The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-11-13
PRISONER IN SIBERIA.
Seattleite's Adventures Among
Captured Sealers.
RUSSIA RULING THE WAVES.
She Claims Unlimited Jurisdiction
Prisoners Lodged Among Chol-
era-Stricken Cinnamon.

Ralph W. Smith, the son OF Dr. H. A. Smith,
an old pioneer, has Just returned from quite an
adventurous vacation. In order TO see some
thing OF Alaska, and at the same tune make
something by IL, he hired himself as hunter
on a Victoria sealer and he has written sae ioi-
lowing account OF the cruise:
l was engaged By the schooner Carmolle'
with the understanding that was TO nave one
fifth OF the value of all the seals should klsi.
We LETT February land had very pieasan Trip
along the coast, sealing as we Wen1. We me.
with no adventures OF importance Until angus.
g, when We were seizai OFF Copper isiafa1 oy me
Russian cruiser Vetiez, with 61S seal SKINS,
guns, ETC., being allowed TO take our cio sues
only. We had sent home one catch OF SIS skim
When we first sighted the cruiser we were aoout
ten miles from the islands; We immediately
changed our course aud soon had All sails
spread, hu. after a short chase she overlook US
aud fired q shot for Us to lay 10, which. under
the circumstances. We though. best To DO:
wnen auss'on1a a 81 20 a.. VIE renlIed tina.
be had right TO seize her even Ii she was Apo
miles from the island 4 p-ize crew was put
aboard the Carmolite and we were taken on
boar the Fetiez and proceeded - PetropiuiovsAi
followed by the schooner.
We were treated very well aboard the cruiser,
but not so we'll ashor. We arrived at resro-
pau.ovski on August 20 and were pu. ashore on
the 3lst We were told on landing tl0s IL al!
one of us was disorderiy We should ali be
stripped and thrash-d with a larce whip. wnica
would take the skin from our backs. Ihls rue
was not enforced, though some OF the men GOT
drunk and shouted abou: the streets. We were
told We would be given provisions or subsisS
euca money by the sharff, and very Little At
thar," and they certsiny kept their WORD, lor
each man was supplied with "a cents per day,
which barely paid for two hardtacks
meal. Capt Ralcaa and the crew OF the Maria
and boats crew captured from the Moore were
in Petropaulovski when we arrived. On sep
TENDER we were all (dfty-one in number
twency-three from the Carmoiite, twenty-five
from the Maria. and three irorn the Moore.D put
aboard the Veeiiez and lest next morning for
Viadivostock, calling at several convict stations
on the way. At these places we could see sne
convict men and women going 20 and frou, the
mines, nearly destitute OF clothing ana very
haggard in appearance, az II hali-starveo aad
overworked.
Arrived a, Vladiyostock on September p, we
were pu, ashore next day and allowed Is cents
per day and free lodgings, ii we wished 20 take
them. with crowd Of Ss, ,t wno TEE zee
lodg ugs were in a louy shed where about 10
persons were housed. There were long rows of
hunks with psssageway between mem:
and in the morning they were taken out and LAID
in row and a cart took them away n the after
noon. The captain, mates, myself ara many
others declined TO accept their pitable invita-
ton AMI, after the FIRST night, the rest OF the
crew left the MongoiianS n possession OF the
building and secured lodging elsewhere. After
paying for one lodging and one modest meal we
had very little left
On the 18th we were taken on board the
Japanese mail boat Toxic Msru and left on the
ing in comparison 10 what We had on shore, but
We were each allowed about half pint OF rice,
q small quantity of cooked seaweed. which
tasted as near IS | can tell like boiled straw, and
some unsweeteEed weak tea. We arrived at
Fusan on October 8, and changed Tor another
japanese mail boat, the Genkai Maru. and pro-
ceaded TO Nagasaki. where we arrived on the
lith. We were handed over to the British con-
sui, who sent us 20 hotels, but asked us to sign
a paper stating that if The owners OF the
schooners refused to pay our expenses while in
Nagasasi, we would do so ourselves. This We
refused 10 10, hut got our meals rotwithstand
ing On October 10 We were put on board the
Empress of Japan, and the same night LETT
for Yok0hams. where we arrived on the 18Th and
lef. on the 20ih and arrived on sunday evening,
October So, at Victoria. In the port of Yoko-
hama We saw the British mal-of-war Leander,
and were informed that ner commander was ex-
peeting orders to proceed to tladlvo>tock and
inquire into Russian right 10 seize sealers when
several miles from land. II justice Is done We
will be unidentified for asi the captured SKINS as
we had violated no law.
We were further informed that two British
men-oi-war had lett Hongkong on q similar