Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-10-24
SIDELIGHTS
--ON---
European War

| London Correspondence of The
Associated Press.)-While a dramatic
story of the escape of Durbar II, win
ner of this years Derby, from German
hands has already been circulated by
/ the press, its circumstances do not at
/ all agree with those vouched for by
Edward Johnson. the head trainer of
/ II. +. Duryea's stable at Chantilly, near
Paris. Instead of Durbar being spared
I because he wore an American flag with
the words Shoot Me Not" across his
/ breast, the trainer, who is now in
| London, says the Geramns never saw
/ Durbar. nor did they see his compan-
| ION, Shannon, and the two American
/ cC,o-ed men in charge. The reason of
! their escape. he explains, was that
during the German raid the two horses
were hidden in a shed on a peasants
I farm while the two negroes lay in a
protecting haystack.
/ For ten days and ten nights the
negroes lay in fear of the Germans. BY
a mistake in the road, they had led the
animals into territory occupied by the
invaders. There they obtained the
protection of the peasant, who told the
nostlers that If captured by the Ger
mans they would be mistaken for the
hated Turcos of Algeria, who had
been distinguishing themselves with
the bayonet work. Hence the pair
would be tried by a drumhead court
and shot dead. The peasant promised
to look after the horses and TO bring
food to the hiders. During the ten
days Uhlans rode by frequently but
they did not discover the racers or
their guardians.
When news first came to Paris that
the Germans were sweeping south, Mr.
Duryea, as an American citizen, obtain
ed permission from the French govern
ment to send his stock TO his stud farm
in Normandy. But Durbar and Shan
non were unequal TO the trip, as their
legs had been fred and were badly
swollen. They were left with the two
negroes to follow up at leisure. / was
their unexplained absence that led
Duryea to think the Germans had |
made a capture.
Durbar will never race again. His |
legs have given away. although i'm |
proved by the fire treatment But his |
value has not decreased on this ac- |
count. as he may be the sire of future |
derby winners.
Correspondence of The
Associated Press y Refugees have
been telling the American Relief COM
mittee queer tales OF pretended relief
workers operating in Holland Most
OF these pretenders are steamship and
hotel agents working on commission.
who circulate among incoming trains
with badges on their sleeves. Some
OF them warned passengers that rooms
were unobtainable at Rotterdam and
advised Amsterdam for a reason over.
heard by one of the refugees.
What do you mean by telling these
people they can't get rooms in Rotter-
dam" asked one agent of another
I'VE want some of the business, too"
responded the Amsterdam man.
An American lady complained of Civ
ing an endorsed check for 20 c TO ar
American stranger who treated her
CALAMITY in Germany. Since he was
gcing ahead OF the party. he volun-
teercd 10 d-aw the money in London.
and send her the rest after paying
S & 20 a friend in London. No money
came. and the lady proceeded to Lon
don. where she learned that the gal
ant stranger had not only drawn the
money for himself but Instead OF nav.
ng c TO the London friend he Dor