18 
■HAMLYN'S MENAGERIE MAGAZINE. 
was too dangerous to navigate until it had been 
cleared of mines and enemy submersibles. 
"At 10.30i on the first night the liner was 
really on her way to America. I was in the 
smoking room listening to a dismal man singing 
a cheerful song called 'The Sailor's Grave,' in 
which all concerned were drowned, when there 
was a commotion on deck, the whistle blew and 
the liner careened to starboard because of the 
suddenness with which her helm was ported. 
"We all rushed on deck in the moonlight 
and looked over the sea, but could not distin- 
guish any object. One of the officers said that 
the Captain had sighted what appeared to be 
a submarine on the bow and had swung the 
liner over and rammed it, he believed, after 
.sounding the warning. 
"No one undressed that night, as the Cap- 
tain said it would be better to stand by in case 
of emergency. Next evening while we were at 
dinner the signal was blown again and the ship 
altered her course. Before we got on deck the 
gun was fired at a periscope on our port quar- 
ter, at a range of 3,750 yards. The shell ex- 
ploded when it struck the water where the sub- 
marine was supposed to be and pieces of shrap- 
nel ricochetted in every direction. I do not know 
whether the periscope was hit or not, but the 
enemy craft did not appear again. 
" I heard afterwards from the Captain that 
three submarines were near the ship on the pre- 
vious day, and that two steamships had been 
sunk by them. 
"The final shock to the nerves occurred on 
the day before reaching an Atlantic port," Mr. 
Wilson said. "A submarine was sighted at 
noon to the westward, which fortunately proved 
to belong to the United States Navy." 
As already stated in the June number, through 
fresh regulations and restrictions, I was compelled 
to visit New York. For reasons only known to 
the Authorities, sixteen days passed before I ob- 
tained my passport. 
It was suggested that my business could just 
as well be done by correspondence, but following 
the advice of the Principal of that Department, I 
ultimately obtained the passport just two days 
before sailing. I here wish to tender my sincere 
thanks to that gentleman and thank him for his 
courteous consideration of my application. 
I left London on Tuesday for Liverpool with 
nineteen boxes of live stock. The consignment 
consisted of 3 Chimpanzees, Pythons, Snakes, 
Dog-faces, Lemurs, Pheasants, Swans, Parra- 
keets, Grey Parrots, Canaries and Wild Birds, 
of the value of ^500. These were shipped on the 
s.s. "Baltic," Wednesday, 20th June. 
The arrangements for shipping -were made 
with Mr. Cook of the Live Stock Department, 
White Star Line, who has my best thanks for 
same. 
This was my first visit to the Great American 
Republic. I looked forward with pleasure to my 
introduction to New York, and any remarks made 
here will not, I trust, offend the susceptibility of 
those of American origin. We left the Mersey 
on June 21st in company of two other steamers. 
The first day out we passed along the Irish 
Coast. I apportioned the days as follows : — 6.30 
to 7.30 on deck. Breakfast 8 to 9. From 9 until 
mid-day, feeding and cleaning Live Stock. Lunch 
1 to 21. Final feeding Stock 3 until 4.30. The 3 
Chimpanzees were kept on long leads, adjoining 
one another. Occasionally they were at liberty 
in the enclosure. They had a most enjoyable 
time. They ultimately proved a great attraction 
to those of the crew whose duties took them in or 
near the enclosure. The Captain and Chief Officer 
when paying their offiqial visits brought them 
many tasty bits. "Kitty," the largest female, 
will long be remembered on the good steamer 
"Baltic." 
On the second day out we had Boat Drill. I 
was allotted, with others, Boat No. 15. The 
worthy Doctor gave us instructions in quite a 
fatherly manner. They were simple. Five blasts 
and we were to stand by our boats, there to await 
instructions. He explained that he had passed 
through the danger zone 53 times. To sleep in 
our warmest clothes. Carry our valuables on our 
person, and, above all, remain calm. I must con- 
fess I did not carry out all these instructions. I 
slept attired as usual — part of the night in the 
bunk, then on the settee, and at times on the floor 
of Cabin 168'. The weather was warm and op- 
pressive. 
On Wednesday, June 27th, Sports were car- 
ried qut — Tug of War, 2nd and 3rd, Turtle Pull, 
Hop, Skip and Jump, with the other usual games. 
On Saturday, June 30th, late in the afternoon 
I gazed for the first time on the Statue of Liberty 
which stands at the entrance of New York Har- 
bour. It fully came up to my expectations. At 
night it sheds its brilliant light across the New 
York waters — a light that has welcomed and 
guided many thousands of visitors to New York 
shores. Directly facing, on the opposite shore, 
are the skyscrapers of New York City — a truly 
wonderful collection of buildings. The chief 
amongst them is the Woolnoth Building, being 
the highest in the world. 
Although the steamer arrived alongside Jetty 
60 Saturday night, I remained on duty with the 
Stock until Monday morning. The losses on the 
voyage were infinitesimal, being 4 Canaries, 3 
Wild Birds and 1 Pheasant. I deeply regretted 
parting with the 3 Chimpazees; they had been my 
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