It is now May 1896 and with the spring the wanderlust came again. A few weeks of piece work helped me to earn a few extra shilling, and I had about a pound sterling besides the 15 shilling from the London penny bank. I decided on a trip to Bremerhaven. The fare to Bremerhaven was 15 shilling as deck passenger, and the north-German Lloyd steamer Rhein carried me to my destination. Hoping to see some of my former pals again I went to the Herberge zur Heimat in the Deichstrasse, but found only strange faces. I rented a room in the Mittlstrasse, and the lady asked me to report my residence to the Police. My German papers of legitimation I had lost in England, and I had only my reference from the Furriers to the Queen. At the police station they took my pedigree and told me that I could go. I worked a few days as a longshoreman. One day a policeman came to me and asked if I had any money. I said that I had some, why ? Will I had to pay 18 Mark or go 4 days to the Karlsburg jail. When I asked the reason he said that I had neglected (to go) to the draft board for military examination. Working as longshoreman I earn 3 Mark a day, going to jail saves 4 1/2 Mark so I preferred the jail. My smart calculation proved me wrong again. The jail was so full of bedbugs that we had to scratch all night, and could not sleep. Our work was to saw and split firewood, and deliver same to some residences under the care of the keeper. Out of jail again I saw an add in the local paper for a porter in the Beermans Hotel. I made application and told the proprietor that I had been a year in London, and lost my German papers. I was hired to start the following week, but before I could start I had another visit from a cock-eyed representative of the law, to inform me that I have to go with him to Bremen for a military examination. The exchange of military personnel was September and this being June there was still time to depart from the dear Vaterland if they find me fit to serve, because they did not show any love for their poor citizen. The fat policeman told me that he would take the horse car to the Railroad Station and meet me there. We took the train to Bremen and he delivered me at the military hospital. He said that he could not wait for me and wished me luck. I had to strip and went through many tests, before I was allowed to dress again, and was taken to another military building.
Eager to know the result of my examination, I offered the orderly a Mark to show me the verdict which he had in his briefcase. He did and it said "Tauglich zum Landheer and zur Marine". In plain English it means Fit for Army or Navy. Now I knew that my visit to the Fatherland has to be shortened. So I thought. At noon I was given a bowl of rice and a piece of boiled bacon. While eating, there came a sergeant or corporal and asked if my name was Steiner? He said that he was to take me to Wilhelmshaven where he has a friend he had not seen in years. I assumed that he was to take me back to Bremerhaven, and had made a mistake in the cities. What would I do in Wilhelmshaven? I had never been there in my life.
On the train I noticed the strange scenery, and told him that we are not on the train to Bremerhaven. He told me that I have been drafted into the Navy, and would be stationed at the Marine Station of the North Sea which was in Wilhelmshaven. I told him that I thought the exchange of military personnel was in September, and he said it still was but Unsichere Candidaten (uncertain candidates) are drafted when they have them, and I was an uncertain candidate.
My new home was on the Rhon strasse, the second and third Werft Division (wharf division). I was assigned to the third company and left in the care of a sergeant. There were only 10 men in the company barrack, those 10 were also uncertain candidates, some were denied another trip on a ship, for fear that they may not return, and others like myself who came back and departed without official permission.
Next morning I was taken to another building, where a lieutenant told me to put my hand on a sword and repeat what he said. After that he told me that from now on I was a sailor in his Majesty's Navy and to be worthy of this honor. But he did not ask me if I was willing to be thus honored. I much preferred not to be, but a sailor is not to reason why.
I was next fitted for a uniform. Then given some linen tags with my name on it, which were to be sewn on all my garments. I was also given some red lead and told to paint this under my name.
2 W 3
11
-----
96
The 2 W 3 means Second Wharf Division, third company and 11/96 means that I was the eleventh mouse that fell into the Navy's trap in the year of the Lord 1896.
