The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-09-18
KAT0 LADY BACK
VIEW WAR LAND
From Thursdays Daily.

who with Miss Anna Bradkey, were
members OF party which toured
Europe this summer has arrived In
Mankato and spent yesterday after
noon with friends here. Miss Gehrke
was on her way to visit in Sleepy
Eye for a short time and had many
interesting things to tell Of Tier So
journ in Europe.
The party OF which Miss Gehrke
was one, sailed from Montreal I'm
June in an Allen line boat. They
went to Glasgow and then TO Lon
don. and had travelled through Ger
many. Austria and Holland before
the war commenced. The first news
OF trouble reached them on July
29. when they were I'm Rome They
went from there to Milan, and later
to Lucerne. Switzerland. where they
spent some time. From Lucerne
the party went TO Interlaken, Bern
and several other Swiss towns. While
at Lucerne the Americans appointed
a committee to cable President Will
son of their plight.
Were Advised TO Remain.
All along the way the American
main where they were until the
end OF the trouble. and not to risk
attempting to leave the country. They
were also advised not to spend any
money except for necessities for
fear they would have TO spend the
winter on the continent.
In order to sail on the vessel on
which they had passage the party
was forced TO go through Paris
and from there to London, and from
London to Glasgow. The journey
from Bern. Switzerland. to Paris,
which ordinarily takes eight hours,
consumed twenty-seven hours. When
ever a station was reached where
there were soldiers ready to mobil-
lie the passengers we're ordered off
and the soldiers were accommodated.
Delay Was Experienced.
Considerable delay was experienced
in crossing the border Also. where
each passenger was very carefully
searched. Miss Gehrke and Miss
Bradkey remained in Paris for FIVE
days. While they were there or
ders were given that tourists should
not speak German. Many dead and
wounded soldiers were brought to
Paris during that time ana hospitals.
churches. factories and tents were
used to accommodate the injured.
The Red Cross nurses had charge
OF all this work.
Prices of food rose quickly after
the beginning Of the war. Miss Gehrke
stated. and in many hotels the bills
of fare were cut down to almost
nothing.
During the time the party was
in Paris the banks were all closed
and many Of the larger stores were
closing their doors. While food was
still available yet the people were
much concerned over the outlook.
In London Miss Gehrke said that
business seemed TO be going on in
much the same manner as earlier
in the summer. There appeared TO
be no excitement there more than
usual.
Able to Secure Passage.
They were able TO secure passage
on the Allen steamer. on which they
had booked their sailing early In
the season. and came across first
class. Many wealthy people. how
ever. who had not previously ar
ranged their passage home, were on
the ship, coming in steerage. The
ship. however, was not crowded. The
ship sailed from Glasgow on August
90 and arrived at Montreal on Au-
gust 81.
Although the early part Of the
trip was very delightful, and al
though no real suffering was expert
enced by Miss Gehrke or any of
her company. still the latter part
of her stay in Europe was decidedly
uncomfortable. When going from
Bern to Paris they passed within
an hours ride of the actual fight
ing American consuls in all the
cities advised them against return
ing through France, and money was
scarce, no checks could be cashed.
and prices were rising Everyone
was much worried over the outlook,
and yet Miss Gehrke stated, many
funny things occurred in spite of
the general feeling of depression.
Enjoyed Her Stay.
Miss Gehrke enjoyed her stay in
all OF the countries, she said. but
would care less about returning to
Italy than any other country Wis
tied They we're unable to go to Bel
GUM at all. While in Rome Miss
Bradkey, Miss Gehrke and two other
Americans went. to st. Peters cathe-
dral. While there the pope. Pope
Plus Y entered and gave his bless
Ing to the people assembled The
pope looked very feeble at that time,
Miss Bradkey related.
Miss Bradkey is expected to ar
rive in Mankato the first of next
week and Miss Gehrke VIII again
ha In the CITY after few weeks.
From Thursdays Daily.
Gave q Luncheon.
st. Paul Dispatch: Mrs. J. w.
gga. a - n.