Los Angeles herald., 1892-07-09
Detention Of the Eliza Ed
wards at San Diego.
A Futile Search Of the Vessel
For COntraband Goods.
Inconsistent Stories Told by Captain
Van Bremen.
DIR. Winchester of Santa Barbara Implf-
Gated in the Alleged Smuggling.
The Cook of the Schooner
Expected to Peach.
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Pressl
SAN DfEGo, July 8.-No traces of
opium have yet been discovered on
board the Eliza Edwards, the steam
schooner under seizure here, for the
alleged smuggling Of ffty-one China
men and 1000 pounds OF opium into the
United States. from Vancouver. The
publication Of the attempt made
yesterday by Captain Van Bremen and
DIR. Winchester to bribe reporter
and the editor of the Union to supp ress
facts already elected, caused panaic
this morning. Winchester left on the
first train for Santa Barbara, where the
customs officers believe the opium was
landed. Captain Van Bremen admits
having touched at Santa Barbara, but
says he did this to take on fresh meat
and a patent log, not having reported
to the customs authorities there, the
vessel becomes subject to fine.
OF $l40O, upon payment of which her
discharge will be orderedif no additional
evidence OF smuggling sreceived. Van
Bremen now denies having offered money
to secure the suppression of facts, but
the evidence is conclusive OF the at
tempted bribery of newspaper men.
The cook Of the schooner is under ar
rest, and may turn states evidence.
Captain Van Bremen threatens that
if his vessel is not released at once he
will apply to the British consul for pro-
lection. No one is allowed to visit the
schooner, nor the sailors to come ashore.
A suspicious circumstance in the case
is the fact that the captain at frst
claimed he had chartered the craft for
cruise to Mexico and Central America,
while now he tells an entirely different
story. He now sayssthat by the advice
OF his physicians he purchased the yes
sci for cruise in the Sand
wieh islands for his health. For two
years past he had been considering
the voyage and cleared at Vancouver to
San Diego to enable his physician, DR..
Winchester of Santa Barbara, to
board without going north. A spe-
cial dispatch from the latter place
yesterday, stated that Winchester's
wife said he had gone east. He regis
tered as "Charles HI. Smith, Chicago
The officers say they believe Winches-
ter is interested with Captain Vanbrem-
er in smuggling operations.
SANTA BARBARA, July 8.-Dr. r. A.
Winchester, suspected of being inter-
ested with Captain Van Bremen in
smuggling operations with the Eliza Ed
wards, now detained at San Diego, ar
rived at home this evening. He has
made long statement to the Morning
Press. He states that Van Bremen was
a patient of his for several years. The
object, partially, oil the Eliza Edwards
coming down the coast was to take Van
Bremen on sea trip for his health. An
other object was to. sell the boat
as there is no demand for sealers, which
she was built to be, owing to the Bering
sea troubles. Winchester was in Los
Angeles when he heard of the trouble,
en- his way east, and went to San Diego
to help his friend. His reason forregis-
tering under an assumed name was
that he was constantly besieged by
reporters and customs officers, and
wished to be rid of them. He denies
all knowledge of the story that the Ed
wards was going in search of lost treas
ure in the Cocos island. The story that
he offered money to the San Diego
Union, to suppress news, is emphat-
ically denied.
VICTORIA, B. C..July S.--The steam
schooner Eliza Edwards did not 90
direct from Vancouver south, but stopped
off at Victoria, where she was met
by Victoria sloop. What she took on
can only be surmieed, but her actions
aroused the suspicious of the United
States officers who seized her at San
Diego yesterday. 1t is supposed that
when she left she intended to 60 straight
to Victoria.