The New York herald., 1873-12-15
rHE FIRM OF. T. ALLEN Co Is THIS DAY
THAT COAL BARGE MYSTERY.

ssCoynm cdorc'' Trcutman, OF the Upland,
Found and Entervfeyed--Is ssUnc;e
sam'' a .sBould Pirate:''-Iow the
Barge was Capture fn the East
River by Strange Tug, noved to the
Stem OF the Spanish Frisnte and sunk.
"CommodoIer Troutman. the bold skipper Of
the coal barge Upland, that, on the night OF the
5th, found lowland at the bottom oil the entrance
to the dock where rcposed the Spanish frigate
Ayapiles, has been found and interviewed. The
barge belongs TO the Philadelphia and Reading
Railroad Company, and the adventurous skipper
arrived at Reading on Wednesday morning, De-
cember 10. reporter ofthe Reading Eagle event
for an intervlew'' thus
"You are .sCommodore'' Troutman, I believefr
'Yes." "CommandeG the Undine?" "No' "The
Upland, then :" 'yes" "You are from POTTS.
did @ you % nor - yes. wcre yoa c in command l5' 81
the Upland when she went down ?" NO" "who
was ~ Don't know" were you MN, IN command ma
NOT :" Because don't know" "wnen did yon
"Wnen did she go down n saturday morning.
before dayight.S sWhat time aid you leave the
boat?n
Here the 'Commodoren took or his hat leaned
up against the wall, ana refused 10 90 any iurther
The Eagle gives the following explanation OF the
capture The Captain OF the boat the Upland,
might have told the iacts, ior certainly ne knew
them; but probably ne mad been specially IN,
TO took her last load OF steamboat coal at Port
Richmond, ana. by the way OF the Delaware and
Raritan canal, reachcl uoooAen on Thursday.
from Lii. Moore, the Philadelphia and Read
ing Railroad company's agent at New
York, to proceed TO the Eighth street tBrooklyn)
wharf under tow. On Friday, this day one week
ago, the Upland. win several other barges, lett
HoDoken under Tow and proceeded towards Brook-
lyn. When Ia the middle OF the stream strange
tug approached the boats. and wel-dressed man.
apparently an oiiicer halied the barges and
asked Tor the Upland .'Commodore" Iroutman
reped me man sad ,a tae y9G oadeT TnSn WIN
want You,- said the man, and the boat was taken
charge OF by the stranger and uowed alongside OF
sup at th, qoek o. the EteoalSn M navy y 1ard
his boat. 1t was then alter tour O'Clock OF the AFTER
noon OF Friday, December D. commodore Trout
man said 1t was his home, and all his goods were IN
the cabin OF the boat and ne would not leave. lie
was imperatiyely ordered TO CO. and ''Commodore'
1roGtman, one deck hand ana dog-an on
board-leIt the Upland, taking nothing with them.
not even their supper, which was cooking on the
stove at the time. They lett the ooat, went out OF
the Navy Yard and reported the acts OF the case
to Mr. Moore, the Reading Companys agent lie
gave sCommodoren Troutman an order To 90 TO
the Navy Yard and get the boat; but II was TOO
late in the evening and the gaJes OF the Navy Yard
were closed.
Navy Yard, exhibited his order to the commandant,
and, after a great deal OF talk. he was given III
charge OF two officers who were to conduct him 20
the barge Upon arriving at the dock the Upland
was not to be seen. subsequently II was learned
tnar the craft with 2le tons OF coal and the cabin
furniture and effects OF the crew. had been sunk as
above stated, few hours before daybreak on
Saturday morning, December g. Iroutman COM
planned that he had lost his ALL and alter consider
able consideration he was paid $500 for his losses
The deck hand then also complained and he re-
ceyed $50 for his effects. subsequently an offcr
OF $4,000 was made to Mr.. Moore, une agent above
alluded TO, for the boat ana It's cargo, provided he
would say nothing about 1t. This oner was de-
Cllneu.