Evening journal., 1916-04-07
BERGNER DENIES
TOAST TO KAISER
English Captain Held Up by
Pirate, Says Schiller Ex-
aggerated Story
SAYS MATOPPO'S CREW
WAS NOT ARMED

While branding as a falsehood the
statements of Ernest Schiller. the lone
German pirate. who held up the Brit
ish freighter Matoppo, that he had
been forced to drink a toast to Kaiser
Wilhelm, Captain Bergner of the Brit
ish vessel today told of his experience
on board the vessel while il was in
charge OF the pirate. Captain Bergner
and Mate Maclurcan and other mem-
bers Of the vessel who are to figure
in the case as witnesses. left here this
afternoon for New York. They are to
return on April Il. when the federal
grand jury ompaneled yesterday, will
report
Captain Bergner. who was thought
by many TO be a German owing TO
his name. said today that he proposed
10 change his name as soon as posi-
Bile.
There was German blood in my
fathers family hundreds Of years ago,
but was born in London, where /
have made my home. My mothers
maiden name was Moore, and when
the war is over ] expect to have my
name changed to Moore There is
no German i'm that name. is thereY'
In speaking of his life, Captain
Bergner SAID he had followed the seas
for the past twenty-siX years. but
the experience he had on board the
Matoppo last Thursday was the most
thrilling Of all his career. While on
the subject Of Schillers invasion OF
his cabin on Wednesday evening of
last week, Captain Bergner said that
when the pirate entered his cabin he
acted as sane man, and while IN
command OF the vessel his every move
was methOdical.
At this point Captain Bergner was
asked why de did not cause the cook, ;
Chinese boy. to drug the coffee passed
20 the pirate and he replied:
"On Thursday morning when the
Chinese cook brought the coffee a
breakfast. he placed one cup before
my plate and the other before Schil
Ter The pirate then took my cup an'
gave me his. saying Captain, We vii
exchange these. If you please Il wa
any chances Of being drugged."
The question was then asked Cap
tain Bergner why he did not causl
some of the crew to attack Schiller
He replied that it was difficult for al
unarmed man TO attack a man VIII
carried two revolvers.
Schiller. according 10 the captain, wa
interested in portraits of Mrs. Berene
and her l5-year daughter which htm
ON the wall Of the Matoppo cabin. hr
according to Captain Bergner. he did ne
plead for his life. using the picture {
his daughter in his plea. Schiller. ]
said merely asked him it he was MAJ
ried. When asked why the crew did %,
rush Schiller after he took command &
the boat. the captain said that it wa
thought bv them that it would not
long before Schiller would fall aslee
from exhaustion. and the crew wa
ready 10 seize him. At ihis point Mat
Naciurcan said: "When he was awab
he always had the two revolvers ievele
al your stomach
Both Captain Bergner and Mat
Maclurcan are of the opinion tina
Schiller stole aboard the Matoppo a
il Law at its pier i'm Hoboken, abou
two hours before sailing. This woul
have been possible. they claim. be
cause they knew the pier watchme
were not careful on other evening
when they had boarded the vesse
themselves after dark. During tn
interview with the two officers Car
tain Bergner said he understoo
Schiller had made some statements
New York which were considered va
nable by government agents. TIL
information. he said. had not been d
vulged as yet.
Mate Maclurcan would talk but III
tie about the case. saying he was M
der orders not TO discuss the subiec
He said he was a native Of Belfas
ireland. where he has wife.