The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-03-26
A QUESTION FOR MR.. P0WDERLY
Na,rr Xnrlr Snn
A FISHING EPISODE.
Showing What May Possibly Happen
again this year.

The seizure by the Dominion government
of the schooner E. A. Horton during the past
week brings to mind the exciting times
among the American fishermen during the
two or three years previous to the Washing
ton treaty. Without dwelling on the causes
of the excitement or the treaty itself, writ
er in the Hartford Post recalls daring ex-
plot of Yankee skipper in- defying British
authority, which came near bringing our
government into complicated relations with
that of the Dominion.
Previous to the Washington treaty the Do
minion government kept armed cruisers pas
trolling waters trequented by American fish
ermen. The treaty of 1918 restricted Ameri-
can fishermen from fishing within three
miles of shore of the British Domain, and 1t
was for the purpose enforcing this stipula-
ton that those waters were so carefully
guarded, In September, 1871 the schooner
E. A. Horton fell prey to one of these cruis-
ers, was taken to Guysboro and seized by
the government. The owners and officers of
the vessel claimed no violation OF treaty laws
and as the owners had hsd another vessel
seized in the same manner the previous sea-
son, and failing to get any satisfaction from
the Dominion government determined to
take the matter into their own hands. One
of the managing owners thereupon left
Gloucester, and proceeded to Guysboro un-
der the guse of miner, and after a delib-
crate reconnoiter picked a crew of American
fishermen and on Sunday night secured
the sails, rigging, etc, OF the vessel from the
storehouse, and with them boarded his YES
sci at midnight The Canadians feeling so
secure with this prize that keeper was not
thought necessary, SO the Yankee skipper
was not molested in boarding the vessel as
she lay off the shore. Once on board, in ST.
slo- ta1~1 h~% tr,l
than three hours the captain and his sixty
trusty companions had the vessel ready f1r
Sea. All being ready the m0Orlngs were
slipped, the sails filled with the early morn
ing breeze, the vessel began to answer her
helm, and moved out Of the harbor under
the very nose of their captors. Then com
menced an exciting voyage. Guysbor0 was
astir early that Monday morning and great
excitement prevailed. 1t is said an armed
vessel was sent in hot pursuit, although no
reliable authority has ever given the rumor
credence. In all probability such was the
fact, as public feeling against American fish
ermen and more particularly these offenders
ran high at the time, and the chagrln OF the
officials having the Horton in charge can be
better imagined than described At daylight
the Horton was booming along with stiff
breeze, and outside Little Canso; and at sum
down was many miles outside OF land, still
headed out at sea.
About the time the Horton was expected
to arrive at Gloucester it was reported that
an English cruiser was cruising the bay to
intercept the vessel should she attemps to
enter port. These reports were met with
prompt action by our authorities, and an
armed vessel was at once ordered at sea from
Charlestown navy yard to aid the Horton.
This vessel, the Fortune, eruised all night
and the next forenoon. On her return it
was reported nothing had been seen OF the
English cruiser or the Horton. The United
States steamer Leyden was at once dis
patched to keep up the search, and she was
followed by the cutter Mahoning and tug
Hamilton from the Charlestown navy yard,
and the cutter McCulloch from Portsmouth
navy yard.
On the evening of the 18th of October the
Horton made Gloucester harbor, not having
encountered the Dominion cruiser or either
of the five vessels sent to her assistance. The
voyage was by the Yankee captain without
charts or nautical instruments other than
compass, and the success of the daring UNI
dertaking was due to the captains good
judgment and skill as a navigator. 1t is
needless to add that Gloucester never knew
a more exciting time than that following the
bells rung; public meetings and street pa
rades were the order of the day, and the ex-
element was kept up over week.
In closing the article, the writer says that
the Dominion government never afterwards
moved to secure the vessel, as the Washing
ton treaty settled at that time all differences
between the two governments. The Horton
continued as an American vessel until few
months ago, when she was purchased by par
ties in the provinces, who applied for Do
minion register, which brought to the au-
thorities the identity of the vessel, and she
was at once seized on the old score.