Gilpin observer., 1918-09-19


uniform and it resembled very much
that Of the German soldiers.
Some of the neighbors, aroused by
the commotion, got up to see what it
was all about" and came in and
watched while I ate the meal those
good Dutch people prepared for me.
Ordinarily I suppose l would have
been embarrassed with SO many peo-
| pie staring at me while ate as
though 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 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 ever expected
had little German. money left.
but as the value of German money is
only about half in Holland, I didn't
have enough to pay the fare to Rot
terdam, which was my next objective.
1t was due to the generosity of these
people that was able to reach the
British consul as quickly as 1 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 1 was able to get a third
class ticket to Rotterdam, and l was
hot
class, for would have looked as much
out of place in first-class carriage
as 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
a crowd gathered round me and soon
1t seemed as If the whole town had
turned out to get look at me. It was
very embarrassing. particularly as 1
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
tion, the crowd gave loud cheer and
the tears almost came to my eyes as
1 contrasted in my mind the conduct
OF this crowd and the one that had
gathered at the station in Ghent when
I had departed prisoner en- route
for the reprisal camp. 1 breathed a
sigh Of relief as thought of that re-
prisal camp and how fortunate had
really been, despite all my sufferings.
to have escaped 1t. Now, at any rate,
l was free man and would soon be
sending. home the joyful news that
had made good my escape!
At Einhoffen two Dutch officers got
into the compartment with me. They
looked at me with very much disfavor,
not knowing, Of course, that was a
: British officer. My clothes were still
pretty much in the condition they
were when I crossed the border, al
though l had been able to scrape off
some of the mud had collected the
night before. / had not shaved nor
trimped my beard for many days,
and must have presented a sorry
appearance. could hardly blame
them for edging away from me.
The trip from Einhoffen to Rotter-
dam passed without special incident.
At various stations passengers would
get in the compartment and. observ-
ing my unusual appearance, would
endeavor to start conversation with
me. None of them spoke English,
however, and they had to use their
own imagination as to my identity.
When i arrived at Rotterdam I
asked a policeman who stood In front
of the station where I could find the
British consul, but could not make
him understand. next applied to
taxicab driver.
English cOnsul-British consul
American consul-French consul !"
said, hoping that II he didn't under
stand one he might recognize an
other.
He eyed me with suspicion and mo-
toned me to get in and drove off.
had no idea where he was taking me,
but after a quarter of an hours ride he
brought up in front Of the British
consul. Never before was I SO glad
to see the Union Jack!
CTO BE CONTINUED)