Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1914-10-16
ny G. ALEXANDER POWELL.

~+%fftf"f - = NUN man NNHflNK an
American army shirt. pair OF BritiSn
officers brooches. French puttees. and
seaiorth highlander'a helmet. and
carrying camera the sszc Of parlor
pbonograph blew into the American
consulate IA Ostend.
HE announced that hts name was
Donald 9. Thompson. photographer!
from Topeka, Kan. Europe Is ohocka.
block with war photographers, but
Thompson Is the only one have come
.aeross who has seen war and actually
photographed Il.
no one but an American could have
accomplished what he has done and
no American but a kRnsan
The little man Is built Ike Harry
Lauder. He Is hard as nails. tough as
fawhide and his face IS tanned TO tho
color Of weilsmoksd moerschnum.
Ills face Is perpetuaily wreathed In
what Pc calls his "sunilower smile"
Arrived on Tramp Steamer.
Thompson reached Europe on a
tramp steamer with an overcoat. a
toothbrush. two clean handkerchiefs, |
and three Of the largest sized cameras
made, He expected 10 have some OF /
them smashed, he explained. so he |
brought along three as a matter of /
pfoeauuon.
lila papers consist Of an American 1
passport, certificate OF membership I
In the Eika. and letter from Sam /
Hughes. Canadian minister OF militia.
authorizing him 70 take pictures Of the 1
Canadian troops. These and hiu un-
fnitieaicd nerve have taken him whero
no other civilian has boen.
Arrested Nine Times.
Thompson made nine attempts 10
set from Paris TO the front. was arr
rested nine times. ana spent nine
nights IN prison. Each time he was
taken before a military tribunal
Utterly ignoring subordinate officers.
he would demand TO see the officer
commanding. lie would grasp the as
tonished Official by the hand and near
ly wiring Il on. meanwhile lnquiring
solicitously after the generals health
aud that OF his family.
How many languages do you
speak ?" asked
AHAfts heio NO hukNsns Anefl,
can and Kansas" /
On one occasion he Communicated q
a motorcycle standing outside a cafe (
and rode II until the gasoline gave out. ,
On another occasion he explained to a a
French officer who arrested him that
he vas In search OF his wife and
daughter. who were dying somewhere c
on the Belgian frontier The efllcor O
was so affected by the pathos OF tho 8
story that he wept on Thompsons Il
neck and sent him forward in a Red u
Cross automobile. Whenever no was
stopped by patrols he would flourish
his letter grom the Canadian minister
of militia and say he was trying TO
oyertake the Canadian troops. h
''Niro Canada" tho French would q
shout -Hurrah for our brave allies" y
and permit him 70 proceed lie did .,
not think Il necessary 10 inform them a
that the nearest Canadian troops were q,
st tname OF the place censored nj
Threatened With Death.
When he was within the sound OF IN
the German guns be was arrested fer >,
the ninth time. tried BY a military IA
and told he would be shot II nj
he we're not out OF France IN "a hours. n.
He was sent back 20 Paris In motor ",
guarded by two gendarmes. who ac.
him 10 the station and saw
him buy ticket TO London. He
dropped OF the train. however at IN
Amisns. ed
Shortly after midnight train OF 10
nat ears loaded with wounded pulled No
INTO the station Thompson climbed an
IN the top OF ar American refugee train ",
,tandlas on the next track and made no
iashlight picture A panic ensued IA wi
he stztioa. as everyone thought a Ger Il,
nan bomb had exploded Sc
Thompson was pulled down and ba
'oashly handled. but the British sol. pu
Hers inteTfered and said he belonged
o their regiment 30 be was released
Shortly afterwards train loaded
sith artillery being rushed 10 tho FOL
ront pulled into tho station Thomp- ar,
.on eraSled under the tarpauIln GOV. rd
ring a held CUR and fell asleep. When 10
ie awoks next morning he was al int
lions ba,
Goes Into Trenches. wa
A regiment Of HighlandeTs was mas. an,
ng He borrowed helmet aud fell tor
n with them. lie marched four hours TIA
inder seorching sun and then went ma
nto the trenches with the soldiers. ma
All through that terrible day Thomp.
on piled his trade as The soldiers ala
heirs. Aen were shot dead on either
ide Of him Tho British were sd aw
lard pressed he was diaregarded. sa co,
Is dasbed forward and lay down ia. to-
nediaiely in The rear 81 fte British uH
'4s'l' q. AaA ara