The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-11-28
Dog In THE MANGER.
San Pedro Mustn't Be Wrecked
by an American Plant.
BRITISH HAVE NO APPLIANCES.
Inspector Bryant on Action of Ottawa
Government-steamb Accidents
of Year-Water Front.

Relative to the Victoria dispatch in yester-
days OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES, stating that Col
leetor OF Customs Milne had received instruc-
mons that only in the event OF plant for raising
the San Pedro not being found in the province
IN which the accident occurred will American
wreckers be allowed to go in and raise her, Cap
tain Bryant, local United States inspector of
steam vessels, said that at the request OF Cap
tain Hewet he had examined the condition OF
the vessel few days ago, and found she could
have been foated very easily had she been at
tended 10 in time. Captain Bryant happened 10
Dc In Victoria looking after the repairs on the
steamer City OF Topeka, in the dry dock at Es-
quimalt and Captain Hewett went TO him and
MADE the request. As soon as he investigated
and realized how easy it would be to raise her,
he applied to Collector Milne for permission to
take in wrecking apparatus from the American
side to do the work, agreeing at the same
time to employ all the British wrecking
apparatus available Collector Milne replied
that he would telegraph to Ottawa at once for
permission, promising to do all he could toward
that end. Captain Bryant set about to see how
much available apparatus he could find on the
British side. He found two fair-sized pumps
and engaged them. and then went to see the
owner OF a small wrecking scow called the Mas
cot to see what he would want for his services
and the use OF his apparatus. Captain Bryant
says the seow was really OF but little use in the
job, but he wanted to comply with his agree
ment and employ all he could find available.
The owner of the scow refused TO make any
agreement at the time, however, but promised
to give an answer at a certain hour that same
day. When the time came, instead of giving an
answer as promised, he entered a pro-
test with the collector against the bring
ing in of any American apparatus,
because be had been prevented from raising
some rails on the American side which were
lost off the J. c. Britain near the mouth of De-
ception pass some time ago. Then the collector
refused to have anything more to do with the
matter, and did not send the telegram to Ottawa
Captain Bryant next appealed to Consul Myer,
requesting him to demand of the collector per-
mission TO bring in the necessary apparatus to
save the vessel The consul did SO, and evil
IDENTIFY the dispatch referred to is substantially
the reply the collector received from Ottowa-
Captain Bryant said he could have found
plenty of apparatus on the American side of the
Sound to have fioated the vessel without much
difficulty, and he condemns the delay a ma
licious piece OF work, the vessel is liable at
any moment to be rolled over so to make it
impossible ever to raise her. He thinks the fact
that she was run on the ledge by q British pilot,
coupled with the facts herein stated, will
leave the Canadian government liable in case
the delay causes the total loss of the vessel.