Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-08-27
FRENCH VESSEL DETAINED.
New York Officers Go Aboard
 and Get American Boy

.
 Him in the First Place, Violated
 Shipping Laws-New Workers That Went Aboard After the Boy Were Heavily Armed
 New York, Aug 27.-The American boy who tried to escape from the French bark Marechal de Gentaut yes terday alleging that he had been shanghaied was taken from the vessel early this morning by Collector of the Port Stranahan who had gone out to sea on the revenue cutter Gresham to rescue the boy. The rescue was made after an all night search at sea, about four miles east of the Sandy Hook lightship. The boy is named Hugh Thompson, is 16 years old and is the son of a sailor who ships on coast wise vessel which plies between Ban gor, Me, and points south.
 After he had been taken in charge by the revenue officers, young Thomp- son said he had not been fOrcibly talk en to the boat, but had gone with the consent of his father. He said, how ever that he thought he was to ship on a coaster. and when he found that the Marechal de Gentaut was bound for Yokohoma and that he would be ab sent for many months he wanted to return to his home. The government officials declare that Captain Denmerre of the Frenchman made a statement that he had paid $36 to a boarding house runner for the service of the boy. The vessel was detained and will not be allowed to sail until Colonel Hamilton. Collector Stranahan's legal adviser, decides whether or not Gap tain Denniere has violated the law sufficiently to warrant his being plac- ed under arrest. On his return to this city Collector Stranahan said the boy had voiuntari ly appeared before the French consul and declared himself ready to go to sea, but did not sign the ships articles and therefore could be taken from the vessel
 | # After being taken from the bark he was brought to this city and was lock- ed up on the revenue tug Mackinac. It was after 8 o'clock last night that Collecor Stranahan decided to go out after the French bark He came to this conclusion after the pilot who had been aboard the Gentaut returned and reported that boy on that vessel was locked in a closet and kept screaming for help, saying he had been Kidnapped. The collector put to sea on the Gres- ham immediately
 The Gresham came. upon the Gen. tat1t after midnight. Lieutenant T9otzschafaer of the Gresham and two Of the crew put of in d small boat and went alongside the French vessel. Yrr&M frS yr1xx to let down ladder.
 They didn't appear to understand fne,. said Lieutenant Hetzschamer in speaking of the incident afterwards, ssso sprang up tho chain plates and got on the deck. Two men stood there talking but I could not understand them. One of them waved his arms about and ran toward me, but pushed him to one side and ran down into the hold. I passed through the galley and into the forecastIe. There were about sixteen hunks there and up forward I saw the boy. He was sleeping. I woke him up and asked him if he had been kidnapped. He would not say much at first so I took him up on deck. There was no resistance by the crew. I then had a ladder lowered and the rest of the party came aboard
 Before the lieutenant boarded the Frenchman he placed a navy revolver in his hip pocket. The other officers were also armed. Collector Stranahan was in his official uniform and sent at once for Captain Denniere He de- n1ant1ed that the captain show him the ships articles. The collector said the name of the boy did not appear on them and this he declared was q viola ton of the shipping laws. On the ad- wee of Colonel Hamilton, he claimed the boy.
 Lieutenant Hotzschamer says that during the talk with Captain Denniere the latter declared that he had pafd $3e to boarding house runner for the boy. Collector Stranal1an declared that also to be violation of the law and the collector then ordered that the vessel be detained. Thompson was taken to the cutter Mackinac and locked up. [XpREgS TpAIN RI0WN I'D l