HOW THE SEEADLER WORKED.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1754, 20 November 1917, Page 4

HOW THE SEEADLER WORKED.

HER CAPTAIN’S CAREER. FORMERLY A NEWSBOY. IN MELBOURNE. Captain Mullan, of the fourmasted barque, Pimnore, 2,286 tons, one of the victims of the German raider Seeadler, arrived in Sydney recently. The Pinmore was sunk in the Atlantic on 19th February, while bound from the River Plate to the Azores, and Captain Mullan had some interesting news-in connection with the exploits of the Seeadler to narrate. The Pinmore, Captain Mullan said, was ordered to stop by the raider, which approached under Norwegian colours, and when close up suddenly hoisted the German ensign. The Pinmore did not obey, and the raider opened fire, a shell missing the foremast of the Pinmore by twenty feet. The Pinmore was then hove' to, and a few minutes later a motor boat put off from the Seeadler and a prize crew boarded the barque. The crew was transferred to the Seeadler, and the Pinrnorc was sunk with bombs after her stores had been removed. Count von Luckner, the Seeadler’s captain, treated Captain Mullan well during the lime he was on the raider. Captain Mullan says that the count “played the game” throughout, and was a true sport, treating all the prisoners fairly. Quarters illuminated with electric light, and with tiers of four bunks were provided aft for the officers, and the men were accommodated below deck forward. The prisoners were told that as long as they behaved themselves everything would be all right, but once they caused trouble they could expect no quarter. Von Luckner had had poisonous gases connected with the prisoners’ quarters, and by pressing'a button fitted just under his bunk he could, if he wished, asphyxiate the prisoners should they show signs of hostility. Two days later a French barque, the Gambronne, was boarded by the raider, and was sent with the captured officers and men to Rio. Altogether there wore 283 souls on the Gambronne, including two women, the wives of shipmasters belonging to sunken vessels. Fearing that the Gambronne might make a quick run to Rio, the Count stripped her of most of her canv.as and crippled her topmast, finally sending 'her away under the British flag on 21st March, in charge of Captain Mullan, who was specially told in the presence of all hands that he was in supreme command. Captain Mullan says that the Seeadler had a powerful wireless installation, and that news was received on board daily. Thus within 24 hours of the revolution in Russia von Luckner knew the details. The movements of British warships on patrol work were also known, and von Luckner manoeuvred his vessel to keep out of the danger zone. Captain Mullan mentioned that only one casualty occurred while he was on the Seeadler. An apprentice named R. Page, from one of the captured ships, had been injured by a splinter from a shell fired by the raider, and he succumbed [o his wounds. The body was buried at sea with full honours, von Luckner delivering an address. A copy of this address was sent to the lad’s parents, who reside in England. Von Luckner told Captain Mullan something of his career, and it transpired that be spent five years or more in Australia. He ran away to sea at the age of 14 or 15, and shipped to Australia on a Russian ship, Landing at Adelaide, be deserted, and was befriended by a barmaid at one of the waterside hotels, who secured him employment in the hotel kitchen until his ship departed. Later on he made his way to Melbourne, where he earned his living by selling newspapers in the streets. Finally he returned to Germany and entered the navy, securing x’apid promotion. Von Luckner is of slight build, and according to Captain MullnnTs about 28 years of age.