The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1919-09-26

man in the middle of the night unless
there are grave reasons for doing so.
And if this fellow was not a British
merchantmen, as he professed, what
else could he be? He might be the
Wolf? 1t was at least a possibility. In
that case the prospect of an engage
ment opened up visions of a glorious
death, but little else.
Wireless messages were sent to the
other ships of the patrol, stating 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 q
cigaret before turning in. AS he lighted
up he remarked: II should like to get
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, sis
whether he would understand your
language. They are not all good lin
GUSTS"
ii was an observation which clearly
neeueu ampllIylng.
'If you were an English skipper I'M
der the impression that you were be-
ing chased by a German raider, would
you expect him to go on chasing you
for two hours without fringe"
The officer just relieved from the
bridge became meditative.
Sne,tad Adam with = aTv
''There was something funny" he
said, seven about that last signal ask
Ing us why we did not stop him at
Alden. The signalman tells me that he
first spelled Alden with a t. and then
corrected It"
Even the technicalities of a flag
wager may be fraught with impor-
lance. When a messenger came down
from the bridge to say that the ship
on the port bow seemed to be drawing
away from us, the captain sent back a
message to the officer of the watch to
put on the best speed he could. The
little ship began to throb with her ex-
ertions, while her funnel grew red-hot.
Just before the morning watch the
moon went down, and darkness fell
upon the face of the water. 1t was
evident that we had gained very little,
Y at all, on the stranger. The captain.
leaning over the bridge rail, sang out
for the signalman.
make IL you do not stop I shall
fire."
cay. ay, sir"
Observation-Disclosures
The signalman closed his shutter on
the final word with a snap. There fol-
lowed a few minutes Of suspense.
Then came the answer.
"I-am-stopping-now."
Number One, tell them to stand by
the searchlight," said the captain to
the first lieutenant. "Signalman, tell
him to place his navigation lights"
Very promptly In response to the sig
nal the lights appeared upon the
strange ship.
Now make, Remain where you are.
I will board you at daylight"
What the s~earehlight Revealed.
When the distance between the ships
had been reduced to about a mile the
order was given to switch on the
searchlight. The great white streak
shot across the sea until 1t settled on
the mysterious craft. In large letters
across her stern ran the legend, Sur
ritella, London"
II believe / have been fooled after
all" said the captain to himself. The
s%earchlight also revealed a party SHOW
ing Off in a boat, presumably contain,
ing the irate skipper, wanting to know
what the blank blank all this business
meant, for In the eastern waters they
were not accustomed to it. Presently
there came a strange voice through q
megaphone from the strangers bridge
"Switch off that damned search.
light"
"He seems to be getting a bit ratty.
Shall / switch OFF,"
The order was given, and darkness
prevailed once more. Some minutes
later the eastern sky began to glow
feebly at first, casting a kind Of halt
light over the face of the seas--a mere
glimmer in which objects appeared
without shape. Out Of this gloon
there arose such a babel of sound a.
brought us all to the ships side. Dimly
we could discern two boats, n on tho
port and one on the starboard side OF
us, both crowded with occupants, wht
were jabbering In some strange tongue
like a lot Of excited monkeys.
Germans Sank Their Own Ship.
Just as we came abeam Of the
strange ship we saw a cloud Of smoke
shoot up from her, which vas followed
by the heavy thud Of an explosion
Next moment there came another
heavy thud, and we saw that the Tur
ritella was beginning to sink by the
head. We steamed past her and begar
to circle round her at a respectful dis
lance. for ships which carry explosives
may carry them in the form of torpe
does. Gradually the eastern sky begar
to flush red; the hue was reflected By