Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1853-09-07

on the river, because her people have
that on the land stranger
has the power OF bewitching them while
they imagine that on running water, such
necromatic influences are averted. Her
reception of the Captain was most gra-
cious, and his ardor in her cause, togeth-
er with numerous other interviews
which he had with her, and with native
chiefs, and adventures in the interior,
although done with the utter cognizance
of the Dutch, and oftentimes, when ac-
companied by Dutch officer, had excl
ted their utmost jealousy, and decided
them to get rid of the American captain,
who was apparently winning the hearts
of the natives Of all ranks. They SEEM
ed to entertain the apprehension that he
would "annex" Java to the United
States. An opportunity for the graft
ficatioh Of their jealousy soon presented
itself, and they quickly seized upon it.
Surrounded by Dutch spies, acting
througha Malay secretary, bribed by the
Dutch, the latery were soon able to
make it appear plausible that he had
some designs hostile to their interests |;
and he was arrested on board his own
vessel. Lieut.. Nicholson, of the Dutch
gun bring Pytades, came on board with
twelve marines and called out-sSHaul
down that flag you damn Yankee insur-
rectionare 20 Upon which Capt. Glib
son replied that he was sac customed
to command Lieutenant to hoist that flag
and could not think of reversing his
custom, by hauling it down himself, es-
pecially at the command of Lieuten-
ant"
He refused TO surrender, and the
Lieut.. went ashore. The President
afterwards sent to arrest Capt. G., on
the charge of High Treason. At this
time, Nicholson came on board with
about eighty marines, and proceeded
with his own hands to haul down the
flag, but finding it nailed to the staff, he
ierked at it till he tore it away, and let
it fall into the water, in the presence of
thousands of natives assembled in proas
on the river to witness the scene. Not
content with this he went down into
he cabin of the the F1irt, and tore from
over the berth of the Captain brass
eagle, an ornament belonging to her
when in the United States service,
and went on deck, and cast it derisively
into the water, saying in bad English,
"Thus we sink all dam Yankee Cuban
tiefs." AT this, Capt. G. called out to
the natives in good Malay as he then
could use, that "many American Eagles
would come to avanage the fate of that
simple brass one now thrown into the
water" This excited the ire of Lieut.
Nicholson to such degree that he drew
his sword, and made a threatening dem
onstration to use it upon the unarmed
prisoner, but was held back by the CT
vii magistrate, Storm.
Capt G. was taken ashore and confin-
ed, and afterwards transferred o Batavia
Here he was brought before commission
of Judges, acquitted and released on
Feb. 25th, 1852. The Governor Of
Netherlands India ordered his re-arrest,
which was affected. After remaining
in loathsome confinement for nine months
he was fully acquitted by the local Court
OF Justice of Batavia, which ordered
him 10 be set at liberty-"that the Gov.
ernment should pay the costs Of the suit
that his property should be restored
to him; and that he should receive
damages to the amount of 500 rupees
day, from the time of his incarceration,
which in all would amount to $S2, 900
The Governor General, Van Twist, ant
his council, rejected this verdict, ant
condemned the captain to death. Some
friends assisted him lie escape from pris
on board the vessel which has brought
him to this country. One of the inter-
esiing and truly romantic incidents con-
nected with the Captains Imprisonment
is the following:
While in the interior of Sumatra, he
made the Acquaintance of the Chief, De-
mang Sapiedem, and his family. The
old chief had an interesting daughter
of the age of Is, with whom the Cap.
tain became intimately acquainted; and
to whom he related many incidents con-
corning the wonders of his far off home
This young lady bore the name Of Sahie.
pa, and when Capt. G. left the residence
OF her father, they parted warm friends
Some three or four months previous tc
his escape from prison, this lady left her
fathers home, and came in disguise to
the city of Batavia, where she took UP
her resides nee. By her influence many
persons were secretly interested in be-
half Of the prisoner. She was unremittine
in her attempts to obtain an interview
with the Captain, and finally succeededlin
her endcaver. Many interviews follow
ed, and to her he was indebted for much
OF the comfort which he enjoyed during
the remainder of his stay in PRISON.
And, for his escape, she furnished the
horse, and diaguising herself as man,
held it until he was astride its back,
when, with hurried embrace and a wave
/ of his hand, he dashed off, leaving her
anxiously watching his retreating figure,
till lost in the distance.
The Mate and Lieutenant of the Flirt
are still imprisoned in Java. The names
of the vessel and the persons who aid
ed in the escape of Capt. g., are from
prudential reasons, withheld from the
public.