Fog bound Encounter1


By Katzmarek








Eliza could not sleep. Huddled under the covers in her bunk she watched the oil lamp slowly swaying with 
the movement of the ship and listened to the creaking and groaning of the timbers.
For 2 days they had remained becalmed in the North Sea and she was beginning to wonder if the fog would 
ever lift and the breeze return.


She decided to go up on deck again. She was bored and wanted some human contact.  The old Norwegian 
master, Mr. Sondquist was sure to be up there, rocking back and forth in the chair in the wheelhouse, and 
she enjoyed his conversation.


Dressing herself in her padded jacket and fur hat, she hauled on her sheepskin-lined boots and climbed the 
companionway. 


Grey, everything was grey, and still and frankly creepy. She looked up at the mainmast to the spread of 
canvass hanging limp, waiting for the wind. The riding light glowed like a little spark above her head, 
dangling from the invisible top of the mast.


Making her way in the eerie atmosphere she carefully crept her way aft towards the darker grey shape of 
the wheelhouse. There was few crew about, no doubt they were below in the small mess playing cards and 
smoking their pipes like they always seemed to be doing.


Good morning Mr. Sondquist. How are you this morning? She said to the old man.
Hello, Eliza, you are up early, he replied in his thick accent. Im afraid theres nothing exciting out here 
at the moment. Perhaps towards noon there may be a norwester coming but, then again, this could go on 
for days yet.
Arent you afraid that another ship might not see us here? she asked him.
Not really, he answered,  we have our lights up, we have the fog-bell here. As if to prove the point he 
jerked the rope above his head to be answered by the deep gong of the bell.


The throb of the bell died slowly away. Mr. Sondquist went on,
 Steamers must use their sirens, every ten minutes in these conditions. We would hear them miles away.
Oh. Mr. Sondquist, what is that sound? Can you hear it? Eliza asked, staring northeast.




Motorman Kimi Kasemann was trying to keep warm. He sat huddled in his thick greatcoat and fur hat 
with a woolen scarf wrapped around his neck. Emil and Fritz were both stopped and there was nothing 
to do but try and stave off hypothermia. The only sound was the faint clanking of the other motors, throttled 
down, and the occasional padding-by of other crewmembers on the catwalk outside the tiny aft-messroom.


Kasemann? a head appeared through the aluminium door. Kimi made to stand but was shooed by the 
Chief.
Sit down. Have you got some coffee brewed? The Chief enquired.


Yes Chief, he answered, in the pot.
Good! Im freezing. Keeping warm?
Just! Whats happening?
Little! We have descended to try and fix our position. Everythings closed down, as you can hear. I dont 
think the Fregatten-Kapitan has the faintest idea where we are. The Chief sat down.


At least we must still be over water, its like chowder out there, the Chief went on.
Chief? Kimi asked, we are not still venting are we?
Some, but we are still well ballasted. We are heavy but I think well be ok. They have been chipping ice 
off the breeches in case we have to climb in a hurry. Some poor fellow went up top and said the ice up 
there isnt too bad.


Moments later they felt a jolt, followed by a vibration which slowly dissipated.
Fuck! said the Chief, What the hell was that?
It feels like weve hit something, Chief, Kimi said.
We must be on the deck, hell! Just then the bells rang.
Alarm! the Chief, shouted, Weve gone down.






Some 5 minutes before, on the topsail schooner Stavanger Mr. Sondquist listened to the clanking sound 
with growing concern.
Its coming nearer, he told Eliza.
What is it, a steamship? she asked him.
None Ive ever heard. Sounds more like an aeroplane, a big one, more than one engine.


Looking towards the direction of the sound, they both saw the fog darken into a huge round shape.
Look! Mr. Sondquist shouted, its coming straight at us.






Fregatten-Kapitan Karl-Heinz von Dalwig zu Leichtenfels saw the masthead light and shouted to the helm.
Hard port! Theres something in front of us. 
Creeping forward in a dead slow he new it would be many minutes before the huge, 700 feet long L 68 
would begin to turn.
Alarm! We are too low, let go emergency ballast!
Unterleutnant Wolfgang Lander grabbed the telephone and cranked the handle.
Alarm, alarm! Let go ballast. We are crashing! he shouted into the handset.


Minutes ticked by while the Control Car crew watched the swinging light in front of them.
Kapitan! Lander reported, The mechanisms are frozen on the forward emergency breeches. Shall I let go 
aft?
Shit! the Kapitan cursed, Yes, dump the stern breeches, 6 through 9 amidships, we might get enough lift 
to drift over it. Hold 10 to 14 or well stand on our nose, quick!
Lander conveyed the orders.




The Chief and Kimi made their way along the catwalk. Far off they could hear cries of,
Stop the motors, stop the motors, were down.
They were below zelle 15 when they heard the rumble of the ballast being dropped. Shouts continued far 
off, near one of the amidships motors, Dora.


