Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1917-02-09
cUCCOD|LEs FOE,
after GERMANS
Irish Aviator, Shot Down IN
Africa, Tells Of Remarkable
Adventures.
THREE DAYS IN THE JUNGLE
Escapes From q Lion BY Climbing .
Tree-Thres Of He Ribs Broken
When Machine 10 Brought
Down.

When Machine 10 orouoht
Down.
London.-Tales Of adventure from
the jungles Of South Africa, where
General SHUTS Is operating against
the Germans, are not uncommon, nut
IL Ii seldom that the wild events eh
countered by Capt. A. 4. OBriei "
the Royal Flying corps. told here ma"
been equaled.
The details OF his adventures wer.
contained Ia letter from his wife IL
relatives In England and have just be-
come public. II Is probable that
O'Brlen will be decorated for his serv-
Ices to the British government and In
recognition of his hardness Ia sur>lr-
Ink IN ordeal that would have mean,
death to the average soldier.
He reported to General SHUTS last
April far down In German Africa be-
low KoLnoa lrangi. His work us mn
aerial scout ahead Of the British
troops operating against the Germans
won him fame. Flying over the jun
giles and tangled brush country durih-
the rainy season Is difficult. When MI
army Of yigilant enemies Is added. the
| task becomes more than dangerous.
The intrepid lrishman finally engaged
ON the losing side Of an argument with
enemy antl-aircraft guns.
His Machine Brought Down.
He was hying over jungle country
when German guns located him. onc
" his wings collapsed and the machine
side slipped into the trees, which par
tiully broke the fall then crashed {"
the ground. Had II not been for the
trees both driver and machine would
have been smashed To bits. As II was.
three of O'Brien's ribs We're crushed
and for several hours he lay In II
swamp unconscious.
Slowly he recovered his SENSES and
took an inventory of his injuries. lie
could walk without difficulty but when
he swung his arms, the broken ribs
hurt cruelty. Holding his arms tight
TO his sizes. he secuted through III"
aeighhorlN jungles, where he discov
cred unmlstaknble signs of the enemy
Later, he heard column of infantry
approaching, and fearing capture ne
set fire to the aeroplane and dashed
on through the underbrush.
Hour after hour he maintained
fast pace with the pain In his side In
= A. II. A h..A lsFltf
fell he crawled high into ylne.cov-
cred tree. Sound sleep was imposs.
BILE, hut ut intervals between fighting
Insects and making way for jungle
creepers he managed To rest and In II
rough way bandage up his injured
side.
With dawn he started out again
and before noon had forded two rivers
and SWAN u third. Toward nightfalI
OF the second day he came to II river
OF considerable width, with II swift
current and signs Of crocodiles. BY
this time his hunger and thirst We're
beginning to SAP his strength. but with.
out thought OF his condition or the
danger he faced, he plunged into the
brackish water.
Chased by croeodilee.
At the first splash score Of huge
"crocs" on point Of land down stream
made for him. There followed race
between the msneaters and the quarry
that nearly ended dsastrously for the
freshman. The last few yards were
heartbreaking. for as he glanced back
over his shoulder he could see the
yawnlng mouths and ridges of Jagged
teeth straining TO reach him. As he
scrambled up the muddy bank he heard
q dozen vicious snaps.
Almost exhausted, he trudged
through the tangled brush near the
river. Calming point on some high.
er ground, he looked back at the scene
VI his escape. To his horror, he saw
the shaggy name Of u lion, which was
coming toward him with nose glued Ia
his trail. The nearest place Of safety
was u tall tree, which he climbed.
monkey fashion. The king OF the for.
est nosed about the tree for some time.
whining In disappointment over his 10 t
meal, but eventually he went his way.
BY this time O'BrIen was well.nigh
exhausted. His clothes were torn and
bis flesh lacerated by the brush. The
pain OF his wounds produced u high
lever. and the bracklsh water which
be was forced to drink made him III.
All night long he staggered on, but he
remembers little after shutdown of the
second day.
Toward noon Of the third day after
his disappearance sentry far out
ahead OF the British lines saw n
movement Ia the brush and thought an
animal had strayed near. He raised
bis 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.
His wife, to whom he had been
married but few weeks before he left
Tor South Africa. had left England TO
Join him before he was reported miss.
Ing. When he recovered from the