Bridgeton pioneer., 1917-08-23
AW'arniing
Was 1t Given by Auto
suggestion or an Unex-
planned Spiritual
Power
By Alan Hinsdale
By Alan Hinsdale


lantic ocean, his wife clNging to him,
loath to let him so. The captain had
sailed several times before since his
marriage. but not dreading any peril
except what has pertained to a sailors
life from time immemOrial. But now
he was to face new danger danger
compared with which storm or sunken
rock was far less dreadful, for storm
may be weathered and a sunken rock
may be avoided. Clifford was to face
the dreaded submarine.
This is why his wife parted with him
so much more reluctantly than ever
before.
Don't worry about me, sweetheart
he said. I'VE have gun forward and
q gun aft and an ensign in the navy
commanding crew of trained gun
ners. We shall keep vigilant watch
by day for submarines, and at night
not light will be allowed aboard the
ship. l venture to say that we will
have as good chance as any subma-
rtne that may attack u.s."
''That is but one chance In two" re-
plleQ the deSpondent Wl1e.
"No; believe we shall have a great
advantage over the submarine. We
shall enter the restricted zone when
there is no moonshine, and, not show
ding a light, l do not believe we shall
EDe in danger of attack at night. AS
for an encounter In the day. by keep
ing incessant watch we will get the
first shot, for the submarine to get our
bearings must do so from the surface.
If we put one shot into her she is
lost, and our gunnerS are very quick
and very skillful. Then, too, she must
attack us when we present broad
side to her, and we may show either
stern or bow. If the stern, we may
run away from her; if the bow, we
may ram her. There will be no need
for us to put our Prov against her but
once, for she will roll over and go to
the bottom. But remember this-we
may not see submarine"
"But suppose she sees you before you
see her and has time to send a shot
at you before your gunners are ready
to fire."
Don't worry about that, my dear
We shall always be on the alert. From
the first light of dawn to the closing
IN Of night our lookout and our gun
ners will keep their eyes peeled for
them"
1t was with such hopeful assurances
that the captain sought to comfort his
wife. Finally she released him, and
he started for his ship.
The Nautilus passed through the dan
ger zone safely. Not even the tip Of
per1scope was seen above the surface
of the water. Captain Clifford on en-
Tering forbidden waters followed rigid
2y the course laid down for him by the
British admiralty, and it was to this
TACT that he owed his safety The
crew and the gun squad We're of opin-
ion that all ship need do to escape
being sunk in the danger zone was to
adhere to instructions. They heard
or ships being torpedoed by disregard
ing them, but not of ships being wreck
ed that observed them.
1t was to this opinion that was due
some laXity on the return voyage
Captain Clifford did all he could to
counteract this disposition, constantly
watching the men for breach Of the
ngid system of attention to duty he
had instituted. He found the work
very wearing, and the night his ship
was leaving the zone, having been
bong without sleep, he turned in for a
brief rest.
1t was about three bells in the morn
mug that the captain awoke He was
ast0n1shed to see his cabin family
Illuminated and Mortified as well. for
ne had given the strictest orders that
no light was to be allowed on the ship,
and here was light in his own cabin.
But this was not all that amazed the
captain. His wife was standing be-
side his berth.
Great heavens, Lucy" he exclaimed,
~how did you come here?
There is submarine a few miles
distant. When day comes and your
ship will be visible you will be in
danger"
Now, the captain had been so pro-
1oundly sunken in sleep that he saw
this scene but half awake. By the time
ne had become fully aroused the illumi-
nation Of his cabin had faded, as well
rs the figure of his wife. Naturally
he ascribed his vision to nightmare in
duced by his mind being absorbed in
Ehe danger through which his ship was
passing. 1t was yet several hours be-
Xere day, but so vivid was his dream
Or whatever it was, that he arose-he
was in his clothing-and went on deck
70 see if the watch We're doing their
&nfy. The sailors were alert, but the
men on duty at the guns We're doing.
While Captain Clifford regarded the
VISION as the creation of his own brain
he had feeling within him that it was
sazeal warning of danger. At any rate
III served as such. He ordered every
man on deck and instructed the officer
commanding the gunners to have q
man at the breach of each gun, ready