The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-05-12
RUSSIAN AGENTS.
What They Are Doing and
Propose To Do.
IMPORTANT STATEMENTS.
Seventeen American Vessels Chartered
for Indefinite Periods.
CATAIN GRIpPENBERG'S VIEWS.
HOW Russia Will Crush Eng
lands Little Army"
BRITISH SPIES IN AMERICA.
CAyTAIN GRIPPENBERG'S VIEWS.
BRITISH SPIES IN AMERICA.


now stopping at tho Everett House has created con-
siderable excitement among the steamship and
brokers In this city. ana although in some Instances
they insist that tho Russians havo intentions Of
buying any vessels there has been very decided ad
vance In the market price OF all sca-gong steapers
mot arc In 6rst class order Up 10 the present tho
Russian officials have kept very quiet, and no offers
have boon openly mndc 10 purchase any vessels,
although they do not attempt to deny That thcy
might DO induced to make some purchases If they
wero met in reasonable manner. Tho tact is,
tho rumors that have been spread Of tho Russian
government having sent agents to buy limo OF
ssagoiug fast steamers has carried away the
Of nearly all the available vessels that is understood
they are prepared TO ask price equivalent TO more
than what tho vessels could built II the Rus
sian officers ind they cannot got any vessels at o
reasonable nguro they may possibly have some built.
- there are builders ready to furnish the vessels
they require In four months from the date OF the order
ENGLAND ALSO BUYING STEAMERS
One difficulty in tho way Of tho Russian officials Is
the competition that is raised by the English agents
that also said to be in the market. HERALD
porter was informed yesterday through a reliable
source that several steamers had been carefully in.
spccted by English agents and an offer had also been
submitted 10 their owners There is doubt that
tho English equally we'll represented In this
market as the Russians, but they appear also to
DO prevented from making any purchases by the
prices that arc bong asked by owners Ono gentle
man Ultimately connected with the English officials
said yesterday that thoy had cabled to pur-
chase TOUR steamers that had been offered them in
France, as they were far better than anything they
could get 10 this country Tor The same money.
SHOWING MR. KHoLrNsKEY OVER THE CITY.
The Russian officers did not transact any business
yesterday OF any Importance. and Lieutenant II. NJ.
khoihskey and Lieutenant N. Il. Rodionoff kept
pretty close TO the hotel I'LL day. The naval architect
w. tHn
o'clock with Mr. Nathaniel Mckay a kind OF excur-
SION through the city. MIR. Mckay took his Russian
friend TO the Treasury Building, Park Bank, Post
ONCE and other places Of note, and gave HIM
. really pleasant drive Whom they visltod the
Postmasie James and shown over the DEF He
was rather astonishcd at the view he obtained from
In the elevators. Afer Mr.. Mckay took lis guest
10 the Fall River limo, where they made inspection
sne steamer Bristol. the mag1ncencc OF the saloon
as that was class Of naval architecture IN which his
knowledge was limited.
xor PLEAsED WITH THE STEAMERS
They thon paid Wilt 10 about half dozen OF tho
bes, OF our coast line steamers, with Wow 10 form
Ing estimate as 20 how they could DO adapted tor
psval ecrvicc Tho Russian nnvnl archoct was, per-
haps, not Quito SO we'll pleased us he might have been,
doal Of work 10 be done before those vessels could pe
turned into cruisers In the nrst place they would
have to BIO shcathed in wood, that IS. tho iron
vessels, rs otherwise they would not DO capsule
Of standing a long cruise The wooden vessels
nearly all TOO ola for active service AZ Before re-
10 tho new armor that General Serrcl had only
Gently brought TO such state Of perfection.
The Russian officers remained In the hotel last
ing busy engaged at their dcncc and Cap.
tain l. r. Semctschine returned from Washington at
ten o'clock r. 81.
