Omaha daily bee., 1889-08-07
CLEAR AWAY THE STARBOARO
When the Black Diamond Saw tho
Barkers" She Hove To.
THE DETAILS OF THE CAPTURE.
Nothing Very Blood Curdling, No
Thrilling Situations Nor Narrow
Escapes. But Very Inter
esting Reading.

New York, August 6.--GSpecial Telegram
to THE BE. The particulars covering tho
capture of the English schooner Black Dia-
mond were, according TO the World of this
morning, read by reporter of that paper
yesterday in letter to this city from an ac-
tive participant.
Thursday morning, July IL, the Rush left
her anchorage at st. Paul and steamed ont
on smooth sea before moderate breeze
from the northward 1t was o'clock in the
afternoon when the lookout from his station
in the foremast heard sang out, "Sail no."
The cutters course was changed, and head
ing for the stranger, orders were passed by
the engineer watch to shake up the fires.
The speed of the vessel was increased, while
a broad wake of foam and broken
water trailed astern. It was not
long before the stranger was made out
from the deck. While the Rush was
yet some distance astern the schooner under
foresail, mainsail and ib swung Off before
the wind. 1t was evident that the stranger
did not like the appearance of the revenue
cutter which was swooping down upon her.
Suddenly from the schooner's masthead was
displayed the flag of England. At the same
time the Rush ranged on her lee quarter.
Captain Shepard, by the use of q speaking
trumpet ordered her to 'heave to. | wish to
board YOU" But no attention was paid to
tho summons, The man at the wheel did
not shift 1t spoke, and by the few who
lounged on the deck contemptuous silence
was maintained Again the summons rang
out, but to no purpose.
"Clear away the starboard battery" was
the ominous command from Captain Shep-
ard. The ports fell as If by magic, reveal
ing three breech leaders, while three gun
ners stood awaiting instructions. But there
was no occasion to expend cartridge. With
q swerve like frightened hawk the
schooner flew up into the wind, the man at
the wheel evincing sudden interest in what
was transpiring about him.
Head to the wind, with sails shivering and
headway stopped, the schooner lay all but
motionless under the guns of the Rush,
which craft lowered a boat manned by six
seamen under command Of Francis Tuttle,
the first lieutenant of the Rush. No mpeui-
ment was put In the way of the lieutenant as
he pulled alongside. In fact. there was no
one to meet as he leaped over the rail- land
ing upon the dead carcass of n seal. One
glance at the deck revealed the bodies of
score of seals, while in the hold
seventy EIGHT were filed away. Standing
forward were twenty tawny Indians, silent
morose and glancing furiously at the officer
as he made his examination. Further aft
were five white men who did not look pleased
Meanwhile Captain Shepard had come on
board, attended by the crew of his gig. The
master made little remonstrance but fol-
lowed the officer TO his smoking cabin, where
the firearms, ammunition and spears We're
taken possession Of. Salt, salt bags, floats
and all the paraphernalia of Behrng sea
seal pirate were deftly passed over the Black
Diamonds side into the boats of the Rush
The master told Captain Shepard that before
leaving Victoria he had received positive or
ders from his owners not to obey the orders
of any Yankee revenue cutter until fired into
by solid shot. But me,'' he added, 81
eAtNA Axn1n n.1lnr fne nnpn ,r Go IT,
will was good enough, don't ye know, but
changed my mind when l saw those barkers
poking their noses out of the cutters side.''
Captain Shepard now detailed John Haw.
kins, an able seaman, to act as prize master,
with instructions to proceed with the vessel
to Sitka. But the master of the. schooner
stated that his men would not work any
more, as they looked upon themselves as
prisoners. To this no attention was paid,
the Rush resuming her course leaving the
schooner hove to, but before the vessel was
out of sight she had made all sail and hauled
by the wind. No one aboard the Rush had
the slightest idea that the schooner would
ever sight Sltka, but the duty of the Rush's
officers had been observed to the letter. The
vessel had been seized and her voyage
broken up.
After heaving the Black Diamond the
Rush overhauled the Triumph off Victoria
the largest sealer that visits Behring sea-
while her commander and crew have the
reputation of being the most determined and
hardest set OF men to handle in those waters
But the general appearance of the Rush
must have had most soothing effect upon
the tempers OF those controlling the for
tunes of the vessel. She hove-to at the first
summons. and Lieutenant Tuttle was re-
ceived politely, if not cordially, on
board. A search failed to reveal
any damaging evidence, although
the officer was of the opinion that she had
been engaged IN illicit business, but had
probably got rid of the pelts upon the cutter
heaving in sight.
The Rush sailed on the morning of July Is
for four days. cruise, after which she was
to return for the purpose of coaling prepara-
tory TO a two weeks trip to the westward.
If everything works as expected the Rush
will be at Oonalaska by August 25, and after
that will steam direct for Stka, then to Fort
Townsend, w, r..