The Portland daily press., 1878-05-08
WEDNESDAY MORNING. MAY 8.
BY TELEGRAPH.
THE CIMBRIA,
The Officers Polite But Reticent.
The Captain Denies Liability to
Seizure in Case of War.

ELLSWORTH, May NO significance is at
tsched to the visit to the Cimbria of agents of
the Union Pacific and Lake Shore Railroads.
They only came upon . rumor that the Rus.
SLAMS were destined for the Pacific coast. They
could get no hint from the officers Of any such
intention, aud returned without any more
knowledge of Russian plans than has already
been telegrsphed. The two New York mep,
who are supposed to be agents of the Evans
Rifle Co., have not yet been seen Ia commune
cation with the officers. They seem 10 be gen.
temen of leisure, quietly resting on the piazza
OF the hotel.
There was q rumor that a British steamer
had been seen outside, but on investigation it
proves to be unfounded. No such steamer has
been seen by anybody. The only trace of
British espionage is the lonely Vice Consul, who
is the most lonely man on the island.
The feeling here is go intensely pro. Russian
that no one seems inclined to talk with Eng
hshmen, and he spends his time standing on
the pier or following the officers about. He
can learn nothing and depends on the associat.
ed press dispatches for news. In conversation
with him he expressed come surprise that the
United States did not have cutter here on the
watch. The fact is, however, thers is nothing
to watch. There is German steamer flying
the German flag, lying at anchor with ouly a
few passengers on boad.
Its mater of demonstration that the
steamer has no arms nor ammunition of any
kind on b5ard. An agent b as been about every
part OF the vessel and contraband could not
have escaped his attention. The ship is also
very high in the water and has only coal and
provision in the hold, and scarcely enough of
them for ballast. The ships papers show the
Russians simply as passengers Cabin passen-
gers are classed as pleasure Travellers" aud
steersge passengers are cassed as "tradesmen''
They are all young men, Count Grippenberg
beiLg the Oldest and he only 45.
Among other prominent officers are Count
Alexejeff, Lieutenant Avelan, Baron Ungern
SterDberg, M. Ivanoff, NJ. Stavinsky, NJ. Pa
voloff.
Capt. Badenhausen claims that he i, exempt
from seizure 10 case war is declared, as he is
not conveying soldiers nor sailors, but only
passengers. The officers have been making in.
quiry recently about Portland harbor, especially
lift has water enough and is easily entered, and
quiet 1 think, however, this is only done to
divert attention.
Capt Badenhausen has inquired if the Gus
toms laws of this country require ship to clear
for any particular port, foreign or domestic,
and seemed annoyed when told that they did.
The ship had no clearance from Port Baltic
naming any place of detination. The officers
receive very politely anybody coming to them
with proper introductions. Yesterday they en-
tertained at lunch on board, Rev. Mr.. Ropes
and wife of Ellsworth, and few others. Mr..
Ropes was born in Russia, and is the son of a
famous Russian merchant. He was received
by the Russian officers with warm cordiality,
and talked freely with them. They gave no
hint, however, of their plans. Indeed, it is
more and more apparent that they are awaiting
orders. -
Count Alexejef, oneof the Russian officers
on the Cimbria, left on the steamer Lewiston
yesterday afternoon. He said he was to visit
Boston.
In conversation with Capt. Badenhausen aud
the Russian officers, they were asked if they
did not think they were in peril in case war
was suddenly declared, as British cruisers
would be OF their track. Capt. Badenhausen
insisted that he could not bs troubled as he
was . German commander of German ship
under the German flag, pointing to the ensign.
BE said the deck of his ship was German ter
ritory which Great Britain would not attempt
to desecrate. He was carrying passengers,
which was lawful occupation for neutras.
The passen ger list was in due form and the
men he was carrying were passengers 10 le-
gal sense. The stores we're the property of the
ships owners, Germans, and not the property
of the Russian government The Russian Off
GERS entertained the same view and said they
were outside of the rule International law, that
made neutral ship carrying enemy's forces
liable to confscatiou. The theory they pro-
Deed upon is evidently that they are legal pas
sengers. The officers wear no uniform, the
men do not salute the officers when on shore.
aud SO forth.
On the other hand the petty officers wear
badges of rank and are obeyed even on shore.
The men are in divisions and under naval dis
cipline.
The correspondent urged that the inevitable
consequence of the officers theory is that they
have no legal control over the men. Each man
being only passenger on a passenger vessel is
ct full liberty to leave the vessel at will. He
only owes obedience to the officers of the ship,
not the other passengers. HdbedS corpus
would reach the humblest Lapp or Finn on
board and set him free from service. Any
punishment by the Russian officers would be
against the laws of Maine, and under them the
officers would be liable to prosecution. On the
other hand the officers could have no help from
local or federal authorities to enforce obedience
except to the rules of the vessel-in fine utter
dissolution Of authority. The officers acknowl-
edged this might be the legal result of their
position, bat they had no fears of mutiny.
They evidently rely on the mems faith, ON their
ignorance of the American language and per-
haps on the mems belief that they are under
martial law. Yet discipline is evidently en-
forced. 1t must be remembered. however, that
neither Russian officers, nor officers of the ship
have ever admitted that the passengers were
any part of the Russian navy. That is the OBJ
servation and inference of the correspondent.
There can be no doubt about it however
It is evident that that they mean in
every way to maintain the theory of peaceful
passengers on peaceful ship. The passenger
list puts them down not as mariners but as
tradesman. They mean to clear from this port
In the same manner. When the mask will be
thrown off depends upon their superiors