The Columbus journal., 1909-03-10

highways 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 battle ship been in
action when overcome by the enemy.
There was nothing above or below
Offering a key to the enigma.
Puzzled and overcome, the patrol
men took temporary charge of the
ship, while boat hurried away. from
the miniature flotilla, carrying a de-
tailed report to the admiralty, where
the news was received with amaze
ment no less than that which had
brought the crowd on the embank-
ment. Subordinates of departments
called for their tardy superiors, tele-
phone bells tangled, and British
phlegm gave way to excitement; but
even In this remarkable state prece-
dent was maintained and routine OBJ
served, SO that from man to man. 60
ing constantly upward. the report
reached the first lord of the admiralty.
Then for the first time it was
learned that this high and mighty Of
fetal 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
ceremony inquiries were instituted for
him. This caused an investigation
in gray old Buckingham. which spread
until it came to the head of govern
ment, when it became known. that not
only was the navaI officer missing, but
no less a parsonage than the king of
England as well.
IN great disasters by sea or land
where swift Death ravages, men cry
aloud in their excitement and dis
tress; but when a calamity threatens
a nation and king is involved, they
seek to hide their emotions. Hence
it was that in the palace men came
hurriedly together without words to
those around. and in whispers ex-
pressed their anxiety. 1t was recalled
with alarm that the kaiser had left
his palace in an equally unceremonious
manner. decoyed by a stranger, and
enticed into the night Nor was his fate
as 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 we're doubted and
paced under temporary detention un-
til the king should return to prove
that they were not in a 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 conclusion was in
stantly formed that England's mon.
arch was probably in as great jeop-
ardy 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 pos
sible protection even for the heads of
government and society?
In the Offices of the admiralty those
of more or less prominence in the de-
partment held conference and de-
tailed men to take charge of the
DreaGnought. There could be no at
tempt to rehabilitate her at that time.
inasmuch as it would be impossible
ever again to bring her into service
without destroying a span CT the
bridge below; therefore no coronecs