The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-09-26
Slctorians Claim the Act Was Piratical
-Internationa al Row Prohahle

VICTORIA, Sept. 25-[Special.l Captain Riley.
OF the sealing schooner Otto which was made a
prisoner in Boring sea by the Mohican, taken to
Ounalaska and thence ordered to Victoria nre-
sented himself to Collector Milne this morning
with letter from Commander Hadley. of III
nj. ;. Pheasant In this document in
formation is given that the schooner
was seized for having irregular ma
pers," and the collector is reouested
to allow nothing to be removed from her rntiI
he receives further instructions from the admiral
OF the fleet. No further particulars have been
received by the customs people or Walter Borpo
the owner OF the schooner, and they are naturally
mystifed in regard to the case Had tho
schooner been warned home for sealing in
Boring sea the case would have possessed no
mystery. AS 1t is, marine men are inclined to
think there Is something behind which has been
withheld by the officers OF the Mohican ana
Pheasant.
one man prominent in connection with
Victorias shipping interests and in no wav
Identified with the present case saws:
There IS no law on the statute book of tbs
United states, Great Britain or any Other cow
Try that would justify the seizure of the
schooner lor such an ofeuse a. that alleged-an
error OF names in the ships register. our own
nIsh-oi-War would not dare to do it. and can
not conceive IL possible that il has been done
by the Mohean. The shipping law is 30
G s. On the point that nisinterpretation
10 Impossible. As far as we can see now ~
SEIZURE OF the Otto was nothing else than pirscv
anu Great Britain will be apt TO speak decisiyeiy
ABOUT IL anu quickly too. IL look. as il ne cou,
Hlailuer oil the Aoaican made "A great hlundar
and very costly one Tor him
Collector Milne has decided opinions on tho
case. lie says the point at issue is fully covered
Oy the certhcate OF register under the mer-
chants shipping act, attached to which is the
ioI4o"lng clear anu significant paragraph:
Ietuhcate Of registry is not a document of
tne. IL uoes not necessarily contain notice of
All changes OF ownership and in no case does il
contain the official record OF any mortgage
affecting the ship.
III says the collector, "the schooner had
bcen ordered out of the sea nothing could be
saId. As II is, fail to see what they are talking
abouC The Otto Is Lunenberg schooner II
elgAty-six tons, and was purchased BY Mr.
borne and brought around late in the spring
cleared her for a fishing cruise, for which ali
the seAiers cleared, on June 20 The roodus
viyendi was gazetted in Lon1on ON June "a and
In Ottawa on July Is"
Captain Riley's explanation of the seizure
contains no clue 10 any other charge than that
made public. He says that the officers of the
Mohican boarded him and asked who owned the
schooner He replied, Walter Borne Of Viz
torla- They then asked who was in command
lie gave his name. On looking over tha reyis
Try eertneate the raan-oi-wars peopIe saw tha
snames OF the old owners ana master and 81
once told him he was under seizure for irregu.
larities In his papers. The question of sealing
IN Boring sea did not enter into the rns,ter q,
all. '''i az