The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-07-13
CANADIAN PIRATE cAunnT.


rmaesIer Alert Ventures Into Port
townsend Hasbor and Il Seized.
PORT TowssESD, July 12-Tbe most i'm.
portant capture made by the r., sso,r. an.
S. s1.aes lor some time was effected yes,er-
ss. y s'ssinoon, when Collector Bradshaw,
10 1850 oy inspector Frank Bowers, seized
az canadian sioop Aiert.s The vessel is
e poper'y oil one Stewart. who Is known
notorious smuggler of Chinese. Stew
- az = resident OF Victoria, an Englishman
y n, VINO has followed the occupation
:. sIuggiing for several years. He has re-
49, oosstea that no custom officers
.ouia board his craft, and the reviewers
were FOUND on his vessel prove that
Ai ~ poas.s were not made in vain.
Inc Alert arrived in port yesterday
~. .noihihgs nef owner tying his craft below
,ne saWmil He then visited The custom
nouse ior the purI lose of notifying the
oi1cia's tnat ne intended to sail for for
e'gn port The law requires this, and the
smuggier thought that he would obtain the
proper papers without being recognized.
inspector Bowers was examining the
:sofes o. the schooner Tampa, which had
Just arrived from Guaymas. He came
ashore when his duty was completed. The
si0op attracted his attention and he told
ms susricions to Collector Bradshaw. The
latter ct once recollcc,ed what the Alert
was. and bidding Bowers follow him. the
Two fastened to where the suspicious, craft
was tied up.
WINE Bowers was overhauling the Alert.
Stewart was observed coming from the
custom-house. He wanted to know with
an oath what the inspector was doing
ABOARD his craft. The latter permitted him
20 approach within few feet, and then in
formed him that If he came any nearer.
II would De at the risk of his life. The col.
rector also cautioned him that if he knew
what was best for him, to come no nearer.
he still advanced. bat when informed that
even II he did escape. the revenue cutters
would overhaul him before he could get
away, he sullenly permitted the officers to
remove the craft to Commercial wharf.
here the vessel, after being thoroughly
searched, was dismantled. In one of her
cabins were found two 4A-caliber Smith &
Wesson receivers, fully loaded. Several
rounds OF ammunition were also unearthed.
When the customs officers went to look for
Stewart, whom 1t was intended to place
under arrest, he was missing. He was
seen going aboard the North Pacific.
and no doubt escaped to Victoria.
The authorities at This point have been
kept fully advised of the Alert's move
ments. She left Victoria by stealth last
Sunday night. having on board fifteen
Cinnamon destined for this SIDE This in
formation was obtained from the Canadian
customs authorities, who aid the Port
Townsend officials whenever they can
conscientiously do so. The little pirate
loaded her human cargo at some out-of-the
way place on the San Juan islands. She
entered Roche harbor. where she wished
to clear for Victoria, but could get no
papers. Stewart was in desperate posi-
ton, for. leaving Victoria without notify.
ing the cus.om-house at that port, he dare
not return unless he was certified as being
ali right by the officials here. That is why
he took the ri.k OF entering this harbor
and boarding the officers at their own
desks. But for the prompt action of the
collector and Inspector Bowers, he would
have gone back to Victoria and told how
he fooled the Yankees.
The Alert is Canadian-built vessel,
about five tons burden. She is q remark
ably fast sailer, resembling a yacht She
has three matches, with secret doors, and
can easily stow away twenty Cinnamon.
Collector Bradshaw has absolute proof Of
the traffic in which Stewart and his sloop
have been engaged, and can at any time
bring into court Cinnamon who were
secretly conveyed below her decks from
Canada to this country.
WHATcoM. July 12-Customs Inspe ctor
Reilly seized a sloop here today. The own.
ers are japanese. who have been making
frequent trips 10 and from British Column
bia via the islands without permission from
the customs authorities. They usually
enter this port at midnight and are sup
posed to be smugg ing.
Captain D. B. Jackson. manager Of the Puget
Sound & Alaska Steamship Company, has lett