The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1936-09-10
War Nelvs Writer Is
Arrested For Spy
Continued from Page u

Vainly to get to the city on tne
American destroyer Kane. Officers
decided that I might take up room
needed for one last refugee. I had
to get fishing boat. The first 10
shippers refused to take me be-
cause small rebel boats are patroll-
ing the coast and challenging all
craft, but the 10th agreed.
Hard to Get Out
1t was easy enough, found, to
get in; the problem was getting out.
Captain Eskerra and his crew, whose
name seemed to be Honbre, got me
to San Sebastian in their blue cookie
shell boat, Nadine. In the harbor
we were told to pull up to the in
spection deck. There our papers
were examined and we were per-
mitted to enter. I strolled through
the town. First passed an old fort,
unarmed, unused for hundreds OF
years, and casually strolled into 1t.
That came near losing my life Tor
me. I walked on into the city, pass
ing the Casino In the heart OF town
and then the military commandery.
Put Under Arrest
thought 1t good idea to get
an interpreter, as things looked un-
easy so I returned to the port to
find my fishermen. They had
gone. I asked a militiaman nearby
what had happened to them. He
poked a revolver into my ribs and
said: you're just the man we're
looking for"
He took me into guardhouse
near the port to be questioned. MY
Pidgin Spanish seemed unequal to
the occasion, but showed my Amer
lean passport with Its Spanish visa.
It made no impression. They asked
for a military pass. OF course, I
had none. I asked why I was being
held.
Didn't Like His Looks
1--WE don't like your looks" was
the reply. I'VE think you are q sus-
picious character" Only when an
English speaking militia captain
arrived did I find was charged
with being a spy - the old fort.
you'll probably be shot about .
o'clock this afternoon" the captain
told me pleasantly. My poor Span
ish became voluble and Its disorder
seemed to persuade the captain that
I was probably not an actual Span
ish rebel. Still, he said, he favored
shooting me. He explained that san
Sebastian was full Of rebel spies
posing as Basque fishermen. per-
suaded the captain to call the
French consul, there being no Amer
lean consul. The consul suggested
that as a sign of good faith, I offer
to ferry at boatload Of child refugees
back to st. Jean De Luz. the cap
tain found the Nadine, examined us
papers and grudgingly consented to
my release.
Four Hours In Dread
had been four hours under the
capital charge of being spy. Mos'
of that time I felt the muzzle OF q
revolver TANNED into my stomach
On the other end Of the revolver
was a youth of about 10. He looked
lust as nervous as was ana
could not help feeling that ne
might pull the trigger at any time
lust by accident. None OF my cap
tors showed much faith IN my m
tegrity. you're getting of tins
time" one told me as my basque
fishermen hastily showed the Nadine
from the dock, afraid they mignl
be seized and shot. Don't SHOW
your face here again or Wen pul
you in prison and forget yours
there"
Miserable Return Trip
It was a miserable trip back. We
had abroad seven children, the olu'
I est II, belonging to loyalist fanny
Of prominence one OF whose granu-
mothers is a refugee here az ~
Jean De Luz. All the seven chill
dren were seasick. We did not com.
plain because we were SO glad =
get away from the impulsiye guarus
Young communist boys IN the guaru.
house. We had TO run withoul
lights because the rebels m toF'
Guadalupe were firing at Gil SNIP
ping and rebel boats were LOOKING
/ for blockade runners. We near,
collided with one boat which showee
small red light. Men IN the BOA
shouted 70 us 10 put about ens
gave chase. We flung the ckildrei
into the bottom OF the boat, IN cas-
OF shooting, put the motor ct Iu'
speed ahead and got away.