davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-06-04
Out Of the Night

The sailors Messianic fervor
fired my imagination, yet there
was nothing bloodthirsty about
him as there was about many
others who had risen from the
depths. Shortly after this STIR
ring meeting in the Grenzfass,
Knueffgen embarked on an en-
terprise that made him the idol
of waterfront radicals the world
over.
A delegation of the Commu-
mist Party of Germany was
scheduled to go to Moscow at a
time when Russia was closed to
the West by the civil war. Herr
mann Knueffgen was commits
stoned TO bring this delegation
to Moscow dead or alive.
He slowed himself and the
delegates away in the fshtank
of an outbound trawler. Once at
sea, he emerged with a revolver
in each hand, imprisoned the
captain and the crew of 10, and
took possession of the vessel
which he then navigated around
the North Cape to Murmansk.
The delegation arrived In Mos
COW to confer with Lenin, and
Knueffgen, upon his return to
Germany, was convicted and
jailed for piracy on the high
seas. No prison, however, could
hold him long.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-06-04
Hunted Food, Work

Night after night the sounds
of desultory firing echoed over
the city, Yet the news that a
trawler loaded with founders or
herring was steaming up the
river moved the people more
than stumbling against a dead
man in the gutter, or encounter
ing a lorry piled high with
crude collins, or coming upon a
barricade manned by a few de-
termined-looking youths.
1 hunted for food and work.
But the struggle to conquer and
defend power seemed the
essence of life. In the Grenzfass,
a large beer hall in the st. PAUL.
district, / heard and met for the
first time Hermann Knueffgen,
an incarnation of all the political
adventures of our century.
Surrounded by a singularly
gell-knit assortment of revolu-
tionary toughs, Knueffgen ra-
dated an atmosphere of inde-
structible aplomb. OF medium
height. slight of build, with a
up Of almost colorless hair, his
pale eyes cleaning with reok-
less deviltry, he was no more
than % or % at the time.
Early that morning, at the
head of his Rollkommando, he
had successfully raided a base
ment arsenal of the Buerger-
wehr, counter-revolutionary
organization Of armed citizens.
Knueffgen made a speech. The
hall was full Of voorhees, dock
or
rich mus. die so that
the poor may live" he cried.
There was thunder Of cheers.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-06-04
Cursed Ceaselessly

Once in a while the Amazon
River stoker climbed a tree TO
look around. All he could report
was jungle all around, a few
hills, and steamers passing in
the Canal. The passing steamers
looked as if they were threading
their way through the treetops.
After walking IN circles for
four or FIVE hours. we struck a
lake. We tried TO skirt the shore
of the lake, but soon ran into
swamps. The Amazon River
stoker cursed almost without
interruption. TIL shoemaker
chartered happily. He told us he
had all the tools of his trade in
the bundle he carried, and he
looked forward to a prosperous
existence in some American city.
Suddenly our leader halted.
"LoOk-a railroad" he ex-
claimed.
Ahead Of us was a railroad
embankment, neat, compact, dry.
Some one said:
Lets stay here and dry
our bundles. When they're
dry, they'll be easier to
carry" We all agreed.
We opened our bundles and
spread the wet things over the
tracks: shirts, pants, papers, to-
bacco. The stoker sent one man
a hundred yards in each direc-
ton to watch for oncoming
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-06-04

green cover less than so yards
away. The ground was soggy,
and the underbrush dense. But
we pushed forward. Soon we
came on four other deserters,
and the six of us proceeded in
single file, carrying our water
soaked bundles and streaming
with perspiration.
Our leader was a stoker who
had once served on Amazon
River steamboats,. Sometimes
the underbrush was so thick
that we could not penetrate it;
lat other times we were con-
|fronted with swamps which
seemed TO stretch out for miles
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-06-04

