Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1929-08-15
The Sesadler il wrecked and
the Count and his crew End
themselves Getaways on \ coral
Atoll.
CHAPTER XII-Continued

y
cruiser In the war. For cruiser we
were. and we we're setting out to cap
iure ship. sail back to Mnpella, pick
up our comrades there, and continue
our raid. To find and take ship on
the high sea was doubtful PROPOSE
tlon. but we might get to some OF the
other Islands. not too we'll populated
and guarded. and find vessel al
anchor. We could board her at night.
oyerpower the captain and crew. and
sail OF with~her. We planned first
OF all to visit the Cook islands, some
eight hundred miles distant, and II we
found no ship there, continue on an
other thousand miles farther to the
FIJI Islands, where there we're sure
to be ships loading with copra for the
ammunition factories of Europe We
figured on making around sixty nau,
tical miles day, so that. II We had to
go all the way to the Fills. II would
take US approximately thirty days
Thus we should be back with ship
We discussed our tactics thoroughly
for the expected capture. We would
steal aboard. Half-past three In the
morning was the best hour. Men
sleep their soundest then. couple
Of us would go to the officers cabins
the rest to the forecastle, We would
SHOW our pistols. dlsarm them. and
herd them below. II would be good
to sneak to their clothing first and
take away their belts and snip the
buttons Off their trousers. Then. when
you have them put on their clothes
fHey stand, without belts, suspenders
o. buttons, holding up their trousers
Thus they are helpless. We had
few bombs loaded only with powder
harmless, but capable OF making ter
rifle noise. Ii there Is any trouble
you throw one II hurts nobody. bu:
the terrible explosion creates a gen
eral panic. A couple Of men with
their heads about them can do won
ders with dozens in panic. Another
good thing Is to have couple of fel
lows outside shout suddenly and make
a great disturbance. That creates ex.
element and throws people off their
guard. said to my bo's'n:
Don't hurt anybody unless you
have to. We don't want to spoil our
clean record by killing anybody. But.
by Joe, II captain or Waterman
raises a rifle or pistol, don't wait
till he shoots- Get him first"
On bright summer morning-Au-
gust %. 1917, to be exact-we all shook
hands. There was no cheering, mere
ly quiet, earnest words of friendship
and good luck. II was the first time
that we sixty-four seamen had parted
since the Seeadler had set sail to run
the blockade eight months before. and
It was only now, at the moment of
saying good-by, that we realized how
closely attached to one another we
had become. We who were going
could see brooding question In the
eyes OF those who were staying be
hind.
How will that overloaded cockel
shell stand heavy weather.
Never mind, we would probably find
out soon enough The understanding
was that, If we did not return In three
months, something had happened to
us. They should wait for us until
then. Afterward. Killing and his men
were to get away from the atoll as
best they could.
We sailed out of the lagoon, through
the coral entrance, into the open sea.
The hulk of the Seeadler lay there
helpless on the reef. The tide was
high, and the breakers swept over the
coral. She was red brown now
from rust and Weathering. Each flood
Ing bllow raised her a bit, and then
she sank back hopelessly with loud.
groans and creaks of despair on the
coral bed. AS we passed her she
seemed to call over to US:
"Come aboard, want to take you
on your voyage. Don't desert your
old friend"
And as wave raised her 1t seemed
as though she were struggling to get
on an even keel again and come TO
us, only to find that the coral held her
In a relentless grasp. Tears filed our
eyes.
"Good-by, Seeadler." called; per
haps we shall never see you more.
And even If we do. you can never sail
again. Nevermore viii songs resound
on your decks. Nevermore will yon
raise your sails and fly flag from
your masts."
brisk wind carried US westward
with swelling OF our sails. The
happy island rcceded. The last Ger.
man colony and the wreck. of the See
adler slowly dropped out of sight over
the rim OF the horizon.
Today the Seeadler still remains OH
the reef at Mopelia. After we had
gone, Lieutenant King, Hfruid thar
the stunps Of her mast might attract
a passing warship. blew them out with
dynamite. The explosion set q hre
that burned away part of the wood
work. quantity Of ammunition still
aboard blew up and cracked the fore.
part of the hulk.
Ola nrrn UYyv