The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1919-1935, 1919-10-24
BOCEIE SHIPPERS POOR
SPELLING HIS UNDOINC

O and one Il. and at another time with
a U and two R's3 And that express
sion, "Iluns for British admiralty"
Would an English merchant skipper
talk about the British admiralty.
Would he not say. "Under admiralty
charter" or some such phrase?
The signal lamp of the unknown
vessel began to scintillate again.
"Who are your ram the simple
message.
There was certainly a directness
about the question suggesting bluff
old English skipper.
"A british nnn-of-war," was our
answer. A little later we followed it
up by a perelnptOry order to the strain
ger to stop. When the signal lamp
began to flicker again, 1t seemed to
show just trifle Of hesitation.
Night Of Suspense.
HIS meaning was plain enough. We
could have ordered hin, to stop when
we first sighted him. when we were
within range Of the shore batteries,
and where there were British men-of-
war lying just round the corner inside
the harbor. He evidently suspected us
Of being the German raider. All these
merchantmen were in Il state Of high
nervous tension. The mere fact of be-
ing ordered to stop was enough to
make him run us hard as he could. 1t
was clear that we could not overhaul
him. The only question was. had we
sufficient grounds of suspicion to JUS
tify us In taking steps to compel him
to stop? No one cares to 20 to the
length Of firing on a strange merchant
man in the middle of the night unless
there are grave reasons for doing so.
And If this fellow was not British,
tnerchantman. as he prOfessed. what
else could he be? lie might be the
Wolf? 1t was ut least II possibility. In
that ease the prospect of an engage
ment opened up visions Of glorious
death. but little else.
Wireless messages were sent to the
circumstances. and the position, course
and speed. The first watch was over
The officer who had been relieved had
dropped into the wardroOm for Il
cigaret before turning in. As he lighted
up he remarked: II should like to gel
hold of that old merchant skipper and
give him a piece of my mind.''
''The question" observed one of the
pensive members Of the mess. lis
!! whether he would understand your
language. They are not all good lin
GUSTS"
| 1t was an observation which clearl!
needed simplifying.
III you were an English skipper un
der the impression that you were be
ing chased by n German raider. woult
you expect him to go on chasing yol
for two hours without tiring?"
The officer just relieved from thu
bridge became metlitative.
Spelled Alden with IT."
"There was something funny" h
said. "even about that last signal ask
ing us why we did not stop him IL
Alden. The signalman tells me that i,
first spelled Alden with a t. and thel
corrected it,
Even the technicalities of flag
wager may he fraught with impor
lance. When messenger came dow
from the bridge to say that the sl,:]
on the port bow seemed to he drawing
away from us. the captain sent back
message to the officer Of the watch L
put on the best speed he could. II.
little ship began to throb with her eS
ertiOns. while her funnel grew red-hOl
Just before the morning watch til
moon went down. and darkness fel
upon the face Of the water. 1t wa
evident that we had gained very little
if ut all. on the stranger. The captain
leaning over the bridge rail. sang gu
for the signalman.
"Alake If you do not stop shal
fire."
LAY. ay. SIR"
''lf-yOu-lO-nOt-stOp-l-