trains. We stripped off our
clothes and spread them out to
dry. The second youngest Of our
group, who had been a metal
workers apprentice, had found
some wild bananas.
We munched bananas and re-
Taxed in the sun. Our hopes rose.
The shoemaker wanted TO ride
the next train into Panama City.
He was anxious TO start himself
in business without loss of time.
The stoker spoke of a foreman
job in a vast banana plantation.
It was agreed that the men
who stood guard on both sides
of the tracks should whistle
when a train approached. But
when a train came from the At
llantic side, the guard did not
whistle. Naked, his pants and
shirt jammed under his arm, he
came running toward US down
the tracks. Behind him rumbled
the train.
1t was too late to save our
things. Our leader yelled:
"AH hands take cover"
We dived into the jungle. The
train ran over our belongings
Then it stopped. Men in KHAKI
uniforms jumped from the train
and began to comb the jungle.
We separated. 1 crawleo
through broad-leaved bushes
moving on hands and knees, and
when l rose l confronted a grin.
ming soldier.
"Come on" he said, grasp
ing my shoulders. "You can't
run around here with no
clothes on"
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-06-04
Companions Caught

He led me to the train. All
my companions had been caught.
l put on a shirt which had been
cut under the armpits by the
train, and a pair of trousers
which had but one leg. My COM
rades did not look much better.
We were herded into the train
and taken TO a station. From
there we were marched TO a po-
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-06-04
Pirate Club Forms

The ships officers, reinforced
by a few loyal mariners of the
prewar school, barricaded them
selves on the bridge and in the
engine room. Elsewhere condi'
tons bordering on madness
reigned. A Pirates Club sprane
up, announcing as its purpose
seizure Of the ship for a journey
to the South Seas. OFF the
Azores, however, such leader
ship as there could be fell TO q
man named Hermann Kruse
Kruse, an old member of the
Spartakus Bund, called a general
meeting of his followers aboard
the Lucy Woerman and emerged
as the head of a newly elected
ship Soviet. He formed a ship
Tcheka, and by sheer terror sub
dued all independent marauders
in our midst. Kruse, about rs
years old, was blond, bearish,
quick tempered, and had a fair
for oratory. He brought some
order out of the confusion and
now demanded control of the
ship.
The skipper armed his officers
with pistols for the meeting with
Kruse's Soviet. By the way OF
retaliation Kruse's strong-arm
squads seized all available pro-
visions and began a hunger
blockade against the bridge and
the engine room.
Most of the time the steam
was kept low, and at times the
ship wallowed helplessly without
steam at all. In sight of the
green shore of Jamaica a pass.
ing oil tanker, apparently sus-
pecting trouble aboard the Lucy
Woerman, signaled:
Can / give you assist
ance:"
THANK you. I have a cargo
of lunatics," our skipper an
swered.
But the officers succeeded
despite all difficulties. in bring
ing the vessel to Colon. One
faction on board planned tc
scuttle the ship in the Panama
Canal, to desert, and to walk
through the jungles to Mexico
or the United States.
Hermann Kruse and his
guerrillas, armed with clubs and
Delaying pins, opposed this
Kruse's plan was to allow the
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-06-04
ALL THIS IS YOURS FOR LOW PRICE!

sMARTEsr STYLING .. rakish Rocket
Body in choice of IL new colors...match-
ing "Tailored" interiors! You'll find
quality reflected in every detail!
los HORSEPOWER =. super economy.
1914" wheelbase 80. 81" seats. great
roominess .. huge luggage locker!
RIDE sTABILIZERs front and rear :. Aero
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-06-04

Shock Absorbers...S ynchronizedS Spring
ing :. Miracle Ridel
EXCLUSIVE FEATURES such as Safety
Rim Wheels ;. found in no other car
priced near De Soto! Drive this great new
car today! De Soto Division Of Chrysler
Corporation, Detroit, Michigan.
TUNE NMAJoR BowEs. C. B. s.. THURS. sioP.M,ED.SI
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-06-04
CHAPTER III

