The Washington times., 1916-08-20
HAIR RAISING TALE
TOLD OF AIR SCOUT
Captain 0'Brien, Of Royal Fly
ing Corps, May Be Decorat-
ed for Endurance.

LONDON, Aug. ao-Hair-raiA,ng tales
of adventure from the jungies Sf South
Africa. where General smunts is operat-
Ing against the Germans are not uncom-
mon, but II is seldom that the wild
events encountered by Capt. A. T.
o 'Brien. OF the Royal Flying Corps. told
here today. have been eQualed.
II the war office had used It's imagina-
tIon. It would have issued It's report
upon O'Brien's adventures in the form
OF a paper backed novel,
He reported to General SHUTS last
April far down in German Africa, below
Scout ahead OF the British troops oper-
| ating against the Germans won him
fame. Flying over the jungies and tan
gied brush country during the rainy sea-
son Is difficult. When an army OF vigil
more than dangerous. The intrepid
Irishman finally engaged on the losing
! side Of an argument with enemy anti
aircraft guns.
Germans Locate Him.
He was flying over Jungle country
when German guns located him. One
| Of his wings collapsed and the machine
side-slipped into the trees. which par
TALLY broke the fall. then crashed to the
ground. Had It not been for the trees
both driver and machine would have
been smashed to bits. As It was. three
OF o. Brien's ribs were crushed and for
| several hours he lay in . swamp uncon-
scious.
sowly he recovered his senses and
took an inventory of his injuries. He
could walk without difficulty, but when
he swung his arms his broken ribs hurt
cruelty. Holding his arms tight to his
sides. he secuted through the neighbor-
ing jungles where he discovered unmis-
taxable signs OF the enemy. Later, he
heard a column OF infantry approaching.
and. fearing capture. he set hre to the
through the underbrush. Hour after
| hour he maintained fast pace with the
pain In his side increasing with every
| step. When night fell he crawled high
was impossible. but at intervals between
| fighting insects and making way for
jungle creepers, he managed to rest, and
| In a rough way bandage UP his injured
| side.
Forge Two Rivers.
With dawn he started out again and
| before noon had forded two rivers and
| swum a third. Toward nightfall Of the
| second day he came to q river OF con-
siderable width. with a swift curreht
and signs OF crocodiles. BY this time
his hunger and thirst were beginning to
sap his stregth. but without Thought of
| his condition or the danger he faced. he
| plunged into the brackish water.
At the first splash a score Of huge
made for him. There followed race
between the man-eaters and the quarry
that nearly ended disastrously for the
bssFt The last few ronsss %rass Ssss
over his shoulder. he could see the
yawning mouths and ridges OF Jagged
teeth straining to reach him. His
scramble up the muddy bank and fol-
/ dozen vfciOuQ
t'crocs slashed at his heels.
Almost exhausted he yudged through
the tangled brush near The river. Gain
looked back at the scene Of his escape.
TO his horror. he saw the shaggy name
Of a lion loplng toward him with nose
climbed monkey fashion. but with
slightly more haste than a well-trained
ape would display. Tho King Of the
Forest nosed about the root Of the tree
for some time; whining In disappoint-
| ment over his lost meal. but eventually
he went his way.
Nearly Exhausted.
BY this time O'Bricn was we'll nigh
exhausted. His clothes were torn and
his flesh laceratsd by the trush. The
pain OF his wounds produced a high
| fever. and the brackish water which he
was forced to drink made him III. All
night long he staggered on. but he re-
| members little after sundown OF the
second day.
Toward noon Of the third day after
his disappearance, sentry far out
| ahead of the British lVes saw a move
| ment in the brush and thought an ami
| NAL had strayed near. He raised his
gun to fire, wheN a human hand was
raised above a cluster Of brush. Amazed.
the sentry went forward and there
| found O'Brien half crazed with thirst
soaked with mud and covered with
blood from scores OF slight cuts. Tho
| airman was carried to camp uncon-
| scious and for weeks remained in that
| state or raving in the delirtum Of fever.
Ills wife. to whom he had been mar
ried but a few weeks before he left
for South Africa. had left Englard to
Join him before he was reponted miss
ing. When he recovered from the fever
| and opened his, eyes for his frst con-
| scious look at his surroundings. his wife
was sitting by his side. having arrived
in the meantime and nursed him
through the critical illness. w
| The details. of Captain O'Brien's ter
rifle ordeal were contained in q letter
from his wife to relatives in England.
ana have Just become public It In prob
able that O'Brien will be decorated for
his services to the British government
and In recognition Of his hardness in
surviving an ordeal that would have
meant death to the average soldier.
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