davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1918-07-18

PREFACE


There is a common idea that the age
of miracles Is past. Perhaps 1t is, but
If so, the change must have come about
within the past few weeks-after es-
capped into Holland. For If anything is
certain in this life 1t is this: this book
never would have been written but for
the succession of miracles set forth In
these pages.
Miracles, luck, coincidence, Provi-
dence-it doesn't matter much what
you call it-certainly played an impor-
tant part in the series of hair-breadth
escapes in which / figured during my
short but eventful appearance in the
great drama now being enacted across
the seas. Without it, all my efforts and
sufferings would have been quite I'M
availing.
No one realizes this better than do
and want to repeat 1t right here be-
cause elsewhere in these pages l may
appear occasionally to overlook or
minimize it: without the help of Provi-
dence / would not be here today.
But this same Providence which
brought me home safely, despite all
the dangers which beset me, may work
similar miracles for others, and 1t is in
the hope of encouraging other poor
devils who may find themselves in stu
atoms as hopeless apparently as mine
oftentimes were that this book is writ
ten.
When this cruel war is over-which
trust may be sooner than 1 expect it
to bel hope / shall have an oppor-
tunity to revisit the scenes of my adj
ventures and to thank in person in an
adequate manner every one who ex-
tended a helping hand to me when /
was wretched fugitive. All of them
took great risks in befriending an es-
capped prisoner and they did it without
the slightest hope of reward. At the
same time hope / shall have a chance
to pay my compliments to those who
endeavored to take advantage of my
distress.
In the meanwhile, however, 1 can
only express my thanks in this ineffec-
tive manner, trusting that in some
mysterious way a copy of this book
may fall into the hands of every one
who befriended me. hope particular
ly that every good Hollander who
played the part of the Good Samari-
tan to me so bountifully after my es-
cape from Belgium will see these pages
and feel that l am absolutely sincere
when | say that words cannot begin to
express my sense of gratitude to the
Dutch people.
1t is needless for me to say how
deeply / feel for my fellow-prisoners
in Germany who were less fortunate
than /. Poor, poor fellows-they are
the real victims of the war. hope that
every one of them may soon be re-
stored TO that freedom whose value
never fully realized until after 1 had
had to fight so hard to regain it,
PAT O'BRIEN.
Momence, H., January IA, 1918.
The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1918-07-18

whacks than I was looking for later
on.
Needless to say, my parents were
very much opposed to my rislllng my
life at what was undoubtedly at mat
time one Of the most hazardous spas
times" young fellow could select, and
every time had a smashup or some
other mishap / was ordered never TO go
near an aviation field again.
SO / went out to California. There
another fellow and 1 built our own
machine, which we flew in various
parts of the state.
In the early part of 1916, when trou-
BILE was brewing in Mexico, 1 joined the
American flying corps. l was sent to
San Diego, where the army flying
school is located, and spent about eight
months there, but as 1 was anxious to
get into active service and there didn't
seem much chance of America ever
getting into the war, 1 resigned and,
crossing over to Canada, Joined the
Royal Flying corps at Victoria, B. G.
was sent to Camp Borden, Toronto,
first to receive instruction aud later to
| instruct. While a cadet I made the
first loop ever made by a cadet in Can
ada, and after / had performed the
stunt half expected to be kicked out
of the service for 1t. Apparently, how
ever, they considered the source and
let it go at that. Later on had the
satisfaction of introducing the loop
as part of the regular course of In
struction for cadets in the r. +. c.,
and want to say right here that Camp
Borden has turned out some of the
best fliers that have ever gone to
France.
In May, 1917, and seventeen other
Canadian fliers left for England on the
Meganic, where we were to qualify
for service in France.
Our squadron consisted Of nine
Americans, G. G. Robinson, II. A. Mil
Ter, f. s. McClurg, A. A. Allen, e. Il.
Garnet, II. X. Boysen, II. A. Smeeton
and A. A. Taylor, and myseh, and nine
Britishers, Paul ii. Raney, ]. r. Park.
Il -. NtiiutS, -. N. nOOTcs L. II. AlhlH-
son, f. G. Conry, A. Muir, e. A. L. r.
Smith and A. G. Jones.
Within a few weeks after our ar
rival in England all OF us had won our
"wings"-the insignia worn on the
left breast by every pilot on the west
ern front.
We were all sent to a place In
France known as the Pool Pilots Mess.
Here men gather from all the training
squadrons in Canada and England and
await assignments to the particular
squadron of which they are to become
members.
The Pool Pilots Mess Is situated a
few miles back of the lines. When
ever q pilot is shot down or killed the
Pool Pilots Mess is notified to send an
other to take his place.
There are so many casualties every
day In The r. #. G. at one point OF
the front or another that the demand
for new pilots is quite active, but when
a fellow is itching to get into the fight
as badly as / and my friends were ]
The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1918-07-18
RoIshevlkI rhreatens Allies

