The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1918-01-21
FINDS the KING
IS GENUINE Man
Pat O'Briep, Who Escapes
German Guards, Tells
Story to Edward.
HAVE FRIENDLY CHAT
Boss of BritOns Proves Him
self No Novice in
Electrical Matters.
HAVE FRIENDLY CHAT

London. Jan. ls.--tCorrespondence Of
the Associated Press. First Lieuten-
ant Pat O'Brien, the former Santa Fe
railway man who effected a remarkable
escape from Germany after being shot
down in an aerial battle as a member
Of the royal flying corps and who
walked across a part of Germany, all
Of Luxembourg, and Belgium before dig
ging under the wire of death" and
reaching Amsterdam. has just told his
story to the king at Buckingham pal
ace. And O'Brien and the king have
formed complimentary impressions OF
each other.
Il have met some of the heads of
departments on the western division
OF the Santa Fe. some of the big busi-
ness men In Chicago. and n few OF the
men doing the fighting in important
positions in this war, and l want to say
that the king In one of the best" said
O'Brien, who is a native Of Momence,
Ill.,. and resident OF San Francisco.
u don't thinkpp he4 .kn0war1whala.1s side
means. We shook hands heartily three
times-on my arrival. when l thought
I might be taking too much Of his time
and started to go. and finally when we
said good-by.
Shows Great Interest.
Il received telegram to call at
10: 80 o'clock and, arriving two minutes
before. found the king on railroad time.
l was not kept waiting a minute. but
was taken directly to him by one OF
his secretaries who withdrew on pre-
senting me. We chatted for 40 min
utes. the king showing great interest
in my experiences and questioning me
infinitely As TO my route from the time
l jumped out OF the train window un-
til concealed myself nearby and stud
led the electrically charged barrier be-
tween Belgium and Holland for about
a week OF nights before succeeding in
a plan OF escape.
THE king first offered me a chair.
but when I declined politely stood with
me throughout our conversation. He
certainly had more than an amateurs
knowledge OF electricity, as 1 gathered
by the lively interest he displayed at
the several ways l had in mind as to
how to put the live wires out OF bust
ness. / thought first Of grounding the
horizontal metal bar. then made a lad
der OF saplings DO green that the wood
proved a conductor and decided on an
other plan successfully.
Hears Of Jump Through Window.
HE was keenly interested in my
jump through the window of the train
and the guards effort to hold me in. |
think he laughed most heartily at my
passage with the guard previously
when l complained Of our having to
ride in fourth class compartments The
guard responded that We rightfully
should be riding in hog trucks. ! an
swered that such would be preferable
20 riding with Germans, and then my
English speaking guard exploded in
gutterals. probably not knowing pro-
family in a foreign tongue.
Il couldn't realize the king was
king. He seemed just like other men.
but more interested In my story. He
expressed great sympathy for my
mother. owing to her long belief that
had been killed. II indeed having been
80 announced In the British official re-
port have been given leave for three
months to visit her at Momenco. ILL.,
but my time may be extended. 1t is
very likely that ! shall be transferred
to the American flying corps. in which
! received my first training and was
serving at San Diego before becoming
restless and enlistin8 with the Cana
dams in Victoria. I have now about
recovered from the effects of ~ days
diet Of cabbages and turhips."