Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-08-22


day afternoon with Mr.. Ernstberger
from Halifax, and passed several
hours in the city, the guests of Mr..
and Mrs. c. E. Hespler of 40 West
Winter street. Mrs. Ernstberger is the
first European war refugee to reach
WaterviIle. A typical German woman
: of apparently 80, with the pleasant
Z wholesome personality characteristic
of the Teutonic people, she seemed
overjoyed in being back in America
again. Her landing at Halifax on the
Allen Line steamer Mongolia of 1000
tons brought to close very import
ant series of incidents in her life. The
rigid immigration laws now being en-
forced offered a great deal of diff
Guilty in getting back into this coun-
try. Carroll N. Perkins of this city
accompanied Mr.. Ernstberger who
has been in the United States five
years, and consequently has only his
first naturalization papers. to Halifax
and facilitated his admission and re-
turn from Canada.
Story to Reporter
During a short time passed at the
railroad station Friday afternoon Mr.,
and Mrs. Ernstberger told their story
to a Kennebec journal reporter. Their
enthusiasm at again being with
friends and knowing they were beyond
all harm and molestation. kindled
their vivid descriptions of the little
German womans experience on land
and sea. Being obliged to pawn her
beautiful diamond rings to secure
steerage passage home, having the
vessel on which she was a passenger
pierced by the shells of German
cruiser, and living on bacon 12 days
with no change of clothing and only
straw to sleep on, were some of the
experiences that go to make up a very
interesting chapter in her life.
Mr.. and Mrs. Ernstberger went to
Germany early in the summer intend
ing to make brief visits at the homes
OF their parents. MFR. Ernstbergers
business would not permit him to re-
main the entire summer and accord
ingly early IN July left Germany to
return TO his business in New York.
He left his wife at her parents home
10 remain another month.
Sailing Prohibited
Arrangements were made for her sail
ting Aug on the North German Lloyd
steamer BerIine from Bremen. At the
declaration of war the sailing OF the shin
was naturally prohibited. Mrs Ernstber-
ger went to the nearest railroad station
as soon as she felt that there was a pos
slbility OF her being detained and made
arrangements to leave for Cologne At
the station she was accosted by the au-
thoTities, who demanded to know where
she was going. By using a little STRAIT
'egy and saying that she was the wife
of German officer and was on her way
to her husband and children. Mrs. Ernst
Berger was able to reach Cologne. The
excitement was running high in all the
German cities" she said almost breath
lessly, land I hurried into Holland, be-
heving that 1 would have a better op-
portunity to sail from there still
stoutly maintained that 1 was a German
officers wife and that / was searching
for my husband and two children. At
Rotterdam l was able to get steamer
across to London"
German Money Useless
In London Mrs. Ernstberger encounter
ed her greatest difficulties. Her liberal
supply of German money was absolutely
useless She had nothing with which she
could provide with food and shelter. The
only available means was to pawn her
Jewelry Four of her most beautiful dia-
mOnd rings she raneivad antx, rig e.. -.
$50 in American money, and to emphasize
her feelings in the matter Mr.. Ernstber-
ger drew from his wallet and showed the
ticket for the rings from the London
pawn shop
Her first move was to send a cable to
her husband in New York asking for
N0o for return passage. She waited a
Gay or two for an answer but tas the
cable never reached its destination there
was naturally no reply. Impatient at be-
ing surrounded by people hostile to her
eountrymen, Mrs. Ernstberger, tired from
the strain and excitement that was pre-
vailing in London, sent another telegram.
The manager OF the hotel where she was
staying came to her a short time after
she had handed him the cablegram and
tASi Niiot AZ Oiutr 10 nave II sent 1t
would cost her e5 (s25) additional. Her
total capital was now less than els and
rather than take chance of again being
stranded she cancelled the cable
Finally Secures Passage
Continuing with her story, Mrs. Ernst
berger said: II learned there was a
steamer, the saturnia, sailing from Glas-
cow in day or so for the United States
and / hurried there. With my small
amount OF money I was able to purchase
Storage ticket. The outlook for a re-
turn 70 America and my husband SEEM
ed bright. but hopes were shattered a
half hour before sailing time when the
word went around that the ship had been
requisitioned and could not sail. This
seemed the last straw. But there came
a great surprise when / learned from
the cooks quarters that a steamer, tbs
Magnolia, was sailing the NEXT day We
I mean those OF US other than the steer,
age passengers themselves, anxious tc
get back to America. hurried to the pier
BY pleading and telling my old story
that had two children awaiting me al
nome I was able TO purchase a steerag'
passage"