The catwalk began to slant down in front of them. Overhead they heard the groaning of the superstructure 
as the whole ship began to tilt towards the nose. Turning to Kimi, the Chief said,
Shes down by the head, the sterns rising.
I know, Chief. Wed better be careful we dont loose our grip. We may be vertical in a minute.
I dont think so. Only the amidships breeches have been released. Smell that?
No. What Chief?
Exactly, we would be smelling gas if any of the cells had been damaged.
Right Chief, replied the Motorman, so what do you think is happening?




On the Stavanger, Mr. Sondquist was pulling frantically on the fog-bells rope as he and Eliza watched the 
vast grey shape descend on the ship. The huge nose now dwarfed the schooner and the hull of the thing 
stretched back into the mist.
Shes going to hit, shes going to hit, the old man repeated as he rang the bell. Eliza shrunk down in fear, 
as the phantom monster seemed about to crush them into little pieces.
Eliza, hold onto the rail, Mr. Sondquist went on.


Some of the crew came clattering up on deck to investigate the noise. The Master barked at them in 
Norwegian. As realisation dawned on them they scattered for handholds as the shape bore down.


The nose of the monster came in over the mainmast and it was obvious thats where it was going to hit.
Clear the mainmast, get clear of the mainmast, yelled the Master in both English and Norwegian.
Watch those stays and braces, Eliza. If they snap theyll take off an arm, or a leg.
Is it going to hit us? Eliza asked.
Yes, lie down on the deck, here hold this rope, put it around you, so, the master showed her.


Eliza had her eyes shut when there came snapping and crashing sounds. She could hear screams and cries 
all around her and felt the schooners deck begin to tilt. She could hear gear crashing to the deck and 
warning yells, some in English,
Look out! Its falling were going under abandon ship its on top of us
But she did as Mr. Sondquist told her and clutched the rope tightly about her.


Even as she heard the sea crash over the side, she did not let go.




Suddenly the pandemonium ceased. Eliza opened her eyes to a scene of devastation on the deck of the 
schooner. The crew and passengers began to pick themselves up from their refuges and stare around them, 
and up.


Eliza looked up too and stared in horror. Somehow the Stavanger had been spun around 90 degrees and the 
monster now hovered along its length. Right above her head she saw a car, suspended below the huge grey 
beast. In front of it, the mast of the schooner disappeared inside the monster having torn a rent extending 
half the schooners length. In front of the ragged hole was painted a large black Balkan Cross.


See that, its German, came Mr. Sondquists voice beside her. Are you alright? he asked.
Yes, I think so, what is it? she asked.
An airship, came the Skippers reply,  a German naval Zeppelin. Of all the ocean to be in we have to 
choose the same place, he said ruefully.


Heads appeared out of the car above them, shouting in German. Mr. Sondquist replied in English, not 
speaking the airship crews language.
Get that thing off us, he shouted waving his arms. Eliza thought they were so low they could jump down 
on the Stavangers deck.




On the L68 Lander looked down on the figures below. They didnt appear to be able to hear him or, as was 
more likely, understand.
Who are you? he asked again,  what ship are you? 
All he received in reply was much shouting in a language he couldnt understand.


Above them the Forward Watch Officer descended the ladder into the Car. 
Stresemann? acknowledged the Fregatten-Kapitan,  whats the damage forward?
Their mast is jammed in our keel, Kapitan.
Why didnt it snap off? asked the Commander.
Its steel! Its bent into the cross work, stuck fast. I have sent some men for hacksaws.
Good, replied the Captain, get them to hurry up, I dont fancy hanging around here for too long.
Thats not all, sir, Stresemann continued, the gaffe of that vessel
Yes.
It punched through the hull and is lodged under zelle 3, about a metre underneath. It missed the forward 
breeches by centremetres. The point is
Go on.
Well, its working up and down in the swell. It is very close to puncturing the gas cell.
Thank god we have no wind, said the Captain,  get it cut off Leutnant, quickly!


After Stresemann climbed back up into the hull of the airship, the radioman, in his little cubicle at the rear 
of the Control Car called to the Captain,
Sir! Theyre using their radio!




On the Stavanger, some organisation was beginning to return. Pieces of broken rigging were being heaved 
over the side, the injured were being gathered up and people were given something to do, no matter how 
trivial. The Marconi man, Ormson was told by the Skipper to send out a distress signal. He found the radio 
shack, beneath the mainmast, was intact and the radio in working order. However he yelled to Mr. 
Sondquist,
The aerials down Skipper, its only hanging from the foremast stay. The signal will be weak.
Send our position anyway, there might be a nearby vessel.


Ormson worked the treadle-powered magneto and began to send,
Mayday S V Stavanger 0 34W57 03N




In the Control Car above the schooner there was a sudden burst of activity. Radioman Forster frantically 
searched through the ship registers, Lander called for the chart and spread it over the fold up aluminium 
table.
Were about 250kms east of Aberdeen Scotland, Captain, the young Navigator said. Also responding to 
the Morse signal from the ship below, Forster finally announced,
Stavanger Oslo Norway topsail schooner of 408 gross tons30 metres longbuilt Oslo 1907
Ok, thank you Radio, interrupted the Captain.


