Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-09-30

IF NOT exactly parallel, the case In the
l. Common Pleas Court of Cleveland, Ohio,
the central figure in which is a munitions
worker Of the name of Cepielowski,
hardly fail to bring to the mind of the stu
dent of American history an incident Of inter-
national celebrity dating back more than
sixty years. The extradition of this humble
artisan is demanded by the Austro- Hunga-
rian Government, on the ground that he made
"treasonable" remarks about the Fatherland.
Associated heroicaly with the "Koszta nf-
fair" the name of Captain Duncan Natha-
MEL Ingraham, u S. NJ, shines with a lustre
still undlmmed. That intrepid officer, whose
conception of the dignity of his Government
led him successfully to defy a whole fleet of
Austrian warships in the harbor of Smyrna,
Turkey in 1853, trained the guns Of the sloop
of war ST. Louis the Austrian brig
Huszar, though the latter was supported by
half dozen ships. and won his point against
spirit which now seems recrudescent in
Vienna.
Koszta Seized By Austrians
Martin Koszta, a Hungarian by birth
and compatriot Of Kossuth, had taken part
in the revolution of 184S-49 which had for
its object the detachment of Hungary from
the dominions of the Emperor Of Austria
and emgrated to the United States shortly
1852, he made declaration of his nten-
ton to become an American citizen at the
same time, of course, renouncing allegi-
ance to any foreign Power. The following
year private business took him to Turkey,
where he placed himself under the protection
of American diplomatic Representatives T.
was while he was under this fancied security
that plot was concocted by some Austrian
officers in Smyrna, inspired by their Govern
ment, to effect his capture and return him to
Vienna to stand trial for treason" the same
charge that is now made against Ciepielowsh
at Cleveland He was seized on the streets by
a band of mercenaries employed by the con-
spirators and carried aboard the Huszar, a
warship lying in Smyrna harbor. Despite
his protests he was confined in irons and
subjected to great indignitles. 1t was on the
day following the seizure of Koszta that the
sloop -of-war st. Louis, flying the Stars
and Stripes, sailed into Smyrna harbor
Captain Ingraham, its commander, apprised
Of Koszta's plight, sent to the captain of the
Huszar a courteous request for permission to
see the prisoner. To this request assent was
granted and Captain Ingraham, after a con-
versation with Koszta, assured the latter he
was entitled to the protection of the American
| flag. Prompt demand for the prisoners re-
lease was made by the commander Of the
ST. Louis. which demand was contemptu-
ously refused. Thereupon Ingraham com.
municated the facts to the nearest United
States diplomatic officer, who happened 70 be
Consul Brown. stationed at constantinopIe
Meanwhile. six additional Austrian warships
had come into harbor and anchored close 10
the Huszar. While Captain Ingraham was
waiting for a reply 70 his message TO Consul
Brown he noticed the Huszar with Koszta
on board, getting ready to leave Shortly
afterward the Austrian was under way.
"Clear for Actionl"
II didn't take a man OF Ingraham's calibre
long to make up his mind about a matter
which TO his way Of thinking involved the,
dignity Of the American flag. He put the
st. Louis in the Huszar's course, ana a
shot from the sloop's guns went flying across
the bows OF the Austrian brig -of-war Tho
Huszar hove to at this emphatic summons.
and in reply TO Captain Ingraham's question
as TO the meaning OF the warship's summary
departure was Informed that the Austrian
Consul had directed the Huszar to sail for
home with the prisoner Koszta.
The captain, of the ST. Louis yigoronalv
protested, telling the Huszars commander.
what he already knew. that the matter of
Koszta's standing had been referred 70 the
American Consul at constantinople The
Austrian. giancing at the fleet supporting
him. replied that he would do as he pleased
Clear the guns for action." was Captain
Ingraham's rejolnder TO the Austrian
The sight OF the guns OF the gallant Amer
lean slooD turned broadside on the runaway
Huszar, and the knowledge he had gained Of
Captain insrahama determined though cour-