Metropolis weekly gazette. (Metropolis, Ill.) 1???-19??, 1917-05-04
Bombarded by Steam
By WALTER ULMER

- URING the second year of the
| pan-Eufopean war | command
| y ed a 1000 ton tramp steamer
called the Ajax.
l left Smyrna in August, 1915, with
cargo of rugs and other Asiatic
| goods for the port of New York. [
was obliged to steam through the
Greek archipelago, which l knew az
forded fine nesting for corsairs. / did
not fear Greeks. but l dreaded Asiatlcs
from the opposite eastern coast. II l
could get through to the open Mediter-
ranean sea / would feel reasonable
| expectation of getting my cargo to
America and a large profit.
One day while passing between two
Greek islands | was called from the
noon meal by the lookout, who report
ed small craft resembling tug put
ting out from a cove and steering a
course with the evident intention to
head us off. Through my glass l saw
that she carried the German flag.
Now, | did not believe that any Ger
man craft would be sailing In those
waters. which were occupied by the
allied fleets, especially the British. IL
this one were really German l was OF
the opinion that she was a tender for
a submarine. However, l could only
wait and learn. | kept on my course,
watching in every direction for peri
scope, till the tag-for such she proved
to be-was close on TO my bows.
Through my glass | could see on her
deck number of men in sailor COS.
tune who might be in the German
service; but, Judging from their
swarthy compilations, they were Ash
atics
One man who appeared to be com,
mander wore the uniform of Ger
man naval officer, but | believed he
had obtained it without having u COM
mission. He was whittier than his men
and might have been a European. One
thing noticed particularly was
no appearance of cannon. Whatever
armament there was doubtless consist
ed or such weapons as could be WELD
ed by individuals. However, while 1
looked port was opened and the nose
of Il little barker appeared 1t was as
terrifying as u bull pup. | did not be-
lieye 1t could sink us, though it might
put our machinery out of commission.
With its appearance the commander
of the tug called through a megaphone
something in German which one of my
men who understood the language
thought to be demand for surren.
der. submarine was ready TO blow
Us out of water. We We're given ten
minutes TO take 10 tn boats.
Never was there Il more palpable
case of bluff. There was no subma-
| rine, nothing which could be relied on
to sink us. We We're in danger of be.
Ing boarded and oYerpowered by Asiat.
ic pirates playing the. submarine act.
Though | was not deceived, | confess
IL looked to me that the only chance
for our lives was to take to the boats
and leave our cargo to the pirates.
There We're u few small arms aboard.
but not enough of them or men To- use
them to put up an adequate defense.
But we had means of defense that
| had often thought of using in case
OF being attacked by the small enemies
that infest certain Asiatic COASTS. I
determined TO tryzit now. | had plen-
ty of hose, and | ordered it attached
TO the steam cocks Of the boiler. There
were two hose which could be used
separately. | asked for more tina
from the pirate and was told that not
minute would be granted. So | orr
dered the men TO pretend to begin
the work of lowering the boats. and
they made n great ado with the ropes.
but accomplished nothing. During the
few minutes they We're thus engaged
We were attaching the hose to the
boiler and running the nozzles OH deck.
where they were hidden under the
gtmwale. When all was ready | or
dered the men away from the boats.
and word was shouted To the pirate
that If he wanted our ship TO come
and take 1t or If he intended to blow
US up to do so.
Ihis was evidently not In his calcu-
htions. There was a conference among
them; then we could see arms brought
on deck 1t was evident that they In.
tended to board us. Meanwhile they
ran up against US and were about to
lash to us when | took a hose and.
pointing 1t down at them. sent a
stream of scalding water among them,
which caused them TO desist and get
out of range as soon as possible.
\ number Of them had been scalded
just enough to make them furious
with pain, and. after taking time to
consider, they launched a rowboat CAR
ried on their deck and Unnamed 1t. and
while the tug came under our bows
the rowboat approached our stern.
There was some. protection for them
both fore and. aft, but as soon as
man appeared at either point he re.
ceiyed II dose of steam that sent him
bowling back, and some Of them were
knocked into the brine.
This plan having failed. both board
Ing parties retreated and. joining forces
ON the tug, began 10 pepper us with
their little barker | sent men below
to plug holes that might be made un-
der Xutpr, btlt faarin,y DAMAGE -. o,,.