The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-03-10
BRITISH CAPT. URE U. s. VESSEL ON
 TRIP TO BREMEN
"Pass of Balnlaha'' Seized With Cargo of Cotton
 From Galveston
CHANGED REGISTRY IN STAMFORD RECENTLY
First Ship to Adopt Ameri- can Colors Under New
 Registration Law

.'The Pass of Balmaha,'' the first bark to be changed from European to American registration in Connecti- cut under the new registration act passed by Congress in the legislation for the establishment of a merchant marine, has been seized by British cruiser and taken to KirkWaII, Eng. Six thousand bales of cotton are on the bark. She was bound for Bren- en, Germany, from New York, ac- cording to B. B. Harriss, member of the cotton concern that chartered the bark.
 Nothing but a brief telegram to the cotton concern has been received to indicate the details of the ships seiz- ure, but according to Harriss, unless advices are soon received he will take the matter up with the state depart ment at Washington, for redress.
 The fate of the Balmaha was not E altogether unexpected as the Vim fcent, a. sister sailing ship, left port tat the same time as the Baamaha l>and adv1ces had been received that she had arrived at her destination It was thought that the BaInaha
 must have been held up as she was 1 ko pass north cf Scotland and 1t wsss expected 1pFs 5 her trip would be l delayed to this country.
 The sailing of the two vessels from l New York was unique. It was the | 1 old windjammers that once dotted ev- 1 cry port in the civilized world. flying i the American flag, had sailed to- gether from New York.
 l The pass of Ba1maha is a, Scotch built ship, 245 feet long and of 1.49s
 tons gross displacement. She had been under the British registry but November 29, in accordance with the registrations legislation approved bS Congress she changed over to the l American registry at Stamford, with l elaborate ceremonies that were wit. messed by Bridgeporters. It was the first ship to change, in the port o1 lBridgeport, which includes Connec- ticut and Rhode Island, from foreigI Ito American registry under the new
 laws.
 The change was made after Captalr
 Richard Lee had arrived in Stamford I with load Of haywood from Bueno' I Ayres. Lee had been studying United Estates naval requirements and he passed the examinations that allowed
 him to qualify for the skippership Q; the Pass of Balmaha as an lAmericaT ship.
 The Pass was built in 1888 and was first owned by Gibson & Clark of G7as gow, who sent her over the seven seas
 Tn 1908 she was engaged in the Rivel Platte trade by Canadian owners l Later she ran between North ana I g IShe is one of the largest ful1-rigget ships afloat and has draught of 21 ol
 22 feet when loaded Her crew is Il men and her sails are raised and low cred by gasoline power
 I The transfer was made before Col l lector of Port James L. McGovern Deputy Collector J. H. shannon, Gen eraI W. W. Skiddy, president of ths l Stamford Manufacturing Co., to whicf I The Pass was carrying g. cargo at tht fime J. HI Seoheld, Walter B. Scofield and Captain w. D. Anderson of Stam- I ford.
 International complications may arise as a result of the seizure.
 1s Soon after the vessel changed it 4 registry, Captain Lee resigned hi l command. He said he feared tha some i'll efrects would come to thu
 ship as a result of the war. H. | lad a premonitfon of trouble on tn I high seas, he said. Captain Lee de I cIared a fear of mines. z