The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1917-12-07
U. S. AVIATOR ESCAPES
FROM GERMANS
IRISH FLYER FROM ILLINOIS HAS
REMARKABLE EXPERIENCE
IN GERMANY.

London. November 29--Lieutenant
Patrick O'Brien. OF Momence. ILL., south
or Chicago. first American member of
the British Flying Corps to escape from
Germany, has arrived in London.
OBrien eiuded his captors by jump
ing from the window Of a speeding
train, He then became a fugitive for
~ days. and as his goal was within
sight narrowly escapeo electrocution
from the charged wire along the Hol-
land frontier.
| After cabling his aged mother, Mrs.
Margaret OBrien at Momence, to ex-
pect 10 see him aoon, Lieutenant O'Bri-
en- called upon American Ambassador
Page to seek advice regarding his de
sire to be transferred to the American
F'lving Corps Last night O'Brien was
dined by a group of admiring fiiers.
who. like scores Of friends along the
] front. had believed Re had been killed
when he was reported missing august
II last.
Enlists With Canadians
i O'Brien. who IL sturdy young man
OF ~. was flying in the American avia-
ton squadron at San Diego, Cal, when
he went TO Victoria. B. g., and )btain-
ed commission In the Canadian arm Y.
Going to France the next year he dis
tfnguished himself 10y his great daring
over the he-Gsrman lines. On the morn
ing Of August ~ enemy gunners forced
him to descend. but fortunately ho.
landed behind his own lines
Il Late afternoon OF the next day saw
him up again over the German lines,
fighting the enemy. There was 20 Ger
man machines to six British in The en-
counter. O'Brien's machine alone en-
Tagging four enemy craft and account :.
. ing for one before O'Brien was shot
through The upper lip. Ee fell with his
damaged ais9lane from a height OF s. -
900 feet. O'Brien says he cannot ex-
lplain why lie was not killed. When
he regained consciousness he was in "
German hospital.
Imprisoned Three Weeks
II Later the Lieutenant spent three
weeks at prison camp at Courtrai be-
|, fore he was started for the interior Of
|. Germany. There were three other pris-
!, oncrs under a strong guard in his conr-
partment when OBrien, ae a ruse, had
the window opened by complaining OF
the smoke
The trair Was now 60 miles inside
: Germany and travelling AZ 20 miles an
hour. but O'Brien decided TO take 4,
desperate chance. He jumped from tho
train sldnning the whole side OF HIS
" face. reopeniug the wound n his liz
and losing consciousness. 1t was about
o'clock in The morning. and the dark
Iness shielded him. When he recovered
n h, was lying in a.lil.
e Then for ~ lays he was q fugitive
.r tra~tIinR only at night. He trudgeJ
70 through relds AID swan rivers anu
d canals III Germany L luxembuTP AMI
" Belgium before hc reached the Dutch
:. fro.titi. ~ the time Of his fight he
Il ad "a piece of sausage, on which he
II subs.stsd for several Gays. after which
: his sole slstenance consisted of turnip.
and ether vegetables found In lleIds
O'Drien did not know the German
Language. hrt he used little Frenct
" lon kindly Belgian. who was 50 happs
" to meet an American in British uni
!, from that he sheltered him for sew.
:. eral days.
le Swims River Meuse
r, The Belgian. then gave him old
z clothes to cover his Uniform and d.
d rected him to the nearest route to thu
l. frontier O'Brien swan the River
h Met Sc. near Namur, and the next da,
is was challenged ny German sentries
IS who decided he was peasant.
? hut his narrowest escape was reserv-
Il ed for his 'ast lay as fugitive, wher
le he could see Dutch territory To cir
1t cun'vtnt the charged wires O'Brier
N butt rridge in a nearby wood ami
ltlIctS Il across the wires. But Il broke
l. under his weight, and O'Brien ret eivec
a shock which. he snys, he can still
+ feel. When he recovered he dug will
Is his bare hands a tunnel under the wire
y and, although 1t was slow progress af.
tel several hours ne had hole BIZ
"a enough to crawl through. which he did
J. unobserved.
Z Even then O'BrieE was not sure he
~ was in Dutch territory, 30 he concealed
1t himself in hay barn until the nex
morning. When daylight came the frs
,. thing he saw was people making wood
on shoes
He then walked out into the opef
q, ard hurried to the rearest British
Consul who arranged for his transpor.
Is tation to London.
!. cabIed News OF Escape.
Mcmence Ili.. November s9.-A Ia.
:, COM nablegram, Escaped from Ger.
mann letter follows" prepared
this eli. further stirring new,
: to-day of y. 1ape OF Flight Lieuten-
= ant Patrick O'Brien. The m essa !.
= quoted was signed Pat" and was ad-
: dressed to his mother, Mrs. Margaret
O'Brien.