The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1915-03-26
The Mystery Of
the Pelican
"A Sfnry OF the Sea During
Wartime.


.EzGs i;Owan sailed from New York fol-
Hsrxss. Italy. She was IN English bot
tEms owned by Americans and con
gxMsSs after the great European wal
6nsks. 9ut to United States vessel
Ssta ssxried cargo of copper. Wheth'
ne rs gnS intended for Italy or was to
Ast Rewarded to IL country engaged IN
rxrR aever knew, but did know that
sSugH1 was In great demand for the
Esssfzsms knew that. although We were
sDESzgc under the sNrs and stripes. our
4sIscEEn was constantly on the lookout
aSE~ was vessels, though | am not sure
7Nfexac1eT at that time copper had been
sasesge9 contraband of war;
Ner steered course south of that
asgasEH taken by ships bound for the
Mediterranean in order to take as lit
xigr csgzs as possible. There are few
Nsssasss to be met with on that part of
MA v9cid's waters. and we did not
gsynss u ship till we were in longitude
Z, lasyees 40 minutes west. latitude IS
Shf-res 20 minutes north. and then we
ssss.ear vessel we came upon because
S.,a. ss1a been abandoned.
Ma was small steamer Of about
&AN2n1s4 Our captain, after satisfying
a[AsasE that he could get no reply TO
sssczeiss sent me aboard of her with a
'aIsaGa. men to examine her and report.
5lsESuCl hsr in good order, but the only
t&Efsg: thing aboard was dog. He was
'ssrlag. Of hunger, but considered that
"a. aoslG not have been left there very
'iSss>: OFT he would doubtless have died.
AK a oeuld not find any indications
siats FOOD had been left for him.
~sMt below to have Il look at the
tago~an6 found the hold full of rifles.
B1Aet 'EracRinery seemed to be in good
rsxxtRg order. and there was a trace
NJ INT left in the furnace. The only
Ezf'1g. wanting was the lifebOats.
SesN. no reason why she should not be
H.scrrintO port as prize. ! Signaled
Ssssr captain. telling him what had
thsrsA- aud he came aboard to have II
,sss&-s6 esse ship and cargo himself.
Eky concluded that the vessel had
ashtcd. a. man OF war and that the
,x1sES expecting capture. had concluded
sSS,rtlasvay themselves. There were
azrSssSl ways by which they might
axsgsescaped-in a fog or by boarding
ssshsker vessel than the pursuer. The
saEssncer Of the ships boats tended to
s-sEsfsnsettis. theory
AeNcaptainn concluded to try to get
&soeNeSsei into nort as a prize. IL she
s1szsSa De taken to Europe her cargo
szssss be very valuable. but of course
2ssre was danger Of capture by war
SsaSsss. FOR there was no doubt that a
sSys3p Of rifles was contra band OF war
Tasvxag, the captAin dire ted fHe to IT.
t1s5x aboH,vt with liir men | had With
~. ian J,tLins IN engineer that he
"'Tui'r scni me, and Crlcred me to try
got ,hc ship to either a Spanish or
Slr'tI. :lese port If | could get far
= stT'u'f' north to reach the western
.rs'st aGFranee. better still. but he adj
gr.~'s me not, to try for France unless
? rrar1ehasedA aud saw chance to es
.s::rg5 a that direction.
s.H<sp there was fuel for power and
sSsSxafbr. a. prize crew there was moth
1Aress.-s@ Oe sent me except the engineer
3nxn after, his arrival the fires were
xsss1usS. and. steam having been gen
rvstRsI we parted with the Gowan.
Sss'assse,f took more northern course
'ssse. tncI next morning she was out Of
sss.zlI
.X1ound tnay. our prize--her name was
g1ss- SselIGan was a faster ship than
sss-sa> Hare. been expected from her
RIO She could do fifteen knots an
sursz There were flags of. Ill nations
ass&ctt. witch was not surprising. con
lsac.rng, t1at she was carrying con
Eca,aEd cargo. Indeed. there was every |
nx2Safion th;. she had been taking big |
StsSN
Cs1cs unexpected discovery was made |
ssHya had been a woman aboard |
Rr NInld ia stateroom we supposed |
o. &rrr iircn intended for the captain |
s5ai ut feminine paraphernalia. Think |
a.. tlElg in this room | might find
S~nstidag that would throw light Oh
~. v9qse, made careful search. |
fsgsss nothing except crumpled bit
-. writing paper on which had been |
sxaStenN in a woman's hand:
1NsA,n-why am | locked in my room? |
1s1s 6rSghtfully worried about you. Some |
etxsr Eaust have happened. | will try to |
~ .ttSs TO you. but ] don't know how.
HELEN.
stayeswas just enough in this to be |
ss1arssizing' Who was father" And
stsss was. Helen? She had evidently
saaa 5ses Able to send her message and
s-Ss Tyumpled ii and thrown it into one
&Ske drawers,
q Nculd have proceeded at once to- |
,sss, Tor fuNhcr evidence. hut Mt the |
MOO . discovered this message was
ssisss on deck " -" watch, who had |
SSszksSs a line Of s:Huke on the star. |
ssDt quarter. l kept on the same
rinse til the steamer came near
ssSs.fs FOR me to see with u glass that |
ss'x YRS cruiser. though she display |
sl ne nag; then ! put the ship due
psrsL which wodld place the cruiser
s>srn She was evidently coming for
ar: for she increased rapidly In size
J aus on all steam, but the cruiser l
tsry7 have been making from three TO