Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1917-10-04
Captured by a
Cruiser
By DONALD CHAMBERLlN

several German cruisers broke through
the Gordon of British ships in the North
sea ana began 10 rove the seas. sink
ing any allied vessel they met. The
most famous of these was the EN-
lien. and she continued the work longer
than any other privataxr
During the first year of the war
was acting as chief engineer OF the
British ship Tommy Atkins. running
between London and Valparaiso. Ii
wasn't long before the German cruisers
made themselves evident I'm the south
Atlantic, and after crossing the equa-
tor we began to fear we might fall into
the hands OF some one of them. Sure
enough, one day we saw black smoke
on the horizon which grew palmer ev-
cry hour and we soon made up our
minds that she was coming toward us
She proved 10 be the Emden, and
when she came near enough 10 us she
fired a shot across our bows. and a
few minutes later | got signal 10
stop the engine. An officer from the
cruiser came aboard and directed every
one 10 get ready to be removed To his
ship. He came down into the engine
room where / was waiting in ease
was wanted there, and. seeing me, he
asked me If ! was the engineer.
told him | was. and he ordered me on
deck ana put me in charge OF sailor,
who took me aboard of the cruiser.
When | saw the officer again he told
me that one of their engineers had died
Of a fever. another had broken an arm
and they were short OF engineers. l
mast take one of the periods OF run
ming the vessel
d In a couple of days we fell in with
an Austrian bark bound for a German
port ana all the passengers and crew
except me were put aboard OF her, for
our ship had been sent 10 the bottom
as soon rs we were transferred 10 the
Emdcn II was sad sight for me.
Heing the others leave the Emden, and
| forced TO remain and work for the
enemy But what could do?
From the moment the last boat left
the Emden for the other vessel | be-
KAN ~ iuihh hoN Nouiu 'N'hlt
service that was undesirable in that it
was for an enemy.
We were moving down the Brazilian
coast. sometimes within a few miles
of land. My watch. or period Of duty,
had been changed from night To day,
for was breaking down under the
strain. and it was one night when
was supposed q be asleep that | laid
my plans.
one Of the crew had died the day be-
fore and was laid out for burial Be
side him was the sack i'm whic h he was
TO bc scnt 90 the bottom. 1t occurred
- me that If could get rid of him
and put myself in the sack / would be
thrown overheard. Land had been IN
Sight during the day. and !. being Ia
good swimmer might keep myself on
tile surface long enough 70 be picked
up 10y some passing boat.
1t would probably result in death,
but preferred 10 take the chance rath-
or than remain in the enforced service.
| Briton. Ia be tile slave OF Ger
man. Better hundred deaths
At first the Germans Kept close
watch on me. but gradually they grew
lax could do nothing harmful which
would not react on myself as well as
on them. Every one about me was
sound asleep. Those on deck were
wide awake. but all below. tired with
the heavy duties. were glad 70 sleep
when relieved.
| arose went 10 the corpse. put II on
my shoulder carried it 10 the ships
side and through an open space drop
ped it overheard. next stole knife
from a sleeping sailor without waking
him Then | got into the burial sack
ana awaited my fate.
by this time had learned Il little
German. and In the morning heard
vol e: Where is Hans He was not
put in the bag | heard a fqotstcp
coming toward me and felt "A hand
grip my shoulder Here he is said
the man who grippcd me Some one
must have put him in. But he is not
sewcd up. That must be done at once.
Schneider, come here"
SpHlc one 'dllt anu StWtb hll the
sack. Very soon after this was ear
ried 10 the forward deck. There was
some kind of service. but ! did not
know enough OF the German language
10 determine what il was. Then ! felt
the board on which was placed tilted.
and slid into cold water.
must have gone down forty feet
and was thinking that | would never
stop when my feet struck bottom. This
encouraged me. for the shallow water
Off the weight that pulled me down and
finished freeing myself by cutting my
way out OF the sack; then. bracing my
foot against the sand. | rose rapidly 10
the surface The first thing | did on
getting my head above water was 10
look for the cruiser. Seeing her some
800 yards from me. | drew n long
breath and ducked TO give her time 10
get farther away.
When | looked again there. n couple
of miles away. was the South American
coast. The sea was calm. and hoped
TO be able TO swim the distance. though
was weak from overwork. struck
out slowly and soon came TO a piece OF
driftwood. On this rested for some
time. then swan about half mile |
and would have drowned had not a
small fishing boat passed near me. The
skipper picked me up. and eventually