Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1919-01-30
CHAPTER XIV.
Back in the States.

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After l arrived at Rorschach / was
taken to a large hall, where l re-
manned we night. There were three
American flags on the walls, the first
1 had seen in a long time. l certainly
did a fine job of sleeping that night.
/ think I slept twice as fast to make
up for lost time.
In the morning / had a regular ban
quet for breakfast-eggs, coffee, bread
and a small glass of wine. Even now,
although l pass up a meal, that
breakfast is still easy to taste, and l
sometimes wish I could enjoy another
meal as much. But ! guess / never
shall have one that goes as good.
After breakfast they took me out on
the steps of the hall and photographed
me, after which / went to the railway
station, with a young mob at my heels.
1t reminded me a bit of Germany-it
was so different. Instead of bricks
and bayonet jabs. the mob gave me
cigarettes and chocolate and sand
wiches. They also handed me ques-
tions-enough to keep me busy an
swering to this day if / could.
1 got on the train to Zurich, and at
every stop on the way there were more
presents and more cameras and more
questions. At st. Gallen they had
cards ready for me to write on, and
then they were going to send them to
anybody l wished. The station at
Zurich was packed with people, and
began to think ! was a star for sure.
Francis B. Keene, the American con-
sui general at Zurich, and his assist
ant, were there to meet me. We
walked a few blocks to his Office, and
all the way the cameras were clicking
and the chocolates and cigarettes pill
ing up until / felt like Santa Claus on
December oath. After a little talk
with Mr.. Keene, he took me to the
Stussehof hotel, where my wounds
were dressed--and believe me, they
needed it.
The Swiss certainly treated me well
Every time I came out on the streets
they followed me around, and they
used to give me money. But the money
might just as well have been leather
or lead-I could not spend it. When
ever 1 wanted to buy anything thu
shopkeeper would make me a presen'
of 1t.
/ also visited the Hotel Baur au Lac
the home Of Mr.. and Mrs. Harold Nc
Cormick of Chicago, who are doint
such fine work with the Red Crosi
and are looking after the Belgian ant
French refugees in Switzerland. /
was a dinner, and much appreciates
by n guest, at least. / need not men
ton his name, but he ate so much tina
he felt ashamed afterward.
l do not think he got in bad for II
though, for afterward Mr.. and Mrs
Mccormick each gave him a valuabl
present, which he needed badly. Afte
the dinner Mrs. Mccormick made a lit
tie patriotic speech, in which she salt
that the Huns would never trample Of
the United States flag, and some othe
things that made all the American
there very proud, especially Mr.. Keen
and myself. So you see / was havin
a great time.
ButI was having a little trouble, al
the time, for this reason: there wer
quite a few Germans interned in "
rich, and they went about In uniform
Now, when l saw n Of these bird
and remembered what had been haI
, pening 10 me just q short time befor
my hands began to itch. Believe N,
1t was not good morning" that
said to them. ! enjoyed 1t all right
they were not in squads and had u
arms, so 1t was hand to hand, and pi
for me.
: But Mr.. Keene did not like II,
guess, for he called me to his ofic
t morning and bawled me out for
r while. and / promised to be goo
you're supposed to be neutral" b
said. And I said. Eyes, and when