New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-10-14
u. s. VICE CONSUL SAVED
THE WOUNDED AT CLIENT
Civilians, Fleeing at Approach OF Germans Took All
Vehicles So Official American Auto Was Used
to Transport Helpless Men to Train.

the last sOlGler ana large pfopOlllOH
o. the wounded had left the city, TAX
ing tho road to Bruges and Ostend.
The streets of the city were silent and
deserted and the Hotel de Poste, which
had been used as residence by head
quarters staff and correspondents, was
practically empty. Four of the five
correspondents, OF whom ! was ono.
remained over night not from choice
but from necessity. Ny automobile
had not returned from Ostend, and
serviceable vehicles of any kind were
unprocurable.
There were twelve wounded in the
hotel attended by two ladies OF the
Belgian Red Cross, who bravely re
fused 10 quit their charges even when
doctors and stretcher- bearers aban
doned their posts and vanished from
Client. The wounded were in a fever
ism state Of excitement. Somehow
news of the evacuation reached their
ears, and they implored the nurses 20
have them transported elsewhere, for
none of them relished the idea of fall
ing, wounded, into the hands of the
Germans.
No Provision for Wounded.
"But what were these poor nurses TO
do? The military authorities had gone
off and had made no provision for re-
moving the wounded lying al the Hotel
de Poste and at the principal military
hospital.
1--WE all spent very anxious night,
| discussing plans for our own escape
and for taking away the wounded. It
was in vain that We sought aid from
the city authorities, who were more or
ecA- -.
fresh German incursion. They frankly
said they had no aid to give, and no
doubt they were right. It was with a
feeling of genuine relief that saw the
shaft. Of dawn creep in at
my bedroom window. for | find it in
fnitely easier to be optimistic when
the sun shows above the horizon and
the black veil of night has lifted.
ut was :. O'Clock. The wounded were
still in the hotel, fretting at the long
delay. No vehicle, not even a dogcart
was obtainable, and the Germans might
! appear at any moment. One of the
. nurses, Mile. Baerdemaker, whose
brother was severely wounded and ly-
ing in the hotel. had brsvely faced the
ordeal of the long night vigil, but now
she began TO show some signs of the
emotion that was racking her sisterly
heart. What am ! to do ? she asked in
despair. ! must save my poor brother
from these Germans
United States Consul to the Rescue.
when things looked blacklist Mr.
Van Hee, the American Vice Consul
pulled in his automobile at the hotc
door. He was on his way TO Brussel,
and had called for a friend who wa,
TO accompany him. Mr.. Van Hee is
big-hearted, sympathetic American, anc
when he heard of the plight of the
wounded his eyes filled with tears.
Bother Brussels and official mis-
sions,' he said. Il will never leave
these poor boys here TO be taken pris
oners by the Germans He was rs gooC
as his word, for in few minutes the
wounded had been brought down anc
the consular car made several trips &C
the railway station. Every man wa,
taken away from the hotel and placed
on board a military train, in readiness
TO leave for Ostend. Afterward he tool
his automobile to the military hospita
and carried off SIX injured sold .er.
whose wounds precluded them from
walking. They had to be carried or
: stretchers.
"Msny of the wounded left behind
in the military hospital who were able
to walk had earlier in the morning
made brave attempts to save them.
selves. They hobbled forth, painfully
supporting tottering limbs with the aiC
Of improvised crutches. Others wer,
helped along by the kindly arm Of =
lad or woman, who had come forward
in answer TO an appeal for aid. II wa.
pitiable sight to see these poor
manned victims of the war dragging
themselves across the great squar,
fronting the Hotel de Poste. Some
wore tattered uniforms, with half Of :
hospital blanket TO shelter them from
the chilling effects Of the raw morning
air.
zone train filled with wounded die
get away from the city before the en-
try of the Germans, but the second
also loaded with brave fellows who hsC
bled for their country, was left behinC
and abandoned TO the enemy. There
were 10 doctors and but few nurses e
assusge their pain.
Crowd at Engineless Train.
"As for myself, left Client BY tn,
Bruges Canal road rs the German:
were entering at the other end of the
city. Their advance guard was already
Z in Client as ! gained the station OF tn,
Eccloo-Ncina Railway. The train:
had stopped running, and q clamoring
besecching crowd, carrying bundles and
personal belongings, was waiting be-
fore the engineless train. hoping that
some means would be discovered OF