The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-09-22
TIE RUSSIAN SEIZURES.
Crews Sent Home From Petropaulovsk
With Inadequate Provisions.

VANCOUVER, b. c., Sept 2i.-Capt. Copp,
master Of the sealing schooner Vancouver
Belle, which was seized by the Russians,
arrived this morning in the schooner
Prize, formerly the Rosie Olsen, of Vic
toria, which had been seized by the
Russians. The Vancouver Belle was cap
tured by the Russian map-of-war Zabraka
twenty-one miles off Copper island on July
IL. She had nearly 100 skins aboard, and
after that day of sealing Copp had in
tended to start home. He expostulated,
but the commander told him the Russians
claimed jurisdiction Of 100 miles around
the island. Capt. Copp and his men were
conveyed to Petropaulovski, prize crew
being placed on the Vancouver Belle.
Copp and his crew were confined for some
time. The commander finally allowed
Copp to return on the schooner Olsen,
making the trip to Vancouver in thirty
days, as the schooner is old and unsea-
worthy. The Russians gave them twenty
days provisions of q very inferior quality.
The supplies ran out and the men were
nearly starving when they arrived.
On the Vancouver Belle were also eight
men belonging to the schooner w. r.
Saywsrd and Z. b. Marvin, Of Victoria,
the former losing two boats in . fog, and
the latter one, Russians picking them up.
AL the guns. skins and ammunition were
confscated as we'll a. the schooner, which
was worth, when equipped. about $4,000,
and was the best OF the British sealing
tiect. When the Prize left Siberia the
schooners Willie Mcgowan and Ariel, Of
Victoria, and the American schooner C.
II. White, Of San Francisco, was under
seizure. They passed none Of the
schooners on the way. Capt. Copp had
lengthy interview with Collector Of Gus
toms Bowel and will take the mems
depositions and forward them to the gov
eminent.
Capt Copp says he was treated courte-
ously by the Russian officer, who ex-
pressed regret that he had to perform the
disagrseabls duty Of seixing him and his
vessel. His orders from his admiral were
to use his own discretion and seize any
vessel inside Of the line Of latitude from
the southernmost Aleutian island to the
Kamschatka coast; this would be 200 miles
south Of Copper island. He might have
seized twenty vessels instead Of five. The
Belle was within twenty-five miles Of Cop
per island when seized. Copp was given
good treatment on the Russian man-of-
war Zabraka, and the men were given the
same treatment exactly as the Russian
sailors, which, though the latter look
hearty as the result of it, did not suit a
Canadian. The men had all to sit at din.
ner time around a big pot with soup and
meat in IL. The sergeant would tap three
times on the edge of the pot, and then
everybody would scoop into the dish with
his spoon. The hard rye bread served was
also unpalatable. For supper they got
kind of mush. At Petropaulovski Is
kopeks per man per day was allowed for
rations. This sum had the purchasing
power Of about cents, and il was q case
OF fish or starye. The captain had to go
each day to the governor to draw money,
and that official used him most discount
eousiy. One day he was asked to cit
down and wait till the governor came in.
When the old petty tyrant arrived he
cursed him roundly for daring to sit down
in his house. The interpreter was mer-
chant in Petropauiovski, and the Ian.
guage used was 80 gross that he would not
translate IL, but apologized for the gov
ernor's radeness. Capt Copp wanted to
be given the Belle To come home in, but
the captain Of the man-of-war said that
he dared not give it. Such al act would
be more than his commission would be
worth, aud the slightest sign that he was
in collision with offenders against the adj
mirnl's orders might mean removal TO the
Siberian mines. The only thing he
dared was to present Capt. Cobb with
one OF the other seized vessels which had
been condemned as worthless and allow
him 10 risk taking himself and men
home in her If he dared. The vessel
had accommodations for about twelve
men, but place was made in the hold for
oil of them. They. and for that matter.
the whole ship, was far from being clean.
and the men had very disagreeabIe
time. Fortunately they had fair weather.
or all might now be in Davy Jones
locker. The Russians provlsionci the
ship according to their own idea. The
meats were spoiled. aud for several DAYS
toward the end of the trap tea and rye
bread, the latter as hard as brick, formed
che staple articles of diet. A eomnlete
list Of the vessels seized up 10 the time of
sailing Of the Russian Prize is as follows.
Rosie Olsen, Victoria: Ariel. Victoria.
Willie McGowan, Victoria; Enternrfse
Victoria; Carlotta @. Cox, Victoria. Van.
eouver Belle. Vancouver; {. Fl. White
San Francisco. Kate and Anne. San Fran
cisco.
Capt Copp heard or saw nothing Of any
British meg-of-war, which discretits III.
recent story tina. the Russians had re-
Taxed vigilance because of the appearance
ct British men-oi-war iii Eastern Siberian
waters.