: It was Springtime In Ham,
burg. I wanted ship, a job at
sea, and a chance to work my
self up to a captains rank. For
weeks l haunted the waterfront,
But the great seaport was a
sleeping giant. Except for
coastal trade and few ships
from America. the Hamburg
Harbor was dead.
/. The British blockade was still
in force, although it was months
after the signing of the Armi-
arice. 1t was springtime in YER
sailles, too, where the peace that
vas TO haunt the world was
-heing perfected.
II would awake hungry, and
was still hungry when / went TO
sleep. Hunger wiped out the
lines between adolescents and
fullgrown men. A sack of -four
was worth more than a human
life.
When fruit cart Of peasant
from Vierlanden was turned over
In the street and middle-aged
man tried TO shoulder me aside
in the scramble for the Winter
apples, what else was there TO
do but to stand up and hit him
in the face ?~I was in my fiji
teenth year.
took part in the plunderihg
Of a wholesale fish store in AL
tona. Tons Of fish were dumped
on the cobblestones, and people
grabbed the fish and ran. When
a policeman interfered, what
else was there 10 do but 10 slam
a 10-pound Goldfish into his face e?
When for a fish or piece Of
leather cut out of stolen trans
mission belt, a boy could have
a girl not older than himself or
a soldiers widow, what meaning
was there in all the pratings Of
the need for law and order and
a decent life?
When one is thrown adrift in
a polluted stream, with no dry
land in sight, what escape is
there? l took no active part in
the political riots Of this Ham
burg Spring, but my heart was
With the revolutionary workers,
perhaps because il was their side
which always lost in the end.
Whenever saw a policeman
level his rife against a civilian,
/ felt the same hatred as al the
sight of a teamster cruelty mis-
treating his emaciated horse.
Each day armed workers Skin
Yniehnd with tho police
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-06-04
DE soTo.PLYMoUTH DEALERS

GLENN WALKER, Inc,
1920 Mack at Drexe LIE. AGO.
STOTTS & MURPHY,
1880 East Jefferson. LIE. 5isi.
STUART SALES & SERVICE
iO457 Gratiot Ave. PL. 5s65.
B. J. RATICAN MOTOR SALES,
l0320 Plymouth Rd. no. 43e6.
VICTORY MOTOR SALES,
1924 Cratiot Ave. AR. iii.
BLOOMFIELD MOTORS,
47e s. Woodward. Birmingham. Bir. 5eio.
TELOTTE SALES CO.,
22s4o Woodward Ave. Fsrndsle. Ell. se4o-
RO. 1870.
JAMES RANDALL ESTATE,
Be9evills. Toll Belleville Ass1.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-06-04

lice post. The Americans treated
us Hospitality. They fed US and
piled US with cigarets.
Before nightfall we were all
loaded into a motor launch and
returned to the Lucy which was
anchored in Panama Bay. The
ship weighed anchor and shaped
a course down the west coast
of South America, calling at
Callao and ports TO the south.
The majority Of the men on
the Lucy Woerman refused TO
man the ships for the voyage
home. There were strikes, ar
rests by the Chilean police, Jail
breaks. Hermann Kruse be-
came known all along the Nj
trate Coast as the "Commissar
from Hamburg"
l deserted the ship at Anto-
fagasta. Seven months l fingered
on the Chile coast. Here found
freedom l had not known in
Europe. The world of political
strife, of cold and hunger,
seemed as distant as Saturn. En-
tployers and officials a Ike d
neither for references nor pa
pers Of Identification.
| l worked in a riggers gang
engaged in rehtting a number of
old sailing vessels in the road
IS leads of Antofagasta and
Iquique, and thus acquired a
working knowledge of old-fash-
Toned seamanship and of Spanish.
After that job gave out, a
labor agent of Antofagasta re-
Icruited me for the Chuqui copper
mines high up in the barren
Andes. My work was that of a
Isplicer of wire cables and my
pay was high beyond all expec-
Itatien--10 pesos a day, for good
splicers were rare.
Life in the mining camps was
rough, particularly after pay
days when gambling bouts fire.
quently ended in a fash of
knives.
Drafted From JaiIs
Many of my fellow workers
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-06-04
The shrY N~,uA


