We had now so many mouths on board to feed that it was imperative to
get rid of them. The _Westburn_ was requisitioned for this purpose,
and all our guests, with the exception of those whom we considered
prisoners of war, left the _Moewe_. There were some hundred and fifty
in all, and they were anything but comfortable in the old boat during
their enforced voyage to Teneriffe, where the prize-commander--the
officers' orderly, Badewitz--was instructed to conduct them. The
prize-crew consisted this time of only eight men. On this occasion,
too, I summoned the captains of the six captured ships and impressed
upon them that, at the slightest sign of insubordination, or attempt at
mutiny, Commander Badewitz had my orders to blow up the ship.
Later, I learned from the papers, that the _Westburn_ arrived in
broad daylight at Santa Cruz, in Teneriffe. A few hours earlier, the
big English ironclad _Sutlej_, twelve thousand two hundred tons,
had dropped anchor in the harbor. When the German war-flag, proudly
fluttering at the stern of the _Westburn_, was noticed by the _Sutlej_,
the _Westburn_ was already inside the three-mile zone in Spanish
waters, and her arrival could not be hindered. It was arranged with
the harbor authorities that the prisoners should remain on board until
the following morning, and the prize-commander gave them once more to
understand that, at the slightest offence against discipline, he would
blow up the ship. So, in spite of the presence of the English warship,
the prisoners had the sense to remain quiet. The next morning they were
partly landed and partly taken on board English ships, while, early in
the afternoon, the _Westburn_ left the harbor to avoid being detained
by the authorities.
Outside, the _Sutlej_ was lying in wait, eager to pounce upon her
presumed prey the moment she left the three-mile zone. Hardly had the
_Westburn_ steamed out of the harbor, however, than she was seen to be
surrounded by a white flame. The ship swayed to one side, while the
crew rushed to the boats.
According to the papers, one of the boilers, all of which were in a
wretched condition, had burst. Whether true or not, this incident
played into our hands. It was very considerate of the ill-fated boiler
to explode just at the precise moment when the _Westburn_ was liable
either to be seized by the Spanish authorities or pounced upon by
the English vessel. It was far better for us that the cargo of four
thousand tons of coal should go to the bottom of the sea rather than
that it should be utilized by an English ship.
The very next day after parting from the _Westburn_ we caught sight of
another steamer. After a four hours' pursuit we ascertained that she
was a neutral, and we slunk away in the darkness, hoping we had not
been recognized.