New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-07-31
,nr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE

AFTER A fi@hhA W
FRS IN BEHRING SEA-
,,x rr,rGRAPH TO THE IkIBUNE.l
c.. rrarcisco. July 30.-Ihe seizure OF the
British sealer Black Diamond by the oni'eo o'''eS
s.s,,o ortter Rush excited great interest here,
~ aO.oiIs were anxiously awaited. Last night
r--.~,n,.rdent Mcintyre. of the Alaska CONNER
...r Co,r,anv,s affairs at Prbylof Island arrived
, I'd gave full particulars of the capture OF the
Rlack Diamond. He said:
..Tba feet of British vessels sealing In the VI
.,n;,v Of Behring Sea made rendezvous at Sand
pont on Ounga Island, Alaska The fleet num-
horad about twenty-five vessels. Soon after the
seet reached the rendezvous the vessels were joined
nv steam tender from Victoria, b. G. On the
wav to Sand Point the sealers had taken large
number of skins between 5000 and 1000. Most
of these were caught in the Pacific Ocean, Duc
some were taken inside of the marine league line
of our coast These skins were at once trans
f.rred on board the tender, so that in case any
of the sealers were stopped by the revenue cutter
Rush. they would have no skins on board.
son July deputatioh of four of the Brit
sh schooners went to Oonaaslxa, where the revenue
cutter Rush was lying, for the purpose OF dis
covering what were Captain Shepard intentions.
They asked him plainly what ne intended TO DO.
He told them he would certainly seize their
vessels II SKINS were lOunu Oh oUdlu- Any
thereon declared they would not go scaling, but
would return to Victoria. However, instead OF
returning, all four vessels made straight for
Behring Sea. Three more vessels sent agents to
see Captain Shepard of the Rush, these parties
being Americans They were Informed as TO the
law, and departed. One of the vessels went COO
fishing. and the other two followed the British
Sealers TO Behring Sea.
"On July II, the United States steamer Rush
which had started in pursuit of the sealers over
took the British schooner Black Diamond, ana
ordered her TO heave to. This the captain
refused TO do ThereupOn the commander
of the Rush ordered Lowering OF
ports and running out of guns This brought 'he
Black Diamond TO time Captain Shepard anu
Lieutenant Tuttle then boarded the English craiO
and asked for her papers The officers OIL the
Black Diamond offered no armed resistance but
made an impudent reply and refused 10 deIVer
the papers. Captain Shepard thereupon proKe
open the cabin of the captain OF the BLACK Da-
mond. and forced the hinges OF the strong box and
the captains chest, thereby securing the papers
which he wanted Search of the vessel disclosed
JOG sealskins which had been taken in Behring
Sea As soon as this discovery was made, Cap
tain Shepard placed a non-commisSiOned officer
from the Rush in charge Cf the Black Diamond
md ordered the vessel taken TO Sitlza TO await
further instructions.
The captain Of the Black Diamond made
ratement that when he was in Victoria he had
been ordered TO pay no attention to the Rush IN
Ease he was overtalIen by her and requested TO
heave 10. He said he would not have surrendered
il the Rush had had an inferior force 10 his own
"On JuiS 13 the schooner Triumph was also
boarded by Captain Shepard, but no arrest was
made the skins on board the vessel having been
captured in the Pacific and not in Behring Sea.
On our way down from ST. Pauls
Island we saw six sealers and the Rush
was closely in pursuit of them. We !eft St.
Pauls Island July IA, and on the following day
saw the Rush in pursuit Of her prey Undou0t-
e1lv by this time the Rush has made additional
captures"
Washington, July 30-A telegram was received
At the Treasury Department to-day from Captain
Shepard commanding the revenue steamer RuSl,
saving that he seized the British schooner Black
Diamond July IL, for violation Of section l,9o6
of the Revised Statutes, and saying further that
be will send particulars by mail. The secnOn
referred TO in the telegram is Incorporated IN the
Presidents proclamation of March u on the
subject OF the seal fisheries, which DEGREES that
hevery person guilty of killing any fur bearing
animal within the limits of Alaska Territory, or
In the waters thereof, shall, for each offence be
aned not less than two hundred nor more than
one thousand dollars, or imprisoned not more than
six months or both; and all vessels, their tackle,
apparel, furniture and cargo, found engaged IN
violation Of this section. shall be forfeited