The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-09-08
FIRED HIS SHIP.
Admiral Killick Plays a Trick
ON the Germans.

Cape Haytien, Hayti, Sept. S.-The
gunboat Crete-a-Pierrot, which was in
the service of the Firminist party, has
been sunk at the entrance of the harbor
Panther The crew of the Crete-a-Pier
rot left her before She went down.
Port-Au-Prince, Hayti, Sept. Seer
man gunboat Panther arrived here Sep
TENDER 5 and received instructions from
the German government to capture the
Firminist gunboat Crete-a-Pierrot. She
left Immediately for GOnaives, the seat
Their found the Crete-a- Pierrot in the
harbor of Gonaives and the commander
of the German gunboat informed Ad-
miral Killick on the Crete-a-PierrOt
that he must remove his crew and sur
render his vessel in five minutes.
Admiral Killick asked that this time
be extended to fifteen minutes. This re-
quest was granted, on the condition that
the arms and ammunition on board the
Crete-a-Pierrot should be abandoned
when her crew left her.
The crew of the Crete-a-Pierrot left
that vessel amid great disorder. At the
end of fifteen minutes the Panther sent
a small boat, carrying an officer and
twenty sailors. who were to take pos
session of the Firminist gunboat When
these men had arrived at a point about
thirty yards from the Crete-a-Pierrot.
flames were seen to break out on board
of her. She had been fired by her crew
before they left her.
The Panther then fired on the Crete
a-Pierrot until she was completely i'm
mersed. Thirty shots, all told, were
fired.
Berlin, Sept. s-The marine ministry
has given out the following official re-
port of the sinking of the Firminist
gunboat Crete-a-Pierrot:
Capt Eckermann. of the Panther had
received orders to capture the principal
gunboat Crete-a-Pierrot- The Panther
went from Port au Prince to Gonaives
where it completely surprised the Crete
a-Pierrot. The German commandant
sent the following ultimatum:
"'Strike your colors within Is min
utes and disembark from your ship
without undertaking any defensive
mea sures whatever. otherwise an i'm
mediate attack will follow
THE Panther had already cleared for
action. The Crete-a-Pierrot hauled
down her flag within the allotted time
and the crew disembarked. The Panth-
er then intended to take the Crete-a-
Pierrot in tow but explosion of her
aft powder magazine soon occurred
which was evidently effected by the
Crete-a-Pierrot,s crew. The explosion
destroyed her stern and set the vessel
on fire, rendering taking her in tow i'm
possible especially as further explosion
| followed. As this was regarded as g
hostile act and as the guns afore were
still in condition, the Panthers captain
caused the forward magazine to be ex-
| ploded through a cannonade. After this
was exploded the Crete-a-Pierrot broke
| up and sank. The admiral was or
| board with the rebels.
"Gonaives is in the hands of the reb-
els"
London, Sept. ga few OF the after
noon papers in commenting on the sub.
| ject, seem to anticipate that the sink.
| ing of the Firminist gunboat Crete-a-
| Pierrot by the German gunboat Panth-
err at the entrance of Gonaives harbol
may prove controversial.
so summary revenge for a breach
| of international courtesy" says the st
| James Gazette, lis like breaking thu
! frailest butterfly on the largest wheel
| Supposing the butterfiy's big neighbol
| takes hand in the game matters ma,
| become most serious
| The Westminster Gazette, speculat
| ing on the matter holds that nothing
| in Monroeism prevents big continen
| tai power from boxing the ears of
troublesome boy on the other hemis
phere, so long as the big boy does no
proceed to eat or otherwise annex thu
small one"