Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-09-04
TEACHER TAKEN
AS GERMAN SPY
7 AT QUEENSTOWN
Brother Flavian Tells Exper-
iences-Father Hedges Re-
turns from Italy.

Brother Flavian, director of the
boys department of st. James's Pa
rochial School. arrived home yester-
day after two months trip through
Ireland, England and Scotland. He
was arrested once as a German spy
at Queenstown and was held up at
nearly every railway station where
the trains he was riding on stopped.
Brother Flavian was in the COM
pany of an English citizen, a resident
of London, when both were arrested
by a soldier about a mile from the
Notifications of Queenstown. They
were marched to police station
with a policeman on each side of
them and a soldier in front and an
otheriin the rear, carrying bayoneted
guns. Brother Flavian was able to
establish his identity as an American
citizen through relatives in the city,
but his English companion was not
SO fortunate and had to spend five or
six hours in the lookup before the
authorities were convinced that he
was a British subject.
The experience of Brother Flavian
IL 6GlAl1lE Pd1SdSB Ddtk 10 AInGIlCd
was directly the reverse of that of
most of the tourists who have re-
turned. His return trip was started on
the very day and on The same ship
that he had planned it. His tickets
read to return on the steamship New
York, from Queenstown, August 26,
and that was the way he came back.
few days after his arrest, which
was on August 6, he visited the Of
fees of the American line in London
and tried to have his tickets changed
to an earlier steamer The agent as
sured him that he would surely get
his place If he waited till the day he
was scheduled to return, and so he
waited
Conditions on the return trip were
bad for most of the travellers who had
changed to the American line from
the other discontinued lines, Brother
FlaYian said. The promenade deck
was turned into sleeping quarters to
accommodate the great crowd. With
pair of blankets apiece several hum
dred passengers. who were not for
tunate enough to get a stateroom or
steerage quarters, laid down nightly
on the hard deck to get what little
sleep they could. Quite few of the
passengers. Brother Flayian declared,
stayed up nights and slept in the day
time, to avoid the overcrowding.
Nearly everyone took the discomfort
ood-naturedly, being glad to get
home again. he said.
According to the brother, sentiment,
as he found ii in the south of Ireland,
the hotbed of the Nationalist or Home
Rule party, is unanimously with Eng
land in the war. The minute the
news of the declaration of war be-
tween Germany and England reached
the cities and villages there, the Ma
tienal Volunteers ceased their drilling
and put their guns away. Excite
ment prevailed everywhere that the
teacher visited. On all sides he heard
Qrishmen discussing the different re-
ports that fiickered over the wires
from the scenes of action, and always
the talk was OF what England could
do with her army and navy. John
Redmond, the visitor found, was a
little god with the Irish people.
At all railroad stations in England,
Ireland and Scotland where he pur-
chased tickets Brother Flavian was
held up and questioned by u soldier.
After his first experience at Queens
town he secured papers to prove his
identity from the American consul
there, and he had little further
trouble. His arrest at Queenstown
would not have occurred, he said, IL
he had known of a rule that has been
made that no stranger could approach
within three-mile limit of fortified
cities. He was within the limit. Esq
pecial care is being taken to tSyr
strangers from Dover, England, an
other fortified city, he found out.
Brother FlaYian spent a good part
of his time with his relatives at
Queenstown.
Rev. Father Samuel b. Hedges, rec
tor of st. Bridget's Roman Catholic
Church, who returned home yesterday
on the San Guglielmo, from Naples,
was in that city when the death of
Pope Plus X. was made public. He
said that there was a practical ces-
sation of business in the city when
the information was received.
Brave men," continued the priest,
walked through the streets of
Naples with tears falling from their
eyes, The Holy Father was beloved
by all. The people worshipped him
and the announcement that he was
dying grieved the people greatly.
ION July % | had an audience with
the Pope and at that time he seemed
to be in excellent health even better
health than he enjoyed twelve years
ago when l had an audience with
him. When / saw him in July his
face was clear, his eyes bright and
his voice was good. | was able to
hear him speak considerable dis
lance away. Grieving over the pres
ent European war was the cause of
the Holy Fathers death The Italian
papers made this announcement after
his DEATH"
When Father Hedges was ques-
toned about his experiences in the
war zone he said that he was at
Siena, Italy, when war was declared
by Austria. He said Immediately
upon reading the declaration of war
in the Italian papers he went to
Rome and thence to Naples. He said
he reached Naples August 6 last but
could not secure passage until
August 23.
.There were crowds and crowds of
Americans both in Rome and Naples
awaiting to get passage to America"
said Father Hedges knowing that
Italy was a neutral country. l knew
that / would obtain passage in a
short time to America.
Many Americans, including myself,
experienced considerable difficulty in
getting money. In Naples they would
not accept American money, and
many persons were also unable to get
their travellers checks cashed. By
accepting a cash discount | was able
to obtain money on my checks" said
the priest.
"There was a large number of school
teachers travelling in Italy this sum-
mer, and they suffered more than any
one else. Many were stranded, but
the American government guaranteed
their nassape home The hotels in