Get them to stop signaling, Leutnant, well have the English all over us, ordered von Leichtenfels.
Sir, Im trying, they dont understand. Perhaps we should mount the Parabellum? A quick burst over their 
heads may send them the message.
No I will try something else first. Who among the crew speaks English, do you know?
Um yesI know a fellow a Motorman Kasemann I think spent his childhood there English 
mother I understand Lander pondered.
Good! Get him here.




Kimi and the Chief were just working their way past the amidships motors when the phone rang at Doras 
engineer station. 
Chief! the amidships motorman said from the phone. The Chief answered and called out,
Kasemann! The boss wants you in the car, better hurry.
Kimi scampered down the hull towards the Control car.


Leutnant Lander explained to Kimi what he had to say when the Motorman arrived at the front car. Leaning 
out of the window he called,

Stavanger please turn off your radio. 
From the deck he clearly heard,
When you get your bloody airship off my vessel.
Please, perhaps we can help each other. But you must turn off your radio, Kimi re-iterated, conscious of 
the impatient Lander behind him.
Help, how? came the reply. 


Lander said to the Captain,
Sir, this is futile. Let me get a couple of gunners down here and
Leutnant! the Captain stopped him,
  We do not know if they are armed. I remind you that we have crew working above them in the hull 
trying to free us. They would be vulnerable to shots through the hull. 
Furthermore, we are at point blank range if they started shooting back at us and we have half-a-million 
cubic metres of highly inflammable Hydrogen gas above our heads. For the last time, Lander, I DO NOT 
WANT A FUCKING GUN BATTLE, DO YOU HEAR ME, the normally reticent aristocrat roared.




Hes English, Eliza told the Old Norwegian, I know a Home Counties accent anywhere, whats he on a 
German airship for?
Perhaps hes prisoner, Mr. Sondquist ventured,  or a traitor. He called up at the figure above once 
more,
What do you have in mind?
Have you an acetylene torch?
No. What would you want us to do with it anyhow, blow us all up?
Hydrogen rises, sir. In any case we are not leaking any gas, yet, the man above replied.
Well dont start, said Mr. Sondquist, say, can you come down here, Im getting hoarse from shouting.
I night be able to, I will check with my Captain.


Well, if hes a prisoner, they must trust him very well, the schooners master told Eliza. Which leaves 
the alternative?
Pity, said Eliza,  he sounds so nice.
My goodness girl! No wonder your father told me to watch you! Said the master laughing.




On L68, Forster was calling out his report to the Captain,
They have stopped transmitting I hear no answer yet Naval traffic from Skapa Flow and Rosyth I 
think Loch Ewe perhaps nothing near They could be keeping silent of course.
Lander suggested,
They just gave their position, they never mentioned us. A vessel would ask them for their status, and to 
restate their position, that is if they heard them, of course.
Of course Lander, said the Captain, icily.


Kasemann, von Leichtenfels said, go down there in the observation car. We will lower you over the 
water, ask them to send a boat for you. I want you to secure their radio, I dont care how. See if they are 
armed too, take a pistol. But above all, establish a rapport with them. We want their co-operation. 
Then to Lander,
Lower him a telephone so we can keep in touch.
Sir.




Hedwigsdotter, put a boat over the side, called the Stavangers skipper, theyre sending a man down 
with a telephone to save our tonsils. See that! They are lowering him in that little car, quick man, or hell 
land in the water.


Kimi could see the little rowboat put out from the stern of the schooner. He lay prone in the tiny 
observation car as it swung on the end of the unwinding cable. The water looked freezing and he hoped the 
winch-man had a good view of the surface of the sea. He did not want a ducking. He wound the handle on 
the cars telephone and called up instructions,
50 metres good slow slow.
He opened the hatch on the top of the car and got to his knees. He figured he wanted the chance to jump if 
it hit the water.


The little boat drew nearer. A boatman was waving at him with a boat hook and calling something in 
Norwegian. Although the weather was calm and still the little car nevertheless swayed dizzily. Kimi caught 
the boat hook after a number of attempts and hooked it to the side of the hatchway. The boat drew along 
side and he jumped in.


Kimi looked up at the airship, it seemed to cover the sky above. He was pulled over the stern of the 
schooner by the powerful arms of a couple of crewman. In front of him stood a man in his fifties with a 
matted grey beard.


Sondquist, the man said, I am the skipper. How do you suggest you get that thing off my ship?
Motorman Kasemann, sir, pleased to meet you.
Kimi told them that the Control Car was going to lower a telephone. 


They had a problem freeing his mast from the airship. It was stuck fast and under strain. If they sawed 
through it inside the airships hull it would snap free in such a way it may tear a gas cell.
You must cut through below our hull and we do the same above. Maybe the energy will be less when it 
comes free, Kimi told the older man.


Eliza peered uncertainly out of the wheelhouse door. As the two men came level she coughed, 
extravagantly. Mr. Sondquist paused,
You have a cold Eliza? he said smiling. 
No I, she stumbled.
Madam, the young man at the skippers side said, bowing stiffly from the waist, 
His names Kasemann, said the skipper, Kasemann? Meet Eliza Simpson. She is taking passage with 
us.
English? said the Motorman, pleased to meet you.
Eliza flushed, speechless. This young man was without a doubt the handsomest man she had ever met.

Part 2 follows.























