Albuquerque morning journal., 1916-03-31
Ernest Schiller Holds Up Cap
tain and Sc Members Of
Crew Of Steamer Matoppor
on High Seas,
RIFLES SAFE AND
DESTROYS PAPERS
Coast Guard Commander
Makes Quick Work Of Dis
arming DeSperadoi VIII Be
Turned Over to English,
10y MORNING JOURNAL .p,o,., ,tAsso w,-.l

ICY MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED wistl
| l.ewes. Del March 30.-How one
/ German stowaway held UP the cap
tain and fifty-siX members Of the
crew Of the British steamer Matoppo,
compelling them at the point of a pis-
! tol to change the course Of the vessel
and land him at the Delaware break
water after he had riflcd the ship
safes and taken their valuables, was
told here tonight by Captain lierener
master of the Matoppo. The stow
away who says his name is Ernst
| Schiller and that he had lived in lio-
bcken, \ j. for the last eight months,
Is now locked up in the Jail mere
awaiting the arrival of the United
states district attorney from VIII
mington, Del, and the British consul
general from Philadelphia
viii BE Handed 10 British.
The hod-up took place outside the
thlee-mile limit and federal authori-
ties here say that this governments
under the circumstances, probably
will have nothing to do with the mat
ter. schiller they say. will be return
ed to the Matoppo and turned over
to British officials at St. Lucia, where
the vessel viii stop for coal.
The Matoppo sailed from New York
yesterday for Vladvostok with a
cargo consisting chiefly Of barbed
wire and farm implements. She pass
cd out Sandy Hook at 6 o'clock in the
evening aud two hours later upon
entering his cabin. Captain Befgnef ,
SAYS he was confronted by young
man with a revolver in each hand
Ioots ship of NaIuables.
Hands up and not a sound II you
value your life, was the command
that greeted him The captain was
then bound hand and foot and locked /
in his cabin, promising under pen
atty Of death, not to raise an alarm
Then cautiously making his way to
the wireless cabin, the stowaway. VINO
is about 26 years old put the instru-
ments out Of commission and threw
The ships guns. consisting OF SIX
rifles overheard. He then returned
,o the captain's cabin. rifled the saie
and destroyed many important pa
pers. He had expected. he told can
tain Bergner 20 find at least S2,OOe
in English money aboard the Motop-
po. bur in this his hopes were shatter-
ed There was not a penny In me
safe Later. however schiller com
PEELED the captain and the first Of
ficer to hand over their pockotbooks
containing total Of about $l30.
Threatened With Bombs.
with Captain Borguer still a plis-
oner In his own cabin. Schiller pro-
ceeded to round IN the crew Of fiity-
six men. all but a few of whom We're
in their hunks. He lined all hands
M in one end of the ship and threat
ened to blow everybody to pieces WIN
bombs ne said he had placed In dlf-
fercut parts Of the vessel, II any Que
made a move a.,u.n
AT o'clock this morning Schiller
released Captain Bersner and stlii
gripping revolver in each hand' or,
dered the steamer headed loWdru
shore Otncr Officers aud members
of the crew were likewise ordered to
their places and told to put on az
sneed for the Delaware capes When
the Nlatoppo came within sight OF
land about noon schiller ordered
small boat lowered to take him ashore
Meanwhile the steamers signals ask
INC for assistance had been slBhteu
bv the pilot boat Philadelphia whlch
inmodiatelv responded to the can ana
took the small boat in tow, disregard
ing the threats of schiller, VINO sun
was in possession of his guns ana
Threatened 10 shoot anybody VINO lald
d
a hand ON him.
Coast Guard ACs Promptly
Steaming for the Delaware break
water. the Philadelphia was met on
4 cape Henlopen, Del. by coast guard
power boat which had put out from
Z Lewes in answer to the Matoppo's
signals Captain John $. Lynch, coast
guard keeper at This station, VINO was
In command of the power boat maze
short work Of disarming Schilier' VINO
was placed in irons and prousht
ashore. Later he was locked up III
1.-THE iai here and the United states
district attorney at Wilmington ana
the British consul general at Phila~
delphia were notified Both are eX-
nertcd here tomorrow
, First reports today were to the el-
feet that the Matoppo carried a cargo
Of munitions for the entente alles
and that Schiller was in the employ
of the German government. These'
however. are discredited by captain
Bergner as we'll as government oiii'-
ials here I}ergner said he beiieNes
Schilers sole object was to ohtain q
large amount OF money which he
thought was aboard