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Adler was a big, explosive
German who had been a reserve officer, I think, in the Prussian
army. Fate had linked us together when on the steamer the meat
served in the steerage became so bad as to offend not only our
palates, but our sense of smell. We got up a demonstration, marching
to see the captain in a body, Adler and I carrying a tray of the
objectionable meat between us. As the spokesman, I presented the
case briefly and respectfully, and all would have gone well had not
the hot blood of Adler risen at the wrong moment, when the captain
was cautiously exploring the scent of the rejected food. With
a sudden upward jerk he caused that official's nose to disappear
momentarily in the dish, while he exploded in voluble German. The
result was an instant rupture of diplomatic relations. Adler was
put in the lock-up, but set fiee again immediately. He spent the
rest of the voyage in his bunk shouting dire threats of disaster
impending from the "Norddeutsche Consul," once he reached New York.
But we were all too glad to get ashore to think of vengeance then.


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