The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-09-04
Two Brothers Castles, Ehrenbreit
stein and others.
Train Loads Of Soldiers.

stein and others.
Train Loads Of Soldiers.
Really / felt too sad to enjoy
the scenery. Train-ioad after train
load OF soldiers passed us, some
going to the French frontier, where
sope of the hardest fighting Is an
ticipated. others shouting ION \ to
Russland!" For about fifteen min
utes, we were beside a train, load
ed with soldiers, packed like sar-
dimes. They seemed to be from all
stations in life. the shop keeper,
cabman, student and farmer boy,
all in civilians clothes, as are
many. The entire army, they say,
is being filed with new equipment
The clothes look new and often
uncomfortable. In the window op-
posite us was n young man who
asked me a question i'm, German. /
called one of the other, girls, who
spoke it we'll. He wanted to know
the latest news from Munich. II
seems he left a young wife behind,
and he was only a boy, scarcely
twenty. Some one gave him a
postal, and he wrote message
to her. Many had very serious
faces, and-Oh!-I had hard work to
keep the tears back, and I know
80 little about the suffering 1t must
mean for them all. Wish were
out of 1t.
We reached Cologne at 1890 a.
m, making almost twenty-four
hour ride from Munich to Cologne.
We checked all but travelling bags,
and hunted up a place to sleep and
eat-yes, clean up. We are at a
very nice place but they give us
only room and we 90 out for our
board. AS our stay is to be of
indefinite length, we will look out
for another place. We expected to
reach Amsterdam, and were assur-
ed at the station that this could
he done, but the American consul,
whom we followed up all over town,
three foreign officers told us, had
received a telegram this afternoon,
stating that no boats or trains what
soever could cross the border until
mobilization of troops was complet-
ed, which might be six, eight or
ten days, and again might be done
in three and we positively could
not reach Holland and would be
safer here than nearer the frontier.
So here we camp, mend clothes and
, sleep. 1t is now 7:40., and I have
had no sleep since night before
last, just n cat-nap or two on the
train VIII go to bed soon.
Aug. 5.-A good nights rest does
wonders for a person. but now at
1880 p. m, am ready for another
but have yet TO have dinner and
move. for We are here for some
time, maybe Christmas.
Chasing Up The Consul.
Yesterday, Aug. 4, we spent the
afternoon chasing up the consul, and
later went out to supper, which we
had in cafe downtown In
scene OF action. We were too tired
to stay out long, so Susan and I
came home, while Marie and Jesse
went to the station to learn II any
way was open for us. They came
home with the news that we were
to walk across the border. Men
there said Il could be done. So
we discussed ways and means, lug
gage, distance, chances we were TAX
ing, etc. There seemed a possible
chance of getting near the Holland
line, then with the help of peasant
boys, dog-carts ETC., of getting suit
eases at least transported to the
nearest railroad station I'm Holland.
We were IN hopes of at least being
able to get transportation to Eng
land, so as to get our boat by the
twentieth, the Holland line being
the. only enc in service. ] dreamed
OF all sorts OF strange things, but
awoke this morning quite hopeful.
Marie and Jesse made an early
start for downtown, being the
transportation committee, while
Susan and ! packed and took little
more time for a morning nap. At
breakfast we were told that Eng
land had declared war. and that OF
course put the finishing touches on
our hiking scheme. The poisoning
OF. water was also rumored here rs
in. Munich. but It proved false. The
two other girls got back by ten.
having learned the same news on
the street. .
Such ringing of bells, bells,
bells, as today is special day of
prayer and the kaiser ordered ell
churches open all day. The cardinal
said mass at 1890, in the cathedral.
We decided to so down town and
see the consul, get our suit-cases
from the station, where we had
checked them on our arrival, and
IL possible cash check apiece. The
bank was our first stop. This was
the only bank In Cologne, where
the American Express checks could
be cashed today and they at first
refused and said American Express
had no balance left. We. asked IL
we were expected to starve and
said that the American Express had
money and that we had money
there. yes" they said. I'VE know