conscripted from the jails Of the
larger towns; they were of many
nationalities, Woodworking.
hard-drinking, unruly crew. The
vision Of a Chilean girl, Carmen
cita, with whom / had become
friendly, drew me back to the
coast.
I arrived in Antofagasta on a
copper train, with more than 300
pesos in my pockets, only to
find that Carmencita had become
the companion of a jobless Nor
wegian second mate.
l Travelled south as a deck
passenger aboard a slow coast
wise steamer, and after a few
aimless days in Valparaiso, l
decided to visit the nearby capt.
tai, Santiago de Chile. Here I
found work in a candle factory
under a domineering British
foreman. 1t was inside work
which l detested heartily.
In a cafe l met young Amer
lean who had come from Argen-
tina and spoke enthusiastically
about the lusty life in Buenos
Aires. Next day I threw up my
job Of packing candles and
bought a trans-Andean railway
ticket to Buenos Aires. I arrived
in the La Plata metropolis with
two pesos and 60 centavos.
Mounted carabineros were
rounding up beachcombers in
large patches. belying Buenos
Aires reputation as the ideal
haven for castaways from all
the world. After three days Of
lodging the energetic carabi-
neros, signed on as a full
fiedged sailor aboard the barque
Tiljuca, a supply ship for the
Norwegian and British whaling
bases on the Antarctic island of
South Georgia, and manned en-
tirely by Russians and Germans,
(Jon Vaitin continues his sensa.
tional reUeiations in tontovrow's
Detroit Times. To arrange
for carrier delivery OF The
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-06-04
CLIO MOTOR SALES.

CLIO MOTOR SALES,
22o27 Grand River Ave. RE. 2233.
HAMILTON MOTOR SALES, Inc,
i35le-l35S5 Hamilton Ave. TO. $500
HIGHLAND PARK MOTORS, Inc,
1855 Woodward Ave. TO. 6-2s0o.
MOTOR SALES & SERVICE. Inc,
1895 Grand River Ave. no. 96es.
NICkSON MOTOR SALES,
i3s03 Jos. Csmpau Ave. TO. s-3747.
CAMPSIE & SWEENEY,
i53s5 Livernois Ave. UN. i-7Oso.
MeSWEENEY'S MOTOR SALES, Inc,
3646 Woodward at Brady. TIE. I-o43o.
LOUIS ROSE CO.,
545l Csss Ave. TIE. 2-5soO.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-06-04
Fights for Food
Against Dregs
Of Humanity

In the opening chapter. the
author has told of his early
days (i904-i9IS). growing up
with the SpsTtskus Bund, his
fathers revolutionary part in
the mutiny of the ksisers fleet.
eventual suppression of the Red
:revoh at Bremen in 1919. and
:his decision TO 60 10 sea with
:his mothers blessing: Fair
:windsi May God be with your
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-06-04

their protest.
"Kruse wants to be a die
tator! Down with Galapagos!
We land right here!"
Little did the American au-
thorities at Colon suspect what
a mess was passing into the
Canal. In defiance of Kruse,
"debarkation squads were
hastily formed as we steamed
through the Canal. The rush to
reach a shore that looked invit-
ing from a long way off was
contagious. AS a matter of
course, l joined one Of the
squads.
We packed our belongings, put
on life preservers, and lined up
along the rail for the plunge.
The captain shouted from the
bridge for us TO desist, but he
was greeted with laughter.
Group after group heaved their
bundles overheard and jumped
after them. The Canal waters
were soon dotted with swim
ming men.
l, tool jumped. I felt the water
rush upward, smooth and warm,
and then I swan for dear life,
pushing with all my strength to
get away from the deadly pro-
peller. Several Of my fellow
deserters were cut TO shreds.
The shore was much farther
away than it had seemed from
the ship. Close behind me, as
swan, struggled a middle-aged
shoemaker.
"Das list schoen," he kept
saying to encourage me, now,
no! for America!"
Together we finally reached
the muddy bank and ran for the
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-06-04

