New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-08-04
GERMAN SHIP HERE
SEEKING SAFETY
Liner Friedrich der Crosse
Turns at Sea and Races
for This Port.

Tor HIS POTl.
Thirty first cabin passengers Of the
steamer Friedrich der Crosse, which
came into port Sunday evening. ordered
here by wireless after sailing from
Baltimore for Bremen, were landed
Yesterday afternoon at the Hoboken
docks of the line. Most of the disap-
pointed tourists were from Baltimore,
and said they would return there as
soon as the steamship company re-
4 turned their baggage and passage
money.
The story Of the receipt of the wire
less message calling the Friedrich der
Crosse off the seas into the nearest
neutral port. which happened TO be
New York. was told by Mrs. Alexander
Preston. prominent Baltimore woman,
who. with her husband, was en- route
10 Europe 10 tour the Continent.
Friday night" said Mrs. Preston,
"at about half past 10 was sitting IN
the lounge, playing cards with Mrs. j.
Hull Davidson, two German gentlemen
who were passengers and Captain
Fritze. commander Of the ship.
Just when the game was becoming
really interes ting an orderly, or
{ SnlD s OUlGGI OF SOlAt cOlNs Ndiit nv
the room. saluted the captain and
handed him a marconigram that he'd
Just been received by the wireless
operator.
Captain Receives Message.
Captain Fritze took il. scanned it
closely. then took a book from his
pocket and compared the wording Of
the message with the text. The mes
sage was in , de and il took him sew
eral minutes 10 decipher 1t. When he
finished he scrubbed the actual mean
ing OF the words over the message as
il was written and showed it to the two
Germans at our table. All were per-
turbed and begged to be excused at
once. Half an hour later we learned
what the message contained
Alexander Preston, Charles Andrew
Mccain and Justice c. ". Heisler, OF
The Supreme Court Of Maryland, were
the first passengers to learn that the
vessel had actually turned around.
They were in the smoke room, they de-
clared Yesterday, when the wireless
reached the ship. and when they went
on deck for a breath Of air before re-
firing they observed that the moon
which had been on the starboard side
Of the vessel, was on the port side.
Passengers on the other two German
liners that were recalled and reached
poyt Sunday, the President Grant and
Inc Grosser Kurfuerst, observed the
came phenomena.
Roth Mrs. Preston and Mrs. David
SON declared that the German officers
of the ship were excited when the
steamer put back for New York.
When the passengers gathered to-
gether to discuss the apparent change
OF the steamers course, they said, a
committee was named TO go to the cap
tain and ask the reason.
1--WE have been ordered into New
York" he replied to the questions.
Vessel in Darkness.
Half an hour after the vessel re-
versed her course all the decks were
inclosed in canvas, such as Is lashed
about them in heavy weather; all cleo
trio lights were eXtlnguished, and oil
I lamps furnished the only illumination
/ about the decks and saloon. In the
/ staterooms there was electricity, but
over every port hole were hung towels
and linen. Even the Bingham aprons
/ of the stewardesses were used TO keep
a ray Of light from glancing over the
water
Saturday night we sighted search
lights of two ships, which the officers
thought might be English cruisers, up
from the West Indies. All that day
if any one laughed aloud on the deck
he was reprimanded and warned by
the officers that the English might
hear them.
"The climax came Saturday night,
however. -yhen "A dance was started IN
the saloon. When the orchestra was
in the midst Of a maXiXe, which prac-
ticallv every one was INDUCING IN, be-
cause we needed some recreation, what
did the captain do but stop the music!
at might attract the attention OF
the British" he explained
Passengers Indignant.
Many people prominent in Baltimore
societv were on board. Among them
were Mr. and Mrs. Harry +. Carr, Mrs
& G. Williams. Mr.. and Mrs. julius
Wvman. DR.. w. ID. Lockwood, the noted
sprcoon. W. J. Carter, W. +. Stephan,
Mr. and Mrs. Oliver +. Wolf. Miss Eliz-
abctb Alters and Mr.. and Mrs. Grain
ger Goethe.
Rushing at top speed from the pos
sihle peril Of British wsrships, the
liners George Washington and Martha
Washington came in almost side by
side Yesterday. The George Washing
ton is owned by the North German
LLOYD Line and the vessel named for
the wife of the first President IS the
property of the Austro-American Line;
Passengers on both ships. reported
an exciting voyage, especially during
the last few days, when wireless mes
ages informed them Of the war in
Europe and Of their danger Of being
captured. c-
On the pier TO meet the German YES
sells passengers were fully two thou.
sand persons. Such glad reunion OF
families and friends is seldom SEEM eX-
cept after a disaster at sea.
Captain L. Franek said he received
wireless warnings from ms ire ana
tbe German government Friday night.
80. 49,, ,,rors nj lv eYtinpuiehpd and