After I had my uniform in order, I joined the other 10 in the art of military drill. While I still wore my civilian clothes the sergeant treated me as a civilian, but after I was in uniform, like a shepherd would his dog, and his language is not fit to print. The date my country put me on their Feed list was June 11, 1896. Things did not improve, and my patriotism was only lukewarm and cooled to zero. Often I thought if only the iron fence was the French or Holland border, I would smash the sergeants skull and jump the fence. The food was bad, we received a loaf of bread every 4 days and for supper we had black coffee and bread, but we were told that the food on board of ships was not only good but plentiful, and our training was to last only 6 weeks. After the training we were allowed to go to town. Our pay was 22 Pfenig a day, paid every decade, out of this we had to pay for our necessities.
One day an orderly came into our room with some papers and blank sheets, and told us to copy the written sheets by order of the Engineer.
The next day I was called to the engineers office, and shown the sheet that I had written, and asked if it had been written by me. When I said yes, the Engineer told me that mine was the best writing of the sample, and that he needed a Hilfsschreiber (copyist) and if I would like to take the job. I was overjoyed. While sitting in his office with a pencil behind my ears I could see the others drill and be insulted by the Sergeant.
But good things don't stay long with me. The Engineer told me after about two weeks that he has to send some men to the Hohenzollern (The Kaisers Yacht) and as he was short on men I will have to go. To be sent to the Hohenzollern was about the worst thing that could happen to anyone, because of the strict discipline on board. But a few days later I was informed that I can remain in the office. I thanked the Engineer for keeping me, but he said that he had nothing to do with it and to thank myself. He said that my record showed that I had been imprisoned for begging, and that only those without record could serve on Hohenzollern.
The Battleship 4th class Odin, built in Danzig, was finished and ready for trial. Our engineer had to supply some of the crew, and among them was his copyist Steiner. We were sent to Danzig by train to bring the boat to Kiel. Four weeks later it was put out of commission and the crew was transferred to the new sister ship Aegir, the first German warship with complete electric installations. The Kaiser will visit his new ship we were told.
Officers on German warships have their cabins, the crew sleeps in hammocks, which are stored in a room during the day, tables and benches are folding and fastened on the ceiling. The tables seat between 8 and 16 diners. Two of the diners have to serve as waiters for a week. They will have to set tables and benches, get the food from the kitchen, dish out the food, and wash dishes. At the end of the week the waiters have to change seats for the relief waiters.
We had on board an east friesian fisher, who was an illiterate and spoke only dialect. It so happened that our east friesian was one of those waiters sitting at the head of the table where the Kaiser will pass. We were trained for a week what to do and how to behave if addressed by the Kaiser. Here was a dilemma, the command was silently hoping and praying that the Kaiser will pass our fisher, and the crew was hoping that he will not.
After having a sample of our dinner at the kitchen, the Kaiser and his staff went among the diners. We were instructed to raise at the command "ordnung", and be seated again by the command "hinsezen" (be seated), but to raise again when addressed by the Kaiser. The Kaiser in a jovial mood conversed with several diners and among them, oh horror, our illiterate fisherman. The Kaiser, putting a hand on his shoulder asked: "Na mein sohn schmeckte?" (My son do you enjoy your meal?). Our fisherman forgot his instruction to rise when addressed, kept his seat, looked at the Kaiser with a grin and said in his friesian dialect, translated into good German would say: "Yes, and if we had grub like this every day, I would not mind remaining in the Navy". The Kaiser turned to the Captain behind him, who looked like a boiled lobster, with a smile and walked on. With the Kaiser on that day were his brother Prinz Henry, the crown prince of Saxony, and Admirals and Generals.
One day a few weeks after, at roll call, it was announced that fireman Steiner was to be transferred to the East Asiatic Station after passing test for tropical duties. The first thing that he did was ask for a furlough, and was granted for two weeks.
Children and military men without rank pay half fare when traveling on railroads, but Steiner did not have the money, so he had to borrow it. I had informed my parents that I was granted a leave and would visit them; mother wrote back saying to be sure not to forget to visit Uncle George. I still had a bitter taste in my mouth from the last time that I had seen him, but I could not refuse my mothers request. As it turned out the old Uncle was happy to see his nephew that "Lausbub" again after almost five years.
Imperial Navy Uniforms in Bavaria were as rare as white blackbirds and Uncle took me to his clubs and to see his friends, and even Kunigunde was glad to see the object of her wraths again. Christoph had joined the angels.
