Sixteen Months in Four German Prisons | Page 2

post-cards to me, but none
had reached me; most likely they had been intercepted and suppressed
by the German authorities.
The letter intimated that he had prepared a voluminous account of his
experiences. Two or three days later I learned from another source that
he had been "having a hard, rough, and exciting time," and that he
could relate one of the most fascinating and sensational stories
concerning the treatment meted out to our compatriots by the German
authorities. I also learned that a closely written diary and a mass of
other papers were on their way to me; that they were in safe keeping
just over the frontier, the bearer waiting patiently for the most
favourable moments to smuggle them into safety. This diary and other
documents contained material which he desired me to make public with
all speed in order to bring home to the British public a vivid impression
of what our fellow-countrymen were suffering in the German prison
camps.
The papers never reached me. Why, is related in the following pages. In
prosecuting discreet enquiries to discover their whereabouts I learned,
early in October 1915, that "Mahoney will be home before Christmas."
My informant declined to vouchsafe any further particulars beyond the
cryptic remark, "He's got something smart up his sleeve."
Knowing full well that my friend was a man of infinite resource and
initiative I was not surprised to learn a week or two later that
"Ruhleben knew Mahoney no longer." He had got away. His plans had
proved so successful as to exceed the sanguine anticipations which he
had formed.
On December 9, 1915, the day after his return to his wife and children,
who had been keyed up to the highest pitch of excitement by the
welcome news, we met again. His appearance offered convincing
testimony as to the privations he had suffered, but I was completely
surprised by the terrible tale he unfolded.
When the story narrated in the following pages was submitted to the
publishers they received it with incredulity. After making enquiries

concerning Mr. Mahoney's credentials they accepted his statements as
being accurate, but my friend, to set the matter beyond all dispute,
insisted upon making a statutory declaration as to their accuracy in
every detail.
People in these islands were stirred to profound depths of horror by the
cold-blooded murders of Nurse Cavell and Captain Fryatt, of whose
trials nothing was heard until the sentences had been executed. A
certain amount of curiosity has been aroused concerning the Teuton
methods of conducting these secret trials. Henry C. Mahoney passed
through a similar experience, although he escaped the extreme penalty.
Still, the story of his trial will serve to bring home to the public some
idea of the manner in which Germany strives to pursue her campaign of
frightfulness behind closed doors.
FREDERICK A. TALBOT.

CONTENTS
PRISON ONE--WESEL
CHAPTER PAGE
I. ARRESTED AS A SPY 11
II. COMMITTED TO WESEL PRISON 29
III. HOW GERMANY DRIVES HER PRISONERS MAD 44
IV. MY SECRET MIDNIGHT TRIAL 60
V. WAITING TO BE SHOT 74
PRISON TWO--SENNELAGER
THE BLACK HOLE OF GERMANY

VI. OUR "LUXURIOUS HOTEL" 91
VII. BREAKING US IN AT SENNELAGER 105
VIII. BADGERING THE BRITISH HEROES AT MONS 119
IX. THE PERSECUTION OF THE PRIESTS 136
X. TYING PRISONERS TO THE STAKE--THE FAVOURITE
PUNISHMENT 148
XI. THE REIGN OF TERROR 165
XII. THE REIGN OF TERROR--CONTINUED 180
XIII. "THE BLOODY NIGHT OF SEPT. 11" 196
XIV. THE GUARDIAN OF THE CAMP 209
XV. THE AFTERMATH OF THE 11TH 225
PRISON THREE--KLINGELPUTZ
XVI. FREE ON "PASS" IN COLOGNE 237
XVII. RE-IMPRISONED AT KLINGELPUTZ 253
PRISON FOUR--RUHLEBEN
XVIII. THE CAMP OF ABANDONED HOPE 266
XIX. ORGANISING THE COMMUNAL CITY OF RUHLEBEN 280
XX. HOW I MADE MONEY IN RUHLEBEN CAMP 301

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
The Author as he appeared on the Day of his Release from Ruhleben

Frontispiece FACE PAGE
"The Bloody Night of September 11, 1914" 198
The Aftermath of the "Bloody Night" 226
Facsimile of the Pass issued by the German authorities to the Author on
his leaving Sennelager for Cöln-on-Rhein 238

PRISON ONE--WESEL
CHAPTER I
ARRESTED AS A SPY
"Start August First. Book tickets immediately."
Such were the instructions I received at Brighton early in July, 1914,
from Prince ----. A few days previously I had spent considerable time
with this scion of the Russian nobility discussing the final arrangements
concerning my departure to his palace in Russia, where I was to devote
two months to a special matter in which he was deeply interested, and
which involved the use of special and elaborate photographic apparatus,
microscopes, optical lantern and other accessories. I may mention that
the mission in question was purely of scientific import.
During the discussion of these final arrangements a telegram was
handed to the Prince.