New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-05-10
KINDRED OF THE SEA.
american and German Meet in
MidOc90H.

CBy sailor the Z s Training ship Hartford)
We had been ten DAYS out from Madeira. bound
for Porto Rico We had run down to about the
twentieth parallel in search Of the trade winds
The moon. at it's fun. had risen almost with
setting Of the sun. and great stream of pale
silver light quivered in wake 1t was just
after the supper hour-that period OF leisure on
board ship-and our crew over five hundred
strong thFonged the deck of the United States
training ship Hartford Farragut's famous old
flagship returning home from a winter practice
cruise in the Mediterranean
Far down on the southwark on the horizon. and
bound TO cross our wake, appeared the lofty out
lines OF a full rigged ship the first had sighted
in many days. every stitch Of canvas set and
swelling in the breeze We had been watching her
for an hour or more until gradually. the ap-
preaching shadows Of night deepened and the
glow Of the setting grew less and less. her
outline became fainter and fainter shadowy. still
more shadowy until gradually blending with the
haze of evening, it disappeared at last altogether
from view
Presently the watch officer cried out: Il thought
7 saw white light flash from where the ship
ought to be! There it is again. and almost as he
spoke it faded and disappeared in the darkness
What could it be- Perhaps the glsten Of the
moon her white canvas; perhaps q light 20 lure
fishes from the sea- or yet a signal OF distress
No; there IL is again. this time long continued,
plainly visible the naked eye-"a tar barrel;
they are burning a tar barrel" signal Of dis
tress-a signal for aid-and yet ali is peaceful
and the night and tranquil What can II
mean? Perhaps they short OF water-pernaps
some one desperately i'll board. and they want
q surgeon from steamer for steamers nova
DAYS nearly always carry one); perhaps they need
provisions; perhaps they have sprung n leak
thousand and one possibilities. But they need as
sistance by their signal. and without moments
delay our captain ordered the helm 70 star0oarc
and the great ship slowly swung about 70 port
eight points to the southwark toward our kin
dred Of the sea She. too. bore more into the
wind and 50 gradually we drew toward eacn
other nearer and nearer until her hshts shons
distinct and her outline was clearly defined in the
now brilliant moonlight
Now silence deck. and the order rang OUT
sharp and distinct: stand by to clear the life
boat Make ready to lower The approaching
shin was now close 20 our port bow. Stin she
made no effort 20 heave to. but IL anything rather
squared away on her course Strange she does
not hail us TRY her" ordered the captain
HAIL her with the megaphOne-"
ship ahoy, Can we be Of any assistance
. Net came back the answer; we did not know
you were a Of war
I'VE saw your light and thought you sigualed
for assistance"
NO. thank you; we saw your light. and thought
YOU needed assistance and 50 bore down"
NO: many thanks"
Same TO you
same to you What is your nationality"
German"
And our ships band struck up the German
tiOnaI anthem. while the sailors OF the ship some
thirty in number. gathered on her poop and gave
us three rousing cheers which were returned with
a will b. our boys. and band played ~Colurn-
bia'' as the German squared away on her course
and passed ike vision across the rays Of the
rising
But again we followed her. and running tr under
her stern hailed her: We are The United States
ship Hartford: what ship your
The Ariadne OF Bremen. bound home" came
the answer and with a farewell bon voyage the
Hartford swung away upon her course 10 tho
westward while the seaman band struck up Die
Wacht am Rheln' with again three rOUsng cheers
from the Ariadne's and three answering
ones from five hundred lusty threats. and
passed on toward the setting sun-she into the
rising, moon with her great spread OF white
vas elstening Ike vision IN the sfivery light
She had mistaken the electric lights OF band
for a signal Of distress. Her answering light
had thought the same Each had gone miles out
Of her course 10 aid the other. International
episode happily ended-a pleasing contretemps be-
tween kindred CT the sea. German and American
At