The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-03-11
AMERICAN SHIPPER
RELATES EXPERIENC CE
Ship Seized By German Cruiser Despite
Protests That She Was an American
Vessel-Grain Partially Unloaded
and Ship Was Thea Dynamited.

| Newport News, Va, March ll.H. II.
| kiehne, master of the American ship
| William Z. Frye, grain-laden, which was
sunk by the German auxiliary cruiser
Prinz Eitel Friedrich in the south At
! lantic on Jan. %, told the following
| dramatic story OF his experience
| Despite my protestations that | was
the American master Of an American
| ship, the German cruiser Eitel Friedrich
sank the William p, Frye on the morn
| ing of Jan 2S, blowing a gaping hole
through her vitals with a charge of dy-
Mantle" said Captain kiehne
II was almost becalmed when the Ger
man ship appeared about ? o'clock in
the afternoon of Jan. o. my ship was
barely moving and | paid no attention
to the first order from the Dutchman
to lay TO. However, she bore down on
me and | brought my craft to stand
still. After learning that ] carried
cargo of wheat, the German captain told
me that it was contraband and he in
tended to destroy it. protested but
no attention was paid to my statement.
"a German officer and squad Of men
were sent aboard the bark and and my
men were set to work throwing the grain
overheard. The German sighted another
vessel, also becalmed and made for her.
He returned about 10 o'clock at night,
having sent the other ship to the bot
tom, as | afterward ascertained.
Evidently the grain waa not being
thrown overheard fast enough to suit
the German skipper, for he sent half
hundred of his men aboard soon after |
wards and the work went on for hours |
without interruption. However, it was
slow at best and | was informed about |
2 o'clock the next morning my ship |
would be sent to the bottom, which was /
done in the manner described.
ut was originally the intention of the |
German captain to leave enough of the |
cargo in the hold of the ship for bal
last. That part of the grain was to be
useless by salt water.
"As soon as | was informed that my
ship was to be sent to the bottom, /,
my wife and two boys and the crew
made for the German cruiser in our
boats. We were taken aboard and
shown every courtesy throughout the re-
of the voyage.
For two weeks before making this
port the German ship moested no ships
Of any kind and always avoided them,
not wishing to give the English cruisers
any wind Of her intentions. She pro-
reeded slowly up the coast, all lights I
that were not out being carefully shad-
ed k
last night while nearing the capcs
EiteI informed us that there were four
English warships in our immediate vi
Unity. two of which seemed very close
However, we eluded them and made
his port in safety"
An officer of the German cruiser stat
"a that black hulk was seen in the
about the time the wireless :
ave notice Of the proximity Of the Eng |
ish menofwar. Many were Of the :
opinion that it was one Of the English
hips
Captain Kiehne, asked about other :
matters, said:
"The Eitel Friedrich captured three :
hips on the kaiser's birthday, the day 9
n which the American bark was over 2
auled.' to
The William =. Frye OF Bath, Me. was I
wned by the Arthur Sewall Co. When 8
verhauled by the German cruiser she
,as bound from Seattle to Queenstown Z
18th cargo of wheat for orders. The |,
kipper's wife said yesterday she and d
he children We're frightened when over n
iken by the German cruiser, but that "a
er fears were allayed when she went !,
board the cruiser. the officers and men i.
laking every effort TO give them all !,
ossible comforts. r