Monday, 13 July 2015

Poem ~ American-German Assassin - Tuesday, 13 July 1915


Impression sketch of Eric Muenter after his arrest - by Jamie. See the original at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Muenter#/media/File:Erich_M%C3%BCnter.jpg

In words sent to New Orleans
Times-Picayune, openly told
Of an assassinations plot and
Plans to destroy British ships,
Moving from American Ports.

The writer of the letter, under
The name of Pearce - a scholar
And partner of the assassin  -
Erich Meunter, openly told
Of intentions to kill two men.

German-American Meunter,
With false Name Frank Holt,
A known dynamiter, targeted
Ambassador Sir Spring Rice,
And the financier J.P. Morgan.

2 July, Meunter, on discovery
Of the senate chamber locked,
Hid a package of dynamite in
Senate reception, for a midnight
Explosion - to blow at 11.40 p.m.

In Meunter's given explanation
Was making noise in an appeal
For peace - fleeing, Meunter put
A time bomb on SS Minnehaha,
A ship carrying British munitions.

Travelling on to Glen Cove Long
Island and home of Mr Morgan -
Meunter intended to murder
'The Ambassador to hell', Cecil
Spring Rice with the US financer.

Meunter had been enraged
By Morgan's assisting British
Against Germany, with large
US finances  - Meunter stood
Before Mr Morgan with a gun.

In two shots at the financer,
Meunter wounded his groin,
Before being hit by the butler,
With a lump of coal - arrested
The assassin was charged.

Jailed for his crimes, Meunter
Committed suicide - then two
Days later an explosion took
Place on the SS Minnehaha -
Making only minor damage.

Pearce went on to say how
Bombs were on other boats -
The navy acted with warning
Both vessels - as his apostle
Stated, Meunter was no crank.

Pearce proclaimed Meunter
Gave him principles and ideals.
How he was a true German,
Who advised many passengers
Against travel on the Lusitania.

Meunter had actually warned
The famous theater producer,
Charles Frohman, against
Sailing on the fated Lusitania;
In belief Meunter calls on him.

The dead man urging Pearce
To act - who claimed to have
Dynamite stores to destroy city
Of New Orleans - prompting US
Secret Service set to find Pearce.

by Jamie Mann.

Anon.,1915. German Murder Plot - Ambassador Menaced - Bombs in British Ships. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 13 July. P.9. Col.4. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11732016/Daily-Telegraph-July-13-1915.html [Accessed: 13 July 2015].

Mann, J., 2015. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 13 July 2015). 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11732016/Daily-Telegraph-July-13-1915.html


#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #WW1centenary #worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered #WW1America

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