The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-07-24
fCopyright. 1917, by the International s News Bureau, Is School St.
 Boston Mass.) A

fCopyright. 1917, by the International
 News Bureau, 1 5 School St.,
 Boston. Mass.)
 (After thrilling escape from the great Essen mines, a young Italian named Ebangelista Meggalaio has ar rived in Boston, via London.
 Ny (For two years he was engaged in forced labor for the Germans under most barbarous conditions. During that time he met many British Dris- oners of war who had been drafted to the s.workshop of Germany, as the Essen district is named.
 (This miner,s revelation is, in truth, a crushing indictment of the German military, whose treatment of their British captives in the Essen distrfc' would disgrace a Hottentot- There is heartbreaking pathos in the lot of these unhappy victims, as seen by the Italian refugee; but shining clearly ' out of the gloom of nntoward circum- stance is the dauntless British spirit.
 My escape from Essen brought to & thrflling conclusion the most extra ordinary epoch in my life's history Never shall forget the suffering of these past two years, or the indigni- ties and cruelties which have seen practised lon my British fellow pris- onerH
 Prior to the outbreak of the war l had wrought for about three years in the coal mines just outside Essen at wage of los per day. With the outbreak of the war. however. food prices scared so high that our wages were scarcely enough to keep soul and body together. Consequently re- solved to take a holiday and visit my native city of Venice.
 There were. however. difficulties in the way of an immediate realization of my intentions, the chief one. be- ing the want of money, as had sent my savings to Italy. A request te forward my moaey to me elicited nc response, and when n few weeks later I wrote again repeating my request my parents assured me that they sent the money directly they had received my first letter. was still making inquiries about this money wher Italy joined the Allies, and I have not seen 1t yet.
 Directly I heard Italy had joined in the war I packed the best of my belongings in a bag, and having Jeff my work, boarded the electric rail- way that runs from Essen to the iron. tier. My own idea was to get home and fight on my own side,
 All went well until we reached Yves. sel. Here the train was held up by soldiers, who searched everyone. and demanded passports. Of course hat no passport, having made up m, mind to leave the train near the frontier and make a dash for liberty The soldiers had, however. taken mt off my guard by entering at thil junction. and they ruthlessly emptiet my bag and my pockets. taking ev erything of value. Indeed, they dit not leave me so much as a clear change of linen, Then I was drag ged from the train and taken to th' Kommandatur. where I was kept il a cell all day.
 At night was brought out and SC before table, at which sat the kon rnandant Not once did he address me, but instead he asked few ques tions from the soldier who hat charge of me. and who was one o those who had boarded the train.
 The proceedings occupied only , few minutes On a motion of tn hanr from the kommandant tw, guards stepped forward, and I wa. escorted to the station. where en