New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-11
LINERS CAPTAIN DEAD.
krech. of Graf Wddersee, Dies an
Nid-1tlantic from Pneumonia.

The Hamburg American liner Graf Waldersee
came into port yesterday with the body OF her com
mander Captain Adalbert Krech. who died from
pneumonia in mid Atlantic on Monday Her colors
were at haIf-Iuast she came up the bay. and the
band concert deck-a custom always observed
as she warped into her pier-was omitted at the
docking yesterday
A wireless message was sent from the Lower Bay
announcing the captains death. and the usual
merrrncnt between ship and shore was suspended
over two-thrds or the cabin passenger complement
had travelled with Captain Krech before ana they
reserved their greetings friends on the pier uhuI
they came ashore.
Tho 4,cn., Of the Graf Waldersee Yesterday was
tho orIietest in the history Of the Hamburg Amer
can Line and demonstrated. as one passenger PUT
IT. that everybody liked the skipper. lh'\ h"SA'u
10 the steamer, not because she VAS the DIG ''dl
Waldersee but because they wanted to go across
With Krech"
Captain Krech took the Graf Waiders"" out OF
Hamburg on the evening Of April p Dirty wehtH'r
prevailed throughout the night going down. the
Flbe and thick fog caught him In the North
Sea Notwithstanding the fact that he was not
feeling we'll Captain Krcch insisted on remaining
on the bridge until hs put into Houlogue When
the steamer started for Plymouth on the -''' '"'
cantain again was on the bridge and stayed there
until the Waldersce put into Plymouth. The 'N-
posture to bad weather encountered on ~" run u"
Plymouth intensified his cold. and just before l"aN
Ing Plymouth Or bnhhert, the ships surgeon was
called ia 20 attend him
diagnosed the captain llil'@H ms 3'''''-
and advised that the patient should go to bed nj
once The doctor had hardly left when Captain
Krech had 81 severe hemorrhaS". After recovering
from the attack hc again went 10 the or''Re, &c
claring against an eutrcatI"s mat Dee """t" '"N'
the Graf WIidersee out OF Plymouth before he
would lie down.
The faithful skipper stayed in his room FOR two
DAVIS and then In dorium went up into Inc
chartroorn and assumed command 'hici 'ihc'f
wagner. who was making his hrst trip on the
tom 10 ntE
comm, r,ler 10 20 below. but Captain krech was
obstinate and declined to take orders from D."
subordinate officer Or Lnhher was calIed 'h' ana
ON his advice Captain Kroch was taken 4" ms 'A"h'
where he was guarded uutl he dcd on Monday
chief Officer Wagner assumed command "i 'h'
steamer and brought hor To port
Captain Krech was known as the father OF the
~ o., Thousands of persons In America and abroad
who made frequent trips across IN" Atlantic would
take no other steamer when they could book pas
eag. with Captain Krech lie was known 1" every
transatlantic captain. and was as popular with
then. as with his passengers one of his closest
friends was Captain Kaenpn. of the Deutschland,
who served with him In the German navy.
While celebrating mis- birthday in Hamburg last
March CAPTAIN Krech sent thu following wireless
message 10 the Deutschland, then nearly IN mid
Atlantic KacmpG am NM my t?uF To-Day come
back and haye drink %ith i nG humorous wire
5i.m , ms 70 the CAPTAINS OF the Transatlantic
itnerS as he passed them going To and from Ham
1IrE, Errcb on The voyage just ended aud when
the news Of his death was flashed pac" the iitHs
s!ontain Krech was born il Berlin in 1855 and
US educated at the Friedrich Gymnasium. OF
wbS his father was director He served IN the
German navy and entered the sery5cr Of the Ham
49, rnrrcan Line I'm March. 1883. as a fourth
~ ~ - lie vas promoted 10 the rank of captain
IN lsg1 taking command Of the ASkanla He com
1''andad later five six ~ the Ham burg American
a., among them the Blhcher and the Cpufnbia
on his return to Hamburg '%ptIin krtrh v as
70 have laid IF for several weeks and then take
command of the now Hamburg American ln,r th ne
praeidant Grant Captain KreCh leaves n wife ard
10 enns one Of whom is professor OF chemistry
o"d is now On his TO this port on the kafc'ln
AnqIIstn Victoria. which is due here on sunday
one of the most notable commands 9gia 10y ZAP ZAP
cr5roiesion on the Valdvid to make chartinss and
sot-udiugS