The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-09-24
PoAcHERs. LOOK OUT.
The Wolcott Bears Orders to Clear Eehs
ring Sea OF Pirates.

The Wolcott Bears Orders to Clear Eehs
ring Sea OF Pirates.
PORT TOWNSEND, Sept. 23-lSpeciaL Cap
tain Russell Glover OF the cutter Wolcott. re.
turned yesterday from sixty-d ays leave of alb
sence, and was seen by q correspondent as he
stepped of the gang.plank OF the steamer Olym.
plan. II know absolutely nothing about the
matter except what saw In the Seattle papers
this morning" he said in answer to query. "I
don't know when am going or where, and am
not even certain of going ut all until see what
awaits me here. A minute later Lieutenant
Brosdeck handed him batch OF kilograms,
which he eagerly perused. The re porter then
stepped up and ventured to ask him if there
wss anything for the public in the tel egrams
"No, sir. nothing" he replied, as though taken
rather By surprise at such Al abrupt question
"Beside," he continued, they contain strict
orders from the department to keep the con.
tents secret
Being further questioned, he said: do not
want to be rade, but you will oblge me by ask
ing no more questions this point, for can
tell You nothing at ALL Yes. am going to SAIL
but don't know whether today or tomorrow
and can't tell you where am going"
Despite the denial of Captain Glover, Collec-
tor Bradshaw and officers of the cutter that all
the information in their possession az to the
cutters future movements had been published
in yesterdays papers, and despite the secrecy
which every one knowing aught of the facts
IL observing, IL can be stated al a matter
OF absolute fact that the wolcott
has been ordered to proceed to Behring sea at
once. She will go frst TO sitka. In that harbor
at present are lying the Rush and Corwin, both
under orders. Captain Glover will carry dis
patches to the vessels, which may result in the
most serious international complications
When some of the sealer g, which recently
came down loaded to the guards " ith prize seal.
skins some two weeks ago and their owners
caused to be published broadcast that they
would still further try the patience of the
United States by going up again this year, every
one knew that the matter was rapidly approach
ing point where peaceful negotiations as to its
solution near an impossibility. The sealers were
not satisfied with poaching during the regular
season, and, afraid that the scarcity
of seals would cause both Eng
land and the United States to
prohibit for time catching by anyone it was
sought to make haul before this was done.
No doubt that the new North American Trad
ing Com pany has brought sd iicient pressure to
bear upon both the state and treasury depart
ments which has caused the dispatching OF
Wolcott TO the scene with the most positive in
structions to the other cutters at present in
Alaska to seize all sealers found in the sea-
The information below goes to prove that
further trif1ing will not be tolerated. The
Washington City authorities received infcrma-
ton two weeks ago that four seeiers were fit.
ting out for winter cruise in Alaskan waters
The Victoria papers published the fact, and
United States Consul Myers was instructed to
keep the department posted. He wired last
Saturday that the vessels left four days ago, al
going together. No sooner had Assistant Secre.
tary of the Treasury Spalding received the In
formation than he wired that the Wolcott be
made ready for sea- How important the mat
ter is can be judged from the fact that this yes-
Sci is being sent to the scene.
Captain Glovers orders are to hasten to Sitka
with all possible speed and there, under the
guidance of the Bear and Rush, to proceed to
that part of Behring sea where the pirates ara
supposed to be poaching. to board those vessels,
and if anything in the shape of skins or hunters
tools be found on board to seize the schooners
in the name OF the United States, deprive them
of all steering apparatus and bring them into
the nearest American port.
There will be no nonsense this time like there
was last year, no putting on board of poachers
prize crew of one man, so that sealers can be
taken into British Columbia port and the Yam
KEGS laughed at There are but four pirates
this time, instead of thirty odd, and If Captured
all OF them will be brought into the
harbor of Port Townsend. The Wolcot has
aboard sixty tons of cosl, and by piling the
decks with fuel she can carry seventy tons
She is taking stores and shipchandlery for a two
months cruise. Captain Glover, as soon as he
arrived yesterday, reported that fact by tele-
graph to Washington City. The last dispatch
he received was TO make all the haste nossible
and to notify the department the moment he
was rea dy to sail. That message will probably
be sent today The cutters officers expect TO
leave Port Towused bay for the North Friday