The morning call., 1893-07-19
THE REPORT NOT CREDITED
Captain Howison Is One of the
SkeptiCs.
NAVY OFFICERS NCREDULOUs.
The Man Who First Told the Story
Again Declares That Ii
Is True.
Special to THE MORNING CALL.

VALLEJO. July 1S.-Iu quest Of official
information in Confederation of the dis
matches from Port Townsend yesterday
which stated that in exchanging shots
with the seal-p0aching steamer Alexander
the United States steamer MOhIcan. nag
shin Of the Bering Sea patrol fleet. had
been struck and her machinery disabled.
an Associated Press correspondent inter-
viewed Captain Howison. commandant OF
the navy-yard, to-day
Captain Howson stated that he had
read the dispatch announcing The disab-
ling of the Mohican by shot from gun
on board the Alexander. but could not
lead himself TO believe that it was true.
Saws COmmandant Howison: THESE tele-
grams are conflicting, in SO far that the
engagement took place May %, while
another gives the date as June 25.
ION May % the Mohcan was at Port
Townsend awaiting final orders TO pro-
ceed to Sitka. On June % the Mohican, so
far as the dispatches from Captain Ludlow
inform US, was at Sitka awaiting further
orders from the department, which were
transmitted to Captain Ludlow at Sitka.
The story OF shot from the Alex
ander's smooth-bore penetrating the side
of the Mohican and disabling her engines
is so ridiculously absurd that we here
have enjoyed hearty laugh. and feel as
though it is what you newspaper people
call rank fake
'As you will comprehend. to.disabe the
Mohican'S engines it would be necessary
TO pass through fully twelve inches of solid
white oak, and then through her coal
bunkers into the eDgine-room. So far as
the news is concerned, it might be of a
sha de of truth with an unlimited amount
of Imagination added to it to make the
color. That there might have been an ex-
change Of shots between the two ships
would be possible, but even that is impos-
slbIe on the dates mentioned. Taking it
for granted that shots were exchanged it
is seemingly impossible for the Monican's s
gunners to have wasted their ammunition
ant not hit the Alexan Ger.
NV hie it is true the Mohican's maga-
zines were flooded on the voyage from
Honolulu to Port Townsend, the ships
ammunition outside of few canisters of
powder was not damaged, as all ammuni-
t,on on ships slowed in the magazines is
kept in copper cases sealed, so as to pre-
vent moisture entering and rendering the
charges useless. When the Mohican left
Port Townsend the magazines were filled,
and the ship was ready for any emergency
which she might encounter. If the story
were true and of the significance given in
the press dispatches, the Navy Depart
ment would no doubt know of it. But we
are officially ignorant of any such happen
ing. You can depend that if such were
the case Captain Ludlow would have the
news in Washington just as promptly as it
got TO the press. Then you can pronounce
the story in this mornings city papers 10
be Simply rank fake, pure and unvar-
" nished," said the captain with smile. as
he took his cap to leave the room.
: WASHINGTON. July 18.-The Navy De-
:partment officials d not credit the eport
that the United States steamer Mohican
was fred on and disabled by poaching
sea Ter in Alaskan waters on June %. One
treason for this is the receipt Of a telegram
, this morning from Captain Hooper of the
revenue cutter Rush. dated the 18th, saw
ing that by command of Commander Lud-
dow of the Mohican he had seized the seal
ers st. Paul and Alexander, but making
no mention of the disabling Of the Mo-
hicaB. 1t is not believed he would have
omitted to mention so lmporta Mt an event.
The utmost that the department will ad-
nit as reasonab bly, probable is that if the
Alexander did escape from the Mohican, ii
was solely on account of the fog or her
superior speed, and was not owing to the
disablement of the Mohican's machinery
by shot. Indeed, it is said that, owing
to the location of the machinery, it being
well below the water line, it would be
scarcely possible for SO small shot to
reach it
There was good deal OF speculation at
the Navy Department as to what fate may
be in store for the Alexander if the story
prove true. Some officers high in rank
thought she might be classed as pirate
and treatedIaccordingly, but cooler heads
held that as her original offense was not
one recognized bv International law, and
as she was under the Hawaiian registry,
she could not be taken upon the high seas.
II she appears at San Francisco it is a
question whether she could be seized, ex-
cept upon evidence, Of which there appears
to be none, that she had violated the seal
ing laws.