, 1889-09-05
Il STATEMENT Regarding THE
SEIZURE OF THE SE.LER
PATHFINDER.
Graphic Account by the Seaman Who
Was Put in Charge.

MIR. L. W. Hunter, who is Il seaman
on board of the U. S. revenue steamey
Rush states that oa July 29tb, at 10 d.
M, the Rush sighted schooner in
Behring sea, latitude 1924 north long,
17l-55 west, and gave chase. On coming
I'D with the Schooner, she proved 20 Ee
the Canadian sealer Pathfinder.
lieutenant Frank Tuttle, of the hush
boarded the scaler and the captain of
the same informed him that he was en-
gagged in sealing and bad on board skins
to t"e number of S5I, along with guns
and ammunition, all of which was trans
ferred to the Rnsh-
Mr.. Hunter was then placed in charge
of the sealer with written instructions
| TO proceed to Sitta. The navigation Of
the vessel Was reserved TO Captain
O'Leary Of he Pathfinder
On taking charge OF the schooner Mr..
Hunter directed the captain to proceed
t" Sitka, which was according 10 his in
structions. When the Rush took her
departure the Pathfs 'er WAS started
for Ackatan Pass, t. being an on tlet
to Behrlng sea, the crew brought cut of
some secreted corner three shot-guna,
one rifle and 4 quanty of ammunition,
and proceeded to capture seals aud were
successful il killing fifty.
Ga Friday. August End the sealer
sig Lted :he schooner Kate, who came
alongside and transferred TO the Path
iiuder three bundled seal skins, she
beiug bound iuto Behring sea and did
Eot care to run the chanc, o! having
the skins captured.
Some days after leaving Bebriug sea
MIR. Hunter was given 10 understand by
the hunters and crew that the Path
finder Was gong 10 Victoria instead of
to Sitka Upon receiving this intelli-
gepce Mr.. Hunter had a consultation
with the captain of the Pathfinder. The
captain verified tho statement of !he
crew and positively asserted that his
destination was Victoria.
Captain O'Leary SAID he lad positive
orders from the owners OF the Pathfinder
TO the effect that if his schooner was
seized, aud ordered to Sitka, lis was not
to obey such orders, bur to sail for Vic
toria. Mr.. Hunter stated to him that
his instructions was TO go to Sitka, but
h. ~ In
served to Captain O'Leary, it was i'm
possible for him to take her alone TO
Sitka, tie crew refusing to go anyw here,
but to Victoria. In consequence Mr.
Hunter was forced to permit the
schooner TO proceed to Victoria.
Hr. Hunter says that the hunters on
the Pathfinder informed him that If the
captain had refused to go TO Victoria,
that they themselves, would have taken
charge OF her aud gone TO Victoria. as
they had good navigator amongst
them. After passage of thirty days
the schooner arrived in Victoria on
Thu rsday, Aug Goth, at 8 p. IN. MIR.
Hunter at once proceeded to SEQ the U.
s. CONSUL and presented a statement of
the affair, but he being absent he laid
the matter before the vice-censul who
instructed him to report to the collector
at Port Townsend.
Mr.. Hunter says that at the time OF
the capture of the Pathfinder she had
her boats on the water sealing.
We are informed by Mr.. Hunter that
the sealer Black Diamond left Victoria
on Aug. goth fer Queen Charlotte island
for fishing 1t was rumored, however,
that she was bound for st. PauIs island
to cut down the telephone wires from
the rookeries to the town of st. Paul;
oyer-po the guards and make haul
of seals.