The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1918-06-10

q useful when swimming rivers. for
carried my map snd = few other b.
a longings In II and I had fully mad
4 up my mind 10 bring il home AS ,
2 souvenir. But the farther wrn
: the heavier my extra clothing became
, so I was compelled 10 discard eyci
| the cap. knew that Il would be ,
teil-tale mark II l simply threw 4
away. So one night after swimming Z
river. ] dug a hole In the soft mud OF
7 the hank and buried IL. too. with con
sIderably less ceremony than my ny'
Ing mlttens had received perhaps: se
} that was the end OF my Havarian hat
: My experieuce nj the Belgian;
house whetted my appetite for more
food and | figured that what had been
done once could be done again
Sooner or later. ! realized would
probably approach Belgian and ind
a German instead. but Ia such cou.
tlngency l was determined TO meas.
ure my strength against the Huns II
necessary TO effect my escape
As IL was. however. most of the Bel
glans 10 whom applied for food gave
IL TO me readily enough. and II some
Of them refused me IL was only be
cause they feared l might be a spy
or that the Germans would shoot them
II their action were subsequently
found out.
About the fifth day after had en-
tered Belgium l was spending the day
as usual in ciump Of bushes when |
discerned In the distance what ap-
pearrd to be something hanging on a
line. All day long | strained my eyes
trying 10 decide what II could be aud
arguing With myself that II might be
something that ! could add Il my In
adequate wordrobe. bur the distance
was so great that could not identify
IT, | had a great fear that before
night came II would probably be re-
moved.
As soon as darkness fell. however.
cawled out Of my hiding place and
worked up TO the line and got pair
Of overalls for my Industry. The pair
OF oyeralls WAS the first biz Of civil
ian clothes had thus far picked up
with the exception OF civilian cap
which l had found ar the prison and
concealed on my person and which
siill had. The oyeralls were rather
small and very short. but when | put
them on | found that they hung down
far enough TO cover my breeches.
II was perhaps three days later that
| planned 10 search another house for
further clothes. Entering Belgian
houses AT night is anything bot safe
proposition. because their families are
large aud sometimes as many as seven
or eight sleep in a single room. The
barn is usually connected with the
house proper. and there was always
the danger Of disturbing soms dumb
animal even n the inmates Of the
house We're not aroused.
Frequently took chance Of
searching back yard at night In the
hope OF finding food scraps. but my
success in that direction was so slight i
] Z
worth the risk and I cont nued 10 4
live on raw vegetables that / could
pick with safety In the fields and the
occasional meal that was able TO get
from the Belgian peasants In the day
time.
Nevertheless I was determined TO
get more In the way Of clothing and
when night came picked out a house
that looked as though II might furnish
me with what wanted. II was
night and IL could get in
the barn would have a fair chance OF
Ending my way around by the NOON
light which would enter the windows.
The barn adjolned the main part OF
he house. but l groped around very (
,arefully and soon I touched some
hing hanging on a peg. didn't
know what IL was. but l confscated
I and carried II out into the fields.
There In the moonlight I examined {
ny booty and found that II was an old
'oat. II was too short for an over
'oat and too long for an ordinary I
cat. but nevertheless I made use OF |
{. II had probably been an overcoat |
or the Belgian who had worn II. I
Some days later got a scarf from !
Belgian peasant and with this equip !
nent was able TO conceal my uni
orm entirely.
Later on. however. ! decided that 1t
Fas too dangerous 20 keep the uniform
q anyway and when night came l
ug a hole and buried It.
1 never realized until had 10 part
nth II just how much I thought Of
hat uniform II had been with me 4
hrough hard trials and felt as II q
ere abandoning a friend when I I
arted with II. was tempted to keep
be wings OF the tunic. but thought
rat would be a dangerous concession
, sentiment In the event that | Was
yer captured II was the only dis
notion I had left. as I had given
he Royal Flying Corps badges and
le stars OF my rank TO the German
ying officers as souvenirs. but ! felt
nat n was safer TO discard IL. As
finally turned out. through all my
lbsequent experiences. my escape
culd never have been Jeopardized
I'd I kept my uniform but. Of course,
beA n, floa n,A.s 60, a., - a. :