Paris.-The Bolshevist government
at Moscow, according to reliable dis
patches, is threatening to conclude an
alliance with Germany and mobilize
Russia's man-power against the En-
tente.
AS a result OF the assassination of
the German ambassador to Russia,
Count Won Mirbach. Germany, it is
reported. will demand passage for her
troops by way OF Petrograd to the
Thurman coast, the inhabitants OF
which the Bolsheviki are denouncing
as friendly to the Allies.
The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1918-07-18
Gro BE coNTINUED)


The people who are lonely in this
world are those who are always look
ing for something to come to them;
they hope for pleasant adventures !;
they exact much from their friends
and from their famlly-and they are
never satisfied. But the happy men
and women are those VINO never think
70 demand for themselves-who give
and give and give again, and find Joy
whenever they find opportunity to give
joy.-Exchange
The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1918-07-18
Japanese Ambassador Meets Wilson.

hington.-Viscount lshii, ia
panese ambassador, has been invited
to an interview with President VIII
son. Urgent representations have
been made to this government in be-
half of Czecho-Slovak troops in Rus
STA, who are declared to be threaten
ed with determination.
1t was surmised in diplomatic
quarters President Wilson requested
Ambassador Ishii to acquaint his
government with the fact the United
States favors the principle of mill
tary assistance to Russia, and to OBJ
tain the Japanese governments views
of the immediate military action
practicable by Japan, the number OF
troops which might be engaged in an
expedition, the distance 1t might
penetrate, extent of Chinese coop
grafton and what collaboration by the
American government is desirable.
The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1918-07-18
CHAPTER II.
! BECAME a ElahtIna Scout,

started flying in Chicago in 1912.
was then eighteen years old. but had
had a laundering for the air ever since
l can remember.
AS youngster followed the ex-
PLOTS Of the Wrights with the greatest
interest, although must confess I
sometimes hoped that they wouldn't
really conquer the air until had had
a whack at 1t myself. / got more
The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1918-07-18
Austrians Still Rubbing Their Eyes.

Austrians Still Rubbing Their Eyes.
London-Far from being flash in
the pan," the Franco-Italian drive in
Albania is hourly growing in scope
and military Importance. The Aus
TRANS, still rubbing their eyes, as 1t
were, from the rude awakening they
received a few days ago after many
months of veritable rest-cure in this
almost-forgotten theatre of war, are
in full retreat on wide front on both
sides OF Berat, clever enlightenment
of which by French and Italian forces
formed the beginning of the offensive.
Both Rome and Paris were able to
announce fresh success. The French
took the crest of Kosnitza and occu-
pied all villages in Tomorica valley
above Dobreny. Italians captured the
heights of Gaia and Flumaka, with $50
prisoners. The Austrian retreat is
assuming the nature of a rout. The
Vienna war Office admits the withdraw
al to a new defense line," phrase
which usually covers a multitude OF
unspoken admissions.
The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1918-07-18
DISPATCH STATES THE 6oLsHE-
WIKI HAVE BEEN OVERTHROW
FROM To8oLsK TO
SEMlPALATIN6k.
CZECH0-SLOvAK CONTROL
NS-SIBERIAN RAILROAD
Japan's Reported Decision Refusing to
Intervene in Siberia Is Authori-
tativeiy Denied Says Word
From Toxic.

