St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-08-05
SEIZED BY THE RUSH.
Intense Excitement Over the SeiD
uPe of the Black Diamond

Intense Excitement Over the Seizs
ure of the Black Diamond.
VICTORIA, B. c.. Aug. 4.-There i.
great excitement here. The schooner
Black Diamond arrived last evening
from Behring sea. Particulars of the
seizure by the American revenue cutter
are as follows: July IL we got in a
catch of fifty-three seals. At p. m we
sighted the revenue cutter Rush. She
came up to us, and ordered us to heave-
to. We did so. The chief officer came
aboard and demanded our papers. We
refused to give them to him, and he then
got screwdriver and screwed off the
hinges on the locks in the cabin, took
the papers and 105 sealSkinS, and all
the Indian spears and ten bags of salt.
Then he put john Hawkins, an able
seaman, aboard with instructions to us
to not interfere, as sailing master. AS
soon as the Rush was lost sight of,
southwest course was Steared right for
Victoria. Hawkins from the start saw
it was impossible to attempt to take
charge of affairs in his own hands, and
consequently lay in his bunk nearly the
whole time, not attempting to inter-
fere." John Hawkins, the American
seaman, says he was treated kindly by
everybody. When he was put aboard
the steamer he said to his officers: "In-
stead of taking her 10 Sitka, they may
go to Victoria" They did not answer.
Mr.. Hanley, collector of customs here,
said he is of the opinion that when
Hawkins was put aboard the Black
Diamond the people on the Rush did
not care whether she came to Victoria
or not, as long as she got out of the sea
and stopped destroying seals. Hawkins
has told everything to the American
consul here, who has wired the Wash
ingtou authorities about the matter.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 4.-The pub
lished report of the arrival at Victoria,
Il. c., of the steamer Black Diamond,
which had been seized by the revenue
cutter Rush for illegal sealing in Beh-
ring sea and put in charge of seaman,
caused little surprise here. SO far
as known there has been no official in
formation received on the subject
from any quarter. Assistant Secretary
Wharton, who is acting secretary Of
state, received his first intimation of
the arrival of the steamer through q
newspaper representative, and said he
had no information on the subject.
OTTAWA, Ont, Aug. 4.-The govern
ment has not received any report re-
garding the escape of the Black Dia-
mond from the United States authOri-
ties. The news of her escape was
given to the cabinet ministers tonight.
The news has given great satisfaction
here, but the members of the govern
ment decline to express an opinion. Mr..
Bowel. minister of customs, has tele-
graphed for particulars.
HALIFAX, n. S., Aug. A dispatch
to the American consul general an
nounces the seizure at GuysbOrO of the
American schooner Vidette. No fur
ther particulars are given.
WINNIPEG, Man., Aug. A govern
ment officer named Bunting arrived here
to-day from EsQuimault, B. G.. He says
that five ships and two torpedo boats Of
the British Pacific squadron have gone
north to Behring sea with open orders.
Two more ships have been ordered to
Victoria and are now on the way.
Bunting says the captain of the ship
which first brought the news
of the seizure of the sealer
Black Diamond by the United
States cutter Rush made some state
ments to Admiral Homage. after which
kilograms were sent to Ottawa and
cablegramS to London, the answers to
which were received the same day and
next day the squadron left for the north.
Great excitement prevails in Victoria
and the people are clamOring for the
government to take active measures to
prevent any further interference with
British ships in the open sea. Bunting
states that some of the SealerS in the
north will fight before they will submit
to seizure, they being we'll armed for
such all emergency.