The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-04-10
Stars and Stripes Now Float
From Austrian Vessel
Third Seizure Here
CREW PLACED
ON DETENTION
Vessel 1885 Tons; Length
All Feet; Beam 81;
Depth 26

Acting under authority from
Washington, local government Off
Gals, with squad of marines, Mon
day afternoon at o'clock, formally
seized the Austrian steamship Lucia,
and five minutes later the big vessel
was flying the Stars and Stripes.
This is the third vessel seized here
since war was declared.
Crew Detained.
Captain Ivancich and eight mem
bers of the crew are being detained at
the San, Carlos hotel, under charge of
the immigration department. It is
understood they will be thus kept I'M
der surveillance until disposition by
the government is decided on, and
which will affect the crews of every
foreign vessel seized.
With Fixed Bayonets.
The action of the federal officers
took the men on board by surprise.
Captain Ivancich had been in the city
during the forenoon, and was on deck
when the Penrose, with Collector of
Customs Weeks standing on deck, slid
up to the big steamer Very frequently
the vessel has been visited by Gus
toms officers, and it was nothing out
of the ordinary for the governments
cutter to come alongside. The COM
panionway was already lowered, and
the collector, with one of his men.
clambered aboard, followed by a score
of marines with fixed bayonets. Col
lector of Customs Weeks then an
nounced to the captain that the
steamer was in the custody of the
United States marshal.
Marshal Steps Forward.
Marshal Jas. B. Perkins then
stepped forward and announced that
he was in possession, and to consider
themselves in custody of the United
States.
No Resistance.
There was no resistance. The
skipper simply asked to pack up
few articles of clothing and belong
ings which he desired to take with
him. The entire crew was brought
ashore on the cutter Penrose, and last
night were at the San Carlos hotel,
where men and women from the two
German steamers seized few days
ago, are being detained.
Boat Here Years.
The Lucia is one of the three yes
sells which have been in Pensacola
harbor for nearly three years, Or
since the beginning of the European
war. Loaded with several thousand
tons of Florida phosphate, the Lucia
came here from Tampa, and upon the
day the war broke out, steamed up TO
berth on the west side of Comman-
dancia wharf, to load a large consign-
ment of leaf tobacco. The ship was
rugged up to work, and the following
days news announced that vessels
flying the German and the Austrian
flags were liable to seizure. That
caused work to halt, and then it was
decided not to take cargo, awaiting
developments That was three years
ago. Some months ago the cargo of
phosphate which the Lucia brought
here was sold, and the steamer hauled
up to the dock and discharged the
same to cars for interior shipment.
A few weeks ago it was discovered
that her machinery had been tamper.
ed with. In fact, it was reported
that considerable injury had been
done by her officers in the engine
room, and this resulted in the United
| States taking action in the matter
The proceedings, however, were
brought to an end after captain and
crew had been held in custody for a
short time.
! Nearly 5000 Tens.
The Lucia is one of the largest oil
/ freighters operated during peaceful
! times to the Gulf of Mexico. Displac
ing 1885 tons, she is All feet ii
LENGTH, 81 feet wide and has a deptl
| of &c feet. She was constructed a
Trieste for the Unione Austriania d
Navigatione Company in 1912, ans
was under charter to the Austro
Americana Company. Captain Cosu
Itch, who was formerly general man
ager of the Gulf Transit Company a
this point was interested in this com
r"ny, which operated scores OF ship
during peace times in all parts O
The world, and particularly to gul
coast ports.