The Sun

A BLOCKADE OF NEW YORK.

THE FRANCO PRUSSIAN WAR TRANSFERRED TO AMERICAN WATERS.

French War Steamers off Sandy Hook

A Blockade of the Bremen Steamer Back to Port—Excitement among the Germans—Protest at the German Consul.

At an early hour on Saturday morning the Hermann, of the North German Lloyd line, left her dock at Hoboken, freighted with a wealth of cotton, tobacco, and grain, together with a large quantity of hospital supplies intended for the French army. She had been loading since the latter July, but, owing to a little unpleasantness existing between Prussia and France at the time, her departure was delayed.

Just outside of Sandy Hook, Capt. Richmann descried two suspicious-looking steamers, which, after close study, he declared to be FRENCH WAR VESSELS, intent on the capture of the Hermann. He at once called a council of his officers, and after a very short consultation it was decided to run the steamer back into port, and abide the issue of events. The Hermann thereupon wore about, and on reaching the lower Quarantine came to anchor. Her forty passengers were shipped to New York, each having been furnished with an order on the Company for the amount of his passage money.

Great excitement prevailed among the Germans when the news of the blockade was received. Groups of excited and INDIGNANT TEUTONS were to be seen and heard everywhere discussing the affair, vowing vengeance and threatening to use their power at the next election against the Administration if something were not at once done to right the wrong done to the cause of the Fatherland in American waters. The office of Consul Th. of the North German Confederation soon presented a busy scene. Crowds of the more respectable and intelligent German merchants and others called upon the Consul and insisted that he at once communicate with Washington; and without much loss of time a despatch was sent to Secretary Fish, and another to Baron Gerolt, the Prussian Minister, giving an account of the blockade and protesting against the action of the commander of the French fleet. Baron Gerolt has not yet replied, doubtless because there is no member of the administration in Washington with whom he can communicate; and Secretary Fish not being at his post, and there being nobody to represent him except Assistant Secretary Richardson, of the Treasury Department, who is also acting Secretary of the Navy, no answer has been received from the State Department.

THE HERMANN lay all day at anchor yesterday opposite Staten Island, about midway between the first and second landing, and about a quarter of a mile from the shore. She is a noble vessel, and sat in the water as steadily as if she were a rock. She was an object of the greatest interest to the thousands of passengers on the Staten Island ferry boats. These were crowded to excess with excursionists, the day being fine, and all of them gazed with admiration on the splendid ship, and discussed the circumstances of her abortive attempt to put to sea, nearly all giving her officers the highest credit for courage and daring in venturing upon so bold an enterprise. It is the general belief of all that the French are lying about in the adjacent waters in far more strength than at first sight appears.

ON BOARD THE HERMANN.

A small boat, sturdily manned, conveyed a reporter from the first landing to the ship in about eight minutes. The skies were clear and the Hermann seemed a great black mass on the water—a leviathan in the midst of the surrounding craft—the darkness being relieved only by the numerous lights that flickered upon deck. On nearing the ship sufficiently the figures of persons on board could be distinctly seen. The approach of the little boat to the side of the huge vessel was quickly recognized, and stentorian voices in good plain English, "What is wanted?" A reporter, the captain aboard? The answer was in the negative. "Can I see some of the officers of the ship?" was the question addressed from the little boat again. Certain courteous nods, and one or two other men came forward, gave a look out and began to talk to one another in German. The ladder was quickly lowered, and the reporter soon found himself on deck, where he was most cordially received. He was informed that the captain was not then on the ship, having gone ashore during the day and not yet returned. No one could say whither he had gone or when he would be back. But the first mate was on board, and in the absence of the Captain, application was made to him. Mr. Duisburg was seated with his brother officer at dinner, and extended a courteous invitation to the reporter to join them without ceremony. Being asked as to the course which the authorities of the vessel intended to pursue, he could give no information. "We obey orders," said he, and knew nothing more than what we are ordered. It was not, he said, the fear of the gunboats which deterred them from pursuing their way, so much as a well-grounded apprehension that several more were in store for them. He and his brother officers believed that the strength of the French outside the harbor was not confined to one gunboat, though they actually sighted only one, the corvette Latouche they think was called. It is the same which had been lying off the Battery the day before, and which had now steamed down before them, as if with the intent of falling upon them at fair opportunity. This French vessel would seem somehow to have got a hint of the intended movement of the Hermann. The first officer, whose name is Duisburg, reported that he had no idea of what was intended to be done next. He only supposed they would remain till it would be considered safe to go. The vessel might shift its position to Hoboken to-day, but he could not tell for certain. "How many passengers have you got on board?" he was asked. "There are 25 passengers," he replied; "20 steerage and 5 cabin passengers." "And what will they do if the vessel does not go?" "They will go by the first English steamer, and of course will be refunded their money." Seeing that those on board were barren of information, the reporter did not prolong his visit, and Mr. Duisburg having politely offered the reporter the hospitalities of the table the latter departed.

