The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-09-04
Letter to Her Parents, Mr..
And Mrs. D. G. Willard,
In This City
One Of Her Girl Companions
Arrested as Spy, But Is
Soon Released n''' g.
Trio Of School Teachers Made
Way to England; Embark
For Home
from Saturdays Daily

from Saturdays Daily.
Most thrilling accounts OF the ex.
pr-iences Of Miss Mary Willard, Man
kato young lady. IN escaping from
the war zone Of Europe ON the out
break o. hostiities, are given In a
series Of letters. written by her while
10 Holland and Germany, TO her par
cuts. Mr. and Mrs. ID. G. Willard.
The four principals are Miss Mary
Willard of Mankato, and Misses Sus-
an HeTerman. Marie Aconb and Jes-
sic Caplin, all of Minneapolis.
Mr. Willard stated this morning
that ne thought the four would land
at Montreal either today or tomor-
row. from the steamer, "Ascania."
The letters are as follows:
Munich, August dear Family:
When planned on coming over
never dreamed OF running into
suln q situation as the present one
Rc3ng in the center of war dis
tarbances gives me a thrill and is
very exciting. but the terribleness
uf IL all Is far too vivid.
Susan. Miss Hefferman, just woke
me from my afternoon nap to see
the men marching by. each with a
satchel or bundle. They were work
men. called from their work, to
report at the barracks. The situa-
ton here is considered very, very
serious. had very little idea, as
newspapers here meant nothing, and
Americans with whom we talked
knew no more than we.
While in Florence talked with
Francesca, the man who ran the
pension. and he was much concerned
over Italys position, politically alli-
anCed with Austria, but at heart hat
in her with a hatred darting back to
the time of Austrian control over
Tuscany.
Again, as we were leaving Ven
ice. Mrs. Conte, .yenentian, who
kept pension while we stayed. said
matters were becoming desperate,
and feared we might have trouble in
getting through Austrian territory.
We felt they were rather pessi-
mistic, and in our ignorance took
as we passed bridge after bridge,
tunnels and narrow passes guarded
by Austrian soldiers, saw the droves
Of horses at passing stations, wait
ing to be sent TO the front, and
At each stop hordes of tourists and
Germans returning home without
their mountain climb. crowded i'm
filling compartments, and even the
aisles. then cur views began to
change. and we, too. became dubious
per schedule. We left Venice on
a through train at a. m, July 81.
and en- route made four changes.
We experienced no difficulty at the
first two changes, but the last two
were rather exciting. .-
Packed to The Doors,
At Kufstein our train was pack
ed to the doors, and we all had to
pile out. II was the dividing line
and the Austrian train was not
allowed to go out of Austrian ter
ritory. The mob was awful. AS
it was also a custom station, no
one seemed to know whether bag
gage had to be examined or where
TO 20. At last we all landed in front
of the gates, and when they were
opened. Marie and | in true Ameri-
can style chmed on our suit-cases
and got over the fence, as we had
seen some men do. The mob surg
ed across the tracks to some cars
that had been switched back and
forth and tiled TO enter but the
officials sent them back again and
again. Finally we got on, only to
find compartments filed with people
or luggage with which they were
trying to keep seats for friends.
Marie and moved some walking
sticks, and In spite of German ex-
postulations and protestations, sat
down and held our ground.
At the next change we were un-
able to get second class. and took
third in preference to standing, and
gON mag bt 5dit We were HdUUl
to finally reach Munich at IL D.
m, and know the other two girls
had place for us and we would
see them.
11:45 y. m.-Must write Just a bit
before ! turn in under my little
feather bed for fear that In the
excitement tomorrow. I may not
find time. This afternoon had
a long nap as we talked until 2
a. m, last night. the two having
just come from Vienna. and being
here for two days. About 500
we went down town and Joined the
crowd about the palace OF the king
of Bavaria. His position is relative
" that OF governor OF Bavaria, of
which Munich Is the capital. We
wondered what was the cause of the
commoticn. but were soon rewarded
L.. ,ha o;oht of fha hing himself nm