The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-07-07
Warned?
BY RICHARD MARLEY


ship. the Evelyn Colby. for Liverpool
with a miscellaneous cargo on the 30th
OF January, 1917. The Colby was a
small steamer of 1000 tons and a slow
saller bad no wireless apparatus.
Indeed, didn't think needed one,
had been used to jogging across oceans
for many years without communicate
ing with any other ship or the land
and saw no reason to change my hab-
its.
There had been n good deal of sub
marine work done In certain locations,
but that had fallen or very considera-
bly,. Indeed, took no thought for
submarines, for they had been doing
no damage on the route on which
proposed TO sail. So after leaving New
York settled down to my usual sea
life, which has always been most TO
my taste.
took a southern passage, which
caused me to steer not far north OF
east for the greater part of my voy-
age. Being somewhat out of the line
of vessels between the United States
and England, met only three or four
ships going over. and they were so far
away that | did not speak to any OF
them. Had one come nearer or had l
possessed a wireless apparatus
should have learned what would have
put very different complexion on my
voyage. Instead OF taking things easy
/ should have been In a condition Of
excruciating apprehension.
should have learned that the Ger
man government had laid down a zone
of the ocean about the British isles
into which II any ship sailed she would
be sent to the bottom by a submarine. |
All that was necessary was that the |
submarine and the ship should come |
within striking distance. Already a |
large number OF vessels had braved
the danger, and many had been sunk.
Years ago / took with me a young
sailor, who remained with me as long
as he lived. Mark Stanford was his
name. He was the most reliable man
In an emergency l ever knew. Once
when the yards were covered with ice
and our safety depended on some one
going up to take in sail called for
volunteer to do the job. Mark Stan
ford alone stepped TO the front There
were nine chances in ten that the
pitching and rolling of the vessel
would shake him off into the brine.
But he did the work and got down
safely.
From that time forward he was a
privileged character aboard my ship.
He didn't think that he had done any
thing very wonderful and couldn't I'M
derstand why l was so grateful to
him. The consequence of 1t all was
that he formed very sincere attach
ment for me. / lost him In a storm.
He was on the forecastle lowering a
lib when we shipped an enormous sea
1t took poor Mark overheard, and it
was impossible to save him.
One night on this trip l have been
telling about from New York to Liver
pool I woke up very suddenly, con-
scious OF some appalling danger.
Now, I'm not going to say whether
/ did wake up or was dreaming or
from nightmare. What I'm
going to tell you is that | saw Mark
standing In my cabin. He
lad the same paleness on him as when
saw him in the water passing astern
he day he was carried overheard.
Put her off to the BASTARD, cap
ain," he said !.
/ Jumped out of my berth and reach
ID for my clothes, and when | looked y
gain for Mark he wasn't there. / sat
or a moment on the edge of my berth
wondering Mark was dead. / had
cen him in the water and / knew that
a such a storm he couldn't be got out a
( the water Moreover, If he had been b
aved | felt sure that he would have "A
urely rsjoined me. Nevertheless he n
ad appeared in my cabin and given t'
ne what I felt sure was a warning. II
he feeling that we were In grave dan a
er held with me, and the warning l Ct
ad received remained uppermost In n
~ mind, oascuring everything else. b'
Stopping only to put on my trousers, al
ran on deck and, taking the wheel
ut of the steersman's hands. put the
nip OF to the eastward. The man
'oked at me, wondering what had got re
ito me. And couldn't explain. If I
I'D him that a dead man had appeared pe
my cabin and given me a warning l
ould have been considered as having 81
st my mind and unfit for command.
told him that he could go below and IN
would take his place for the rest of Al
e watch.
/ kept on the changed course for ~
'uple of hours, when I resumed the
d one By this time day had dawn
|. and was hailed by trawler that ~
n close alongside and asked me If !
ID seen any signs of submarine.
id l hadn't, whereupon he told me
at l had had a lucky escape, for
ere had been one not far from the
urse was on when veered to the Or
St Then | learned for the first time
at / had entered a prohibited war
ne. on which all ships were liable TO
torpedoed by a submarine.
From this point l was given instruc-
ms as TO the safe course to take, ard f,
til we made port 1 never left the civ
OK an,
Is to whether Mark Stanford came
ok from the dead 10 warn me that Kl