London-Virtually all western 81
IBERIA is in control of Czecho Slovaks.
according to a Reuter- dispatch from
Picking, dated July 10. The dispatch
states the Bolshevih have been over
thrown in the whole region from To-
bolsk, east of the Urals, to Semipal-
atinsk, 750 miles to the southeast,
near the Chinese frontier.
The trans-Siberian railway Is under
Czecho- Slovak control from Tcheliab-
sinsk, in the Ural mountains, at the
junction Of the branches of the road
which lead to south and north Russia
to Krasnoyarsk, 1900 miles to the
east.
The report confirms earlier dis
Irkutsk have been defeated by Czecho-
Slovaks.
General Muravieff, commander OF
the Bolsheviki forces operating against
Czecho- Slovaks, has killed himself, &C
cording to an official Russian wireless
dispatch received here. The dispatch,
which denounces General Muravieff
as a traitor, reads:
"He issued a false and treacherous
order to his troops and sought to direct
an offensive against the soviet gov
eminent of Russia. He ordered his
men to advance against Moscow and
at the same time attacked the town
of Simbirsk, in the Volga region.
Soviet troops, however, declined
to obey his orders and remained faith
full to the soviets authority. Finding
the troops would not follow him in be-
traying the revolution, Traitor Mura-
vieff shot himself.
The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1918-07-18
CHAPTER I.
The Folly of Despair.

Less than nine months ago eighteen
officers of the Royal flying corps,
which had been training in Canada,
left for England on the Meganic.
If any of them was over twenty-five
years of age, he had successfully con-
The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1918-07-18
Strange Contradiction.

'De man dat don't see de bright side
o. life" said Uncle Eben. us generally
de same Teller OATS afraid OF his
shadow" pf "a
The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1918-07-18

In a desperate battle with
four Hun flyers, o'Brien is sent
crashing to earth behind the
German lines from a height Of
5000 feet. The next INSTALL
ment tells Of his miraculous es-
cape from death and Of his re-
gaining consciousness to find
himself a prisoner of war.
The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1918-07-18
Japan,s Attitude UNCHANGED.

London--Japan's reported decision
refusing to intervene in Siberia is au-
thoritauvely denied, according to adj
vices from Toxic under date OF July 2.
II is added the attitude of Japan is
unchanged.
The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1918-07-18

cealed the fact, because they don't ac-
cept older men for the II. F. c.
Nine Of the squadron were British
subjects; the other nine wcrc Ameri-
cans, who, tired of waiting for their
own country TO take her place with
the allies, had joined the British colors
In Canada. ] was one Of the Inter.
We were going to England to earn
The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1918-07-18

BoIshevlki Seek Peace WIN r'nIanu.
London--The Bolshevik government
NJ Russia has agreed to enter into
peace negotiations with Finland,
which had expressed, through the
German government, a desire TO ar
range a peace treaty with Russia.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1918-01-24
REGISTRATION OF ALL
GERMAN ALIENS
Chief of Police Frank Thompson Be-
gins Duties rs Registrar February 1

Chief of Police Frank Thompson
yesterday received from United States
Marshal John S 2. H. Wilson instruc-
tions for the registration of German
alien enemies, which will commence
in SkoWhegan. at Police Headquart-
ers, City Building, at a. M. on Feb.
4, and continue on each day success
siyely thereafter between the hours of
IA m. and s p. m. mp to and including
the 9th day af February, at 8 O'Clock
p. m.
Mr.. Thomson as chief registrar for
Skowho 5an las been asked to give
public. y to the following:
TO e cry American the fact should
be bror III, home that we are at war
with IA neople waolly under the DOM
nance the most brutal government
the worlu has ever seen.
Every y, rson of every nation now
fighting under the control of Germany
should be cons idered an enemy agent
unless well known to be absolutely
loyal to the United States.
Tn eacm, $ activities in this coun-
try are directed by the shrewest per
sons. both men and women, who are
we'll yersed in the work required of
them
There are in this country thousands
and tens of thousands of individuals
who desire to see us humiliated as a
nation, and deprived Of our freedom,
and they are willing to do everything
possible to bring those things about
To meet the insidious efforts of
these evil minded and highly organ
lied and trained persons, every good
American must be alert at all times,
and be keen and active enough to
defeat all enemy purposes and actiy-
tiles
ANY disloyal act and word may have
great significance, and every such
dislogal act and enemy activity should
be Immediately communicated to Mr..
Thompson who will advise the Intelli-
gence officer, Northeastern Depart
ment, United States Army, and to the
nearest bureau of the department of
justice,
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1918-01-24
Societies VIII Give Benefit

