The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-10-21

Cambridge, Mass. October 20.-(Special)
One would think that in these unitarian
lays, when the searchlight cuts into
snreds the curtains of night, when the
wireless aerogram makes secrecy of move
ment well-nigh impossible, and when the
last mails and ocean greyhounds annihi-
late distance on land and sea- the spirit
of romance must have vanished forever
from the pales of civilization. And there
are many who have maintained that such
is the case But all such ideas have been
put to rout recently by the events in
which the schooner yacht Frolic, her bold
skipper. Captain Colby, 42 contraband Chi
nese and the government inspectors play
ed the most prominent roles And to think
that 1t all should have happened right
around the most thickly settled part of
the country and ON one of the busiest
paths of navigation In the entire world!
This little drama, which for the past
three weeks has been absorbing the at
tention of all New England, in spite Of
the numerous political conventions and
other affairs lacks none of the essentials
of a real sea romance. At the bottom OF
the plot, of course, lay the treasure troNe
not indeed, a Spanish gallon laden with
pieces of eight and priceless jewels, nor
yet a mysterious island which held in its
breast the boarded pllage of bold buc--
Then there was the adventurous spirit
who, probably finding money making in
legitimate business too slow for his rest
less energy, planned the enterprise. A
real storm figured among the events. and
came near bringing disaster at an early
stage of 1.-THE game; and there was the
traitor who gave a clue TO the enemy
the United States goyernment-and
brought out a feet of revenue cutters
that chased the phantom B'rolic for three
weeks, yet never found her. But the facts
themselves will bring out all these details
in their proper places.
From Investigations that have been
made since the chase of the Frolic began,
1t seems that for some time past there
has been conducted from Boston as a GEN.
ter, a considerable smuggling business,
the contraband articles being in the form
of natives of the Celestial Empire. The
importation of these sons of the east be-
ing a rather dangerous business, naturally
brought to those who were bold enough
to attempt 1t no small reward, the price
being at least 500 per head There was
more or less talk of this down in China
town, and it happened that some of the
stories of rich haryests fell on the ears
of John b. Lehnemann, young man of
Boston, who a frequent visitor in
that district. If others were doing such
things why shouldn't he charter schoon-
err make a trip to the down. east prov
inces of Canada, take on his cargo Of
Orientals, unload them in some out of the
way harbor, and return home TO enjoy lie
for a while?
The scheme seemed good, and accord
ingly, he went to some of the marine bro
kers who have in charge the chartering
Of coastwise vessels, to make his arrange
ments; but he was not familiar with
the coast, he could not secure craft
from any of them When hope was about
gone. 1t seems that he must have fallen
in with Captain Herbert +. Colby, owner
and skipper of the Froic. for he had been
unable to secure her from any OF the
brokers who had her on their lists. The
captain though Known as bold and dar-
ing sailor, had never been thought OF as
smuggler for his employment had large
ly been the handling of "chowder parties
and similar groups of pleasure seekers.
But when the bold plan of stealthily
bringing into this country cargo or chi
nese and lining his pockets with crisp
bills was preached TO him, the spirit OF
adventure which lies in the breast OF ev-
cry seafaring man must have arisen and
taken possession of him. for he soon set
sail on his daring voyage.
At midnight Of August 20, after hay-