This is a story about a young man who migrated to North America from Germany in the late 1800's. He wasn't any different from the others who came in search of opportunity, a new life...a dream.
Jack was in his teens. A young man, strong and ready to find his way. He was adventurous, wild at heart. He was pulled West, across the vast continent then up North into Canada. Unknown to him, this is where it really all started.
Jack finds a job with the Canadian Pacific Railway aboard a steamship called the RMS Empress of Japan, a 456 ft ocean liner that carried mail and passengers to Tokyo, returning with hulls filled with tea. It was the year 1915 and this was Jacks 6th crossing.
Europe catches on fire! War erupts and 10,000 miles away, Jack finds himself in a dangerous situation. The anti German sentiment on board the Empress is focused directly on Jack. He was pulled out of his bunk and beaten badly. He doesn't wonder, he knows that if he remains on the ship, his life will surly be in jeopardy. In secret Jack collects a few items and hides them in one of the ships rafts. He plans his escape...
On his previous voyages Jack remembered seeing small fishing vessels headed SE out of Japan. He had also seen a long line of atolls on the ships maps that seemed to lead the route the fishing boats were taking. It was a stretch, but that was his only way to safety. Quietly, under cover of darkness and taking advantage of a nodding lookout, Jack lowered the raft and disappeared into the Pacific.
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