The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-07-31
FULL OF POACHERS.
The Whole Fleet Has Sailed
Into Behring Sea.
HUSH HAS ORDERS TO SEIZE.
viotoria Owners Believed t. Have Assure
ancs From Great Britain That Pro-
lection VIII He Given.

VICTORIA, July U-Capfain WinAnt, OF
the steamer Mischief, which arrived from
the North Pacific Sunday evening with 49,
900 sealskins, has distressed to Hon. Levi
w. Meyers, American consul. some very
important information which will be laid
before the state department. Captain
Winant Is an American skipper from va
quina bay. His vessel was chartered by
Cox Il Munsie. owners Of the Victoria seal
ing fleet. to proceed north and bring down
the spring catch of all the
seals taken BY the fleet on the way north
ward, which were put aboard the Mischief
and returned Just before the sealers en-
tered Behrng sea, so that should they
aftsrward be seized the coast catch would
be sale.
Both Cox and Munsie accompanied the
Mischief north to give orders TO the
sealers. They reached the feet at Little
Koninshi island on the Ehumigln group,
on July 4.
They found every one of the twenty
seven British vessels decorated with Amer
lean colors, and the captain and crews
alike celebi ating with hearty patriotism the
glorious Fourth. The captains all clam
bered aboard the Mischief and eagerly in
quired Of Captain Cox for news relating to
the Behriug sea question which was under
negotiation when they left for the sealing
grounds. Captain Cox told them that the
sea was opened and there would be no fur
ther trouble. He ordered them into the
closed sea, and two days later,
after transhipping their cargoes to
the Mischief, the entire feet
entered the sea. The Mischief could not
folx = k<ao 81 a&nb hA
of the feet was chartered to bring down
ing with l.500 skins. Mr.. Munsie came
down with her.
He brings definite information as to
what the sealed orders of the Rush were
He went over to sandy Point with the
Aurora and learned that the captain
of the Rush had there given warning
that he had instructions to seize all
poach ers. A letter had also been received
from the captain of the British schooner
Ariel, stating that she had been overhanied
by the Rush and copy of the president
message declaring the sea closed placed on
board Of her.
Captain Winant was seen by the Posr-
INTELLIoENcER correspondent He con-
frmed every thing reported by Mr.. Myers.
~ am satisfied, !" he said, THAT from the
assurance that Captain Cox gave the
masters OF his vessels that one of two
things is true-either he had advices
that he would not be molested by the
United States, or he had the assurance of
protection of the British government.
There is great hardship being imposed
upon American seamen in the matter.
/ know from the way those vessels were
celebrating the Fourth that they were
Americans and have been driven 70 fit out
in q foreign port under the British flag be-
cause they believed they would enjoy
greater protection. Last February, when
the Pathfinder, British schooner which
had been seized by the captain
of the Rush, was ordered to Sitka,
but went to Victoria, was retaken by the
Corwin at Neah bay and towed to Port
Townsend, she was Immediately ordered
released by the treasury department. The
only vessel taken that Obeyed the prize
crew on her was the James g. Swan, an
American vessel owned by Neah bay In
dams, wards OF the nation. The depart
ment refused to interfere in her behalf and
she now il in the admiralty court.
Victoria is reaping q rich harvest out of
all this fitting out Of sealers. Each vessel
costs about s. 600, making about 5000 left
in Victoria for this years feet, which
should 60 10 Sound ports.
There has been marked change in feel
ing here in the last few days. A dispatch
from London published in the COlonsst sun
day morning to the effect that another seiz-
IRE would result in armed interference from
her majesty's government seems to have en-
coaraged the sealers' interests consider
ABBY. Even the conservative Coionist now
prints vague rumors of orders received
by war ships to proceed to
Behring sea. As the sealing feet has now
entered the sea and the Rush is known to
have orders to seize poachers, it will soon
ho kpown whefhor or not there ia anvthiry