Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-05-16
OMAHA BOY TURNS
BULGARIAN CANNON
Montague Hancock, With Other
Americans in Serbia. Saves
Hospital from Ruin.
RISKS LIFE IN SHELL FIRE


How Montague Hancock, son of
Dean James A. Hancock of Trinity
cathedral, Omaha, saved the Ameri-
can hospital at Skoplke, in Serbia,
from the devastating artillery fire Of
the Bulgarians is told in an Asso-
ciated Press dispatch sent out from
London by correspondent there.
The firing had already commenced
when young Hancock, with two other
Americans, Logan Peters and a doc
tor named Osborne, hurried out in an
automobile and pleaded with the
enemy TO spare the hospital.
Had Narrow Escapes.
"The firing came pretty close about
us before the United States flag we
had hoisted was seen" Hancock told
upon his arrival in London. I'VE had
any number Of narrow escapes and
several times had to hunt cover. We
were sgreeably surprised, however,
TO find that the invading officers
we're exceedingly courteous and will
ing TO comply in every respect TO our
requests. Though for five months
during the Bulgarian domination OF
Serbia we were prisoners OF war, we
have no complaint 10 make OF our
treatment"
All Arrive Safe in London.
Eight Americans who were prison
ers with Hancock arrived with Lady
Paget in London a week ago.
The party included three physi-
clans, each OF whom originally went
10 the war zone to aid in the work of
the American sanitary commission
under the direction of DR.. Richard G.
Strong, DR.. A. f. Cornelius OF Be
rea, Ky; DR.. L. D. Forrest OF Proyi-
dence, r. l., and Dr. r. V. Brokaw
Of New York. -Four members Of the
original Columbia university relief
expedition in the party were: Mon
tague Hancock CT Omaha g. B. Lo-
gan and Duce Peters OF New York
and Webster w. Eaton OF Columbia,
o. Also returning te London was
Miss Roberta Parsons, nurse from
Lima, O., who left London with the
English unit last May.
Lett Last February.
The Americans we're finally allowed TO
leave skoplke. February II, after which
they we're held prisoners three weeks
longer at Sofia before being permitted
to depart for England by way Of Rou-
mania, Russia and Sweden. Miss Par
sons had been III for three weeks before
the order OF release for the party was
received and was removed the first
eighty miles OF the journey from skoplke
on a stretcher in an ambulance, She In
tends TO return to Serbia with the Eng
lish unit after time.
I'VE were nursing the Serbian war VIC
tins and members Of the civil population
IN tho large hospital Of $50 beds main
tanned by the Serbian relief fund Mt
skoplke when the Bglgarians took the
place on October %, last" said Miss Par
sons. 1.-THE members of the large Turk
ish population, on seeing that the Bull
garans we're coming In triumphantly
took the guns OF the Serbian wounded
and shot down Serbian soldiers. After
the Bulgarlans took the town we con-
tlnued our work as prisoners. but about
the only difference was that instead Of
treating only serbians we turned our at
IEHtlOH HlbD W a. lhA 80 iAAiAHDi VI 'SffT
gars and Austrians as we'll. the Bull
sarians permitting us to continue our at
tentlon TO tho serblans as we'll
Queen Visits Lady Paget.
ION the whole, we found that the Bull
rarians treated us with the greatest con-
sideration. seeming TO pay great deal
Of attention 10 English public opinion.
On being transferred to Sofia the queen
paid several visits to Lady Paget and in
CURED as to the welfare Of us at our ho-
tel We were given a special train that
took us right through Roumania and
Russia TO Stockholm"
Duce Peters of New York told how the
resources Of the Columbia relief expedi-
ton, including their twenty-five motor
cars, we're promptly absorbed by the
Serbian army. the equipment coming as
great boon to the hard-pressed vet
Grams. The twenty-five Serbian inter-
prefers sent by Prof Pupin and the other
organizers Of the expedition were
promptly drafted into the army The
action had the effect Of breaking up the
expedition. some seventeen members
forthwith returning to New York in Sep
TENDER. while the remainder sought other
activities