Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-04-06
Ernest Schiller Demands at Point
of Revolver That British
Steamer MatOppo Change
Course to Suit Him.
RIFLES The SHIPS SAFE
Highwayman of the Seas a Stow
away Who Embarks at New
YOrk-Is Arrested near Della
ware Breakwater by Coast
Guard Patrol Boat Crew.

Lewes. Del, March 3o-ITow a lone
German stowaway held up the captain
ana 90 members Of the crew of the British
steamer Matoppo, compelling them at the
/ point OF "A revolver to change the course
| OF the vessel ana land him at the Della
ware HreakWater after ne had rifed the
shlps safe and taken their valuab!es.
was told here tonight by Captain
Bergner, master of the Matoppo. The
| StoWaWay who says his name Is Ernest
schiller and that he lived in IIobokcn,
n. d. for the past eight months, is now
I locked up In the Jail here awaiting the
arrival of the United States district at
torney from Wilmington, Del, and the
| British consul-general from Philadelphia.
The hold-up took place outside the
three-milc limit and federal authori-
ties here say that this government, UNI
der the circumstances, probably will
have nothing to do with the matter
Schiller. they say. will be returned to
the Matoppo and turned over to Brit
ish officials at st. Lucia. where the
vessel will stop for coal.
The Matoppo sailed from New York
yesterday for Nladivostok with
cargo consisting chiefly of harbcd wire
Sandy Hook at 600 u. IN. Two hours
later upon entering his cabin. Captain
Bergner says he was confronted by a
young man with a revolver in each
hand
The captain was then bound hand and
foot and locked in his cabin, promising,
under penalty OF death, not to raise an
alarm
The stowaway, who is &c years old, then
put the wireless Instruments out of com
mission and threw the ships six rifles
overheard. He then returned to the cap
tain's cabin, rifed the safe and destroyed
many important papers. He had expect
ed, he told Captain Bergner, to find at
least 900 pounds sterling in English
money aboard the Matoppo. but there was
not penny in the safe. Later, however,
Schiller compelled the captain and the
first officer to hand over their pocket
books containing about 80 pounds sterling
With Captain Bergnef still prisoner
in his own cabin. Schiller proceeded to
round up the crew of Sc men, all but a
few of whom We're in their hunks He
lined all hands UP in one end of the
ship and threatened that if any one
made move he would blow everybody
to pieces with bombs he said he had
placed in different parts of the vessel.
At four o'clock this morning Schiller
released Captain Bergner, and. still
gripping a revolver in each hand, or
dered the steamer headed towards the
shore. Other officers and members of
the crew We're likewise ordered to their
places and told to put on all speed for
the Delaware 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 boat Phil |
adelphia, which Immediately RESPONDED
to the call and took the small boat in |
tow, dsregardng the threats of Schiller. !
who threatened to shoot anybody who |
laid a hand on him.
Steaming for the Delaware breakwater |
the Philadelphia was met off Cape Hem
Iopen, Del. by a coast guard power
boat which had put out from Lewes in |
answer to the Matoppo's signals. Cap
tain John s. Lynch in command of the |
power boat quickly dearmcd Schiller /
who was placed in irons and brought
ashore. Later he was locked up in the
Jail here.
First reports to-day were that the
Matoppo carried Il cargo Of munitions
for the entente allies and that Schn-
Ter was in the employ of the German
government. These, however are dis
'redited by Captain Bergner rs we'll as
government officials here Bergner de-
Med emphaticaIly that his ship has on
BOARD any munitions, stating that his
'argo Is n general one and his statement
s borne out by the New York agents
If the vessel. He said he believes Schil-
er's sole object was to obtain the large
amount Of money which he thought was
n the ships safe, Government officials
the opinion that the mans
mind is unbalanced.
partial investigation failed to re-
zeal any of the bombs Schiller claimed
o have concealed about the boat. and
'aptain Bergner now believes these
made merely to intimi-