The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1893-11-21
1T DIDN'T HAPPEN.
San Francisco People Thought
Wichman Meant TO Turn
Pirate.

Pirate.
Some startling rumors have been
flying about on the water front for
the past few days, which, if true,
mean that there is a piratical craft
sailing the waters Of the Pacific
ocean.
The vessel in question is none
other than the now famous yacht
Tolna, in which Count Festetics
and his wife sailed away on voy-
age to the isles of the Pacific.
No one believes that Count Fes-
tetics would turn pirate, but Dame
Rumor has it that there is a man
on board the schooner who would
Jump at the chance of becoming a
second Captain Kidd, and that
man is J. F. Wichman, the mate of
the vessel.
1t is stated that Wichman open
ly boosted before the Tolna sailed
that he would have the vessel and
her cargo before she had been
many days at sea-"
Wichman's record shows him to
be a man who would stop at moth
ing short of crawling into the muz-
zle of loaded cannon, and those
who know him best fear that he
may possibly put his threats into
execution.
Just how he secured the position
of mate on the Tolna is a mystery.
He himself stated that Captain
Turner, who built the Tolna, re-
commended him to the count, but
it now turns out that Captain Tur-
ner does not know him at all.
Wichman well knew that the
count and his wife would take con-
siderable money with them on the
trip, and that the cargo, while
small, would be valuable one and
composed of such goods as could
be disposed of to the natives of the
South Sea islands very readily.
Besides this, the countess had
her jewelry and most of the costly
presents which she received when
she became Countess Festetics on
board the vessel with her. Taken
all through the Tolna was a prize
such as the most dashing pirate
might be proud to capture.
AS is well known, Count Fes-
tetics, while a pretty good navi-
gator, was rather poor sailor. 1t
is thought that a man like Wich-
man could very easily handle him.
Then again the second mate and
the three sailors were all chosen by
Wichman, and the general opinion
is that he selected men who would
not be likely to offer any resistance
if Wichman should take command
of the vessel.
The only persons among the
crew who might offer any resist
ance would be the cook and his
wife, Albert and Fanny Lord. Mrs.
Lord sailed as stewardess on the
Tolna, as the Countess objected to
being the only woman on board.
Wichman could easily have
struggled arms enough for his pur-
pose in his trunk, and, once master
of the situation, he could head for
any part of the world he pleased,
and no one could stop him.
It is rumored that the relatives
of the Countness are wrought up
over the rumors which have reach
ed them on the subject, and have
caused searching inquiries to be
made as to Wichman's character.
1t is rumored that the first ink
ling of the danger that threatened
the Tolna and her precious cargo
reached them from servant girl
whom Mrs. Haggin had discharged
a day or two after the Tolna sailed
away.
Rumor has it that Wichman and
the girl were very intimate and
that day or two before the vessel
left Wichman, while talking to the
girl, boosted that "the Tolna and
all in her would be his before many
days"
The first port the Tolna was to
touch at was at Honolulu, and if
everything went smoothly she
ought to be there now. 1t is
said that letters were sent
down on the mail steamer
which sailed last Satur-
day, warning the countess and her
husband of the danger that threat
ened them. But if Wichman had
any idea Of seizing the Tolna he
would no doubt do so before Homo
lulu was reached. He would then
change the vessels course and not
touch at the Hawaiian islands at
all.-S. F. Chronicle.