FLIGHT FROM ANTWERP.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1307, 13 May 1915, Page 3

FLIGHT FROM ANTWERP.

SHIP’S COOK WITH A RECORD.

MEDALS FOR BRAVERY. James Patterson, a steward aboard the barque Invernesshire, which is now in port at Fremantle, has had a most extraordinary career. Thirty years ago he was steward aboard the gunboat Protector, then owned by the South Australian Government. Later on he was second cook on board the Orient liner Austral when she capsized in. Sydney Harbour, and for bravery in connection with this incident he was given the Victoria Albert medal. He also holds the Leopold second medal,, presented by King Leopold of Belgium, for rescuing a woman and four children in Antwerp. Subsequently he went to the Continent, and got on so well that he soon owned the celebrated Cafe Francaise in Antwerp, for which he refused £20,000. Before the war he married a Belgian lady. The bombardment of Antwerp, of course, destroyed his business, and he had to flee. Before that for several days he and thousands of other people took refuge in cellars. One day he ventured out into the street. He could hear the terrific shrieks of huge projectiles, and as his gaze travelfed down the street he was horrified to see a shell strike a Russian Finn, and completely sever his legs from the body. Thousands of terrified people, including hysterical women and crying children, were rushing down to the quays, and in the crush Patterson became parted from his wife and three children with but 3d in his pocket. He ultimately made his way across to England with thousands of other refugees too proud to accept charity, and for some time he was able to make enough money on Liverpool docks to keep himself in food and also pay for his nightly shelter. One day he met a companion in distress, a gentleman who had also lost a big fortune in Antwerp. The latter had not a penny, but Patterson was the possessor of half a crown, and this he shared with his friend. From the time he became separated from his wife Patterson was unable to get into communication with her or his family; but since arriving at Fremantle he has heard, through an English clergyman, that his wife is under the care of a doctor in Holland. The Invernesshire steward is a fine linguist. He speaks no less than eight languages, including Gaelic, and he is also a prominent Freemason. He shares the honour with another of being the founder of the first British Freemason lodge in Belgium. Three of his elder sons are at the war; one is serving as an engineer officer on board a British submarine, another is serving with the French army, while the third is with the Belgian army.