The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-07-15
THE VICTORIA LIAR.
His War Correspondence Makes
Canadians Angry.
TALK OF TAR AND FEATHERS
Lots OF Poachers Owned in Victoria
Why So Many war-ships Are
at Esquimalt.

VICTORIA, B. c., July 14.-If there is go
ing to be war over Behring sea, between
England and the United States, the people
of Victoria, who would be most interested
in such conflict. do not know anything
about it According TO instructions, your
correspondent left this city last Saturday
for the purpose of sitting to the bottom the
sensational stories recently published IN
leading American newspapers. Mayor
Grant, OF Victoria. leading owner OF seal
ing vessels, and officers of the British North
Pacific naval squadron, when interviewed
on the subject, laughed at even the posi-
bility of such a thing. The story that two
Canadian vessels recently sailed out Maple
bay armed with swivel guns. and would re-
sist the seizure OF sealers by American rev.
enue enters, was absolutely without foun-
dation. The steam schooner Mischief, be-
longing at Seattle, was chartered to take
supplies to sealers and bring down their
catch. This was done in hopes hat sealers
would be able TO elude cutters IN Behring
sea, and it searched no skins would be
found aboard
The people of Victoria are very indig-
nant that reports should have been sent
broadcast. The owners of sealing vessels
claim that these reports are originated by
news agents of the North American Com
mercial Company, whose purpose is to
excite both countries. so that the question
will be earlier settled. The sender OF the
dispatches is not known. Should he be
discovered, the indignant Canadians
threaten him with a summer suit OF tar
and feathers. In speaking of the matter
to the correspondent Messrs. Hall d Mar
win, who between them own seven out of
the thirty vessels running out of Victoria,
said:
"These reports are sent to prejudice the foreign
office at London against our cause. 1t is In
that direction that we rave TO look fox re-
dress. Our pr sition is that we are not poachers
or pirates. We clear at custom-houses, and
officials know our place Of destination. IL the
business is illegal they should refuse to give US
proper pa ses. then we could mot leave port.
By boarding and Selling vessel OF foreign
flag the American government lays itself liable
This question has been hanging fire for several
year., aud should be settled If the decision is
against US we will quit the business"
"Why do you not cease operations pending
negotiations?"
because that would be admitting the right
of the United States to the course it has
adopted"
The principal owners of sealing vessels
are Morris Moss. Munsey & Carney, Edwin
Marvin, each of whom own four vessels;
Andrew Bechtel, Captain Charles Spring,
each owning three; ]. Boscourtch & Son,
Captain Doug ass Warren and Hale Il
Cohel, who own between them six. The
two latter have had each two vessels seized
by the cutters. The sealing feet consists
of thirty schooners, varying from 40 to $50
tons burden, and the total value of the
property involved is stated by United
States Consul Meyers as being worth about
$500, 200.
When asked what instruction command
ers OF vessels are given before departure
for the sealing grounds, Captain Marvin
said:
1t is impossible to give definite instructions,
every man being supposed to use his own judy
ment. The vessels sometimes do not speak
each other from the time they enter the
until they return home. Therefore it is imrc--
sible for them to make com bin d resistance, and
for one to do so would be suicidal. There is no
doubt that should a prize crew be put aboard, as
was done last season, the yictorians would
adopt the same course of putting In at home
and taking the prize crew with them.
When went down to Esquimault to
learn the cause of the concentration of the
fleet was rather impressed with the ar
ray of war ships in the harbor.
There were the second-class cruiser Cham
pion. equipped with four six-inch and
eight five-inch guns, six machine and
quick-fring guns, and four torpedo barges,
with full complement of $50 men; the
third-class cruiser Espeigle, with
four six-inch and fiye-inch guns, four small
machine and quicd-fring guns, and
one tortelo barge with full complement
of $50 men; the gunboats Daphne and
Nymph, with ten five-inch guns, four
machine and quick-tiring guns, and
full complement of 14o men; the
first-class armored battle-ship War
spite, the flagship of the fleet carrying
Admiral Hotham, not yet arrived. In his
absence his senior ranking officer, Captain
St. Ciair. of the Champion, when the object
of the visit was explained to him, smiled
and said:
The reason of the gathering here in such
force is to welcome Admiral Hotham, who sue
ceeds Adm raj Heneage in command of the
fleet can assure you on my honor that we
have received no orders regarding Behring sea-
AS senior officer OF the squadron, I have
opened every message cabled by the admiralty.
most OF them referring to the stations OF the YES
seis durii the next year. The Espeigle will
probably go to Honolulu, where your Charleston
was when we left; the Champion will be sent
to Callao and the other vessels to South Amen
can ports The feet will man9uvre here for at
leasi three months. Either the Nymph or the
Daphne may so to Behr ng sea, but il will be
only for cruise, the same as was done last year.
i know nothing of the view of the department
of state for foreign affairs but the idea of two
nations gong TO war where only the question
involved is matter OF $4,000, is to me prepos.
ferrous.