White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1929-07-26

bronze. Since he was Britisher, II
was reasonable that his ship should
sail under British col0rs. That neces
STATED the ceremony of hauling down
the French flag and hosting the
Union Jack. The French captains did
not like II at all
We Topped off the Cambronne's up
per masts, SO that she could set only
her lower sails She could not make
any speed now, and It would take hei
from ten to fourteen days to get to
Rio de Janeiro, which was the near.
est port. Then l exacted q pledge
from Captain Mullen:
Captain" said l, I'VE are releas
Ing our prisoners and they are under
your command. understand perfect
~ well that when you get to port GU,
existence will be known. We will be
sailing ship In a world Of arm0red
cruisers. We will be chased like
wild deer. We need a start We have
taken care that you do not get to port
too soon One thing remains, though
You may meet ship within week
or within day-tt may be steamer
with wireless plant. ask for your
word that you will not communicate
with any ship until you reach port.
we have, hope, treated our prison.
ers fairly, and | ask this of you in
return. NJ must have your solemn
word on It,"
Count" be replied,'"l give you my
word that the Cambronne will not
communicate with any ship until she
is in port at Rio"
We shook hands on 1t, and my mind
was at rest. 1t was no risk to take
the word of the Pinmore's old skipper
He played his part nobly. He passed
several steamers on his way to Rio
but steered clear of them. One com
zeal thing happened. A big steamer
came toward the Cambronne one
morning, and then her captain noticed
the crowd of prisoners on the ships
deck. He was cautious soul. II
looked suspicious. The steamer turned
and fed at full speed
There remained the case of Captain
Lecoq of the La Rochefoucaud, who
had broken his word to me and whom
had promised not to release with
the other prisoners. He tried to dis.
suade me. He was aghast at the
thought of being kept aboard the See
adler throughout her long cruise, the
end of which no one could fOretell
He vowed by all the saints that he
would keep the position of the ships
magazines locked sternly within his
bosom. would not listen to him. ]
told him that the others would 60 but
he would remain. intended to hold
him until we had caught and released
our next batch of prisoners. He en-.
listed the other captains to intercede
ln his behalf They came and asked
me to relent.
Gentlemen" replied, Il have just
now rested the safety of my ship on
Captain Mullen's word. You are all
ship masters. You know a captains
duty to the vessel he commands. Very
we'll, know that Captain Mullen's
word Is good. have taken the 9th.
ers of you at your word, and you have
not failed me. But Captain I.ecog
broke his word Can trust him not
to break It again2"
They argued so hard for their un
fortunate fellow skipper that finally
gave In. After all even If he did break
his word again and tell of the position
of my magazines, 1t did not necessa-
riIy mean disaster. made him sign
promise and made the other cap
tains sign as witnesses to his prom
Use. Then gave orders that be
should 20 with the rest.
We paid our prisoners off, just as
IL they had been working for u.s. Each
received wages for the time he had
spent aboard, and each was paid for
the wage he ordinarily received from
his shipowner. By Joe, that made
them happy. We had final banquet
The sailors feasted In their quarters
| entertained the officers and ladies
in my cabin. Toasts of champagne
were drunk. and at the end there were
cordial handshakes. We transferred
the crowd to the Cainbronne in boat
loads, and each boat, as II pushed of.
gave three cheers for the Seeadler.
We had been away from port for
eight weeks and had sunk eleven YES
sells, representing total OF more than
forty thousand tons Of allied shipping.
The Atlantic had given us its share.
Now to the Pacific. And God save
us from the cruisers.
RIO RE CONTINUED)