The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1912-1984, 1914-11-10
TERRIBLE SCENES IN EUROPE
Witnessed BY Former Lincoln
Younu Man Who Tells of Them.

Roscoe Cullip, son Of Plate Gull
lip, prominent farmer OF the
southern section of Lincoln county,
has just returned from Europe,
where he had some exciting ex-
periences in the war zone in Bel
GIN. Mr.. Cnllip has been working
near Fisher, Illinois, and he gave
the News OF that city an interesting
story of his experiences. The News
said:
Roscoe Cullip, young man who
used to work on the Sizer farm,
west of town was in Fisher Sunday
and related some of his exciting ex-
periences while recently in Bel
GUM. Mr.. Cullip has just returned
from the war zone and suffered pri-
vatiOns and fears that he would not
undergo again for any cOnsidera-
ton. He now is employed by d. X.
Roth, a horse breeder and importer
at Gibson. The story told by Mr..
Cullip was about the same as was
printed in, the Gibson City Courier
last week, which We reprint below:
'Mr. Cnllip, in company with
Alois Van Nievwenlluyse, Belgian
who came over Il year or So ago
with Mr.. Roth, left Gibson July 4
t" buy horses for Mr. Roth. They
had Il safe voyage and landed at
Antwerp July IA. For two weeks
they Travelled over Belgium. con-
tracing for horses, the Belgian act
ing as interpreter. Mr.. Cullip Is Il
Kentuckian. and understands none
of the languages spoken in Bel
gum. They We're getting along
nicely with their business I'M that
peaceful rural country. with no
worry about the rumors Of war, and
when hostilities were declared and
the Germans proceeded to invade
Belgium they We're caught entirely
unprepared. The Belgian was i'm
rncdiately drafted into the Belgian
army, and Mr.. Cullip was left
stranded in a strange country, with
ont knowledge Of the language and
unable to cash his drafts and get
any money.
For over three weeks MIR. Cullip
underwent experiences such us fail
to the lot OF few Americans. As
soon as fighting in Belgium COM
menced all usiness stopped and it
was difficult to buy any necessities
or to travel for any distance. Mr. |
Cullip had no passport and his eff
forts were directed towards reach
.i,,s ths Aneriean minister in order
to secure the papers that would per-
NIT him to leave the country. With
great difficulty he got to Antwerp,
but found that the American min |
lister was at Ostend. He was re-
peatedly taken for spy by both
the Belgians and Germans and was
several times arrested and searched. |
He had made friends with certain |
Belgians while buying horses; these
friends on several occasions saved
his life by hiding him when the mil |
itary authorities. were looking for
him.
On one occasion he was hidden
for two hours by the conductor Of
a train until it was time for the |
train TO leave and thus evaded ar
rest. The Germans occupied all the
towns that he could reach. and their
treatment Of the people was so cruel
and inhuman that his life was con-
stantly in danger.
He received no mail while in Bel
gum and the letters that he wrote |
had to be left unsealcd for the i'll
spection of the censors. No news
papers were printed in Belgium aft
er the war broke out and he was
entirely ignorant of what Wa, hap
pening outside of Belgium.
Mr.. Cullip finally was able to
reach Ostend, and through the aid
of Belgian friend, convinced the
american minister that he was an
American and entitled to a passport,
which he received. Then he bOr-
rOwed money from fellow Ameri>
can to pay his passage across the
English Channel and on August 4
sailed from Ostend to FOlkstOne,
England. At London he was enabled
to cash his drafts and get money
for his steamship ticket across the
Atlantic, and on August 20 he sailed
on the American liner, New York.
He was compelled to take steerage,
when cost as much as Il cabin, but
he was glad to get home in any way
possible. About 1900 Americans
were on the steamer, some paying
exorbitant prices but no one OBJ
jected. All We're so glad to get
away from the scene of war that
the overcrowding, the poor food and
the darkening of the boat at night
were willingly put up with. The
were willingly put up with: The
Mr.. Cullip arrived at Gibson Sept. 4,
having been gone just two months.
Mr. Cullip says that words cannot
portray the sufferings and hard
ships that the Belgian people are
undergoing. Business has been sus-
pended and farm work has been