Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-02-02

conditions aboard. He momentarily is
expecting instructions as to the dis
position of the ship.
Want Civilians Released
1t is understood here that Lieuten-
ant Berg has asked that the United
States permit him to lay up the Appam
in Virginia waters as a fair prize of
war, liberating at least all of the
civilian passengers who were aboard at
the time of capture. Officials here are
of the impression that Lieutenant Berg
will be informed that unless he puts to
sea after receiving provisions and fuel
the liner cannot be held as n prize.
Over night large supply of food
stuffs was loaded on the ship to fill
larders almost empty when she enter
ed the capes yesterday
Prince Won Hatzfeldt, of the Ger
man embassy at Washington, who
reached Old Point early to-day to
represent the German government,
expressed the opinion that the Appam
would be regarded as a prize and all
the civilians on board would be
liberated.
Threatened to Blow Up Ship
According to reports here, the
Appam has on board a large quantity
of explosives, probably a part of the
5000 tons of general cargo she was
carrying when caught. The prize
crew is said to have rigged a device
for blowing up the ship and to have
held that threat of such a catastrophe
over the captives to insure their good
behavior.
1t was first thought that Sir f.
Meriwether governor of Sierre Leone
and some of the other first class pas
Sengers on the liner, would be per-
mitted to come ashore at least tenn
porarily for hotel accommodations
but Collector Hamilton decided to-
day that owing to the peculiar and
almost unprecedented questions M
volved in the case, all persons must
remain on board until the ships
status had been determined by WASH
ington.
The collector intimated that the
Appam probably would be taken to
Norfolk or Newport News to facilitate
removal of the civilians when the
time comes
All Want to Land
An immigration inspector boarded
the vessel to-day and checked up the
list of persons aboard with a view to
having everything in readiness for
landing.
So far only officials of the United
States navy, customs service, public
health service and immigration
bureau have boarded the Appam since
the pilot left her at Old Point yester-
day. All of the officials say condi-
tions on the ship are good and every
body satisfied with the treatment
given them by their captors. All are
anxious to land. particularly the Brit
ish colonial officials. who were on
their way home from Africa when
the Appam encountered the raider. In
spite of a driving drizzle over Hamp-
ton Roads, many of the passengers
walked the decks.
Ncwspapcrmen Halted
When immigration Inspector Nor
the Appam to-day they were halted
by the German guard.
Morton demanded to see the COM
mander and Lieutenant Berg soon ap-
peared and permitted the inspectors to
continue their examinations of the
crew and passengers which were be-
gun yesterday.
Newspapermen aboard the inspect
ors boat made futile attempts to gain
access to the liner while they sat in
the launch alongside the Appam. Sew
eral passengers came to the rail and
inquired for newspapers. They cas-
ually mentioned that the food supply
was getting short, but they seemed
more anxious to discuss the fate of the
boat rather than their own personal
needs.
"Is it true that the German cruiser
has been sunk?" asked a British sea.
man anxiously.
When he was told that such was not
the case he appeared greatly dis
appointed.