Omaha daily bee., 1889-08-06
WASHINGTON MUCH AMUSED.
The Reoapturo of the Black Dia-
mond Causes no Frowns.
NO OFFICIAL OPINION YET.
Tho State Department OGicers ara
Non-Communicativo and No
body Has a Clear Idea OF
the situation.
WASHINGTON BUREAU, THE OMAHA BEn
bl3 FOURTEENTH STREET.
WAsuiNarov, ID. O., August 3

WAsulNGToN, ID. c., August 3.
Instead Of an outburst Of popular indigua-
tion over the action of the skipper Of the
Black Diamond in recapturing his ship from
the American prize crew of one man, the ut
most amusement was created in all the de-
partments ut Washington by the report from
Victoria this morning. There was no one
who seemed to have a clear idea as to what
the probable outcome will be. Very natu-
rally, the state department officials were alb
solutely communicative They had no
official Information of the Black Diamonds
capture and were therefore not prepared to
express any opinion. The revenue marine
service to which the Rush belongs is under
the control of the treasury department, and
the treasury department people find them.
selves with new problem on hand
and were not prepared to render
Judgment. The bureau of navigation ia
still under the control of President Ceve-
lands commissioner, Mr.. Morton The gen.
teman was asked whether, in his opinion,
the mere fact of seizure on the part of the
officers Of the Rush of the Black Diamond
transferred the ownership of that vessel to
the American government. He was not pre- 4.
pared with reply. Mr.. Barnett, chief Of
the revenue marine division of the treasury
department.. was asked the same question.
He said that he could not answer 1t. Asked
further whether it was customary for rev.
enue cutter TO place one man as prize crew
in charge OF a captured vessel, he said that
he didn't know whether there had been one
man or thousand put on the BLACK
Diamond by the officers of the Rush.
No official information had been received In
regard to this matter other than the dispatch
which announced the seizure on the ilth of
July.
"The Rush had regular complement of
about forty officers and men," said Mr.. Bar
nett, land was armed with four guns. l
don't know whether they were 81 inch
rife cannon or howitzersh
''ls the captain of the Black Diamond
chargeable with grand larceny or piracy in
recapturlng his own vessel I" was asked.
"That is question TO oe decided by inter
national lawyers said Mr.. Barnett, land
am not an international lawyer"
AT the state department u similar question
was met with that it was not possible for the
department to give Judgment in a hypotheti-
cal case, and this was hypothetical in that
the department does not know officially that
such an affair as the recapture of the seized
vessel has taken place. AT the navy depart
ment the officers and officials did not hesitate
to express themselves very freely on the
course of action by the Rush's commander.
They say he could not excuse himself for
placing ono man in charge of the captured
vessel and that the Brltisher had shrewdly
brought tho whole controversy to q point
where decision must be rendered at once.
The United States may claim the ownership
of the Black Diamond and may pre-
fer charges of kidnapping and lar
ceny against her commander, but
this would open up the whole question as
to the right of the United States to assume
exclusive control over Behrlng sea and
would perhaps lead to the settlement of the
troublesome question as to whether Behring
is closed sea.
Nobody here believes that the United
States can again take the Black Diamond
peacefully She will have to be rccaptured
rcd handed in Orler that this
maintain case against her, and If negotia-
tions for the settlement Of the various dis
putcs between Canada and the United States
are speedily entered into it will be necessary
for this government to enter into proceed
ings before some international tribunal to
test the right to demand from the authorities
of British Columbia the restoration of the
vessel to the custody of the United States.
This would have to be done, of course,
through the British foreign office, and 1t is
not likely under the existing state of feeling
il, British Columbia that the, citizens
the that Claims Of wSnd sSs soSms se
without vigorous protest. 1t is rather
strange that nowhere was the slightest feel
ing OF animosity expressed toward the cap
tain of the Black Diamond for his action. On
the contrary, he was universally looked upon
to-day as bright and enterprising sort of a
skipper, and the whole affair was regarded
with the utmost amusement in each and all
of the departments of the government.
THREE NEBRASKA APPOINTMENTS.
Senator Paddock left this morning for
New York, where he will spend day or
two. From there he will go to Atlantic
City, where his family are, and accompany
them home. Soon after the senator boarded
the train the president announced from the
white house the first batch of appointments
for the day. 1t has been predicted in these
dispatches that there would be an
carly change in the Omaha and
Winnebago agency on account of the
protests against the retention in Office
Of the present incumbent which have been
filed with the secretary of the interior, and
| this change was made to-day. MIR. Robert
Ashley, who had the Endorsement of both the
| senators, secured the appointment. The other
two Nebraska changes were In the Offices Of
the register and receiver of the land Office at
Chadron, where William III. McCann and II.
| II. Powers were respectively appointed.
These gentlemen have been on the slate for
some time, and their appointment is IN re-
sponse TO the Endorsement of Messrs. Pad
dock and Henderson.
JUDGE CROFT CALLS ON HARRISON.
Judge Croft, of Omaha who is the candi.
date of the two Nebraska senators for the
United States interstate commerce commits.
sion, arrived here at late hour last night
and was met by Senator Paddock, who took
| him TO the white house and introduced HIM
to the president. Judge Croft bad very
pleasant conversation with the chief magis.
trate, but he lef the president without hav-
| ing received any assurances as TO his inteE-
JlOn IN regard 10 tne vacancy In the BOARD OF
Interstate commerce commissioners. To-
| morrow he will visit Secretary Noble, and
| will then at once leave for the west. Ths
president has as yet given out no intimation
| AS to his probable course in filling this va.
cancy, and the chances are that it will not
be filled until after he returns from Bar
Harbor.
| ARMY NEWS.
The leave of absence granted Captain Paul
| Roemer, Fifth artillery, Is extended ten days.
MISCELLANEOUS.
DIR. A. w. Bowman was to-day appointed q
! member of the pension board for Dayen-
| port. Ia
Andrew j. Whitaker, OF Illinois, has been
| appointed deputy fourth auditor OF the
| treasury department.
The secretary of the treasury has ap-
| pointed James l.. Dattery as gauger and
storekeeper in the Fifth district OF Illinois.
The Chippewa Negotiations.
\ WAsIINGTnN AuQust E-Tho pommias sinu