Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-08-25
SLIPPERY SEALERS.
The Schooner Sapphire Runs Away from
the United States Steamer.

VICTORIA (B. c., August 24th.-Yester-
day afternoon the schooner Sapphire ar
rived from Behring Sea, having on board
2,52O seal skins; 1625 were taken in the
sea and the balance along the coast.
captain w. Cox, master, gives the follow
ing particulars of his cruise: On the Alb
of July the Sapphire entered the CLOSED
| ocean" and five days afterwards took her
first catch of seals. After that the catches
we're good and frequent, and everything
| went well. On the Oath the Pathfinder
came up to the Sapphire, spoke to her and
reported all well, with catch of $40 seals.
-Four days after this the Annie C. Moore
was spoken with 600 skins aboard and all
well.
On the Goth, with fair wind, the Sap
phlre came in sight of the Maggie Mac.
Captain Dodd told him that on the Doth he
had been boarded by Lieutenant futile of
the cutter Rush, who informed him of the
capture of the Black Diamond and Min
ME.
Captain Dodd stated that the Minnie had
been towed by the Rush into Ounslaska on
the 24:h of July and laid Up there. He
also said that when asked by futile where
he had come from he stated that he had
caught the seals at Copper Island on the
other side. When he heard this futile
seemed to be satisfied, and remarking that
he had other fish TO catch, was leaving the
gaDgway when Captain Dodd asked him
what be meant. He pointed to two specks
over near the land and said there were the
schooners Mollie Adams and Mary Ellen,
which he was going to nip in the act
AS soon as size had left the Maggie Mac
got as far away with her $50 skins as posi-
bic, having seen the Rush standing down
on the seemingly unsuspecting schooners.
In addition 10 the above, Captain Cox
was told while aboard the Maggie Mac that
| schooner, the name of which he does not
! remember, had reported to them that the
Penlope had been sighted in tow of the
Rush, heading for Ounalaska.
AT 10 o'clock in the morning after the
Maggie Mac bad been visited the sky was
overcast and the sun was Just succeedingin
struggling out of the mist when the Bear
was sighted only about FIVE miles of the
vessels quarter. Speculation as 10 what
the stranger could be was rife until the
| mist rose a little and revealed thick vol
umes OF smoke pouring out of her tunnels
and big ugly hull, which was recognized
as being popularity of the United States
steamer Bear.
Captain Cox put up every stitch of can
vas that his little vessel could carry, and
aided by q splendid southerly wind fled
before the steamer. The latter gained for
half an hour and then the Sapphire began
to show her abilities and slowly but surely
left the chaser behind. The Union Jack
was run up to the mainmast, and with
hearty cheers the ssiler walked away, and
in another hour was lost to sight in the
friendly mist. Nothing more was seen of
the Bear.
On the Goth of May the Sapphire pro-
ceeded to Kyuquaot, where she laid up for
day or two. Here several Indians
showed symptoms of sickening from some
epidemic, and it was not long before Cap
tain Cox discovered that the disease was
similar to yellow fever. He at once put to
sea, and on the voyage north the whole of
the crew, himself included, were attacked
by the fever
Fortunately, owing, perhaps, to the cold
and the sea air, in addition to remedies
luckily carried aboard, no deaths resulted.
One of the Indian hunters, however, rose
from his sick bed blind man, while two
others had their eyesight very seriously
affected.
The schooner Viva was spoken on july
2Sth. ali well, with 500 skins aboard. The
Sapphire was fourteen days coming down
from the sea, with variable winds.