Two German steamers now detained at their docks in Jersey City are the Harmonia and Westphalia of the Hamburg line, and the Frankfurt, Weser, and America of the Bremen. They have their full complement of men and officers, and for the past two weeks have been ready and expecting orders to resume their regular trips. The detention of the German of the Bremen line by the French vessels, when everything was correctly safe and clear, has caused much chagrin. The officers of the Frankfurt, who were questioned yesterday by a Sun reporter, were unwilling to say anything concerning the steamer, except that all her officers and crew are aboard. We have, they said, been in port long enough, and are under great expense. We wish to sail—we are tired waiting here. They profess ignorance of what their agents intend doing, but that they have already given too much information perhaps.

When the Sun reporter was leaving the vessel, a who had overheard the conversation accosted the reporter on the dock, and said: "Were the officers willing to try their courage as the crew we would, though not man-of-war's men, show you A GOOD FIGHT. like to sail, to be in Paris when our DeeLshi. Officers of the Hamburg line are confident that the Westphalia will sail on the day ordered. They think if some of their men were r ii ren would now beat sea, and the Cibch ibeir wake Alhong the re id nt. of Hoboken there was not pnuch excitenet y.sierda,. us they were content to await deveiopnen In Mr. Buseh's L ou" reporter found that gen rman scated in a cpac'cus ara. chair, surrounded by a knot of Leai, alteutiveiy liatening to his earks concer ing lie now engrossing topie. the hermaan. Capt. Buscu has lost flesh recently and a v vcigls onty 37s pounds. Capt Busch—My friends. I kno v tiat the crew. ofcr. and all are aboad. The Hernar n's cutter is w tehing the Frenchman Of course she WON'T COME BACK, Rout wi sad; sbe bas taken aboard a pilot and his ingrage as be intends to sall across with her. Our co n'r) has got one of our men-of war outside. w.'ci ng to see that no depredations are committed wittin three naripe leagues. (e of the listeners—Yee, captain; but look at W) txoe Lse. She had better put back, and wait for Dnr of our vessels to come on. (,! Hu-ch—Why, my dear friend, the prayers of Wh ritcods avaii much. There win soou be a tfo ni der cover of that t.e Hermann will get tui. The French Blockade of New York. d feLoLd iet of Tne Dun. trimokt, Sept. 24, 1870.—The question here Lornug i, "Does the Government intend to French steamcrs to blockade American ports aftoiInan sessela y" ews of theflleimann's return this morning to aatsstine grcunds, after lavingstarted at 6 o'clock a ss t Atlaotic, has been reccived, and also he orh tien as to the cause thereof. The fact that M agent of the North German Lloyd in this city I d atuounced the contemplated renewal of trips d Lots Iot gves great interest to the situation I stpras hat the French corvette Latouche, after baeg tt the harbor of New York, returned agaln o the 21 lost, and yesterday the 23d inst., ber pilut gave oat that she would again leave New York th alternush Had this been the fact, there was angle t ue tor the llermann to have put out to sen, and it cenfid ntiy beleved tost on account of the supenor peed of the German steamers. they would incur little risk of being overtaken by the French tnteamere. Actiog on this theora, the Hermapn left ter wharl at C eclock this mornlng. ber offieore eap- poeing the coaet wa" ciear. Whst was their cur- tri-e ttea to Lnd the Fropebnian lying Sn walt for then off sandy Hook, thereuy comnpelling their re- turn for safety. The conduet of the Frenehnian is diacrseed bsre as probably involving a guestion of internatiosd law, . being beld that no belligerent pian-of-war to time of var has the right to enter harbors and ro turn searching for vesseis of the cnemy, aud thes lie in wait for them.