The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-19
NINE AMERICANS
Continued from Page oneJ

Continued from rage One-l
lied vessels which recently left South
American ports or which were due to
arrive and about which there has been
no information for some time. On the
other hand, it is pointed out here that
the original raider by this time has
undoubtedly armed and transformed
some of the more speedy vessels
among her prizes into additional raid
ers and that additions to the toll or
destruction could be expected.
The most gra phic story of the raid
ers method of destruction was told in
the log of the captain of the British
steamer Radnorshire, brought ashore
with the survivors aboard the Hudson
Maru at Pernambuco.
Tried in Vain to Escape.
"At 1920 on the night of January
Z, following our departure from Per-
nambuco, we sighted a vessel ahead, "
the log related. AT that time we
were travelling without lights-hav-
ing received warning to watch out for
possible raiders-and as soon as we
sighted the stranger, we changed our
course. Then we saw two strangers
and second time shifted our
course, hoping to slip away unseen in
the darkness. But the two vessels
had apparently sighted us, despite our
lack of lights, and then gave proof of
this by Immediately putting on full
speed and bearing down in our direc-
ton.
ct crammed my boilers and did my
best to hurry away, but with our ten
knots maximum speed, it was soon
apparent from the way the two
strangers overhauled us that it was
useless to try to elude them. Both
apparently were capable of at least
eighteen knots. Pretty soon they were
close by. When. they were almost
alongside I gave the alarm and every
body aboard donned lifebelts. We
were fairly certein then that the raid
er or raiders W. rad been warned
about We're after us.
After laying to, there came aboard
us very shortly six German officers
and twenty men. They took charge
of my vessel, seized the cargo of cof-
fee which we carried and took off a
considerable amount of food. Then
they gave US time in which to gather
a few personal effects before putting
US in boats In the meantime the
Germans had planted two explosive
bombs on each side of my ship. When
we were all off. including the Ger
mans, these were exploded. The YES
sci sank at 2:45 a. m, on January s.
As Prisoner Sees Other Ships Sink.
"A prisoner aboard one of our CAP
tors, l saw two other vessels sunk on
January 8 and one on January 10-alI
three being destroyed in exactly the
same fashion. Whenever the sinkings
took place during daylight hours, a
German cinema man aboard the raid
er calmly and methodically cranked
away taking pictures of the sinking.
Il was told by the captain of the two
vessels that he had orders to spare all
passengers and all vessels carrying in
big cargoes.
I'VE were kept in the port bow COM
partment of the vessel to which we
were transferred. The quarters were
almost without air, and for five days
we were compelled to live and sleep
in this cramped. stuffy fashion, sleep
ing with Hindoos and other rough
necks' Then we met the japanese
steamer Hudson Maru and all on our
ship were transferred to that vessel
except coolies.
1.-The Hudson Maru was dispatched
to Pernambuco with barely enough
water and sea biscuits to complete the
voyage"
The preceding sections of the log
had detailed how the Radnorshire left
Bahia on January and asserted the
| spot at which she sighted the raiders
was 100 miles east OF Pernambuco-