When we said goodbye at the railroad station, he pressed a 20 Mark bill into my hand, without naming the sum I still owed him. A German sailor is kept low on money, and when he is on furlough it is customary to tip him, and Steiner owed the money for railroad fare to his friends.
Before departing from Nurnberg, I had to promise my cousins to keep a diary and send postcards and pictures from places that I would visit. Picture postcards and pictures from packs of cigarettes were the vogue at that time. My parents had sold their house in Gruneck and moved back to Moosburg, because my father was given the job my grandfather held before retirement. They knew that I was coming, but not when, so one afternoon I stepped from the train in my home town. I was neither lousy nor ragged, and had a cardboard suitcase which I had borrowed for my necessities. I had faint memory of my hometown and felt certain that I would find my parents house without asking.
My Navy uniform had drawn much attention, children were following me to find out where I was going. I cannot describe the joy and happiness of my mother to welcome her long lost firstborn again, and my sister was sent to inform father of my arrival.
Neighbors came under pretense to see a curiosity. One day a neighbor took me aside and said: "Ludwig, why did you not write and let your folks know that you were still alive and where have you been?. Every time your name was mentioned your mother started to cry."
I missed my mother as much as she missed me, and having learned to be honest and truthful, how could I write and tell her of my misery without making her more unhappy. Everything was fine while I was home and now the end of the furlough was near.
I was informed not to return to the Aegir, but to report to my station Wilhelmshaven. When I reached Wilhelmshaven I sent letters of thanks to my loyal friends with the money and suitcase. It was not the end of March, and we were informed that we would depart on the North German Lloyd steamer Oldenburg on April 8. Several hundred people were at the pier to wave goodbye when our ship left port. We had a Protestant minister on board whose purpose was to save our souls and hear his sermons on Sundays.
There were 1100 passengers on this rather small ship, and with the increase of temperature it was more uncomfortable day after day. But I had only to think of the time I had on the Menelaus and how seasick I had been, it made me feel contented now.
We were nearing Port Said when one of our crew entertained us with a Russian dance. About an hour later a shout: "Man overboard!" was heard, and at once an illuminated buoy was dropped and life boats lowered, they searched for more than an hour, but without success. A roll call revealed that the lost member of our crew was the Russian dancer. A few hours later we entered Port Said, to take on more coal. Port Said is a lively port and coaling station.
Next morning, while we still mourned the loss of our comrade, someone said to me "come with me and I show you something that will amuse you". The ministers cabin was on the promenade deck, near the coal chute, and while he was sleeping the coal was put down the chute, his face was as black as the coal, he forgot to close his window.
The trip through the Red Sea and Indian Ocean reminded me of the Menelaus, but nobody was interested in my story of suffering. What did they know? We were passengers on the Oldenburg, and the only work assigned to us was to keep the officers cool during meals. There were no electric fans on our ship in 1897, but short ropes were fastened to the ceiling and to long poles that reached across the dining room; on those poles were fastened strips of carpet, about 18 inches wide. The poles were about four feet apart, and all tied to one rope, and the end of the rope was put through a porthole. By making regular pulls all the carpets began to swing, and the one that was honored with pulling the rope was rewarded with the smell of fancy foods that escaped through the porthole.
There are 12 small islands in the Red Sea, known among sailors as the 12 apostles. One, several miles distant from the group is called Judas Iscariot.
It was too hot to sleep under deck, so we spent the nights on deck. We had to do our laundry in about 2 gallons of water for each man.
Drinking water was scarce too, and they kept a guard at the water faucet to prevent carrying water away. Sometimes we had to form a line to get a drink. After seeing nothing but sky and water, land is a welcome sight, and finally we dropped anchor in the harbor of Kobe, Japan.
There were 5 other German ships with their crews deliriously happy to be relieved by our arrival. Shouting and blowing whistles, they climbed the masts waving their hands and caps. One sailor of the flagship sat on the very top of a mast. The 5 ships were from the German East Asiatic Fleet, consisting of the flagship Kaiser, Prinzess Wilhelm, Prinzess Irene, Cormoran and Arkona.
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