Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1918-09-13
NUNS COULDN'T HOLD HIN
LIEUT.. HITCHCOCK, AMERICAN
FLYER, ELUDED HIS GUARD
ON TRAIN.

Paris, Sept. S.-Lieut. Thomas
Hitchcock, Jr., of Westbury, N.
T., the youthful member of the
Lafayette Flying Corps, who
was captured by the Germans
some time ago, but escaped and
Switzerland, August %, |
his experiences while a |
captive and his flight to neutral
territory, which was accomplish
ed through evadlng his guard on
a train. The guard was taking
a nap at the time.
Hitchcock was forced to walk
more than 100 miles. This he
did in eight consecutive nights,
hiding during the day. He lived
on the food lie had saved from
his meager rations in the prison
camp. He was entirely ignorant
of the country through which he
passed. but guided himself by a
small pocket compass. On the
eighth day of his tramp he
found himself to be in a very
small village. He inquired of a
small girl whether lie was in
Switzerland and, being told that
he was, he made his way direct
to Berne, where he arrived Aug.
80 and called at the American
Legation.
WOUNDED WHEN CAPTURED.
Hitchcock was captured March
6, when he was forced to land
after an aerial combat with three
German machines. He wat
wounded in the thigh and his
machine became disabled a,
an altitude of 1000 metres, but hs
managed to land safely insid,
the German line. He was i'm
mediately seized by several Ger
mans and taken to a dressing
lstation. From there he was sen
to hospital at ST. Arnold
Later he was transferred t.
ISaarbrucken.
| 1t took two months for til,
WOUND in HitclIcock's leg t,
heal. He said he was not NAL
treated by the Germans. but tina
there was plenty of sufferin,
among the prisoners, who wer,
barely existing. He said he ha,
been saved by the arrival O
packages containing food iron
France.
After landing inside the Ger
man lines" said Hitchcock, Z"
TAINTED twice. The second tim
did not come to my senses un
It'll l had reached the DRESSING
station. In the hospital l re-
ceived fair treatment only. Their
was one doctor for the $50 pa
ltients and the food was not yer,
good.
| PUT ONE OVER ON GUARD.
| L escaped while being trans
iported with two other American
from Lachfeld to Rastadt. Their,
was one German guard for thre,
of us. While the train stopped
at station near Ulm the guart
fell into a doze. ! snatched tn,
railway map, which was neal
him, and also my money. w,
were not allowed to handle on,
money.
Presently the guard awokt
and missed the man and money
Picking up my package of food
which had been saved from my
rations, but leaving the map be-
hind, 1 rushed out of the door op'
posite and ran as fast as possible
away from the railroad track.
The guard yelled after me, but
l knew that he could not folio y
because of the two other pris.
ouers lie had in charge.
l then slowed down and be-
gan to walk toward the frontier.
During the daytime always hid
In the woods, and at night I
'evaded towns and villages, walk
ing around them. I was always
on close watch for tue Ger
mans, for l was in the uniform
Of French aviator. Most of
the territory l traversed was
farming land, with the people
working during the day. When
they left the fields in the eve
ming l would begin my tr amp.
REACHES SWITZERLAND.
Il made excellent progress,
except now and then when l
encountered marshes, fences and
hedges. l slept during the day
time, after having made sure of
the safety of my sleeping place.