Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-11-30
JUMPS TRAIN
American Aviator Gets
Away from Captors
FIRST Member Of British Flying Corps
to Escape from Germany-Was Flu
sitive for 81 Days-Showed Great
Daring Over German Lines-FeII
5000 Feet

London, Nov. .9.-Lieutenant Pat
rick = Brlen, Of Momence, H., south
o1 chicago, the first American men,
Der OF the British flying corps TO es-
cape from Germany, has arrived in
London. nBrien eluded his captors
by jumping from the window Of d
speeding train. He then became a
fugitive for - days and. as his goal
was within sight. narrowly escaped
electrocuti0n from the charged wire
along the Holland frontier
After cabling his aged mother, Mrs.
Margaret @ Brien, at Momence TO eX-
pect him soon, Lieutenant O'Brien
called upon American Ambassador
Page TO seek advice regarding his de-
sire to be transferred to the .Ameri-
can flying corps. Last night O'Brien
was dned by a group Of ad.niring
fiers, who like scores of friends along
the front, had believed lie had been
killed Wien he WAS reported missing
ON August l. last.
o'Ericn, who is Il sturdy young man
ot ~ WAS flying i'm the American aNia =
ton squadron al San Diego, Calf. in
the Canadian army. Going to France
TIE next wear lie distin guished 9im-
self by his great daring over the Ger
man hres. On the morning Of August
i enemy @unners forced him 10 des-
cerd, but fortunately he landed be-
hind His own lines.
Late afternoon of the same daN saw
him up acain over the German lines.
fighting the enemy There were %
civ ls..iti CHI IA he
encounter. p'I4lien's machine alone en-
ra2in- four enemy craft and account
ing iof one before O'B;icn was shot
through the upper lip. he iel With
his >dam32ed ;tirp,aNe from Il height
Of 5000 feet. o'Brien says he cannot
explain Why he va not killed. When
he rc2,.ined consciousness lie W9s in
(. German hospital.
Later Nhe lieute@art passed three
weeks at Il prison tailp at CouItrai
before he was STATED 70; the interior
of Germany. There We're three Other
prisoners under Il strong guard in his
cumpa,t !uent when OBJ, H. as a ruse
had he window opened by comp,ain-
inc o. Tho smoke
Thu train vas now SO miles, inside
Germany and travelling al So miles an
hou.'. but OBrien decided t. take a
desperate chance lie jumped from the
train. SHINING the Whole side of his
i2cc. re-Openine his wound in HI, lip
ANA losing consciousness. 1t was about
! u'cioCl, in the morning and the dark
ne. = chilled him. When he recovered
he was |yinl in d field
Then Tor - Gays he Wa a fugi-
tive, travelling only "a night. He
tluuled through fields and SWAN riN
ers ana canals; in Germany. I.uxem
bnra and Belgium before he reached
the Dutch frontier. NJ the time Of
his flight he had a piece ot sausage
on which he subsiSted for several DAYS
after which his sole sustenance con
sisted Of tnrnipS and uthel vegetables
found III fields.
. Brien did not know the German Ian
Suase, but he used little French on d
kindly Belgian who was so happy to nee
an American III British uniform chat il
sheltered him for several DAYS The Bel
9ian then gave him old clothes 10 cove.
his uniform and directed him 10 the near
est route to the frontier. DBreu swan
the river Meuse near Namur and the
next day was challenged by German sen
tries, who decided he was a peasant.
But his Harrowest esca WAS reserve
for his last day as 4 iue'.iv> when h.
could see Dutch territory. 70 q. cumvrut
the charged wires . Rrieu r1..it q hridgc
In nearby wood and threw il across til.
wires. But it broi,c under his weight alll
@ Br.em received shock which lie say
he can stlll feel. When he recovered
dug with his bare hands 4 tunnel under
the wire. although il was slow progress
and after several hours he had d hole BIZ
,nough TO rrawl through. which be d.
Unobserved.
Even then . Bren was not sure he was
fl Dutch territory. - he concealed him
self in Z hay barr uai3 the next morn
i3s. When dayiigh; came the iiIst thing
Nc saw WIS people making wooden shoes
He thea walked out in;o the open and
buried t. the nearest British consul, who
arranged FOR his transportation ~ Ion
don.