West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1915-04-08

a cup OF pottage and a piece OF dry
bread. 7 o'clock p. m. supper. pota-
toes and a small (very smaiD piece
of meat and a piece OF dry bread. And
with this all we could go to bed. /
mean on our straw. without being
able OF course. to leave our clothes.
And always yet we were told we might
not 60 to England.
But we were informed about IL and
obtained the truth that with paying
our passage on the packet boat Ca
new generosity of the French) we
could leave that land and embark for
Folkestone, England. AS we could not
longer support the sufferings 1--WE
were five days In that awful situation)
we decided to pay the passage, how
ever II was bad item for US. We had
now to pay 10 shillings or $3.50 for
each person. We addressed our sin
cere thanks to the French people I'm
the person of the Commission Cen
eral, for the royal reception given to
poor Belgian refugees, and we were
happy enough to come to Great Brit
ain.
Thus we left Calais by packet boat,
the lie Nord. at o'clock on the MORN
ing OF the 26th of Nov. 1914, with a
blowing gale and rough sea. We were
about 100 refugees, plenty of them
were seasick, also my wife but this
was not so heavy trouble. 1t was
soon past as we arrived safe at Folke-
stone at IL o'clock a. m, and we were
received not by policemen as murder
ers and thieves. but by polite gentle
men and ladies who wished us well
come in Great Britain, and presented
US graciously coffee, tea, cakes and
pastry. A really enthusiastic recep-
ton was given us by the population OF
the town, the same at all of the places
we passed before our arrival in York
City, to which we were destined.
We left Folkestone by the express
for London where we arrived at
o'clock p. m. At the station we were
again the object OF enthusiastic mani
festations of sympathy Four auto
cars waited us at the station and so
we were carried to the Kings Cross
station, being at this manner In the
opportunity Of seeing one of the incest
parts OF the city, the House OF Com
mons, the War and Foreign Offices, the
Trafalgar Square and many other
monuments. At our arrival at Kings
Cross we were met by misses Offering
us tea and cakes. This was our first
five o'clock tea in England.
At five O'Clock we left London in
comfortable train for Edinburgh, one
of the fastest in Clroie York was
reached at 8 p. IN. No.witrs IL nding
the late time and the winter weather a
lot OF people were at the station to
greet us and give us welcome and
prove us their friendly sympathy. A
great difference between this and the
cold reception in France, after all our
sufferings 1t did us well. We were
deeply affected.
BY trains we were carried to a pri-
vate society room. The Friends Meet
ing House; gentlemen and ladies,
members of the Committee for War
Refugees. attended us and were of a
real kindness for us, very fine sup
per. coffee, tea, chocolate, cakes, meat,
etc, was served in a large room on
tables decorated with flowers. We
passed the night there in comfortable
condition and had good rest. The
next day we were all placed in y,
care OF the Committee in families or
in separate homes, very comfortable.
We live together with the family
which left Antwerp with us and with
our youngest son Herman and his
wife.
Till we came to England on the
26th Of Nov. we were not aware of
the residence OF our children except
our oldest daughter who left with us
and our soldier who was yet on the
front, the same as our Military Chap
lain.
After few days we found in a Der
by newspaper the address of our
youngest son and his wife. They had
left Antwerp on the 8th of Oct. and
we're now in Mickloover, Derby, in
England also. We wrote them directly
OF course, and they asked and obtain
ed their changing and came to York.
we now live together in York in the
same house. we were very pleased TO
see them again, quite in good health.
In the enclosed letter he writes you
will find some particulars about our
living here and also some other news
about our other children. My eldest
daughter and family must also at last
leave Poperinghe and come also to
England. Without the illness of my
wife and daughter. and my sons wife,
IL could be worse, but this is a poor
job now. We hope, however, il will
soon be better as they are improving
now.
You may believe, dear sir, IL ia a
very bad thing TO have such adven-
lures at the age we have reached OF
sixty-fve years, especially as my wife
Is not strong and frequently i'll, and
that after suffering agony during bonn
bardment and our several trips.
II would be great enjoyment for
us II we could see our other children
but they are too far from us i'm Eng
land and In Belgium, and the rates of
the British Railway are rather too
high We cannot make. or even tbinl,