The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1917-03-01
CAPE BRIDE ON
HONEYMOON Sees
GERMAN U-BOAT
Mrs. Kramer, Formerly Miss
Niermann, Writes of Thrills
on High Seas.
RAIDER PURSUED HER
SHIP, SHE WAS TOLD
British Vessel, on Which She
Took Passage, Was Armed and
Carried Munitions.

The story Of panic among the pas
sengers of the British steamer "Vau-
ban" when the wireless apparatus re-
ceived word that German raider had
been active along the coast of South
America, is told in several letters Prof.
r. w. Niermann received from his
daughter, Mrs. Alfred Kramer, who
in company with her husband. Rev.
Alfred Kramer, sailed for South Amer
lea several weeks ago. The apprehen-
sion among the passengers was in
creased when it became known that the
vessel was armed with two large can
non.
Mrs. Kramer and her husband, who
went to Buenos Aires on a missionary
trip, left New York, Jan. Z. They ar
rived safely at their destination 23
days later, making the trip in seven
days less than the schedule time. The
ship had received orders from the
British Government to sail as fast
as possible in order to reach Buenos
Aires in time to take cargo of meat
to London.
Several days after the ship left the
port of New York, the sailors began
to paint the vessel in a dark gray
color, giving it the appearance o. a
man of war. The steamer was Brit
ish vessel and carried the British flag.
A few days after reaching the open
sea the flag was lowered. Every pre-
caution was taken to conceal the ma
tionality of the steamer and to hide its
appearance from the German raider
that was sighted in the South Sea.
A large canvas was spread over the
entire deck of the steamer to break the
glare of its lights during the night,
and every precaution was taken to
meet an attack by German raider
or submarine. incidentally it became
known among the passengers of the
''Vauba" that the captain, the purser
and the mate in charge of the laundry
had been previously captured by the
Germans. but had been RELEASED on
their word of honor that they would
not again enter active service on the
sea. Knowing that their second cap
ture meant certain death for them,
these men took extraordinary precau-
tons to meet the enemy.
Two large cannons were mounted
upon the ship, but this did not become
known until the news of the German
raiders presence was received by the
passengers. The captain revealed his
intention to meet any emergency. The
life boats were put in readiness so that
they could be used at moments no
tice, and the patrol on the captains
bridge was doubled so that an unwar-
ranted attack would have been impos-
sible.
When the steamer received the no.
tee that German raider was in the
waters around South America, the
ship changed its course and sailed as
closely to the shore as possible. In
order to reach its destination as soon
as possible, all stops were omitted, and
in that way the journey was made in
seven days less than was originally
planned.
The "Vauban" was approaching
Pernambuco, in Brazil, when it receiv-
ed the message that the German
raider was near. Immediately the
captain turned in westwardly direc-
ton and headed for the coast. He
sailed along the coast until the ship
reached Rio de Janeiro. The first stop
was made at Dahia, but the ship was
anchored there only long enough to
permit passengers to leave the ship.
Only one ship was seen by the pas
sengers of the "Vauban" during the
entire trip, and when it appeared on
the horizon, preparations were made
to meet the ship. 1t sailed toward the
"Vauban" for a short distance, but
turned back and disappeared, and for
that reason the captain ordered the
sailors to get ready for action.
Numerous wrecked ships were sight
ed at some distance. They were be-
lieved to have been the victims of the
German raider.
The passengers were kept in ignor-
ance of the nature of the cargo the
''Vauban" carried, and most privileges
granted the passengers of the steamer
were denied those on the 'Vauban."
When the steamer left New York the
passengers were ignorant that the ship
was armed, and when the cannons were
exposed to the passengers view, they
were almost psnie-stricken.
Rev. Kramer, in q letter to his
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