Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-09-30

III OaTl m. brewster mas returned 10
HIS home at Chagr.n Falls. Ohio, from
Europe safely. He was In Berne,
Switzerland, on August /, and was
about to enter Germany, but on the
opening OF hostilities he escaped with
his party into France and brought his
people safely 10 England, where he
secured passage on August from
! Liverpool on the steamer Celtic, the
4 first steamer to leave that port for
America. The boat arrived in New
! York Saturday, August Is, bringing
hofle 1900 stranded Americans Mr.
Brewster was conducting a party of
tourists to Europe. Mr. Brewster has
escorted number of residents of Ha-
wall on European tours. The follow
! ing is from his pen:
I We were in the Bernese Alps dur
! ing the last week in July, so were
not aware NJ the gathering war-c,ouds
until we reached Berne, Sy .11eriald
Here we sag crowds or cil.,,ns look
ing at the bulletins which were posted
the probability OF war between Ger
many and Russia.
On Saturday morning, August I, We
left our hotel with the intention of
!, travelling north to Heidelberg, and
| were informed that all traffic into Ger
many had been suspended We saw
companies of soldiers DIT the station.
on the street corners, and everywhere
the signs of rapid mobilization of
Swiss troops, but did not realize for
several hours the effect of such a
movement on all business activities of
the city.
We decided to cross to Paris and
there await developments, bat to our
surprise our travellers checks were
refused and we were without funds
or credit. Crowds were waiting In
front Of the banks, which we're pay
ing out small sums to regular depos-
ftors. Our hotel advised us that we
could not be accommodated there any
longer, for all of their help we're re-
Quired to leave for the army that aft
ernoon, and the hotel would be closed.
After considerable difficulty we ex-
changed small amounts at various
places and finally succeeded in rails
ing the sum necessary for our tickets |
to Paris.
A number Of hours were spent at
the consufs to secure Identification
and necessary emergency passports,
and at 2 o'clock we boarded a train
for the west The cars were crowded
and corridors filed 50 that we sat ON
our snitcases in the aisles for the en-
tire distance, while at every station |
others clambered In, and children /
were handed in through the windows, |
any many others were left behind.
Our train dashed on at q reckless |
speed through tunnels and over !
bridges, and frequently we sweryed |
out on siding and remained for an
hour while train loads of troops and |
supplies passed us. At one station
soldiers with drawn bayonets guarded |
the cars while officers crowded /
through and made search for spies.
We reached Paris at o'clock Sunday |
morning, expecting to go to a hote.
for rest, but on emerging from the ,
station we found transformed city, 7
and for the goth time found it neces-
sary to Immediately alter our plans,
and make every effort to cross to Lon !
don. 4
The station was locked and patroll-
ed by soldiers. In front were hum
dreds Of people in groups, many asleep.1
At one side was huge pile OF trunks.
left by travellers in their hasty flight
from the city. No porters, taxis, car
riages, auto buses, and the station in /
charge of military authorities. Out
side Of the station we were confronted
by q proclamation giving strangers "a
hours in which to leave the country, /
after which train service could not be
promised.
AT the other station we tried to get
a little sleep, while we were waiting
for possible morning train. Above
us in the sky we saw the searchlights /
slowly examining the heavens, on the
guard for possible housekeeping aero
planes
About o'clock in the morning tho
soldiers posted notice to the effect
that all sale of tickets had ceased, and