Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1890-11-01

In the spring of certain year, not far
from the close of the Nineteenth century,
when the political relations between the
United States and Great Britain became
go strained that careful observers ON
both sides Of the Atlantic were forced to
the belief that serious break i'll these
relations might be looked for at any
time, tho fishing schooner Eliza Drum
called from port il blaine for the banks
Of Newfoundland.
1t was in this year that a new system
of protection for American fishing YES
sels had been adopted in Washington.
Every feet of these vessels was accom-
panied by one CT more United States
cruisers, which remained on the fishing
grounds, not only for the purpose OF
warning unwary American craft who
might approach too near the three mile
limit, bat also to overlook the action of
the British naval vessels On the coast,
and to Interfere, at least by protest, with
such seizures of American fishing boats
as might appear to be unjust. In the
opinion Of all persons OF sober Judgment
there was nothing III the condition Of
affairs at this time so dangerous TO the
peace CT the two countries as the pres
enco Of these American cruisers in the
fishing waters.
The Eliza Dram was late in hcr arri-
val on the fishing grounds, and having,
under orders from Washington, reported
to the commander of the LcnnehaIa,
the United States vessel in charge at
that place, her captain ard crew went
vigorously to work to make up for lost
time. They worked so vigorously and
with eyes SO single 10 the catching o.
fish, that on tie morning of the Gay
after their arrival they were hauling up
cod at point which, according to the
Nationality OF tho calculator, might be
two and three-quartCrs or three and one
quarter miles from the Canadian coast
In consequence Of this inattention 10
the apparent extent Ct the marine mil
the Eliza Drum, a little before AJcii.
was ove-haulei ard seized Eg The BIZ
ish cruiser Deg Star. i few r.j.as
away the IeaaeGaha had perceived t5e
dangerous pos ZION Of the Eliza Drum.
and lad started toward her 10 wa.n h.y
to take 4 less doubtful position. ia,
before she arrived the capture had t.;i.,u
place. When he reached the spot win. re
the Eliza Dram had been fishing the
commander of the Lennehaha made an
observation Of the distance from the
shore, and calc9latcd it 70 be more than
three miles. When he sent an officer
IN boat to the Deg Star to state the re-
suit of his computations the captain Of
the British vessel replied that he was
satisfied the distance was less than three
mikes, and hat he was now about to
take tho Eliza Drum into port.
On receiving this information, the
commander Of the Lennehaha steamed
closer to the Dog Star and Informed her
captain b. means Of a speaking trumpet.
that If he took the Eliza Drum into q
Canadian port, he would first have to
sail over his ship. Tothis the captain of
the Dog Star replied that he did not in
the least object to sail over the Lenne-
haha, and proceeded to put a prize crew
on beard the fishing vessel.
At this juncture the captain of the
Eliza Drum ran up a large American
flag; In live minutes afterward the cap
tain Of the prize crew hauled it down: in
less than ten minutes after this the Len
nehaia and the Dog Star were blazing at
each other with their bow guns. The
spark had been struck.
The contest was not long one. The
Dog Star was Of much greater tonnage
and heavier armament than her antaco,
mist, and early in the afternoon She
steamed fer St. Johns, taking with hc1
as prizes both tho Eliza Drum and the
Lenrehaha.
All that night, at every point in the
United States which was reached by
telegraph. there burned a smoT nered fire
and the next morning, when the regular
and extra editions of the newspapers
were poured out upon the land. the fire
burst into 4 rearing blaze. From lake:
to gulf, from ocean to ocean, on mount
ain and plain, in city and prairie, il
roared anl bIazed. Parties. sections
politics were all forgotten. Every AIneri
can formed part Of an electric system
the same FIRE flashed into every soul. NJ
matter what might he thought on the
morrow, OF in the coming days which
might bring better understanding, thi:
day the unreasoning fire blazed ant
roared.
With morning newspapers i'll then
hands nlen rushed from the breakfast
tables into the streets to Inec& t!.rir fel
low men. What was it that they
should dor
-----1s--. l.----.&---A--N-..4-- - - -