A MUSICAL REFUGEE

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2267, 29 September 1914, Page 6

A MUSICAL REFUGEE

STORY OF A FLIGHT Howard Wells, tho Chicago pianist end pedagogue,' wlio has tail in Europe seven years, making lii.s headqiiarters in Berlin, returned to Ms own country (says the New York "Mimical Courier" of August 10) last week on the steamship Philadelphia. Jlr. Wells tolls a remarkable interesting story of hie cxpcrioncoK and adventures abroad. "When the political disturbances bcgivu

between Austria and Servia, I kept a sharp eye on tho situation, and, being interested in politics" (said Mr. Wells), "I was enabled to see which way the wind was blowing. As soon as it became apparent to mo that Germany would go to war in case of the rejection of its ultimatum by Russia, I made ni.Y arrangements to leave the city; as a matter of fact, 1 accomplished my departure just, ono hour before war was declared officially. I had only two dress-suit cases, and I caught the last train which left Berlin before the Government dedicated all the railroads to the transporting of troops. Conditions in Berlin before I left were very bad so far as Americans were concerned. I tried to got some supplies to take on my journey, such as coffee, tea, bread, butter, ct<;., but could not securo then., for. I had only paper money, and nobody would accept it. The largest bill that tho shops were willing to change was fivo marks. 'Hie day I left tho Reischbauk had announced to tho public that they would give gold for paper money, and I went there in order to get tome currency. However, when I reached the building I found thousands of people standing outside and cluttering the streets for many blocks around. In fact, there was such a vast crowd .that tho Reischbank .. officials became doubtful about opening the bank, and I thereupon left, and have not found out since whether the gold was paid out as promised. I had' not much difficulty in reaching Harwich, England. The harbour' was lined with English warships to the number of forty or fifty."I arrived in London on' August 2 with about five pounds in English money and some Gorman money in my possession. . No one would take tho German money. My English money was soon gone, and it was duo to the Reneros'ity of Mary Munschhoff, tho well known singing teacher of Omaha, that I was enabled to get a bit of, money for necessities. She" very generously: loaned me three pounds, and >jlso helped out some other Americans who were as destitute as myself. In order to secure sufficient money to' engage a steerage passage on the Philadelphia, I had to leave my watch as security. However, I felt that in spite of the various discomforts I had to inconvenience, I was extremely fortunate, and I have no complaint to make.