The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1916-09-09

He Tells How He Frightened the Brit
ish Captain and Grow Of Fifty elk
Into subnissiop--chlness Cook Only
Person Aboard Who Was Not Afraid,
He Says.
Romantic Clarence Reginald Hodson,
the poetic looking young man who
scared fifty-six men out OF possession
OF the British freighter Matoppo or
Sandy Hook, is still In JAN In New
York.
The twenty three-year-old son OF an
English father and q German mother
relieved the federal oficials OF consid-
cradle worry by relating that be had
prepared TO sink the Pannonin
The Pannonia was on her way 70
New York from London when Hodson
and his three associates began 10 con-
slider the project OF slipping aboard the
Cunarder just before she left here on a
return trip. She departed from Lon
don on Feb. 81 and got into New York
on March u.
BY this later date, Hodson told Cap
tain Tunney. he had purchased mo-
torboat, which was 70 be run over from
92p4ksn, Hesye the plotters had head
Yonsaa On Q ns tnS m& sha left for
The four men met In a Twelfth
street room at II o'clock on the night
OF the 18th. That was to be the final
meeting before going aboard and at
10 IN Oh hot
men were TO try boarding her from
the pier, bringing dynamite with them.
or were TO bring the explosive from
Hoboken In the motorboat and board
her from the waterside.
Decision had been made on one point.
That was, To steal the liners money.
Conditions were 10 determine whether,
after the quartet hnd taken charge OF
the vessel, crew and passengers and
had set the crew and passengers or In
the small boats, the vessel was to be
blown mp or permitted TO sink by open
ing the sea cocks.
When Hodson got 10 the meeting
place that night 1t quickly became APP
parent TO him that two OF his bold Eel.
lows had lost faith In him and In them
selves. They told him the Job was
too big for them.
His persistence Of purpose, 80 clear.
ly shown by his temporary seizure of
the freighter Matoppo, becomes all the
more surprising when one has studied
the young man. Captain Tunney was
amazed when he looked at Hodson.
He expected TO see a husky giant OF
menacing mien. He saw youth not
more than FIVE feet ten inches In
height and weighing not over 100
pounds. His brown mustache, though
well developed, does not conceal IN the
mouth an apparent indication OF indie
cision, which his achievement seems
to belle
Soon after he was brought into Cap
tain Tunneys room he betrayed his
thirst for notoriety. BY courtesy Of
Police Commissioner Woods some re-
porters were permitted TO question
the odd prisoner, who welcomed ques
lions from the newspaper men with
high enthusiasm.
when held up the captain" he
said, II was as much frightened as he
was, | guess. but he gave I'm first. You
see, l was very weak. hadn't had
anything to eat for several days.
put the gun up TO him, and Il wavered
In my hand, but / guess he was too
much excited to take notice Of that,
and he surrendered very quickly and
quietly.
II Amused the Chink.
THE Chinese cook made me laugh
After he had learned what the situn.
ton was and that only one man had
taken the ship he came 20 me and told
me he thought what | had done was
awfuily funny.
Another amusing thing occurred the
same day. In the captains room ] saw
a big cake. / asked the captain what
II was for.
1--WE intended 10 eat IL in celebration
OF British Victories he said.
"'Cut IL up ! told him. Wen eat Il
tonight in celebration OF this German
victory And he and some OF the
others ate It, / had some OF it too.
Everybody on that ship except the
Chinese cook was frightened foolish
When the captain and l went into the
wireless room we found the operator
asleep. touched him on the shoulder
and shouted. The Germans are herer
The operator woke up and almost rolled
or his chair Il am in charge OF this
vessel | told him. | handed him the
emergency fire ax and told him 10
smash the apparatus. lie took the ax.
but he was so weak from fear he
couldn't hold II firmly enough TO break
an egg. SO grabbed It and smashed
everything IN the room
Parrot Cries Out "Firelv