Morris tribune., 1917-09-21
Captured by a
Cruiser
By DONALD CHAMBERLLN


several German cruisers broke through
the Gordon of British ships in the North
sea and began to rove the seas, sink
ing any allied vessel they met. The
most famous Of these was the EN-
den, and she continued the work longer
than any other privateer.
During the first year of the war
was acting as chief engineer of the
British ship Tommy Atkins, running
between London and Valparaiso. 1t
wasn't long before the German cruisers
made themselves evident in 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
mines that she was coming toward US
She proved to be the Emden, and
| When she came near enough to US she
| fred a shot across our bows, and
few minutes later l got a signal to
stop the engine. An officer from the
cruiser came aboard and directed every
one to get ready to be removed to his
ship. He came down into the engine
room, where l was waiting in case l
was wanted there, and, seeing me, he
asked me if l was the engineer.
told him l was, and he ordered me on
deck and put me in charge of a sailor,
who took me aboard of the cruiser
When l 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. !
must take one of the periods of run
ming the vessel.
In a couple Of days we fell in with
an Austrian bark bound for a German
port. and all the passengers and crew
except me were put aboard of her, for
our ship had been sent to the bottom
as soon as we were transferred to the
Emden. 1t was a sad sight for me,
seeing the others leave the Emden, and
forced to remain and work for the
enemy. But what could do?
From tic EcEcHt tie last boat left
the Emden for the other vessel be-
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. Ny 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 to 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 In which he was
to be sent to the bottom. 1t occurred
to 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 I, being a
good swimmer, might keep myself on
the surface long enough to be picked
up by some passing boat
It would probably result In death,
but preferred to take the chance rath-
er than remain In the enforced service.
l, a Briton, to be the slave Of Ger
man! Better q hundred deaths!
At first the Germans kept a close
watch on me, but gradually they grew
lax could do nothing harmful which
would not react on myself as we'll 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 to sleep
when relieved.
! arose, went to the corpse, put 1t on
my shoulder, carried II to the ships
side and through an open space drop
ped It overheard. / next stole a knife
from a sleeping sailor without waking
him. Then l got into the burial sack
and awaited my fate.
BY this time had learned a little
German, and In the morning heard a
voice: where Is Hans? He was not
put In the bag" heard a footstep
coming toward me and felt a hand
grip my shoulder. Here he is," said
the man who gripped me. "some one
must have put him in. But he Is not
sewed up That must be done at once.
Schneider, come here"
Some one came and sewed up the
sack. Very soon after this / was car
Red to the forward deck There was
some kind of service, but I did not
know enough Of the German language
to determine what it was. Then felt
the board ON which was placed tilted,
and slid into cold water.
must have gone down forty feat
and was thinking that l would never
stop when my feet struck bottom. This
encouraged me, for the shallow water
indicated that Was near land. cut
| of 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, I rose rapidly 70
the surface The first thing did on
getting my head above water was to
look for the cruiser. Seeing her some
300 yards from me, I drew a long
breath and ducked to give her time to
get farther away.
When I looked again, there, a couple
| ~ vroH1ou awau Tv0c tho EOITfh American