The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-09-23
self in the bag In place Of the corpse to
be thrown overheard and thus escape.

Vnere was cOmmOtlOn on DOaru the
Emden, for the vessel might be Brit
ish warship. The captain permitted
her to come close enough to see that
she few the union jack Of Great Brit
ain and that she was a much larger
craft than the Emden. Then he be-
gan to show his heels.
That night the lights on the Emden
were darkened, and she changed her
course several times. Quite likely the
British ship also covered her lights. At
any rate, she was not to be seen. The
Emden's captain hoped that when day.
light came again he would be rid of
her. Unfortunately for the Emden the
night was bright by the light Of full
moon, SO that she could be seen by her
pursuers.
The next morning at dawn Jack
Marston went on deck and at the first
break Of day deserted the British ship
somewhat nearer than the night before.
The Britisher must have discovered
the Emden at the same time, for q
dense cloud of smoke issuing from her
stacks indicated that she was putting
fuel on her fires. The Emden followed
suit and made every effort to escape.
For time 1t seemed that the English
man was gaining; then for an hour
she neither lost nor gained. Jack, who
was watching her closely, made up his
mind that she was slowly losing.
Now, the crew of the Sea Gull were
hoping that they would be rescued,
and when Jack told them that the
Britisher was slowly losing ground
they were much disappointed. Jack
determined to take an awful risk.
That was to get himself sewed up in
the burial bag and thrown overheard,
with the hope of being picked up by
the pursuing ship. He told his mates
Of his plan and asked them to
help him. They looked upon his
scheme as foolhardy and tried to dis.
suade him from it. But when they
found that this was impossible they
offered to do anything he suggested in
their power.
Jacks plan was this: The attention
Of the officers and crew Of the Emder
was confined to getting away from thu
pursuing ship. The Sea Gull's mer
might steal the body Of their deat
comrade and hide It. They might ther
sew Jack up In the burial bag ant
heave him overheard without permits
sion. They might omit the shot usual
ly tied to the ankles for sinking pur
poses, and Jack would not remain loni
under water. On rising he would en-
deavOr to attract the attention Of tn,
Britisher
; The crew of the Sea Gull agreed t,
do their part in the matter. II Jacl
wished to commit suicide he might d
so. That was his lookout, not theirs
So when every one of the Emden'
, crew was intent on the pursuer the
took the body out Of the burial bag
and Jack got into 1t with pieces o
cork tied under his shoulders, som
provisions in rubber bag, a bottl
, of water, knife and piece Of whit
y cotton cloth attached to a stick 70
signal purposes.
=, 1t was decided to ask the captain q
8 the Emden for permission to bur
;. their dead companion. He was to
a busy at the time to give any though
: to their request and granted it with
:, nod of the head. Then the sailors cal
= ried Jack to the side of the ship ant
4 standing about him uncovered, slid hiI
n overheard.
d Jack did not mind being discOvere
d in the water by the Germans. for b
e knew they would not think of stOppin
IT to pick him up. He was not below til
4. surface more than twenty seconds, bl
It when he reappeared the cruiser wa
1t going so fast that she was alread
It quite a distance from him. The ga1
II Of most Of them was in his direction
n but was fixed on the pursuing shi
,r One man caught sight of him. bl
Jack simply floated on the surface al
lie was probably supposed to be the corps
n that had been given burial. At any rat
Id no especial attention was paid to hill
N and he was being rapidly left astern.
lie Jacks main fear was that the Bri
Id Usher, being in hurry, would fail
lg pick him up even If he succeeded
T. attracting her attention He was q
rectly In her line and with his viii
Is flag would likely succeed in makiI
rs himself seen. She was nearly half 4
n hour behind the Emden and losin
he When few hundred yards from hi
It. he waved his flag. He knew that
f. was seen, for he saw several persol
C. pointing at him and evidently discus
Mt ing him.
ne But Jack was Mortified to see Il
ch ship proceed OH her way without sto
IS. ping for him. She had gone nearly
lie mile beyond him when gladdeniI
1t, sight met his view. There was DO
u being lowered. There were men in
h and when In the water and loosen
hit from the ship they pulled toward hin
he Jack was picked up, and the ST
he waited for the return Of her boat. II
Ne commander was conscious of losing
he the Emden aud had decided to save t
en- man In the water. When Jack "
ry taken aboard he was piled with gu
lst lions as to the German cruiser, b
could only say that she was the E
III den and had aboard the crews Of 81
IN, eral vessels she had sunk.
ca, Jack was put ashore at a SOU
ed American port and determined Il