The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1914-08-18
Safely Home

Richard b. Eckman, who sailed o
the German steamship Prinz Angus
Wilhelm on July 18th on tour to tn
Bahamas, Cuba, Panama, Costa Rics
etc., arrived at New York, on Friday, o.
the United Fruit Company's steam
ship Zacapa, British vessel, to whicl
the tourists were transferred after tn
outbreak of the European war. AT Color
the German consul ordered 30 of tn
ships stolxers, German reservists, to g
ashore. The captain refused to ALLOW
the men to leave. When the ship ar
rived at Kingston, an English port, thu
stokers were made prisoners of war.
The Zacapa steamed with her lights
out to avoid German warships. One day
out from Kingston she was hailed by
warship, thought to have been an Ital
ian. 1t withdrew after learning the
liners identity
Miss Rebekah Wills, of Rancocas, ar
rived in New York Wednesday evening
and reached her home at Rancocas the
next day. Miss Wills had been in Eng
land, but had not gone into the localities
where the war was threatening. She
came home on the steamship Philadel-
phia, of the American line. 1t was
booked to sail on the 5th and Miss wills
had determined, when she left this coun-
try, to come back on that date, SO her
stateroom and passage were assured.
She had some very interesting expert
ences. 1t will be remembered that the
Bank of England had holiday arrang-
ed for the Sd of August. Thinking 1t
might possibly delay her, Miss Wills de-
cided she would not wait for the bank to
open on the 4th, so on the last day OF
July she cashed her checks for gold, and
this was fortunate move, for the bank
did not wait until Monday to close, but
did not open its doors the next day.
Then Miss Wills, who was at Glouces-
ter, thought she would go to Southamp-
ton, and be in readiness for her boat,
which would sail from that port. She
wrote to hotel, asking that room be
reserved for her and directed telegram
to be sent to her letting her know If her
request had been granted. She did not
get the reply, but she went to South
ampton, found her letter had been re-
ceived and the telegram sent to her, but
in the rush of business it did not reach
her. But her room was ready and she
retired to get good nights rest for the
next days start. About four o'clock next
morning she was awakened by the noise
of pounding and saving, and soon after
there was a knock at her door. She
thought the maid had got the wrong
room and was trying to awaken some
one who had given orders to that effect,
but on going to the door she discovered
that all the people in the hotel were
being warned to leave, as war had been
declared and the government had taken
the hotel for the troops.
The hotel proprietor gave the people
to eat and then they marched
10 the dock, where they sat until they
we're allowed to go on the boat. Miss |
Wills saved all of her baggage. AS the |
Philadelphia sailed from Southampton
It was accompanied by British man-of |
war, which kept close by until the Phila-
ielphia was well out in the ocean. When |
he boat reached the vicinity of Ports
mouth the passengers saw number of
yessels floating around and these proved |
% be French torpedo boats. The steamer
vas soon surrounded and ordered to stop,
IN order that was very promptly obeyed.
rhe people on the torpedo boats satisfied |
themselves about the steamship and |
rave permission to proceed. The order
rom the French boats was "All right;
20 ahead" and was in very good Eng
ish. The passengers answered "Vive la
France" which emed to suit the other |
PEOPLE, who acknowledged the salute.
From this time on there was nothing
o disturb those on the steamship, which
anded in New York about midnight. |
As the trip near Sandy Hook was made
III
lid not notice any warships lying
lround. They did see the Lusitania,
which passed them at sea- The after |
yessel had all her lights out and was
,oing at full speed.
There were a number of passengers on
he Philadelphia who had been in parts |
If the country different from those visit
ID by Miss Wills. One of them was |
nan who was held up in France and |
ordered to show his passports. About |
he only thing he had to identify him |
was his automobile license, and this
being an American document, was taken |
as satisfactory.
Miss Wills sailed on the same trip |
with the Misses Mary and Sarah Budd,
but she did not intend to remain as long
rs they had planned to stay. She left |
them at Gloucester. Miss Wills says that |
while there was nothing to especially |
worry over on the trip home, the harbor |
Of New York never looked better to her |
than when her boat sailed inside Of
Sandy Hook.