Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-09-30
TOUR CONDUCTOR, WELL.KNOWNIN ]
HONOLULU, TELLSOF WAR ESCAPE.

only people who had already bought
tickets could be admitted to the sta.
ton. As we we're without tickets for
travel beyond Paris, we were much
disheartened, but in view of the "a
hours notice we decided to try to
force our way through the pickets.
At 6 o'clock one of the iron gates
was opened slightly, and those with
tickets passed along the line of sol
diers, and If provided with proper pa
pers and transportation, they were adj
mitted At first we were refused en-
trance to the line, but later, by pre-
senting the books of tickets which
were good through Germany, and NOV
ing rapidly, We gained adm.ttance to
the building. Here we found three
more lines of pickets, as well as the
railroad men at the platform gates,
who were examining tickets more
carefully. AS train time approached,
the crowd grew and by watching our
chance we held up our worthless tick
cts and passed along with the rest.
finally gaining the platform and the
train for Boulogne.
The ride was similar to that from
Switzerland; crowded trains, soldiers
with fixed bayonets, guards along the
tracks, troops marching along the
country roads, and refugees at every
station, making rush for our train.
At Boulogne we left our train and
found the channel steamer crowded to
its utmost capacity, SO we were
Obliged to wait as We saw them steam
away for England.
An hour later, another steamer ar.
rived, and the crowd rushed for it and
doubtless many would have been
pushed on into the sea but for the Wig
orous action of the double line of SOL
diers We were finally safely aboard,
and our boat remained at the pier for
three hours to take on any passengers
who might come on the afternoon
train; but that train failed to come
through, and soon we left for Eng
land. Arriving at Folkstone after
rough passage, we had no landing tick
cts and were detained until the other
passengers were landed.
We offered travellers checks in pay.
ment for the trip from Paris. but these
were refused, until the official was con.
vinced that we had no other funds,
when he finally accepted the cheques
and gave us our change in English
money. This was fortunate, for with
out this money we would have been
stranded In London. At the close of
this long day we had our first meal
since leaving Switzerland, 36 hours
before, and our first chance to rest
from the strain of rapid fight.
The next morning we found that the
wave of distrust had overtaken us
again; the banks were closed and ho-
tells and stores refused all funds ex.
cept gold. Cheques were worthless,
and the American dollar bill was
worth only SO cents of English money,
and as prices had doubled. its pur-
chasing power was only half of this
We gave up our plan of remaining in
London awaiting developments, and
with what money remained sent the
other members of the part yon a
through train to Edinburgh, to remain
with relatives, and myself came to
Liverpool.
On Tuesday I visited the steamship
companies and finally exchanged my
ticket for passage, thirdclass, on the
Celtic, due to sail Thursday, August
6. On board, some of us were later
transferred to second cabin. The
steamer was crowded. We took a
northerly course and for several days
headed for Halifax, later turning
south and following along the coast to
New York There was no little appre-
hension felt by passengers and crew.
and at night we travelled with all lights
out and portfolios painted gray.
On Saturday morning our boat
steamed up the harbor, and as we
passed the statute of Liberty. the men
raised their hats. but there was no
cheering: all were too deeply moved
with thankfulness for a safe return,
and the beckoning hand had new
for us.
We had seen not war but merely
the preparations for war. the mobili-
zation of troops and its immediate ef-
feet on credit and industry and the
welfare OF the people.
The sight Of red-eyed women and
children bidding goodbye to the sol
diers. the seizure of the crops of the
peasants, and the clamor of the people
in the cities in front of provision stores
was brought upon the peaceloving
civilian class even before the loss of
q single life.