The Republican journal., 1884-09-11
Old Fashioned Yankee SKIPPER.

HOW AN AMERICAN CAPTAIN ARMED HIS
CREW AND HELD OFF A GERMAN CORVETTE.
An awkward incident occurred in connection
with the de parure OF the German corvette
Leipzig early on Sunday morning. June l.,
which might have led to serious consequences,
1t appears that the German corvette Leipzig.
during her stay here, had lost two members Of
her crew through deserion, and it WAS neceS-
sary to institute Il smart search for the runa-
ways, in order to deter others from leaving the
vessel. Some time last week, Il Il erman sailor
left the ship, and ali efforts made to discover
his whereabouts We're unsuccessful Informs
ton was subsequently received that the man
might be on board the American barques Ner-
cid or p. J. Carlton, and the proper authorities
were consulted on the subject in order to search
for the man. police officer, accompanied by
a lieutenant of the Leipzig, in full uniform
went on board the p. j. Carlton early ON
Wednesday last. The captain of the y. j.
Carlton received the police officer and the
German lieutenant very kindly, ordered the
crew forward, to enable the lieutenant to identi-
fly the man, if he was there, and offered them
every facility of search, eXpressing his willing
ness to smoke the hold. However, the search
was unsuccessful, the deserter was evidently
not on board, and the matter seems TO have
dropped
Early on Sunday morning last. Just before
O'clock, the captain of the p. j. Carlton.
whilst sitting in his long chair on deck smok-
ing his cigar, saw a cutter, apparently full of
armed men. put off from the German corvette
Leipzig and make for his vessel. Suspectng
that they were going to search his ship by
force, he ran up the American flag and awaited
the approach of the cutter, which soon came
alongside. lieutenant and an officer of low
er rank came on board, and without salutng
the captain, were about to give orders to their
men, when the skipper asked their business
The officer brusquely replied he came to search
for the deserter. After few words between
the skipper and the lieutenant, who was very
overbearing, the former told the officer to pre-
sent his compliments to the commandant and
tell him that be had not men enough to search
his ship. Calling up his crew and armng
them with muskets, capstan bars and Delaying
pins. he said to the officer that he would resist
to the utmost if he attempted to bring any of
his men on board, and that this was an Amer-
can ship and Singapore was a British port, and
he denied the right of any man-of-war to
search his ship by force.
The officer then left, being recalled by signal
from the Leipzig, and a few minutes after
another cutter put off from the Leipzig, with
Il stronger crew, all armed, and came in the
direction of the z j. Carlton. But beyond
cruising round, it does not appear that they did
anything else of an offensive character; the
vessel was not, at any rate, boarded. The
reason why will be seen in the sequel During
the whole of these proceedings, Mr.. Fischer.
the secretary of the German Consulate. was on
board the Leipzig, though he was ignorant of
what was taking place. Hearing a gun fired,
he asked the captain of the corvette the reason,
and receiving a reply that it was to recall the
first cutter sent, together with an explanation
Of the action, he Immediately warned the cap
tain of the llegality and danger of the proceed
ing, and advised him not to send out that second
cutter, which then was on the point of putting
off. The German captain sent message to the
captain of the F. J. Carlton, expressing his
regret at what had taken place, and said he
would go in person and apologize, but that the
corvette was then on the point of steaming
away. The Leipzig then steamed out OF harbor.
The action of Mr.. Fischer is worthy of the
highest commentator. for. doubtless, if it had
/ not been for mis- Intervention. there would have
been bloodshed, and a most awkward series of
complications might have arisen. [Singapore
| Straits Times.