TEEN STEAMERS cHARTERED-cAPrAII HUNT
CENsURED FOR TALKING-HIHTs OF BRIBERY
IN Observation-Disclosures FLING AT OUR
STATE DEPARTMENT.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD
PHILADELPHIA, May IL, 1873.
Captain Semitschkin, Of the Russian Navy, ono or
the reputcd agents OF that In country
for the procurement OF In the event o war
between Russia and England arrived Ia Philadelphia
this morning his way from Washington. Ho ro
NAMED hero only for icw hours and then lett for
Now York, whittier the headquarters OF the Russian
Minister nave recently been transferred IRON Washing
Ing Captain Scmitschkin could not DO intercepted
by tho HERALD correspondent before his departure;
but tho writer succeeded finding Russian gentIe
imperial agents. from whom more information was
oJlained than tho rcticcnt' naval officer would have
impaired.
LOOKING PRIvArRERs.
When this gentleman was approached with tho
direct question to what the object Of the visit
70 TINS CITY he shook his head, and pointing to his
eyes, ears and mouth In turn, said, 1--WE have two
eyes soeing two ears for hearing. but only ono
mouth 10 speak with" II you see tho moral OF this
you viii understand Russian diplomacy. Persistent
but courteous pumping, howeycr on the part OF Tho
interviewer finally brought the admission that the
principal object OF scmitschxins visit to Philadelphia
was to decide upon tho availability OF tho American
limo OF Liverpool steamers for prvatcerng purposes
The denial that tbeso vessels could be bought by the
Russians, which was sent TO prcss agent
by the steamship company the Russian agent
pronounced untrue Russia docs not wish TO pur-
shase steamers" said tho agent "sho only wishes TO
what you call charter thorn. We could char
tered these American line steamers for own pur.
poses Il wo desired II, although l understand
cxorDtant price demanded, but Captain scmitsch-
kin examined The steamers and found them unsuita-
bic. IL 10 close THIS business that no Was In
philadelphia this morning
.wby arc they unsultaticS"I asked. s'rhcy have
s.Ycs; but they arc not fast against strong winds
aud seas. They 100 high out OF the water. They
aghvbo pierced Tor runs' bet sncy nre TOO n'sa 10
"Havc any American vessels yet been chartered or
bought, or are tho preliminary negotiations now going
sRvgxTEgS STEAMERS CHARTERED.
Aitcr some rciuctsnec this question was answered.:
Il Is q mistake 10 suppose that wc have done nothing
more than look around. Seventeen vessels have
nxed ratee, nnd viii be hired. do decidedly object
70 telling you what these vessels You lot
ask me a0y more
TnE HERALD EVERYWHERE.
.'You already know TOO much. 4 would willingly
give you further Information, but tho HERALD has
largo circulation. Way, 4 mud tin ST. Pcicrsburg
Mud as far NJnIiNov and In places In Europe
whore tho London Times does not 40. | have
been all over the world, and 4 find the
HERALD evcryxh but IN Australia Tho
HERALD has injured us by publishing toe Baltimore
despatch announcing the afIvIi OF theso gentlemen
r. Nc~ Yofk HuW dd on ret "A A
was criticised for iaikng too much to tho newspapers
II was admitted that he shared ia the secrets OF the
Russian ofncsrs, Dut he had been iDdiscrccL
CHARGES OF BRIBERY AT WASHINGTON.
The Epgllsn influence svcry strong in Washington,
and in the event OF with Russia the gentl cman
dcclarcd inc State Department would enforce tho
neutrality laws much more strictly against Russia
than against England. ~ rhe reason OF this isthat
England 10 constantly using money IN Washington
mn Russia is not England has tue ear OF the unucd
states government Wbeu the corrcsporde asked his
informant nc vas sure that English money was bcing
uscd NJ capital hc rcpica positively that BIO know
NJ Fortunately Tor Russia, however, The agent con-
,iuucd this policy OF tho English government Is par
No thn ut.tf n fho IN al