Throttled! The Detection of the German and Anarchist Bomb PlottersTunney, Thomas J. (Thomas Joseph)
History
Throttled! The Detection of the German and Anarchist Bomb Plotters
Tunney, Thomas J. (Thomas Joseph)
World War, 1914-1918 -- Secret service -- Germany
When I came on watch at midnight I passed someone outside the
chart room, but it being dark, and thinking it was the Captain,
I walked on into the chart room, where this party followed
me, and told me to throw my hands up. He told me the ship was
under German command, and not attempt to make any resistance
as it would mean the sacrifice of the Captain’s and Second
Engineer’s lives. He said if the ship had been going to England
he would have destroyed her immediately, but as she was bound
for Russia he would probably spare her. Then he told me to
walk ahead of him to the port-after-lifeboat, and get the axe,
which was in the forward end of it. He then took me back to the
Marconi room....
(_From the statement of the wireless operator, Alexander Dunnett_)
I was on watch in the wireless room when this man came along
with the Second Officer. He held me up with two revolvers, and
brought me along to the apprentice’s room, together with the
Second Officer. The latter told the apprentice, who acts as
second operator, to come out. Schiller held him up, and told us
both to go up to the chart room....
(_From the Second Officer’s statement_)
He then took me back to the Marconi room, and proceeded to
demolish the installation, holding the revolver against my
ribs. From there he went to the Chief Engineer’s cabin and
demanded his rifle, I accompanying him, and after obtaining it,
threw it overboard. From there he made me walk ahead of him
to the Chief Officer’s cabin, who he disarmed whilst he was
asleep. He then ordered me to the bridge to steer south-west by
compass, and as I was going on the bridge the Third Officer
came down and he held him up, I going on the bridge in the
meanwhile.
[Illustration: Lieutenant George D. Barnitz, U. S. N.]
(_From the Wireless Operator’s statement_)
Schiller came back again, and took us into the Captain’s
room. Some time later he came back again and brought me down
to the wireless room to see if I could repair the wireless
installation, which he said he had smashed. I told him it might
be possible to repair one instrument, and he said, “We will
leave it until morning,” and then brought me along the deck
to the Fourth and Fifth Engineers’ cabins and I opened the
door and he went in. Both engineers were asleep and he made me
search all the drawers; he brought out a revolver and a box of
cartridges, which he made me throw over the side. He then took
me to the Third Engineer’s cabin, and searched all the drawers
there. He brought out of there a bottle of whiskey, and asked
me if I had any money. Then he marched me up to the Captain’s
cabin and ordered me to remain there until 6 A. M.
(_From “Schiller’s” statement_)
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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