Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-01-21
HOW YOUNG GERMAN
ESCAPED FROM HALL
FAX THROUGH MAINE

( Portland, Me, Jan. 19.-The Europe
an war is being brought right home to
this city in various ways and there ar
rived here the other day a young Ger
man, Joseph Miebagh by name who III
! his efforts to reach the Fatheiland had
most narrowing experience. The
/ young man is about % years of age
/ The breaking out of the war found
him in South America, and being con-
nected with the torpedo branch Of the
! German naval service he endcavored
| 10 return to the colors, and studying
/ the laws of neutrality decided that the
safest way would be to embark in a
! Holland steamer, and this he did about
| Oct. 5. No sooner had the liner got
/ off Sandy Hook than it was held up
/ by a British war ship, and he togeth
! or with about % other Germans ten
/ Of whom We're officers, were held as
! prisoners. None of them had the nee
! csSary papers and no time was lost in
/ transferring them to collier and
( sending them to an island just of Hal
I flax rs prisoners Of war.
The young German in most graph
( 10 way described his prison surround
ines even 70 the bill of fare offered at
the different meals. For breakfast bread
( and coffee. dinner boiled meat, supper
/ bread and cheese. There was one large
| barrack capable OF holding rs men
! and nearby was the guard room and
wash room. The prison garrison was
mentioned, and the fact that some Of
/ the officers had sneakers and other ar
ticles of clothing which the prisoners
might buy, but not al bargain day
prices.
He tells how prison discipline got
/ SO tiresome that he with two others
made up their minds TO get away. and
| his escape was accomplished in this
way The prisoners were allowed to
! walk about the grounds from two to
five in the afternoon, during which
time the wash room could he visited
ard the idea struck him that the most
feasible way TO attempt an escape was
by hiding in the wash room. lie TOOL.
/ into his confidence two other prisoners
! one of whom was a relative Of the Ger
man ambassador at Washington. and
the three decided that they would try
/ it out
They had been confined about one
month and were getting tired. They
! hid in the wash room and when night
/ came eluded the guard, crept by the
1 guard house which was the building
! next to the wash room, climbed the
prison wall and succeeded in reaching
Halifax just as a freight train was
! pulling ont.
The young German and the ambas-
| sadors relative travelled on the train
as far as Mimic, Canada. where there
is a mining camp. Here they We're
closely scrutinized and they held forth
| they were from Switzerland ana want
ed work The subterfuge worked all
right and here for two months they
worked in the mine. living in 8 bunga-
low nearby and cooking their own
meals. ..
This was a weariSome life for both
and the Young German concluded he
would make another attempt TO get
near his friends. He regretted leav-
| ing his companion, but the latter was
sick and unable to undergo the hard
ships of a tramp across the country
TO neutral territory. For two long
months the German had worked in the
mines and last month in the coolest
wea Their he took to the woods, walked
and slept in the snow and all the
while was on the alert least his nation
atty might be discovered and the pur-
poses of his hiking il TO America dis
closed.
At elngth after wanderings of thrill
/ ling interest he reached Caribou, Me.
with just enough money left TO pay
his travelling expenses to Portland. He
| boarded the train and reached here
Thursday morning and managed to
make himself known to Mr., See
maqyer proprietor of the Brunswick
hotel. who with members Of the Ger
man club supplied the necessary funds
20 carry the young German to New
York City, where he has relatives He
| left on the New York boat