Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-08-20
SPY! SPY! YELLS
GERMAN CROWD
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with the officers and let out a scream
that was heard blocks away. My wife
ran out and followed me to the po-
lice station"
He Had Cause for Worry
Mrs. Allen was almost hysterical,
but she cooled down when | told her
there would be no trouble after the
police found out who we were. My
wife was placed in one room and l in
another. Both of us were questioned
for hours by military and police Off
GERS. Finally they started for the
home of my relatives, where my bag
gage was located. Then for the first
time / worried. There was a reason.
II had in one of my trunks a mega
tive of one of the fortifications | had
taken previous to my arrest and dur
ing another visit Had they found it,
it would have been all up with me.
Again luck was with me, and when
the officers returned they questioned
me and my wife and finally allowed
us to go, but they kept close watch
on us all the time. 1t was relief to
get out of the hands of those officers
and soldiers. but more trouble was in
store for me. My paper money was no
good. Finally | managed to get money
and started for Rotterdam.
Finally Gets a Loan
What rush of humanity l saw
at Rotterdam. The hotels would not
receive us unless we paid our fee in
advance. We could not do that, but
relatives again came in handy. and
remained with them until after | had
expended nearly $40 in negotiating a
loan sufficient to pay my passage
home.
Thousands of people returned to
America without baggage. | got mine
brought home
looked after the baggage at every
point. When there was a rush to the
car to take us to Amsterdam several
in our party managed to get their bag
gage on the car. l was one of the
lucky people.
the declaration of war. Due to the
mobilization of the troops, the rail-
roads would not consider tourists at
all. There were stacks of baggage
three stories high and stretching for
a distance of 5000 feet. Those trunks,
suitcases and bundles, filled with goods
valued at many thousand dollars, may
never reach their destination. 1t is
doubtful if the owners will ever be
able to recover the amount lost. The
steamship companies also held up the
price of our passage home. We will
never get that. l am afraid
Crowds Sleep Outdoors
In Rotterdam ii was sight to see
the thousands of people stretched out
on the lawns and streets who were
unable to get into hotels. How they
managed to get food | do not know.
Fortunately, those who held the proper
papers were given some attention, but
| tell you it was a question whether
some would not have to starve for a
day or two before they got anything"
Fire on Ship
We had one big thrill on our way
over. We were about 400 miles out
from Rotterdam Smoke had been
noticed some distance off. Every eff
fort was made 'to communicate with
the ship far away but we evidently
were misunderstood. After working
for an hour to let them know who
we were, | saw a puff of smoke. Then
came another puff. We were being
fired upon.
The captain of our boat under
stood his business We turned back
and headed from the place where that
that the boat was the British cruiser
Essex and 1t gave us permission to
go on.
"They said there are 1894 people
on board the ship That was their
lint, but IL there weer not 5000 peo-
pie aboard l miss my guess. Most of
the passengers were refugees. They
took anything they could get in the
wa yof accommodations. Cabins and
staterooms were erected on the decks.
One man who was obliged to pawn
jewels worth thousands of dollars in
order to pay his bills and get home
was a steerage passenger.
Many of the people who came over
had only the clothes they wore;
others managed to get one or two
changes. Some had bundles just large
enough to handle In a rush. | GER
tainly was lucky in having a mother
in law at Cologne and a sister-in- law
at Rotterdam. ! would have liked to
remain in Europe. but my wife and
child were anxious to get home, so |
made a fight and procured a passage
No one can realize what tourists
are experiencing in Europe. Those
unfortunates who had no one to help
them out may be nervous wrecks be-
fore they get away, If they ever do get
away alive. They are enxiously await
ing relief from the United States
Help cannot reach those still in Eu-
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