Ellsworth American., 1915-08-18
MISTY MAINE MYSTERY.
metropolitan Papers Find Pen Food
In Yarns Of Submarines.

~RSHsou Ehpofo H1nQ ZEN Food
In Yarns Of Submarines.
The metropolitan papers, who oriRi-
mated the yarns Of submarines seen on the
maine coast, are making the most Of Z
Ieltue subject. The annual ea-serpent
{aln rom the Maine coast is pigeon
noied. The New York Herald OF Monday
dresses up the yarn in little local color
as follows:
Grand Admiral ven Tirpitx, chief of
stan Oh the German admiralty and past
supreme gorgeous nuisance to the British
navy, sent the word whistling through his
facial chiiulahs about two months ago
tnat ne had on hand few young u boats
which could travel 5000 miles. The fol-
lowing day Senator Stephan Pichon, for
merly minister of foreign affairs for
france, arose quietly in his place in the
senate chamber and remarked that the
patrol OF the Atlantic coast OF Canada and
the United States by German undersea
raiders was only matter OF days, hours
or perhaps minutes. And to-day persons
who go swimming In Maine, hang their
clothes near the Y. NJ. Z. A. pool and
won't go near the water.
1t might be wondered at that Maine, OF
all the Atlantic coast states, should have
taken to the practice of knee bending and
pompadour development, but the fact re-
mains that Name alone has good excuse
for anxiety.
Three weeks ago woman who could
be recognized again only II she happened
TO be shrieking, was standing at q point
on the rockboun coast OF the frightened
state when she saw far of 20 the east
black spot. She thought nothing OF it
at the moment and continued to knit
size fifteen sock for her deserving hus-
band. Time passed slowly, as lis the GUS
tom in Maine, but about o'clock she
happened to again look in the direction
OF the one-time speck. 1t was boat.
1t is useless to argue. The woman,
staid mstron, completely out OF SYM
pathy with the entire war situation,
and saw U boat, with Q periscope which
appeared to be focused right between her
starlit eyes. She guiped, sprang, ran and
shrieked.
All hands to the centre Of the township!
What was 1t? She told them. By halt
past O'Clock the story was q "pippin".
She had looked down the periscope and
bad seen the Kaiser peeking up. Won
Tirpitz was behind him and they certainly
were up to something! She could tell It
by their faces. Gosh, they looked sneaky
Well, the report OF this amazing incl
dent swept through Maine, and the fact
that the woman disappeared that night,
and that no one knew her pane, and that
no one had ever seen or heard OF her be-
that anything might happen. Clammers
put on their shoes for the first time in
years and deserted the beaches; fishermen
drew in the worm and called it q day, and
ship-ownerH painted q iife-size picture of
the American flag on the seagoing side OF
their interned vessels and went home in q
cold perspiration. since then no one in
Maine regards the Atlantic as q regular
ocean. 1t - merely . rivuiet Of doubt and
q fine damp spot to stay away from.
All OF the elements that sounded fear
ful and interesting in the various stories
and rumors were published in the eastern
newspapers. They were usually punctu-
ated with question marks and spoken Of
In light and cheerful manner. But
when these clippings reached Maine the
editorial giants removed the question
marks, referred to the rumors as de-
spatches from no place in particular, and
proceeded to describe the effect of tor
pedo, and wondered whether it could be
sent up village street to sink q school
house. Residents Of Maine, with the
blinds drawn and q dark shade over the
sitting-room lamp, read 1t all, sighed
heavily and moved farther inland as daw u
began to break.
Excursion boats which were wont to
ply from the mainland Of Maine to many
OF the countless islands along the coast
carrying great throngs OF happy natives,
OF three and four mighty nervous stokers.
These men have to 60, but the passengers
have . choice in the matter. It has be-
come very clear what that choice is, and
as result the opinion Of steamship men
regarding the violation of Belgian neu-
trality and the Kaiser's activities, is some
thing to make the kindly disposed ear
drum tingle.
Every now and again, Just when 1t ap-
pears that there may be some mistake
about the matter and that the U coats are
not lurking Just OF the coast line, some-
thing happens that gives Maine . fright
full relapse.
II is going to take months to explain
away the frantic Workmanship OF the
British cruisers Niobe and Gloria for in
stance. They closed in on a L boat and
shot 1t into ribbons retently, only to hnd
that ii WAS q derelict schooner that had
bssen wsu known and fairly popular in
the Atlantic for . long period. Maine
does not believe that any such silly mis-
take could be made, and the British
admiralty has no intention OF arguing
about 1t.
All things considered, it seems mighty
likely that something strange Is floating
along the Maine coast, but whether it is
a sea- serpent or derby hat no one south
OF Canada is in position to state.