The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-03-10
Life on Shipboard Is
Nightmare of Terror

ito make sure that they were ready for
her babies.
From the beginning Of the voyage
no definite information as to when the
ship would reach port or leave was
given to passengers. In fact there were
few questions which one could get an
swered. The correspondent tried to
get the official humber OF passengers
and asked whether any other neutrals
were aboard but he was told that the
ships officers had been forbidden to
give any information whatever. After
leaving Port Said even the emergency
compass at the stern of the steamer
was covered so that inquisitive pas
sengers could not tell what direction
she was taking,
From Port Said progress was neces-
sarily slow for the ship was continual
ly weaving in and out leaving a tor
tuous wake like a great sea-serpent. A
crew of experienced gTnners was on
duty at the big gun in the stern day
and night. ready to take the command
er's orders should the occasion arise.
Two or three men passengers who ap-
peared on the deck the first night
with lighted cigars were roundly up-
braided by the commander and We're
sent below.
At Marseilles the first word of the
new German edict regarding the sub
marine warfare was learned. and here
all but about $50 passengers, mostly
second -class. were disembarked The
ship continued her voyage on Feb. 1,
the day set for the beginning Of the in
discriminate torpedoing. 1t Is not
permitted to name the route taken by
the vessel, but 1t was most peculiar
one. which brought the liner into the
channel many days overdue.
From Marseilles on the trip was q
continual horror to the ships officers.
for the wireless told them that ships
were going down all about them.
knowledge of these events was kept
from the passengers so far as possible,
but there were some things which
could not be concealed. 1t was in thu
early morning that the ship was tor
pedoed within sight of the liner. The
l-fated vessel had been steaming
along with all her lights ablaze, why,
nobody could imagine. 1t was a de-
liberate bid for trouble. Suddenly she
was seen to heave up out of the water
and then settle back with a terrible
list. Immediately distress signals were
sent up by the wounded ship, but she
could expect no aid, for under admir-
atty orders no vessel can go to the
rescue of another at such time.
Throughout the three weeks from
Port Said passengers stood their watch
on the bridge with the ships officers.
From daylight until dark two passen-
gers were always on the lower bridge
scanning the waters with marine
glasses. And their assistance was APP
preciated by the commander for he
could not have too many on the look
out. During his outward voyage he had
escaped in a miraculous manner from
submarine and he had no delusions
as to the danger.
It is not only the men in the
trenches who lose their reason through
the stress OF conflict A sad illustra-
ton OF what submarine warfare VIII
produce was constantly before the
passengers Of the liner. There was
aboard as a passenger a steamship
captain who for many months had
piloted a great ship through dangerous
waters. Once at least he had encount-
cred an underwater boat and fought
for the life of the vessel. The contin-
ued strain had finally told on him and
he was being taken home under guard
of two men q shattered wreck who
stood for hours in spot listening, al
ways listening. For what? He alone
knew and he would not tell.