Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-08-14
HAS INTERESTING
STORY OF VOYAGE
TO TELL FRIENDS
Carl P. Osterman Returns From
European Trip on Board
Steamer Mauretania.
SAW BATTLESHIP FLEET
Passengers Were Frightened by Ru-
mors of Threatened Attack
All Lights Put Out.

c. r. Osterman, 1896 Fourteenth
street, has arrived in the city after an
exciting trip over the Atlantic ocean
and North sea from Sweden. Mr.. Os-
terman left England before hostilites
began and although his trip was not
interrupted by the war as was the
case of the tourists who left at a later
date, he has some interesting MARIA
tives to relate.
He left Gutenberg, Sweden, July 20,
and he heard talk of the possibilities
of war at that time. On the North sea
he saw a feet of AZ battleships. COM
prised of dreadnaughts. cruisers and
torpedo boats, supposed to be Ger
many's fleet. The steamer arrived at
Greensby. England, July 81. The pas
sengers went by rail TO Liverpool. en-
barking on the Mauretania, July 81. A
band concert had been arranged for
the passengers for Wednesday night
Aug. ., and programs for same We're
issued. However, the captain an
nounced that the event would be post
poned. but gave no reason, although
passengers later learned that the war
situation was probably the reason.
A daily paper is printed on the boat,
the. news being received by the wire
less route. 1t was in this paper that
the passengers received the first news
that England and Germany had declar-
ed war. The boat was steamed up to
about 30 knots an hour, and at night
all lights were put out, and windows
in the staterooms painted so as to
emit no light. Rumors were af1oat
among the passengers that two Ger
man warships were pursuing the
steamer.
Course Is Changed.
Mr.. Osterman was sitting on the
deck about II O'Clock Wednesday
night. Aug. >. The sky was clear and
the moon was to the north of the boat.
Suddenly the big steamer gave
lurch. and it seemed for A moment or
two that the boat would turn over
When Osterman looked at the sky
again the moon was to the south of
the steamer. the course of the boat
having been changed. The next morn
ing he saw notices posted to the eff
feet that circumstances made it nee
essary for the steamer to land at Hall
fax. Canada, but the notice gave no
reasons.
As the Mauretania neared the har-
Dor of Halifax, Thursday morning. two
Canadian warships came out to meet
her. The gunboats circled around the
steamer several times before she was
allowed to proceed to the port and
anchor On Friday large side wheel
er excursion boat, with several thou
sand people aboard came out in the
harbor and large brass band aboard
played the English national airs. CrrIis-
ers. fishing sloops, and hundreds OF
other kinds of boats. including several
big liners from other companies. came
into the harbor and anchored. On
Saturday all American citizens on board
were told that they could leave. They
were all put in smaller boats. but had
proceeded only a short distance from
the Mauritania when they were order
ed back TO the steamer Ii was sun
day night before the party reached
Halifax. taking a train at midnight.
Mr.. Osterman reached Rock Island by
way of Detroit and Chicago. All pas
sengers were well treated by the
steamship company officials and pro
yided with a lunch bag on the train.
Five Germans. four men and one
woman. were held on the Mauritania,
and several Canadian soldiers took
them from the liner on Saturday.
I Mr.. Osterman considered himself
lucky indeed, to have left Europe be-
fore the hostilities commenced.