reception Committee. Samuel L Glenn
ems presided, and made a short speech at the
beginning Of the proceedings. He said, in part:
I shall presently have the pleasure Of introduc-
ing 70 you an hOnored friend OF mine, Winston
Churchill member of Parliament, and although
he and do not agree as to the righteousness OF
the South African war. that's not Of the least
consequence, for people who are worth anything
never do agree For years I have been self
appointed missionary for the joining together Of
America and the motherlano in friendship and
esteem. (Applause.) Wherever I have been
and whenever I have stood before a gathering
OF Englishmen or Americans, have urged my
mission and have warmed il up with comph-
rnents TO both countries. Mr.. Churchill will tell
YOU about the South African war. and he is COM
petent tell about il. He was there and fought
through II and wrote through H. and he will tell
you his personal experiences. l have an inkling
Of what they like, and they are very inter
don't like that kind OF thing myself. (Laugh-
ter) I saw a bartleheld-oRce. It was raining
and you know they won't let you carry an I'm
brella, and when shells are added TO the ram 1t
becomes uncomfortable By his father Mr..
Churchill is English: by his mother he is Amer
lean; and 20 doubt that makes perfect man.
TELLS OF HIS ESCAPE
Mr.. Churchill began his lecture by describing
the serious condition Of affairs in Cape Colony
and South Africa at the time OF his arrival
there. little over year ago. II was dark and
critical. and the British were far outnumbered.
~,
mored train was sent out every day Ito put its
head into the lions mouth" and to make show
OF strength, but the armored train "bluffed once
too often" and one day II was wrecked by the
Boer artillery. Only the engine, with what
could ride on it, escaped, about half the crew
were killed and others taken prisoners includ-
ing AIr. Churchill.
Mr.. Churchill said little about his imprison-
ment in Pretoria, but declared that he had no
complaint to make about his treatment, and
that he thought the Beers tried 10 treat prison
ers according TO the custom of civilized nations.
He then proceeded TO the most interesting part
Of his discourse, the story Of his escape. He
said that some OF his hearers had probably read
accounts OF his escape. He himself had read
many. but they were all more or less incor-
rect. This which he was about TO give was
the only true account
The escape was made just a year ago last
night, and not far from the hour at which he
was speaking. II was easy enough 10 get out of
the State Model School, where the prisoners
were confined. but 1t was harder 10 get over the
iron fence. He accomplished this in spot OF
deep shadow, but almost failed through his
clothing catching a point Of the decoration
al the top OF the fence place. as he told Mr.
Clemens in loud aside, where decoration did
absolutely good. he saved by the fact
that the sentry took just that moment 10 light
his pipe and allowed him time 10 free himseH
unseen.
II would be interesting to tell the experiences
OF the journey CT $50 miles 10 the coast in the
exact words Of the lecturer. which abounded III
vivid bits Of description and touches OF humor'
but il is possible only TO summarize. He found
the railway and slowed himself away on train
which, happily. proved 10 be going east, instead
OF in any other direction. which would have been
useless He hid himself under empty coal sacks
and as the newspapers would say P1sseu q
restless night. He finally got or Le uaIh
without detection and into a wood, Where ne
saw a vulture The vulture had nothlng 10 40
with the story, but MI ChurchlI seemed IoHu
OF him. his existence had been disputed by
persons who pretended 10 know good deal
about South Africa, and Mr.. Churchill seems
inclined 10 bring him into the story for the eX-
press purpose Of insisting that he saw him
FINDS A LONE ENGLIsHMAN.
A carefully laid plan 10 get upon another train
IN the night, by approaching it in the middle
while il was going around curve. so as TO be
Invisible 20 the watchTnen on both ENDS. was
defeated by the discovery that no trains were
r1,n al night, and when the refugee felt that
something must be done at once he approached
What he supposed 10 be a kaftir kraal, but
found that il was one OF number OF nuts be-
longing 10 coal mine. After telling the oc-
cllpant OF the hut a most entertaining and
Elaborate fiction about Hho ne was and what he
Kvas doing there, he decided that X would better
10 tell the truth and he then learned that his
bost was an Englishman and that the house
yvas the only one within twenty miles where he
would not instantly have been surrendered tc
the Hoer authorities His host, V no the
suDerinterdent OF the mine. hid Kim in the mine
for four days, ano then sent him on by train
concealed in a consignment OF wool
This took him 10 the coast, where he found
thai he could catch a steamer in a few hours
which sailed only once IN fortnight Many
amusing details OF the journey were given which
m is impossible here 10 reproduce. When he
again ioined the army he found that lhe line
had moved forward only ten miles since he left
il He told OF subsequent battles and marches.
OF Spion Kop. OF the relief Of Ladysmith and,
6naIiy OF the entry into Prstoria. As en- Eng
lfshman he said. he had reioiced 10 the