The First Philathea Glass of the
First Baptist Church, assisted by the
Ladies Aid, will give an entertain
ment and social in the yestry next
Wednesday evening for the benefit of
the local Red Cross Chapter. The
program will be In charge of Mrs.
Philo Steward and Miss Gertrude Car
ter, and will consist of solos, choruses,
a trio, a one-act patriotic play and Il
musical tableau, In which Miss Lyon
will represent Britannia; Mrs. Brad
ley, France Miss Scott, Columbia and
Miss Whitehouse, Joan Of Arc. Mrs.
Bradley will sing 1.-THE Marseillaise'
in French and Miss Scott will sing
The Star Spangled Banner.
Angels, Red Cross nurses and sail
ors will appear in the various mum
bers During the evening a service
lag will be presented to the church
by Mrs. Minnie Murray and a United
States flag by Miss Gertrude Carter.
for the Ladies' Aid and the Philathea
respectively. Refreshments will be
served by committee from the La
dies Aid.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1918-01-24
No CIVIL CASES To
COME TO TRIAL
Lack of Coal May Make january Term
Short One

The January term of Somerset S. J
at II O'Clock with Justice Warren c
Philbrook presiding The sudden
death of Justice Madigan. who was tc
have presided. delayed the opening OF
Court by one day Following prayer
by Rev. Henry Clay Turner of the
Centenary Methodist Church, the EN-
panelling OF juries was begun and
the wheels OF law We're set in motion
for few weeks at least.
There were several attorneys pres
ent at the opening of the session
Among them were: Thomas J. Young
of Solon; George Chapman, Fairfield
James II. Thorne, Madison; Elmer W
Sawyer. North Anson; Leroy r. Fol
som. Norridgewock; Judge c. O
Small. Madison J. Howard Haley
Athens Judge r. II. Brazzell, Fair
field; County Attorney. 7. A. Ander-
SON. Pittsfeld; l.. l. Walton, S. w.
Gould Harold Phillips. Judge F. F
Lawrence, George W. Cover, a X.
Butler. Daniel Lewis, W. Folsom Mer-
rill, Edward F. Merrill, William II.
Hawes, John Lewis, Royden V. Brown,
Bingham; Harold Weeks. Fairfield
". b Brown, Madison
At the opening of the docket read
ing Attorney Cover informed the
court that members of the bar had
agreed not to bring any Civil cases
to trial this term unless it was abso-
lutely imperative 1t seems that the
coal supply at the court house is in
adequate to heat the Offices and court
room and furthermore many of the
attorneys have not had sufficient time
to prepare their cases owing to work
on Questionairies.
The docket was next read and prac-
tically all Civil cases were either dis
missed or continued until next term
Others were labelled neither party
no further action
At p IN. on Wednesday the Grand
Jury met with the County Attorney
There are few criminal eases on the
docket and il is expected the Grand
Jury will rise by Monday
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1918-01-24
Don't Trlg the Wheels!

