The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-08-05
She Brought with Her Into Port the "Prize.
Crew." Consisting of One Able Bodied but
Very Lonesome American Seaman.
No Attention Paid to the Orders that
the Schooner Be Taken to Sitka.
Likely to Cause Curious international Com
plication-Russia Likely to Take Hand
in the Behring Sea Settlement.
THE BLACK DIAMOND ESCAPED.

Paying No Attention to a "Prize Crew" oh
One Man, 1t Puts I'm at Victoria
VICTORIA, b. c., Aug. 4.-Victoria Is In
great state of excitement, the cause being
the arrival of the Black Diamond. She
came into port last evening and dropped
anchor. She had one American seaman on
board, John Hawkins. He was appointed
special officer by the captain of the Rush
and ordered to take the Diamond to Sitka.
Captain Owens. of the Diamond, told Lieut..
Tuttle he would not sail for Sitka, but
would bring his vessel to Victoria. If they
wanted the Diamond to go 70 Sitka they
would have to put a stronger crew than
the schooner's aboard. The Rush
steamed away and Owens sailed
toward Ounalaska. thinking that there
were British war-ships in that
vicinity, intending to demand protection.
He sailed into Ounalaska harbor and
boarded schooner from Port Townsend.
He was told there were no men-of-war in
the vicinity. Owens told the American sea-
man he would sail for Victoria. which he
did. He landed his Indians on the east
coast of Vancouver. The Rush took the
Diamonds seal-skins, about eighty, but
left every thing else. The American sea-
man has made an official report to Vice
American Consul Marvin, who has tele-
graphed the facts to Consul Stevens, of
San Francisco.
Hawkins SAYS he was we'll treated by
the crew of the schooner. The greatest
satisfaction is felt here at the escape of the
Diamond. 1t is thought that the United
States will certainly demand the return of
the schooner, which the British gov
ernment dare not give up. 1t will
bring the matter to n speedy conclusion.
Particulars of the seizure by the Ameri
can revenue cutter are given by her Off
GERS as follows: July II, we got catch
of fifty-three seals. Ats r. M. we sighted the
revenue cutter Rush. he came up TO us
and ordered MS to heave To. We did so.
The chief officer came aboard and demand
ed our papers: We refused to give them 10
him, and he then got screwdriver and
screwed Oft the hinges on the locks in the
cabin. took the papers and 105 sealskins,
and all Indian spears and ten bags of salt
Then he put John Hawkins. al able sea
man, aboard, with instructions TO us to not
interfere. as sailing-master. AS soon as the
Rush was lost sight of, a southwest course
was steered right for Victoria. Hawkins
from the start saw il was impossible to at
tempt To ia ke charge of affairs in his own
hands, and consequently lay in his bunk
nearly the whole time. not attempting To
interfere.
John Hawkins, the American seaman.
says w ntu Ut WAS put dDOdTu the steamer.
he said to his officers: Instead of taking
her to Sitka they may go TO Victoria
They did not answer him. Mr.. Hammley,
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 left
everything to the American consul here,
who has wired the Washington authorities
about the matter
WASHINGTON. Aug. 4.-The attention OF
acting Secretary of State Wharton was
to-day called to the statement that the
schooner Black Diamond, instead of going
to Sitka when ordered to that port by the
commander of the Rush. sailed direct for
Victoria, and that, as one man constituted
the prize crew placed on board by the COM
mander of the Rush. the prize crew was
helpless to prevent the Black Diamond's 8
escape. Secretary Wharton had not seen
the dispatch. When told of its contents,
he said that the case, ifpresented correctly.
was most extraordinary, and he would not
venture an opinion as to the course the
State Department could or would pursue.
OTTAWA, Ont, Aug. 4.-The government
has not received any report regarding the
escape of the Black Diamond from the
United States authorities. The news of
her escape was given to the Cabinet Minis
ters tonight. The news has gwen great
satisfaction here, but tlle members of tho
government decline to express an opinion.
Mr.. Bowel. Minister of Customs, has
telegraphed for particulars.