Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-03-31
Rifles Ships Safe, Takes
All Vdluablcs and CON-
pels Change in
Vessels Course.

LtWES DEL. March 30 How !. lone
German stowaway held up III. cup
tain and hfty-six members OF the crow
of the British steamer Matoppo, com
p"i!!ng them At the point OF a revolver
to change the course OF the vessel,
and land him at the Delaware Hrealt-
water after ne had rfied the ships
safe and taken their valuables, was
told to- night by Captain Hergner. mas
ter of the Matoppo. The stowaway,
who says mia name Is Ernest Schiller.
J.. for the past eight months is now
locked up In ,he sail here awaiting
tho arrival OF the United States district
a,torney from Wilmington, Del. and
the british consui-seneral from rhila-
Lclphia
The hoidup took place outside the
!itroc mile limit. ana Federal officials
here say this government probably VIII
nave nothing 10 do with the matter.
Schiller, they say, vii! be returned to
the Maioppo and wili be turned over
10 British officials al 81. Lucia. where
The vessel will stop for coal
The Matoppo sailed from New York
Yesterday for Nladivostok with cargo
consisting chiefly of barbed wire and
farming implements. She passed out
sandy Hook al 6 O'Clock ~ the after
noon. and TWO hours later. upon enter
ing his cabin, captain Bcrgner says he
was confronted by the young man with
a liza La i. ilr,
and not a sound i: you value your life"
was the command The captain was
then bound hand and foot and locked
ia his cabin. promising under penalty
OF deaIh. no, TO raise an alarm.
PUTS WIRELESS INSTRUMENT
OUT OF COMMISSION
Cautiously making his way To the
wireless cabin. the stowaway VINO i
about twcnty-siX years old. put the
instruments out Of commission and
threw the ships guns, consisting OF six
rifles overheard. He then returned ,o
The captains cabin riied the safe and
destroyed many important papers He
had expected, nc told Captain Bergner
to iind at least $1,000 in English money
aboard. but there was not q penny In
tire safe. Later, however, Schiller COM
PEELED The captain and the first officer
to hand over their pocketooot>s con
tanning total OF about $50
With Captain Serencr still a pris-
oner in his own cabin. Schiller pro-
cc"dcd TO round up the crew OF nfty-
six men. all but fcw Of whom were
il their bunks. He locked all the others
up in one bunk and threatened 10 blow
everybody To pieces with bombs he said
he had placed in different parts OF the
vessel II any one made Il move
NJ o'clock this morning Schiller re-
leased Captain Bergncr, and still grin
ping revolver in each hand. ordered
the stenmcr headed towards shore.
Other officers and members OF the
orew were ordered to their places and
told 20 put on all speed for the Della
ware capes When the Matoppo came
within sight OF land about noon.
Schiller ordered a small boat lowered
TO take him ashore. Meanwhile. the
steamers signals asking for assistance
had been sighted by the pilot boa;
Philadelphia. which took tit. small
boat in tow. disregartling the threats
OF Schiller to shoot anybody who laid
hand on him.
PLACES SCHILLER N IRONS
AND nRINGS HIM ASHORE
off Cape Henlopcn, Del, Coast
Guard cutter powcr-boat which had nut
ont from Lcwes in answer to tho
Matoppo's signals met the Philadelphia
Captain John $. Lynch. Coast Guard
keeper at this station, in command OF
the power-6oat, placed Schiller I'm
irons and brought him ashore. Later
ho was locked up in the jail here and
the United States district Attorney mt
Wilmington and th3 British consul
general at Philadelphia notified
Both are expected Eerc Tomorrow
First reports to-day were to the
effect that the Matoppo carried cargo
OF munitions for the entente allies.