The loafer in the corner store leap
ed to his feet and loudly swore. He
paved the air and let our squeals. He
pulled his hair and stamped his heels.
With snort and puff he raised Sam
Hill and used things rough and spill
ed the swill. The order came to
close the shops (the cause for all
these jumps and hops) We all were
asked to do our part to help things
get better start Our foreign
troops were short of buns. They
needed slugs to kill the Huns. By
holding up our work a spell would
help out more than we could tell The
loafer yelled and sung his song
THE government did all things
wrong" Good Night! Such rawlings
make me sore They help the Huns
to shed our gore, We are at war;
we'll feel the pinch. To lick the Teu-
ton Is no clnch, Get back behind
your Uncle SAM Boost and help
him. DO NOT SLAM! We're going
to see this business thru! BOOST
or SHUT UP This means YOU!
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1918-01-24
Men Needed In Aviation

Within the last week men applying
for commissions as officers in the ayi-
alton Section of the Signal Reserve
Corps, have appeared at Portland be
fore an examining Board recently ap-
pointed to hold examinations for ap-
plicants from Maine and New Hamp-
shire.
BY addressing the l. S A aviation
examining Board, SOC Congress St,
Portland, Me, information may be had
which should be of interest to young
men of good physique between IS and
80 (both inclusive). who want to serve
their country and incidentally learn to
fly.
Men somewhat older who have
technical training or business expert
ence along certain lines, may qualify
as non-fying supply officers adjutants,
etc, to the flying squadrons.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1918-01-24
STRIKERS IN MILL OF MADISON WOOLEN
co. STAGE INTERESTING SIDE SHOW
The So-called "Rats" Resented Statements With
Result That Many Appeared in Court

rant was in a way bringing a cross
suit against the plaintiff In the orig
inal case. The evidence would have
been humorous had it not seemed so
silly, but here and there were grown
men and women throwing snow at
each other, pulling each other around
and messing things up In general.
The witnesses who declared the inno-
cense of Mrs. Otis we're, Mrs. Bessie
Flaherty, Agnes Flaherty, Marion
Hagopian Hilda Nonigan, William
Withee, Edward Lafond, Herbert Per-
kins. Mr.. Edgerley.
Attorney Sawyer of North Anson,
appearing for the plaintiff, argued
that judgment should be brought for
his client but motioned that the fine
should not be heavy. Mrs. Otis was
adjudged not guilty
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1918-01-24
Money Stolen From Office

Something akin to the melodramatic
transpired in the Office of L. W. Ger
rish, superintendent of schools, re-
Gently. Mr. Gerrish placed a sum Of
money in one of the pigeon holes Of
his desk and 1t seems that this act
was witnessed by one or more boys
who were standing just outside of
the Office door.
When Mr.. Gerrish returned a little
later he found the pigeon hole all
right but the money was missing Cir
cumstantial evidence points to the
fact that the boys 'snuk' into the Of
fee during the absence of the super
intendent and made away with the
'swag'. 1t is understood that several
boys were accused of taking the
money and that part Of it has been
returned.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1918-01-24
Federal Oiicer Here Regarding Madi.
son Strike

John Howard Federal officer at
the head OF the Department of Justice
for Maine. WAS in Skowhegan. yester-
day. In conference with Sheriff Harry
l.. Goodrich Among the matters
under discussion was the Madison
strike After careful investigation.
Mr. Howard makes very optimistic
announcement II seems likely that
the matter will be settled within the
next few days
The mill is on government work.
which accounts for Mr. Howards IN
terest and authority in the matter
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1918-01-24
TWO WOODSMEN KILLED
BY ACCIDENTS
Phil Terrlo and Michael Higgins Lose
Lives In Northern Somerset

Two fatalities have occurred in the
Northern part of the county during
the past few days A man by the
name Of Phil Terrio. whose home is
said to be in Canada, was killed last
week while loading logs for the Jack
man Lumber Company. He, with
two other men, were loading logs on
a lumber train near the Jackman Sta
ton. Suddenly and without warning,
Il huge pile Of lumber slid from the
train striking the three men and bury
ing them beneath mass of logs.
Terrio was instantly killed and the
other men, whose names could not be
learned, We're badly injured, one sus-
tanning IA broken collar bone and the
other Il broken leg
A second tragedy occurred Saturday
at Camp ON Misery Stream when
Michael Higgins was killed He was
working in the woods. in the vicinity
Of the camp when falling tree struck
him down, fracturing his skull. Eel
low workmen hurried with the un-
fortunate man to Tarratine but he
died on the way to camp. lie was
about 45 years of age and former
resident Of Lewiston. The remains
were taken to that city for burial