The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-10-19
THE SEIZED sEALERs.
One Restored TO Her Owners-Froceed-
tngs AyAlnat Oscar and Hattie.

VrcToRIA. Oct. 18.-TSpeciai. l--Collector
Milne this morning had the pleasure OF
signing the papers which restored the
schooner Mountain Chief. with her catch
of 1877 sealskins, her sails, her hunting
outfit and her instruments of nav
igation 10 the possession of her owners.
Jim Maussanm, a West Coast tyee. is
chiefly interested, his partners in the
schooner all being, like himself. British
Columbia Indians. They were sealing in
Sering sea this spring, and tor this offease
the schooner and her contents were seized
by the United States ship Adams on July
80. On August the prize was turned over
10 II. NJ. s. MeipoInene, Of Unalasks.
On september 5 the schooner arrived
bone, having been sent down by Capt.
parr, pending decision in her case by
the admiralty.
Since that date the captain and her crew
have been patiently waiting 20 learn the
fate OF their property. The schooner had
been leaking badly lately, and something
bad TO be done at once 10 prevent ruin of
the SKINS and so the admiralty looked
into the case and, taking into considera-
ton the Indians plea of ignorance, noti-
tied the collector that if he approved of
the decision he would sign the necessary
orders abandoning the schooner. with her
contents. to the owners. This Milne gladly
did. and there 10 rejoicing 10 the camp OF
the owners.
Official instruction WAS also received
by the collector that the Oscar and Hattie
will shortly be proceeded against in the
admiralty court for violation OF the
modus. This schooner was proceeding
home from the Asiatic coast, and, run
ming short of water, put into Atu. the
most westerly point of the inner Aieutian
Islands for supply. On resuming her
homeward passage she made the mistake
OF taking the inner instead of the outer
passage aud so was bounced upon by the
Mohican. There is no claim set up that
che was sealing in Bering sea. only that
she was found within the limits Of for
hidden water. This seizure was reported
by the Bering sea correspondent of the
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
Consul Myers sat IS commissioner in
the Board of Trade this afternoon in the
case of the seizure of the Coquitlam. r.
r. Dewes, of Washington City. represent
ed the United States, and 4. G. Hughes,
OF Seattle. the respondents.
Robert Mckeel. master of the schooner
Maud g.. testified. Witness produced
clearance papers for the Northern Pacific
ocean dated February 1. He went on a
sealing cruise He had no cargo on board
other than provisions. When he left
home the nodus vivendi had not expired.
On the afternoon of June is he put into
Touke bay. On the following day he trans
ferred his skins TO the Coquitam. going
out To sea 10 do 50. lie transferred 773
skins in sacks on boats TO the Coquitlam,
and also received two tons OF coal from the
Goqnitlam. The skins were consigned To
". X. Bowen, OF Victoria. The Coquitlam
steamed back into the bay after the trans
fer and the Maud s. returned To Touke
hay. Witness took the bearings, which
showed him 10 be outside the three-milc
limit. Capt. Mekeel's testimony was cor
rohorated by capts. Buccholx and Mag.
nesen, who also transferred the skins
both claiming TO be outside the limit.