Colonel Wedgwood, men,
Der of Parliament, pictured in
New York after his arrival
via convoy to Canada from
London. He was here to see
Secretary Ickes-not for oil,
but because Mr.. Iekes is caring
for some Of the evacuated
Wedgwood grandchildren.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-06-04

DRAPER-LeBARON MOTOR SALES.
34Iio Mich. Ave, Wayne. Toll Wayne soc.
GEO. C. SCHMIDT, Inc,
3i6z &. Jefferson Ave. Fl. 6zs5.
GEORGE Z. GENTLE MOTOR SIS,
24zo Bid.Ie Ave. Wysn dotts. Toll Wysn.ioiz
HICKEY MOTOR SALES,
1927 Fort ST., Lincoln Park. AT. 27oo.
WYOMING MOTOR SALES, Inc,
loO3s W. MeNiehols Rd. UN. $1,000.
MAIN MOTORS
22i ~ Main, Royal Oak.
Ell. $3.50 ~ R. o. $500.
}. T. CHAPMAN,
1904 s. Main. Plymouth. Toll Plymouth at.
HOFFMAN. MOTOR SALES,
ioe7s W. ssfierson, River Rouge. VI. z-1oso
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-06-04

Lucy to pass through the Canal,
then to overpower the officers.
After that, we were to steam for
the Galapagos Islands, establish
"a Soviet Republic, and ask Mos
COW for protection, supplies and
women.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-06-04
Shrek Ou+ Protests

Opposing factions shrieked
their protest.
"Kruse wants to be a die
tator! Down with Galapagos!
We land right here!"
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-04-18
'lepke' Aide Slain
On New York Street

NEW YORK. April IS fINSl
"A few hours after he and =
other persons. including two
women. were indicted on charges
Of ha boring LOUIS 6Lepkel
Buchalter while the ganester was
a fugitive from Justice in 1898
and 1899 Sidney SALES was shot
and killed on lower East SIDE
street His asSailant escaped.
The indictment Of the IA alleged
harborerS preceded 4 request for
the government 10 turn Buchaltcr
over to Kings County authorities
for trial on a murder charge.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-04-18
LIRE YUGosLAv CURRENCY

ROME April Is. - (INS) -
Italian lire today were made the
official currency IN Italian-oc-
cHpled areas Of Yugoslavia, at the
rate Of loo dinars 10 30 lire.
The Ira Is quoted nominallY at
/ cenfs1 Another decree in
creased the current years budget
for the political investigation serv-
zee 10 u billion lire.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-04-18
MOTOR LoRRY ExPLoDEs

BUDAPEST. April Il. - fINS)
A number Of persons we're killed
and many injured today when a
motor lorry exploded in Buda-
pest street Cause of the blast has
not been determined.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-04-18

FRENCH STEAMER SEIZED

BERLIN. April 1s. - INS1-
The German radio today reported
that British warships seized the
French steamer d Artagnan.
vessel of 5000 ions. IN the China
seas and have taken It 10 Hong
Kong.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-04-18
HIS DEATH VOWED

