The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1916-04-07
SingIe-Handed He Bound and
Gagged The Captain
TERRIFIED BOAT CREW
Fellow Claimed That He Was
German Spy; Locked UP
In Jail
. ASSOCIATED Press Dispatch:1
49,. Sstd,,Js EAIyv

est Schiller, the young German who,
single handed, captured tho British
steamer Matoppe and terrified fifty
six men, declared today that he was
German spy He claimed to have
had instructions from the government
to blow up the ship and thus prevent
the supplies on board from reaching
Russia. He said the captains plea
for his wife and daughter saved the
ship Schiller has been told his Of
tense occurred outside the three
mile limit and that probably he will
for trial on the charge of piracy.
/ Bluffed the Captain.
| Lewes, Del, March 31.-"Hands up
and not sound, if you value your
life!" Captain Bergner master of the
Matoppe, British steamer, jumped as
the words were uttered by a roughly
dressed, heavy-set young man, armed
with two large navy revolvers, just
outside the three mile limit. The pi-
rate man was Ernest Schiller, Ger
man stowaway.
Captain Bergner put up his hands
land was bound hand and foot and
gagged by the young man.
b Schiller who fiourished his weapon
carried the captain to his cabin and
locked him in, threatening to kill him
If he endeavored to call for help.
Walking to the wireless cabin, the
stowaway put all the instruments out
of commission and threw the ships
guns, consisting of six rifles, into the
sea.
/ 81 want the ships papers, and the
British money, $4,000, you are carry
ing" announced Schiller, returning to
the cabin.
! Bergner made no replyy-he was
gagged too firmly-so Schiller made
Ia search and, not finding any money
| in the safe, destroyed all the papers.
Sauntering from the cabin, still car
irying two revolvers, the man held UP
the officers of the ship and then
rounded up the crew of fifty-six men.
Line up there!" he shouted as one
of the men protested 1--WE planted
first sign of resistance / will explode
| them and blow all of us to pieces
with the vessel"
Schiller later was taken in charge
by the coast guard, who made short
i work Of disarming him. He was
! locked up in jail
Story Told BY Schiller.
IUrpteG Press Disnetch
| Lewes, Del, March 31.-"My four
J pals backed out and I did the job
alone" said Ernest Schiller, the young
German who held up the captain and
crew of the British steamer Matoppo,
rified the vessel of the few valuables
that he could find and compelled the
crew to bring the vessel back to
America The vessel sailed Wednes-
day from New York and was bound
for Vladivostok. Schiller, was cap
tured by coast guard power boat,
which had steamed out in answer to
wireless calls from the Matoppo for
help. When captured, Schiller was in
another boat, which had been lowered
for him at the point of his gun. He
threatened those who captured him,
but he could not scare them. They
took him and now he is here in Jail.
| If Pals Had Not Backed Out.
! "If my four pals had not backed
| out, we would have controlled that
crew so that we could have run right
out into the high seas and it would
many said Schiller.
Schiller was urged to reveal the
names of the four men who had con-
! spired to stow away with him and
| take possession of the ship, but he
would not He declared that no
power on earth could make him re-
veal their names, or where they
I were
| Schiller is being held in Jail here,
pending the arrival of the federal dis
trict attorney. 1t is probable that he
| will be turned over to the British au-
4 thorities, as his hold-up occurred
outside of the three miles limit.
| Schiller was disappointed in not
being able to find the 1000 pounds
The thought was on the vessel. He
secured about thirty pounds, or $50.
| From Fridays Dany.
| Castle Hall was the scene of a
| delightful entertainment last even
ing, the affair being attended by over
two hundred Knights of Pythias,
Pythian Sisters, and their friends. At
$50 delicious supper was served
by the Sisters, and the excellence OF
| the menu was remarked by all. The
tables were prettily decorated with
bouquets of cut flowers, roses, carna-
lions and foliage. and music was
furnished by the. Sandon orchestra
during the meal. The meeting then
adjourned to the large hall, where
the program of the evening was
given. Chancellor Commander D.
M. Jones presided, and announced
the program numbers and introduced
the speakers. Seated with Mr.. Jones
upon the platform were Past Chan
cellors J, B. Richards, George w.
| Sugden, John R. Bowen, and Elmer
Glynn. Mr.. Jones delivered an apt
address of welcome to the guests.
stating that it gave him great pleas
ure to see SO many present. The
! first number on the program was a
vocal duet by Messrs. D. NJ. Jones
and Sidney Davies, the gentlemen
singing the prize winning song which
/ they sung so successfully at Des
! Moines, Ia. AS an encore number
j they sang "Call to Arms. !" Miss
Eleanor Quinby gave vocal soprano
! solo, and was recalled twice. Mrs.
Mimic Hubbard played violin solo,
and in response to the demand for