The Washington times., 1917-03-28
ST. LOUIS VOYAGE
TESTED ALL NERVES
Commander Spent Last So
Hours on Bridge Without
Relief.
.utinnnd from First Page.l

(Continued from First PaSe.J
lied merchantmen. At night she ran
absolutely dark, every port being
painted over and screened. As the
war zone was approached passengers
were forbidden to smoke on deck ar
ter dark. They were warned by the
ships officers that the men on guard
were armed and had orders TO shoot
at any lights.
Shot IceberGs to Pieces.
The st. Louis armament was tested
daily. In mid-Atlantic two small ice
bergs were shot into pieces small
enough for use in highballs, while on
Thursday afternoon a venturesome
whale lost his life through giving
perfect imitation OF submarine.
From the moment the war zone was
entered the St. Louis was pushed to
her limit speed. Several times she
bettered her own record. For twenty
four hours, while approaching the
English coast, where the danger was
greatest, she was driven at p furious
clip.
The st. Louis backed out of New
York pier at noon on St Patrick
day and started down the North river
amid a storm of salutes. No merchant
vessel in She history of the port was
ever given such a send-off. The cloud
of secrecy which had screened her
sailing for weeks was suddenly olssi-
pated in a burst of shrill enthusiasm.
The St. Louis herself forgot about
keepine her departure secret and
ioined in the bedlam with her DIG
bass voice. She returned the deep
throated good-byes until the arm OF
the uuartermaster was sore ana the
whistle cord threatened to snap.
AS the Hobolxen pier Of the German
lines was passed many passengers
went to the starboard rail to see what
smpression the sailing was making
there. From the great Nateriano
down to the smallest ship there
wasn't the slightest sign OF life Ihe
self-ihterned liners seemed TO shrug
their shabby sterns as II to say:
"FooIs navigate where angels rear 10
sail"
They viewed the st. Louis defiance
Of the Kaiser's orders in fiagless and
steamIess indifference.
From the battery seawall. men ana
women waved hats and handkerchleIs,
while a lonesome soldier on guard
duty near the old fort on Governor $
Island tossed his cap in the air. Noisy
fareweIls continued until the vessel
came to anchor in Gravesend Bay
among a fleet OF freighters. There
finishing touches were administered
TO the armament, tugs hustled ABOUT.
and the towboat John Nicholas STOOD
by all night.
The big liner turned her nose 10
ward the sea around noon on sunday,
in a cold northeast drizzle. The neet
Of freiRhters dipped their flags, and
driffRd arTnQg the
water. The last farewells came from
the pilot boat New Jersey and from
two men aboard the grotesque little
Ambrose Iightship, who waved good
by with two very red bandaHnas.
Had stormy Passage.
As the coastIine faded from view
the weather grew inclement. A
northeast wind, increasing to gale
brought rain and snow by Monday
ripbt The seas were mountainous
and II was dangerous to go on deck
Forty-foot combers rolling down ovel
the port bow smashed the chinawart
and started the decks leaking. The
main saloon and longing room were
flooded The steam pipes broke, &c
that II was impossible to heat th'
mort side of the ship. The passenger
suffered from the cold, but with th'
venerable St Louis on her beam endi
found no time to worry about U-ooats
Some were so sick they almost wished
a torpedo would arrive
Passengers were put through life
boat drills daily, being called to sta
tions every afternoon. Lifeboats were
swung out during the entire voyage
proyisioned with water, crackers
canned meats, blankets, and distress
signals Apparently no detail wal
overlooked to provide for the safety
Of passengers and crew.
The wireless was sealed. so far al
passengers were concerned durip1
the entire voyage, but many tele'
grams were received just bfore sail
ing. Most Of them had such comfort
ing passages as farewell; will pray
for you every night. If you die, re-
member you are an American" On
message received by Philip Klein, sor
of Charles Klein, the playwright, los
on the Lusitania, read, "Good-by, gooc
luck. and God bless you. II you reacf
the other side, cable Immediately" j
was signed by several members o.
the Lambs Club.
The st. Louis carried thirty-thre'
passengers, OF whom only four wer,
women. In the first cabin were Mrs
Edward Steele, Joseph Martin, ". p.
and Lord Furness, OF the shipping
Or, 81 A, N