The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-11-12
DUTCH SANTA CLAUS
STEAMER IN PORT
WESTERDYk WITH CARGO OF
TOYS RUNS GAUNTLET
OF MINES

Newport News, Nov. 1f.--After
running a gauntlet of mine fields along
the English coast and in the Nortn
Sea and being held up by British
cruiser, the big Dutch steamer Yves
terdyk, in command of Captain De
Jong, Of the Holland-American Line,
arrived here yesterday morning at
o'clock from Rotterdam with S64
sacks of mail and cargo of Christ
mas toys. The vessel was locked At
CheJapeake and Ohio merchandise
pier No. s.
The Westerdyk. In company with
the Dutch steamer Andyk, bound for
Havana. and the Aiioth, for New
York, sailed from Rotterdam on DC
tober go The masters of the three
ships decided to cross the North Sea
in company as one, could lend assis-
lance to the other in case of emer-
gency. The Westerdyk, soon after
crossing the North Sea. however, left
her slower companion and proceeded
alone.
When passing the Downs, on the
English coast which course was made
necessary by the channel being mined.
the We lyk was halted by the Brit
ish or Carcas. A lieutenant
boarded Aer and after inspecting the
crew and cargo. gave sealed GER
IllCaIG Oh iltlli AMY anu PNA 49,
to proceed without further molesta-
ton Two floating mines were en-
countered soon after passing Downs,
but were passed safely. For the re-
mainder of the voyage, two lookouts
were kept in the bow and one In the
crows nest.
The 500 sacks of letter mail and 81
sacks Of parcel post mail brought TO
Newport News by the Westerdyk is
consigned to nearly every country in
the world. Some of 1t Is even con-
signed to Italy and Norway. Two or
three, sacks OF the mail had not even
.4 nrened and the stamps are not
Cancelled. The mail having been liter
ally thrown on board as the vessel was
leaving her pier at Rotterdam. This
mail will be sorted at the local office.
The remainder of the mail was al
ready distributed and was immediate
~ loaded into small cars and sent from
Newport News on the midday train.
Most of this goes to New York, and
from that city viii be dispatched TO
various parts OF the United states and
to different parts of the world.
Adventurous Trip.
Captain DE long was we'll launched
in an interesting and dramatic reel
tai from Holland and statement of
condition on the other side when he
received a telegram from New York.
demanding his presence there at the
earliest possible moment, as he was
lust in time to catch the 10 O'CLOCK
train.
Chief Oficer Lagaay continued tht
narrative.
Before leaving Captain De Jong gave
an interview on the conditions exis-
ing among the Belgian refugees and
some Of the friends of the allies who
have fled to Holland.
He stated that more than $4,000
Relgians are now in Holland and they
are being taken care of as well as
possible by the citizens. Every house
in the country where an extra person
can be housed has been gladly thrown
open and every empty building and
warehouse has been furnished with
beds for the refugees,
He said that the refugees gave de-
scriptions of their conditions in their
homes that have been devastated by
the Germans that We're horrible TO
relate.
Thousands of Belgian children, he
said, are In Holland. who have no
idea of what has become of their
parents and men and women have
almost been driven insane over the
uncertainty of the fate of their or
springs and other loved ones.
The entire population of Belgium,
Captain De Jong stated. are in des-
sperate need of assistance and the help
of the United States In devoutly well
coined