l. Is an odds-on bet around
Vichy that he Will be assassinated.
| personally have heard men vow
-rfYHU hc w0T7 7 GOTHIC back rCF1y
and live
Laval heartily reciprocafes Mar
shal PetainS hatred for nm.
lie speaks seornfully Of his old
chief as doddering ancient
whose mental faculties have grown
dim
This is his story. 10 a friend.
Of what happened on the fateful
night Of December q. when
Petain demanded his resignation.
II was furious. demanded to
speak to the marshal privately
and find out what 1t Vas all
about.
we went into his study and
there he complained that l had
not been frank with him. that
had withheld information from
him.
t1otfv denied this told
him that I had always reported
all my actions and plans to him.
eyes, but l forget what YOU
say: you should write memo
Tanda for me- the marshal said.
Il angrily told him / would
do no such thing. first because
WAS too busy, secondly because
/ didn't trust the men around
him. He replied that II wrote
memoranda he could have them
locked up in his strong box.
Then YOU would forget who
had the key I said.
"'Ah, YOU do me an injustice
the marshal said, Indignantly
"'All right then, who has the
key to your strongboN at this
very moments? l demanded.
HE didn't know
\ TOMORROW: Kenneth
Downs tells how Paris accepts
the Nazi. and how Nazis be-
have. Intimate stories of life
under Hitler's heel. BE sure
to read France Under Hitler
In tomOrrow's Detroit Times.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-04-18
French Hopeful.
OF Defivefdnte
From Nazis

ASHIN GTON, April 1S.
Increasingly widespread demon
STATIONS in favor of the United
States and Great Britain are oc-
curing in both occupied and IN
occupied France. according To re-
ports reaching Washington today
The reports Indicate the vast
majority Of the people in France
favor the Allied cause and are
passively resisting attempts TO
swing them over to the Axis.
This is said to be particularly
so in the case of the French
Youth In occupied territory who
risk swift vengeance from the
German military authorities to
write on tho walls of many towns
in France pro-American and pro-
British inscriptions.
RECURRENCE OF HOPE
Recent developments. such as
the passage of the lend-lease bill,
seizure of Italo-German ships in
American waters and the resist
ance of YugoSlavia and Greece all
have brought about a resurgence
OF hope among the French people
for delivery from Germany. &C
cording to the report.
American Red Cross food and
medical shipments 10 France have
had particularly important bear
Ing on the development of Ameri-
can sentiment, official quarters
said.
Spontaneous public demonstra-
tons in favor of the United States
have been held at MarseilleS while
at Lyon cheering crowds appeared
before the American consulate.
On April 4, the city of Moulins
in occupied territory was fined
100000 francs by the German au-
thorities in an attempt TO stop
writing on the wall Of such in
scriptions as rVive IAmerlque"
end "ViVe la Yusosiavie .
WALLS COVERED
In Paris, walls have been Gov
cred with wives for victory. ard
m CTefmont, Ferrand. Lorraine.
Corrses, the De Gaulle symbol has
appeared everywhere.
Travellers in occupied France are
said to have found In all areas
definitely pro-British and anti
German sentiment and the gen
eral populations is most enthusi-
sstically friendly 10 the United
States and President Roosevelt
The gratitude of parents who
received American Red Cross sup
plies for their children reaches
an emotional pitch that in many
cases makes them unable 10
speak," the report stated.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-04-18
CERTAIN OF POWER

Laval is certain Of mis- return
to power; he is just waiting for
the right moment.
If he can arrange with his
German supporters for the re-
lease of some Of the 100000
French prisoners, or the better
ment of their conditions, he
may even return with some
popularity.
But he has blood in his eye
He makes no secret Of the fact
that heads viii fall when he re-
assumes power
He has the names Of those Who
aided IN his ousting December b.
and he has sworn 10 have the hide
of every one of them
He realizes these rough games
work both WAYS He frankly adj
mitS he IS as good as dead if the
British win. and that ne may be
assassinated before either side
wins
But whatever else may be said
about black Peter Laval. he cannot
be accused Of being a physical
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-04-18
DENNIS GLEN COOPER LECTURE

This Educator Naturalist Photographer presents his travogu
illustrated with superb natural color slides and motion pictures.
"Tbrongb the Southwest With a Color Camera"
Saturday, April - at $3.50 P. M.
Auditorum-Twelfth Floor-No Charge for Admission
You'll Of The magnificent sights in the Southwest
through Mr.. Coopers color Don't miss this lecture
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-04-18

He made this declaration at
he height of the Italian reverses
n Africa and Albania.