Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-02-09
HUN COMMANDER ESCAPES
FROM DESERTED ISLAND
Another Thrilling Story OF RaidinS
on Pacific in German Boat by
Captain Smith.
RESEMBLES DREAM IN BOOK
Master Mind OF Expedition son OF
Parents Still Living in Ioungs-
town, Ohio-American Held PrIs-
oner Returns to United States.
ny CAPTAIN HALDoR SMITH.

captain Haidor Smith. ia;c ma tsr
OF the San Francisco sailing vessel
: II. G. Siade. which was sunk by the
German sea raider Sceadler in the Pa :
citc Ocean few months ago, was
taken aboard the raider and hold pris-
oncr for many weeks. being forced 10
witness tho sinking and burning OF
many other American vessels. He fin.
ally escaped from a small South Sea
island on which the Sccadlcr was fin-
ally wrecked, and with three other
Americans made a thousand mile daeh
IN an open boat TO "A friendly port.1
But each noon we TOOK our bearings
and found that We were holding true
TO The course and making what we were
justified IN thinking rafting good time.
There was that to cheer US UP besides
the coffee. and Speculations on our
chances and keeping an anxious eye
on tho weather between baling and
steering, and always the thought tina.
at least we were doing something and
not lyius prisoners or the asol,. with
never a hope but the chance Of a pass
Ing ship or some war craft nos;ng there
half By accident.
All this. 100. kept Us from, sleeping.
We'd Try. but the cold and anxiety
no attempt. keeping at the work till
we were exhausted. and toward the end
the exhaustion itself wouldn', let us
sleep. but only lay and toss and try 10
hold fast while tho boat tossed us
like dice in a box. with the cold n.
night stlffen:ag our soaked clothes and
the sun baking them TO us the rest OF
time.
Before you get 10 Page Paco, Oh
that course, YOU come to the tirst
island OF the Samoan group. Manua.
sixty miles east OF Tutuila. and this
We sighted at . O'Clock on the ninth
day. We steercd in and passed the
southwest poin. a in tho afternoon.
and / decided TO GO 20 lecward and
take rest and bath and sc, some
warm food X II were possible on the
beach. Then we could loaf till In
the evening and continue on. for was
AFRAID to run away TO Page Paso at
once, as that would set US there by
dark. and imagined wha; tho guns
ashore ana on the Eunhoats in the
harhor would do TO strange boat
sncakins uP that way. We co,.ldn't have
hove to on FaSo raEo in such a heavy
sea.
81 t. iesward % Manua We dropped
an'hoF--s has of ballast. sand--ou,-
side a native village. and tie second
mate OF the Manila wa, sent ashore.
swimming. Food was wha; he wanted
most.
Food VIC got. but not our swim. nor
"a bit OF rest. for hardly was tho
anchor down before two out-icccr
:, canoes put of from the village, and
from then on We fairly had 10 fight
the natives off in their friendl!ncss.
Something Of who VIC were Was told
ashore by Williams. AS lie walked un
the beach he came upon a gigantic
native. clad like cannihal in a comic
pspe-, with a big coconu, knife in his
hand--one OF those knives that arc
/. sbou, as HANDY in 7 scrimmaGe as a
kris and machctc comhised
They were both a bit startled. VII
liams walking upon him unawares
under the trees. with thick brush all
about
They stood sim moment, looking
! with the knife asked
You my f-'cnc"
Williams looked a. the size of him
and tho knife. and the lay OF The land
with :hc village ana -, gang wi'hin
hsilinE distance and he himself with
nothing on hut what u" had swan in
which wasn't much, and then he an
suero1
'Ncry good t-'cnd D."
NATIVE MISSIONARY
TAXES WORD TO VILLAGE
I, was native missionary. and he
80; sma'tc-luS 81 what VIC were. and
tool: WORD to tho village. and before
FL long til. Whole crew Of them had