The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-09-04


see us while we were both down
town. II seems that he had heard
that there was a chance of our
getting out via the Rhine. We left
with him twelve films. as we were
told we could not take them as the
government would appropriate them
Mr. Wingen said he would see that
we got them after the war was over.
Kindness Of German Family.
The little girl gave me four OF
her drawings, which she proudly
labeled. I took a picture of the
house and of Mr. and Mrs. wingen
and of the small "hund" in the
garden. DO hope they prove good.
They sent love to the Minnesota
relatives and said farewells I'm the
house at the door and at the gate.
We surely appreciate their kindness
to us. Jessie and Susan came near
being arrested. Two women on the
car who heard them talking Eng.
lish got a big fat individual In.
terested. He seemed policeman,
who told them to go with him into
store. They did so. He wanted
10 know their business there. They
said they were Americans and were
asked for proofs and as they had
left their passports and American
flags at the house they had none.
Luckily for them they could tell
the name of the woman we were
staying. and the address. After fol-
lowing them TO the door of the
house. he was convinced they were
telling the truth.
During the afternoon we made an
other trip To the office of the Rhine
boats. and purchased our tickets. the
price Ul which had been doubled
since morning. We also had an op-
portuuitl 10 exchange seventeen
marks for a ten gulden bill. so
We had a little Dutch money TO
start on the trip. We were told
that we could spend the night on
The boat. so we made tracks for
home. passing and being passed by
the most splendid troops Of cavalry
and infantry, blocks and blocks. as
Tar rs we could see I'm both direc-
tions. 1t does not seem possible
that any country could contain so
many blocks and horses as we have
seen. passing through Munich and
Cologne. Such splendid types OF
both!
At the house we packed. had TO
do some rapid dressmaking. as / had
NY black skirt ripped at the hem,
preparatory to shortening Il. The
landlady very kindly pressed Il and
would take no pay. Mother. fear
YOU would not approve of my stitches
Haven't caught my heel on one yet.
We got back to the boat with our
luggage at 7:45 p. m, and found
there about a hundred others, Ameri-
cans and English, who like our.
selves. expected to spend the night
IN the boat. which was scheduled TO
sail al a m, and Il was an hours
ride by the boat. Such a time as
We had, checking the baggage, then
some one said we had to take up
to another baggage room nearer the
boat. We got IL out and started
10 lug it. We were stopped by
man with information that we had
TO have il examined at the first
place. Back again. The next news
was that no one could go on the
boat that night. as it was in the
hands OF the military. Such a dis
putting and arguing, rumors and
more rumors, chasing back and forth
from boat to office, Office to boat!
Finally, one after another, convinc.
ed that the captain was firm and
there was no chance OF getting on
with or without luggage wendell their
way back to the checking room, got
on; that necessary for the night, and
the rest of the night there, and we're
started on a hunt for a room near
the station. We found rooms at
Hotel der Nord. jewed down the
proprietor one mark apiece, spent
the rast Of the night there, and we're
called at four as we had to get TO
the boat and have the baggage ex-
amined.
Customs Examination Easy.
Early morning sights and smells
near the boat office were not agree.
able. We were nearly asphyxiated by
fumes. Guess a huge flask in wicker
basket of check room must have con.
tanned bromine or formaldehyde.
PASSED customs examination made
by fine looking soldiers without any
trouble, kodak unnoticed and folio
and notebook undisturbed. Found
comfortable place on upper deck and
proceeded TO get acquainted with
Baltimore man and his wife. He was
very excitable German, who has
been visiting his mother and rela. |
tyes in Cologne. He had several sad
tales to tell of families heartbroken
over some member who had been
called into service. Lunched all
morning on bananas, pears, peaches,
honig kuchen, crackers and choco-
late. At Vessel we stopped, and two
gorgeous-looklng military men got
on, one in a blue and red suit and |
helmet and the other in gray, with |
broad-brimmed hat, turned up on |
one side In a jaunty manner.
We were about to sit down to |
1iunnr xrhan 49,. A.. L