Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-07-15
sta0 Correspondent Evening Led0

LIVERPOOL, June 2S.-Danger. wild
rumors and tense excitement marked the
american liner st. Paul's voyage to
England Weighted down in the water
with that strangely heavy cargo of hers,
and with 9S7 souls on board, on June 10
she slowly steamed out of New York
harbor, while the tremendous cheering of
the immense crowds on the dock drowned
even the persistent music of the deck
band.
1t was a wonderful and solemn scene
for the dangers of the terrible war
zone and the tragedy of the Inflated
Lusitanla were in the minds of every
one. Wives clung despairingy to their
soldier husbands long after the bell for
"visitors ashore" had rung, mothers
wept over their sons who were off for the
front and on the face Of every passen-
ger on board was a look of set purpose,
of duty to be performed no matter what
tho cost might be.
For we were no gay crowd off on a
pleasure trip to Europe. Floating mines,
German torpedoes and zeppelins make
poor holiday companions And when the
luncheon bugle sounded, and went be-
low. / thought that never before had l
seen such crowd of intensely interesting
faces.
There were 215 passengers in the first
class, most of whom were men. My place
was at the captains table, and next me
sat Philip Merivale, the English actor,
who had made such a success in America
as leading man in Bernard Shaw's "Pyg-
malion," and with Granville Barker in
Greek tragedies.
you remind me 80 much of Professor
Higgins, who played with Mrs. Patrick
Campbell in Philadelphia" l said He
was wonderfully clever, and everybody
said"
Nice things, 1 hope" said my new
neighbor, because 1 really am Higgins
you know!"
on my other side was young Lord Ossul-
ton, eldest son and heir of the Earl and
Countess of Tankervllle, who was return
ing from college near Boston to Chilling
ham Castle and his Northumberland
estates.
Opposite me sat Mr.. Granville Barker,
the English playwright, with his equally
celebrated actresswife, Miss Lillah Nc
Carthy. whose performance in Greek
tragedy at the University of Pennsylvania
and at Harvard University made such a
sensation. Any one who has seen Miss
Mccarthy on the stage must admire her
wonderful histrlonic powers. And in priv
ate life she is perfectly delightful She
fund of anecdote and whimsical humor
We're much appreciated.
The conversation turned on the Inflated
Lusitania- 'Did you pass any part of the
wreckage later on?" l asked Captain f.
w. Passow.
Indeed we did," said he "Thirty miles
from the scene of the disaster the ocean
was still strewn with wreckage. 1t took
us hours to pass II all. 1 saw the dead
body of a young woman with baby In
her arms, still clinging tightly-poor soul!
Ito a broken spar. The bodies Of young
children and OF many sailors went slowly
floating past In one place l saw several
little pet dogs 1t nearly broke ones
heart 10 see the awful havoc and those
fingers still clinging in death 10 the drift
ing wreckage."
you had an exciting time on your last
trip with Marconi on board?"
Captain Passow smiled remniscently.
'The Germans certainly had their eye on
Marconi," he answered, But Marconi
wasn't nervous. He showed me letter
he had received on sailing, which warned
him not to sail on the St. Paul.
This will amuse you, captain said
he. laughing.
But / wasn't bit amused. handed
the letter back TO him and said. really
couldn't risk my ship and the lives OF all
on board. We finally arranged that If a
creep along the boat-deck till he came to
hole leading down TO the boilers. He
was to climb down, and there he would
md a stoker's suit of clothes. ready for
him TO wear as a disguise. Marconi and
1 are old friends and were at school to-
gether. He's a delightful fellow, and /
was thankful nothing happened to him"
DANGER FROM MINES.
"Do you think We may strike mine?''
queried once more. wartime certainty
makes one peculiarly inquisitive).
My dear young lady" said Captain
PassoW, with a twinkle In his keen blue
eyes You have one consolation, ana it's
an that i can give you'll you strike one
mine. you viii never strike anotherl"
The first few days passed quickly, and
one might have imagined that one was
staying IN some gay hotel. where dances
and games and concerts and delightful
little parties were the order OF the day
Several multimillionaires were on board
including young Harold Mccormick. OF
New York. the nephew Of John D. Roeke-
Teller. who was iravains with his mother.
sister 81 the great millionaire.
But despite an The surface saiety. We
knew thar the samut e the War zone had