Ashland weekly tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1919-1924, 1921-02-02
American Red Cross
officer Tells of His
Capture By The Reds

|
Fitzpatrick, the American Red Cross
officer who was taken prisoner by
the Budenny Cavalry In South Russia
In October while working With Cen
eral Wrangel's ant~Bolshevist, has
sent out an account of his capture
The story was giyal rs ain verbally
to his interpreter, Miss Irene Knia,e-
witch, who was captured at tie sam
time, but escaped End who has Just
arrived in Constantinople. II mad
been reported that Fitzpatrick had
been escorted to the border, but later
,advices were that in December he had
been returned to Jail In Moscow. Kill
patrick's home is In Alabama 1ed he
Served with an Alabama unit In the
World War. The Alabama division
demanded that President Wilson take
steps to release Captain Fitzpatrick
"even though it takes an army of ten
millions of US to do IT," The follow
ing story by Fitzpatrick of his cap
ture was given out by the American
Red Cross at Constantinople:
BY Capt. Emmett Fitzpatrick, of the
American Red Cross.
written for the United Press.)
We left Thedosia on October "a in
a box car assigned to the American
Red Cross for. relief work. l had re-
ceived letter from General koute-
pOff, inviting Inc to come north 10
his headquarters and make an exam
ination Of conditions among the civil
Ian population there. After a two
days journey northward We arrived
at Rickavo, where we left the box
car and went by an auto to the village
of Sicragousy and thence to Roga-
check. We had spent two days in
our work OF inspection of health COLI
ditions when we were notified tnat
conditions had tightened and
1t would be impossible for the military
authorities to guarantee our safety.
We were therefore ordered to retire
and drosky was furnished to take
us back to Rlckova. After thirty
four hours of travel we reached Rick
bva and rejoined our box-car, which
was attached to a train going south
ward.
Shortly before five o'clock in the
evening we reached Novo-Alexevka.
There was Il wait In the station and
VIC were just starting to pull out when
there came the sound Of guns. /
saw that the train was surrounded by
a nOndescript group of cavalrymen,
evidently members of the Budenny
Scouts. One Of the Russian Red
Cross orderlies, who constituted the
crew Of our relief car turned pale
and whispered hoarsely, I'VE are sur
rounded by Bolshevists." l told him
not to worry; that was an American
and that our car was protected by
the American Red Cross insignia.
One of the cavalrymen came to the
door of the car and ordered us all
to line up outside. A group of guards.
armed with swords and revolvers,
surrounded ps. | explained to the
group that we were Red Cross work.
ers, and l claimed for them all the
rights and privileges of their human
itarian mission.
but you are helping the White
Army" interrupted one of the SOL
diers.
| told him that we would help a
wounded man, no matter what his
political or religious or military
creed.
There was short discussion among
the soldiers and it was finally decided
TO bundle us off along with every
body else aboard the train, which
consisted largely of military cars.
Some of the soldiers went through
my pockets and my baggage. taking
Whatever pleased their fancy. The
first searcher took my watch and
money-about a million roubles In
Russion paper money. A group of
soldiers asked If had any arms on
ammunition aboard the car. said
l had nothing of the kind, but only
drugs. medicines and little food.
They searched the car for arms but
found none. One soldier fancied my
eyeglasses and took them off my
nose. Another took my ring and
some French and American money
which the first man bad ovarlook ad