A treasure train through Bangor

The Lloyd ship Kronprinzessin Cecile
Illustration: Bangor Public Library via Bangor Daily News

  In August 1914 the "summer people" were in Bar Harbor soaking in luxury.  But the news was all about the War in Europe; but people thought the war between Japan and Russia would be the "last great war".
  Meanwhile the North German Lloyds luxury liner Kronprinzessin Cecile had left New York City with millions of dollars in gold and silver in its holds.  It also carried the rich and famous on a summer cruise to Europe.
  But there was trouble, war trouble, to be avoided.  The Cecile landed in the harbor at Bar Harbor, it was too dangerous to continue with the riches in its hold.  The gold and silver were unloaded and placed aboard the Revenue Cutter Androscoggin.
  The weight was too much for the Androscoggin and the gold and silver were placed on a train bound for New York City.  People turned out by the hundreds in Bangor on August 5, 1914 to watch "The Treasure Train" pass through the Queen City.  The train also carried passengers from Cecile who had changed their plans.  The gold and silver were placed in a vault in New York, but when the United States entered War One the gold and silver were seized to help pay for our efforts.
  Read more: http://bangordailynews.com/2014/07/27/living/german-treasure-ship-introduced-maine-to-world-war-i/

The USRC Androscoggin
Photo:  Navsource.org
The Revenue Service preceded the U S Coast Guard