The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1918-10-11

uniform and 1t resembled very MUCK
that OF the German soldiers.
Some Of the neighbors, aroused by
the commotion, got up to see what 1t
was all about, and came IN and
watched while ate the meal those
good Dutch people prepared for me.
Ordinarily I suppose I would have
been embarrassed with so many peO-
pie staring at me while l ate an
though l were some strange animal
that has just been captured, but just
then / was too famished to notice or
care very much what other people did.
There will always be a warm place
In my heart for the Dutch people.
had heard lots of persons say that
they were not inclined to help refu-
gees, but my experience did not bear
these reports out. They certainly did
more for me than l ever expected.
I had little German money left
but as the value of German money Is
only about half In Holland, didnt
have enough to pay the fare to Rot
| terdam, which was my next objective.
It was due to the generosity Of these
BSOpld tudt l. was dUlo " ICdNA LA0
British consul as quickly as did.
Some day hope to return to Holland
and repay every single soul who
played the part Of the good Samari-
tan to me.
| With the money that these people
gave me I was able to get third
class ticket to Rotterdam. and was
] v1s.A I'M tp %rou Apcf-
class, for would have looked as much
out of place In a hrst-class carriage
as a Hun would appear In heaven.
That night I slept In the house OF
my Dutch friends, where they fixed
me up most comfortably. In the morn
Ing they gave me breakfast and then
escorted me to the station.
While I was waiting at the station
crowd gathered round me and soon
1t seemed as II the whole town had
turned out to get look at me- 1t was
very embarrassing, particularly as
could give them no information re-
garding the cause Of my condition, al
though, OF course. they all knew that
was a refugee from Belgium.
: AS the train pulled out OF the sta
ton, the crowd gave loud cheer ana
: the tears almost came to my eyes an
J. contrasted in my mind the conduct
, OF this crowd and the one that had
e gathered at the station In Client when
Q I had departed a prisoner en- route
Q for the reprisal camp. l breathed 4
+ sigh of relief as I thought OF that re
g prisal camp and how fortunate l had
t really been, despite all my sufferings
: to have escaped it. Now, at any rate
o was free man and would soon bt
i sending home the joyful news that
J. had made good my escape!
g At Einhoffen two Dutch officers go'
into the compartment with me. They
; looked at me with very much disfavor
:, not knowing. OF course, that I was {
d British officer. My clothes were still
l pretty much in the condition they
s were when I crossed the border, al
n though / had been able to scrape of
some Of the mud I had collected thu
d night before. l had not shaved MOI
o trimmed my beard for many days
n and I must have presented a sorrl
k appearance. / could hardly blam'
/. them for edging away from me.
IS The trip from Einhoffen to Rotte<
d dam passed without special incident
d AT various stations passengers woul'
IT get in the compartment and, observ
ing my unusual appearance, woul'
10 endeavor. to start conversation witt
k me. None Of them spoke English
Id however, and they had to use thei
IS own Imagination as to my identity.
,e When I arrived at Rotterdam
is asked policeman who stood in from
l Of the station where / could find tn
Id British consul, but I could not max
him understand. l next applied to
TO taxicab driver.
X English consul-Br' fish consul
a American consul-French consul |"
as said, hoping that II he didn't under
,e stand one he might recognize ar
I'd other.
He eyed me with suspicion and me
. toned me to get in and drove off.
~ had no idea where he was taking m'
N but after quarter of an hours ride
"a brought up in front Of the BIRTHS
r consul. Never before was so gla
&C to see the Union Jack
frn MT, CONJrrJNyyrErN