The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-04-09
Collector McGovern and Achievements Caught
 W1llehad Men Asleep.

feSaTOed Dy gOvernent officials il New York and Washington as one o
 the most interesting incidents in tn,
 proceedings preliminary to war; Th, feat was accomplished with clock-lik,
 precision. Officers and members O.
 the crew were caught mapping il l the broadest sense of the word and al of~them were sound asleep when Col
 lector McGovern, Captain e Billiard ; Lieut.. T. G. Cranston, Lieut. H. F
 Schoenborn. Leutenants w. N. Derby
 M. R. Daniels and F. J. German o1 the Coast Guard academy.
 1 Chief Machinist c. E. Briggs of the submarine base; Immigration Inspec- tor S. H. HsWes of Portland, Me; Ma. jor Ferguson, U. s. A., Deputy Col lector Joseph c. Comstock and Tn. spector J. J. Dillon, IA cadets and SC enlisted men from the Coas. Guard academy boarded the liner and trans ferred her into the possession of the United States.
 Followed Action of Congress Acting under orders previously re- ceived, the officers and men above named had secreted themselves al various points about the steamship terminal. They had come in detach- 1 ments. arriving by different routes and a few minutes apart.
 The storm was at its height then and those of the invading party wh0 did not occupy sheltered positions were quickly drenched to the skin Collector McGovern was stationed in the private customs office at the pier awaiting the magic word from the Western Union office. Message after message came in code, telling of the progress of affairs in the House. Al last there flashed over the wire a sim gle word which may be interpreted ar "Go."
 In less than four minutes from that second the Willehad was safely in the hands of Uncle Sam. The rapidity and success with which the task was accomplished received the highest encomiums from federal authorities. No. resistance was offered when the officials awakened the sleeping officers and crew of the liner. Collector Me- Govern was the first man to step on board and right at his heels was Chief Machinist Briggs of the submarine base
 The latter made 8 quick dive for the engine room What he discov- cred has not been given out officially but it is understood on authority which cannot be questioned that the engines of the ship had been tdisa b1ed and 1t is also rumored that sand was found in some of the bearings. It is said that the damage is not serious and can be readily repaired.
 According to naval expert, 1t would have taken not over five min utes for the crew to sink the ship had they been desirous of doing SO. There was no evidence, however, that any such action was contemplat- ed.
 There was more than one humor- ous incident connected with the seiz- ure of the vessel. An enlisted paan from the. Coast Guard service en- tered a cabin and aroused the sleeping occupant. t'Put on your clothes," he ordered. \ The drowsy occupant, an officer, jumped from his berth in his "nightie" and the first article of wearing apparel he put on was his hat.
 Officers and crew numbered 37 men, the total being the same that originally came here. One sailor w. Foster, was too i'll to be moved and was permitted to remain aboard the liner. He Is suffering from se- were attack of rheumatism. This morning he was taken to the hos pital in care of Inspector Dillon.
 The remaining 36 were escorted to the custom house under guard, where they remained for the balance of the night. Most of the men had their luggage already packed in trunks, suit cases and canvas bags as though anticipating they might be called on to move unexpectedly.
 At 8:30 this morning officers and crew, in charge of detail from the Second regiment in command of Ser geant Binley, were taken to the Crocker house, where they were given the liberty of the bill of fare for breakfast. They ate heartily, their appetites apparently not being affect ed by the unfortunate predicament in which they had been placed.
 While the men were breakfasting ttheir belongings were brought over from the Willehad in motor trucks. Their effects nearly blocked the cor ridor of the custom house. In the meantime Immigration Inspector M. F. Brophy of New York had arrived with 15 assistants and the care of the interned Germans and their baggage was entrusted to them. Inspector Howes formally transferred the cus- tody to the New York official.
 Before the Germans had returned from the Crocker house their luggage was once more loaded on motor trucks and taken to the baggage room at the Union station. A care full count was kept of every piece. It had been rumored that the prisoners were to be detained in this city, but it soon leaked out that they were to be transferred at once to Ellis Isl- and.
 Captain Jachens of the Willehad did not march with the members of the crew on their way back from the ho- tel, but instead rode in an automobile with Collector McGpvern and Inspec- tor Dillon. There were tears in his eyes as he alighted at the custom house.
 He went inside for 6 minute and Govern, motored to the WiHehad, where he had left flew personal be- longings. These he gathered up and