Gilpin observer. (Central City, Colo.) 1897-1921, 1918-08-01


lots of prisoners. The German sol
diers we passed on these occasions
made no effort to hide their smiles
and sneers.
The Belgian people were apparent
~ very curious to see us, and they
used to turn out in large numbers
whenever the word was passed that
we were out. At times the German
guards would strike the women and
children who crowded too close to us.
One day 1 smiled and spoke to a
pretty girl, and when she replied, a
German made run for her. Luckily
she stepped into the house before he
reached her, or I am afraid my salu-
tation would have resulted seriously
for her and would have been power
less to have assisted her.
Whenever we passed Befsian
home or other building which had
been wrecked by bombs by our airmen
our guards made us stop a moment
or two while they passed sneering
remarks among themselves.
One Of the most interesting souve-
Mrs I have Of my Imprisonment at
Courtrai is photograph of a group
of us taken in the prison courtyard.
The picture was made by one Of the
guards, who sold copies Of it to those
Of us who were able to pay his
price-one mark apiece.
AS we faced the camera I suppose
we all tried to look our happiest, but
the majority Of us, am afraid, were
too sick at heart to raise a smile.
even for this occasion. One Of our
Hun guards is shown in the picture
seated at the table. / am standing
directly behind him, attired in my fly
ing tunic, which they allowed me to
wear all the time I was in prison, as
is the usual custom with prisoners Of
war. Three Of the British officers
shown in the picture, in the fore
ground. are clad in shorts"
Through all my subsequent adven-
lures i was able to retain a print of
this interesting picture, and although
when 1 gaze at 1t now 1t only serves
to increase my qualification at my ulti-
mate escape, 1t fills me with regret to
think that my fellow prisoners were
not SO fortunate. All of them by this
time are undoubtedly eating their
hearts up in the prison camps of in
terror Germany. Poor fellowsI
Despite the scanty fare and the re-
strictions We were under in this prison,
we did manage on one occasion to ar
range regular banquet The plan
ming which was necessary helped to
pass the time.
At this time there were eight of us.
We decided that the principal thing
we needed to make the affair sue
cess was potatoes, and l conceived
plan to get them. Every other after
noon they took us for walk in the
country. and 1t occurred to me that
it would be a comparatively simple
matter for us to pretend to be tired
and sit down when we came to the
first potato patch.
1t worked out nicely. When we
came to the first potato patch that
afternoon, we told our guards that we
wanted to rest bit and we were
allowed to sit down. In the course
of the next five minutes each of us
managed to get a potato or two. Be
ing Irish, got six.
When we got back to the prison, I
managed to steal a handkerchief full
of sugar, which, with some apples that
we were allowed to purchase, we cas-
lily converted into a sort Of jam.
We now had potatoes and jam, but
no bread. 1t happened that the Hun
who had charge of the potatoes was
n great musician. 1t was not very
difficult to prevail upon him to play
us some music, and while he went out
to get his either went into the bread
pantry and stole loaf Of bread.
Most of us had saved some butter
from the day before. and we used 1t
to fry our potatoes. BY bribing one
Of the guards, he bought some eggs for
us. They cost % cents apiece, but we
were determined to make this banquet
a success. no matter what It cost.
The cooking was done by the prison
cook, whom, Of course, we ha1 to
bride.
| When the meal was ready to serve
1t consisted of scrambled eggs, fried
potatoes. bread and jam, and a pitcher
Of beer which we were allowed to buy.
That was the 10Th o. August. Had
known that IL was to be the last
real meal that was to eat for many
weeks. might have enjoyed It even
more than did. hut It was certainly
very good.
We had cooked enough for eight, but