The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-08-17
SLAYERs OF THE SEAL.

SLAYERS OF THE SEAL.
How the Blaine Bomshell is Regarded
in Alaska.
Copyright 1901
SITKA, Aug. 2-The thunder from the
state department at Washington falls with
a peculiar charm upon Sitkau ears 1t
comes just at the right time to allay
little special Inflammation. Long ago
Alaskans learned to look upon the foreign
office correspondence as a mere polite inter
change af diplomatic civilities. That the
one capital to the other really
meant anything no one here be-
lieved. For score of years
that while marauders might violate every
fishery law upon the United States statute
book no state department officer would
dream of insisting upon anything or of say
ing word calculated to offend refined Eng
lish ears. AS always happens in such cases,
our fishermen have had to defend their
own rights 1t must be confessed that
Blaine's sturdy utterances have taken us
agreeably by surprise. We hal long since
ceased to expect anything but the most
| bdEllllSoS duO COuTL9OuS Official comm IN
places. These utterances happen to be most
opportune. Alaska fishermen are in an es-
pecially ugly frame of mind just now, not
because they fad their field invaded, for
they are accustomed to that, but because Of
passage at arms which caused much in
dignatiOn here, and a few meager details of
which has just leaked out. The story had
perhaps better be told in the language of
the man to whom l am indebted for my in
formation.
''Well all there was about it was that
they had three more men than we had, and
we naturally got the worst of it, When
did IL happen? Oh, not very long ago. You
fifty miles of where they ought to be, and
our cap'n told 'em so. The Ka luck skipper
had lots o. heart, l must say, but he got a
good lickin' for it. He challenged our cap.
to fair stand-up fight, and they went at
it. You see, our Cap'n amt no SLOUGH
with his fists. and it was as pretty a set-to
as you ever saw. When they saw thei-
man getting used up they went at US. 1t
didn't last very long. They was too strong
for us, and they drove us off. but it lasted
long enough for two OF our hands and for a
couple of theirs, | can tell you.'
This rather simple statement of what
happened does not apparently describe an
affair sufficiently serious TO justify any
great amount of Sitkan Inflammation, but
as matter of fact it was an encounter
worthy of portrayal in strong colors.
| Two OF the Alaskans looked as
if a butcher had been operating upon
them. They survive only because they
chung to life with extraordinary te-
nacity. The chances are that the Canadian
has one or two empty berths at his disposal.
This is only one variety of what is con-
tinually happening. Nothing but really
threatening friction between the two gov
ernments directly concerned in tho co ltro-
versy will ring down tie curtain ON the
everlasting wrangle.
10 degree which can scarcely be COM
pretended east of California we are stirred
up by the possibilities of the situation. For
many years before the famous ukase of
Alexander of Russia was issued the Behring
sea bugbear stalked through the corridors
of Washington and stirred up British bile.
Up to this time the people of the United
States have, in a sort of a general way,
understood it to be matter over which
the British lion roared occasionally, while
the Russian bear growled snlkiIy and
the American engle screamed with its
customary harshness. With the details
Involved they have a superficial acquaint-
ance. The popular conclusion was that the
whole affair would ultimately drop into an
amicable settlement, and that ia the mean
time it was scarcely worthy Of close scrutiny
by any one not connected with the state
| departments OF tue nations engaged in
the discussions. Blaine'5 determined stand
and the English premier's shadowy
claims have changed all this. Now
that faint possibility of war looms up, it
will bring with it thorough understanding
of the issues at stake. 1t is hardly neces-
sary to say that the publication of the cor
respondence created a profound sensation
here. We are not worked up to such
fever heat that we believe there is danger of
serious complications, but we do APP
preciate the fact that the begin
he md
the musty ghost of the Behring
sea contention Is to be laid at rest at last.
Those who think however, that the English
lion will submissively wag his tail and sub
side, take a somewhat optimistic view of the
| case.
There is plenty of material for a lively
| row. All Sltka Is rejoicing at the dexterity
and nerve with which our side of the
| affair has been handled. Whatever be
| the outcome, there is no doubt that in
| the near future our fisheries Will be safe
from the iutruders VINO have threatened
the determination of the seal. This de-
| voutediy to-be' wished contamination will
be brought about without oombardment.
When Russia and England came to blows
| In the Crlmea we escaped shot and shell by
| a sort of tacit agreement between the two
| nations, and the conviction is general here
that however much buster NAV
precede the final settlement, it will
when it comes, be amicable, perma-
nent and conclusive. Since the Behring sea
disputes began to worry foreign secretaries
on both sides Of the Atlantic hundreds of
other International problems have had their
birth and burial 1t really began to look as
though this one would be sort of diplo.
matte Wandering Jew, always searching
for grave. and yet always turning up
with undiminished vitality. and now at last
Alaska congratulates itself taat these fruit
ful sources of bitterness aud irritation are
70 10 be Inferred, quietly 1t is hoped, but in
any event, inferred.
change began 20 come over the spirit
Of Sitka's dreams tho moment the Ameri-
can flag began b. q at over 10. Secretary
Seward bought Alaska IN 1887 and from
that time the rec ord has been one Of push,
energy, activity and achievement. The
stmul0us Of the transfer wis felt ifnmedi-
ately. Increased values were pe' ,pube
everywhere. need say nothing about tbs