Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-09-24
BRITISH STEAMER
DODGES into
FRISCO
[By Latest NALL


SAN FRANCISCO, Sept 15.-The
British Union liner Natal crept into
San Francisco harbor yesterday aft
ernoon with the most sacred cargo in
the world. II carried the wife and
family of the German Consul from
Tahati and with safe-conduct nothing
must happen to them.
From Tahiti to San Diego, where
the Natal put into port. 500 miles ont
of it's way, the voyage was stricken
with nervousness for Captain Carson
because of his country's enemy's rep
resentative aboard.
For danger from German cruisers
the British passengers cared little.
They had the Unborn belief of the
Britisher that britannia rules the
waves" and, should Germany swoop
down on their vessel, they felt sure
that the Australia or some other
cruiser would be on hand to help,
them.
Nervous Days for Captain.
But with Captain Carson the case
was different. He was bringing the
accredited representative of Germany
from French port to neutral port
and the consul was travelling on
British boat with safe conduct
II the Leipzig or the Nurnberg or
the Gneisenau or the Scharnhorst
threatened the Natal Captain Carson
would have been in q fine dilemma.
To signal I'VE carry German con-
sulate" would have been plea. To
run and dodge for the cover OF dark
ness would have placed the represen-
tative of Germany in danger and thus
have endangered the international
pledge of safety given to all consular
representatives.
So the Natal crept its way through
unfrequented sea lanes with lights
doused at night and landed at San
Diego instead of coming to San Fran
cisco.
consuls Confer Here.
Count Georges Won Hoppenstadt. the
German Consular agent at Tahiti,
landed at San Diego and came up to
San Francisco by train. Yesterday ne
was closeted with Baron Won Setback.
the San Francisco German Consul
General. His wife and family came
up from San Diego on the Natal.
From the first day the Natal open
ed ND the Tahiti landfall the voyage
was a series of thrills until the high
head of PIT. Iona hove into view. The
anchor had hardly dropped into the
ooze of the harbor when hurried
and frenzied delegation of French-Ta-
khitians scrambled aboard. They had
one diminutiye gunboat in the port
and they were afraid that the Gneise-
nau and Scharnhorst were bearing
down on them.
Then the situation was relieved. A.
German collier hove into view and the
little French gunboat ran out and
Communicated 1t. The vessel was
conducted into the harbor amid the
waving of French flags and much jubi-
lation. While the Tahirfans had all
their fears taken away, there was
quite tension aboard the Britisher.
From Tahiti eastward the wireless
was kept open, but no answer came
from the Moana. As the easterly Pa
cific longitudes were reached, Captain
Carson refrained from making latitude
and fooled his vessel with its valuable
cargo carefully along unfrequented
courses.
AS San Diego drew nearer all lights
were doused. There was no green
and red on side-boards and no range
Flights at mast heads. All the cabin
| passengers we're made to do without
go-to-bed illumination and there was
general feeling of nervousness until
San Diego was reached.
Several of the passengers came up
ION the Yale, arriving yesterday MORN
| Ing. Among them was J. B. Clarkson.
head of big Christchurch automobile
and cycle frm. He told dramatic
story of the silent creeping of the
Natal through possible danger to the
safety of United States waters and
neutrality.
Es-a haliauad to he ineendiary catls-