Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-11-03

though the reader had desired to keep his
place and had stepped away from it on
sudden call In the galleys of this great float
:ng home pots, pans, and kettles were placed
in orderly array in their racks,-no thrifty
housewife could have left her kitchen in bet
ter state. In the chart room the traced high
ways of the oceans bed were drawn up in
their closed cases, and the hoists were not
loaded or Uttered with ammunition as would
have been the case had the battleship been in
action when overcome by the enemy. There
was nothing above or below offering key to
the enigma.
Puzzled and overcome, the patrolmen took
temporary charge of the ship while boat
hurried away from the miniature f1otilla, carry
ing detailed report to the Admiralty where
the news was received with amazement no
less than that which had brought the crowd
ON the embankment. Subordinates of depart
ments called for their tardy superiors tele-
phone bells tangled, and British phlegm gave
way to excitement; but even in this remar ka-
bic state precedent was maintained and routine
observed, so that from man to man, going con-
Stantly upward, the report reached the hrst
Lord of the Admiralty.
Then for the first time it was learned that
this high and mighty official was missing from
his home, and had been summoned to the
palace in the night. No delay could be brooked
in an event so startling, and with due cere-
'mony inquiries were instituted for him. This
caused an investigation in gray old Bucking-
ham, which spread until it came to the head
of Government, when it became known that
not only was the naval officer missing, but no
} less parsonage than the King of England as
well
In great disasters by sea or land where swift
Death ravages, men cry aloud in their excite
'ment and distress; but when a calamity
threatens nation and a King IS involved,
they seek to hide their emotions. Hence it
was that in the palace men came hurr1edly
together without words to those around, and
in whispers expressed their anxiety. 1t was
recalled with alarm that the Kaiser had left
his palace in an equally unceremon1ous man
ner, decoyed by stranger, and enticed into
the night. Nor was his fate uncertain or
with more ground for question, because there
he had been traced to a carriage which had
driven away The King of England had gone
into his garden, and the guards at the gates
swore he had not passed the portals which
they watched. And for their pains they were
doubted and placed under temporary deten-
ton until the King should return to prove that
they were not in conspiracy against the State
Perhaps the alarm would have been less
keen were it not for the tale of the Kaiser;
but the cases were so parallel that the concu-
sion was instantly formed that England
monarch was probably in great jeopardy
as his fellow ruler who had now been gone for
many DAYS. The mobiles looked at one another
askance, and asked what times were these
when no person might be so august as to be
immune from seizure. Where was the limit
to be reached? What could be expected next!
Was there no possible protection even for the
heads of Government and society?
In the offices of the Admiralty those of
more or less prominence in the department
held conference and detailed men to take
charge of the Dreadnought There could be
no attempt to rehabil1tate her at that time,
inasmuch as it would be impossible ever again
to bring her into service without destroying
span of the bridge below; therefore no cor
oners inquest could have convened with more
solemnity than did those who took
charge of and boarded this great dead thing
of the
A derect cast upon an open sandy beach
offered more chance of salvage than the
greatest vessel of the greatest navy OF the
walled in And while she lay in this state of
helplessness there was forming round English
shores a formidable flotilla of other war vessels
flying the British flag which had been sum-
the mother country from German invasion or