The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-03-25

OF September and almost the first
person met was Joe Keyes whom
had known down IN Chile. He and
several other Americans had come
down from the mines and were on
their way back to America. because
OF the close proximity OF the mining
property to the Turkish frontier and
consequently open to hostilities In
case OF war; but no war had yet been
declared and the company was threat
ened with the necessity Of having to
close down because Of the nervous
ness OF the people at the plant, and
my timely arrival did much to re-
assure them that conditions were not
80 bad as they were supposed, and
the operation Of the plant went on
without incident until war was actu-
ally declared on October 2Sth and
then skirmishing between the out
posts on the frontier began to make
things interesting.
the governor of Batoum repeatedly
assured Mr.. White that the place
would be protected and 1t was per-
fectly safe to remain, and Mr.. White
IN turn assured the staff. but did re-
quest the women and children to
leave the immediate district.
On November 18th. Sunday, Mr.
White. while riding from the mill to
the mine was fired upon by Turks
IN village across the river. His
horse was killed and he was wounded
IN the calf OF the left leg. breaking
the snail bone. was the first to
get to him. crawling on my belly.
kept out OF sight and found him where
he had hidden himself behind q biz
rock. That night when It became dark
several Of IN carried him down to the
establishment and the next morning
he was taken down to Batoum, for.
ty-ftve miles distant, and before leav-
Ing gave permission TO all who desir-
ed to leave until the Turks had been
driven out Of the vicinity. OF course
1t was expected that some must re,
main behind and about q dozen Of us
decided to stick 1t.
| Russians eomhard.
On Tuesday morning. tho 18th OF
November the Russians placed their
artillery In most exposed position
and started bombarding the little vii,
lage from which the shots had been
fired that wounded Mr.. White.
BY three o'clock in the afternoon
the Turks had picked off all the Rus.
sian gunners. We soon discovered
that We were surrounded. for all the
natives OF that part Of Caucasia are
Mohamedans. the territory having
formerly belonged to Turkey. and they
were all armed to the teeth and
fighting on the side of their coreligion,
onists. in addition to them and the
few regular Turkish soldiers. all OF
the prisoners in the Turkish towns
nearby had been released and sent
over with instructions to kill and
pillage on the frontier.
They are rough mountaineers at the
best and many had grievances
against the company for smoke dam
ages to their crops. and others against
the chiefs Of departments. probably
for having discharged them at some
time or other and SO 1t did not seem
pleasant prospect when we found
ourselves whipped and the Russian
officer in command decided to sur.
render.
When darkness came on we were In
the hospital, and while the invaders
were busy burning and pillaging the
houses, "a scotchman and myself
sneaked quietly out of the hospital
We were followed later by the other
ten fellows, but fortunately for them
they took another trail than we did
and reached Batoum the next day
none the worse.
| Plight Of Fleeing.
With Clements and l. however, il
was quite different. We started to 2
place called Artvin. farther hack In
the interior, Where the Russian for
ces were supposed to be strong. We
were compelled to keep to the bushes
all the next day, practically crawling
over the mountains. 1t was neces
sary several times to swim icy
streams, and all the time we were
without food, our clothes were thin
wet and torn, our faces and hands
bleeding aud we slept two nights in
this condition in the snowy mountains
Finally We reached the Choruk riv
err, along which runs the road to Art
vim, where We were headed. BEING
unable to get boat to ferry us across
the river we started to swim it, when
suddenly, five Turks arose from the
bushes on the other side. My friend
was already swimming, while l was
about twenty feet behind still wadins
in. They Immediately. without warn
ing, began shooting and l, of course
turned and ran back into the bushes
but Clements continued to swim and
when looked out from where I hid
saw his body floating motionless
down the stream. l lay there fol