The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1918-10-31


lighting every day. with all the horrors
and all the risks, than be . prisoner
Of war in Germany, for the men In
France have q very keen realisation
Of what that means.
But to return to my day In Rotter-
dam.
After I was fixed up I returned to
the consulate and arrangements were
made for my transportation to Eng
land at once. Fortunately there was
a boat leaving that very night and I
allowed to take passage on II.
Just as we were leaving Rotterdam.
the boat I was on rammed our own
convoy. one Of the ~destroyers, and In
jured II % badly that It had to put
back to port. 1t would have been .
strange climax to my adventure II the
disaster had resulted In the sinking
Of my boat and I had lost my life
while on my way to England after
having successfully outwitted the
Huns. But my luck was with me to
the last. and while the accident Re-
suited In some delay q boat was not
seriously damaged and made the trip
over In schedule time and without fur
Their accident, another destroyer hAv-
ing been assigned to escort n through
the danger zone In place Of the one
which had been put out Of commits.
sion.
When I arrived In London. the ~
action from the strain I had been
under for nearly three months imme-
diately became apparent. Ny nerves
were in such q state that It was abso.
lutely impossible for me to cross the
street without being In deadly fear
Of being run over or trampied. I stood
at the curb, like an old woman from
the country on her nrst visit to the
city. and I would not venture across
until some knowing policeman. recog
nizing my condition. came to my AZ
sistance and conveyed me across.
Indeed. there val a great number Of
English officers at home at all timei
getting back their nerves" after Z
long spell Of active service at thu
front, so that my condition was any
thing but novel to the London bob
bies.
II was not many days. however. be
fore I regained control Of myself ant
felt In first-class shape.
Although the British authorities Il
Holland had wired my mother from
Holland that I was safe and on m,
way to England, the first thing I di'
when we landed was to send her
cable myself.
The cable read as follows:
Mrs. n. ]. O,Brien, Momence. NJ, o
8. A.
"Just escaped from Germany. Lei
ter follows"
As I delivered It to the cable dii
patcher I could Just imagine the ez
ultation with which my mother woul
receive II and the pride she woul
feel as abe exhibited It among be
neighbors and friends.
I could hear the volley Of II toll
you SOS" that greeted her good til
ings.
ut would take more than the kaiss
to ke Put In Germany" I could hes
one or them saying.
"Knew he'd be back for Christina
anyway" I could hear another r.
mark.
II had an idea that Pat and b
comrades might spend Christmas
Berlin" I could hear another admi
ting. but I did not think any oth'
part Of Germany would appeal to hi
very much"
mrs. O'Brien, did Pat write 20
how many German prisoners I
brought back with himT I could hei
still another credulous friend inQui
ing.
It was all very amusing and gra'
flying to me and l must confess ! Il
quite cocky as I walked into the WI
: department to report.
For the next i've days ! was ke
very busy answering questions put
me by the military authorities regar
ing what I had observed as to CONF
tons In Germany and behind the linz
What / reported was taken dov
: by q stenographer and made part
\ the Official records. but I did not 81
them my story in narrative form. N
: information I vas able to give W
: naturally Of interest to vario
branches Of the service. and expel
{ in every line Of government work to
It In turns to question me. One MOI
: Ing would be devoted. for instan'
. to answering questions Of q militia
j 4. lrosi 8;
oass q 0dsia Asa s-~ts IasSssi'sA We"