The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1914-12-12

WulCu AC was 1CIul u1uS W LAO OultOu
States. In part, the story runs as
follows:
"We were six days out of Rio," said
Mr.. Tooraen, "seventy-fve miles south
of the equator and 359 miles out from
Para, a Brazilian city, situated near
the mouth of the Amazon river.
about 10 o'clock in the morning we
sighted a column of smoke off the
southeast and this, we finally made
out with the aid of glasses, was a war
ship coming down on us at full speed.
In half an hour or so the ship was
within signaling distance, and it flag
ged us orders to shut off our engines.
Capt. Cadogan, in command of the
Vandyck, realizing the hopelessness Of
making getaway from vessel which
had shown the speed Of the stranger,
obeyed orders Immediately and we
waited until the Warship came up. It
proved to be the German cruiser Karls-
ruhe, one Of the fastest German cruis-
ers now operating in the Atlantic. The
Karlsruhe, as we afterward learned, is
simply intended for the destruction of
merchant ships of the allies, and there
fore carried only light guns-five inches
being the measurement of it's largest
rifles.
Boats were put off from the Karls-
ruhe and in few minutes our captain
and crew surrendered the Vandyck,
and she was manned by Germans.
While at first few of our passengers
had become alarmed when it became
known that a German warship had
spotted us, the polished behavior and
courtesy of TIE German officers and
tars who came aboard soon convinced
us that we had nothing to fear. There
was not shot fired.
Officers of the Karlsruhe soon had
everything Strengthened out, and thei
they all took tea with the passengers
of the Vandyck.
mot a passenger was searched. The
German officers took charge Of the
ships money and the cabin, compelled
the officers and crew of the boat to
sign an agreement that they would not
take up arms against Germany during
this war, and before 2 o'clock we we're
steaming along in the wake Of the
Karlsruhe, under orders.
ut was not long before we came in
sight of feet of five ships and these
proved to be five merchant vessels
which had fallen prey to the Karlsruhe
during the preceding week. One of
these ships was the Asuncion, and
when the Vandyck drew up among the
fleet we were notified that we would be
transferred to the Asuncion. The work
of transferring our passengers and
baggage began, many Of the Vandyck's
passengers baggage suffering on &C
count of the leaky lifeboats which
were lowered from the Lamport and
Holt boat.
"The Asuncion was crowded with
many persons who had been passen-
gers on the other boats captured. After
we had been put aboard the freighter,
along with the crews of the other
boats which had been captured, the
Karlsruhe moved off, after giving Or
ders to the commander of the Asun-
cion to sail slowly about in that vi.
icinity for several days, in order to
give the Karlsruhe plenty of time to
get away.
"The Asuncion sailed aimlessly about
for six days. During this time there
were a few quarrels between the
English crews Of the vessels which had
been captured and the officers in
charge of the Asuncion. The Germans
were firm, but they showed in their
every act that they had no hard feel.
Iings against the English sailors. A few
English stewards grew disorderly, and
lit became necessary for the German
officers to resort to force. Then the
English stokers went on a strike, but
when they were convinced that some
one would be hurt if they mutinied
the strike was settled.
while provisions were somewhat
scanty on board the Asuncion, they
were as good as could be expected
under the conditions. The cabins oil
the ship were turned over to the
women, while the men slept on the
lower decks and in the corridors.
Ninety per cent Of the passengers
who had been on the Vandyck were
Americans, and we did our best to pass
our time on the Asuncion happily. Or
the sixth day after the Karlsruhe lief
us we were landed at Para, Brazil. ThiI
nm Nov Nv No, O $500 AZ,