The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-05-30
FOR PAST OFFENSES.
Why the Steamship Haytian
Republic Was Seized.
TOO MANY "ToNs. or "coAl. !"
Csrrespon1enee Between her PoFslaao
Msaagsss asA Victoria Agssss h
0aodo 81 AutAerisiee,

The seizure Of the steamship Haytian
Republic by customs authorities Sunday
night was the talk Of the town yesterday.
for the vessel has become notorious in the
public mind by reason Of the many stories
current and published from time to time
concerning her alleged smuggling opera
tons. When IL became known yesterday
that sitter thorough search only Eve
pounds Of the coniraband drug. and that
evidently belonging to some member OF
the crew. had been found, wonder grew
concerning the real cause OF the seizure,
Tor special agent has evidently come
here Tor the express purpose OF looking at
Ter this case and is proceeding As though
he had something big on hand. The Gus
toms authorities have nothing to say fur
ther than that il the ship had not had an
ounce OF contraband goods on her on this
trip and had not brought single China
man to this side on this voyage they
would still have enough evidence to con-
hscate her and to cause number Of per-
sons considerable trouble. In short. the
customs officers think they have bagged
the big smuggling ring which is said to
have its head in Portland and to have
taken tons Of opium and hundreds of con-
traband Chinese into Portland from Vic
toria and Vancouver during the past nine
or ten months.
Edwin .. Wood, of Detroit, a special
agent Of the treasury department. is man.
aging the seizure. He came upheralded.
and. it is said. surprised even the local
authorities who are now working with
him He is new man to the service, and,
If all the stories are true, has a big job cut
n for i'm, . ta
that he has vast amount of evidence coll
lected by local customs authorities and
sent by them to the treasury department.
Mr.. Wood is silent on this subject, how
ever, and since his arrival the local author
titles have ceased to acknowledge q speak.
Ing acquaintance with newspaper re-
porters.
The Haytian Republic has had 4 re-
markable history for being seized by off.
GERS. She was built eight years ago at
Bath. Me-, and belonged to the Boston
and Hayti mail line when she was
seized by the Spanish government early in
her career on suspicion that she carried
arms and munitions of war to the revo!u-
tionists. About four years ago she was
purchased by the Kodiac Packing Com.
pany and brought around the Horn to
carry supplies to the northern canneries
and to bring back fish. For this business
she was found too large and proved un-
profitable, the result being that the boat
was laid up for some time.
About three years ago, during the boom
Of the steamboat business, she was put on
as an opposition boat between San Fran
cisco and Sound points. When the BUSH
ness Stacked she was laid up again in Oak
land, Cal. In June, last year, w. o. Dun
bar, OF Portland. president OF the
Merchants Steamship Company, chartered
the vessel with the option Of purchase if
the payments we're made as agreed, and
the boat was put to run between
Portland and Vancouver in connec-
ton with the Canadian Pacific
railroad and Puget sound points.
The first and second payments were
made as agreed by Mr.. Dunbar. but the
loss of the sister ship. the Wilmington.
and Dunbar's failure in business, caused
the ship to be turned over to the North
western Loan and Trust Company, Of
Portland. the mortgagee. and this COM
pany has since last February been the
mortgage owner.
Within the past three months the ship
has been repeatedly detained IN connec-
ton with the carrying of Chinese. hun
dreds Of whom have been landed at Port
land, and she has been served with attach
menis III both British Columbia and
Seattle. only to be released under bond.
For a time one l. Blum was associated
with Manager Dunbar in the active con.
due. Of the affairs Of the company in Port
land, while Maj. John Wilson was the
agent for the steamships at Victoria. When
the Merchants Transportation Company
became embarrassed il Is said that
II was unable or failed to pay GER
tain large sums IF money due parties
IN Victoria and Vancouver, for which
Wilson had made himself personally re-
sponsihe by Endorsements Of drafts and
other negotiable paper. Wilson finally
became enraged at what he con-
sdered unfair treatment on the
part Of the Portland managers OF
the company. and 10 get even
placed the United States customs officers
In possession Of all the correspondence
that had passed between him and the
Portland men during the business connec-
ton. INSPECTOR Cobentz is said to have
secured this evidence several weeks ago
and TO have forwarded IL to Washington
City. The sending of Special Agen, Wood
is the result The fact that If this SNUG
Cling has really been going on rs reported
nil these months without Special AGENT
Nuikey learning OF /, probably precluded
his being assigned 10 the duty OF working
up the Casp.
The correspondence furnished by Agent
Wilson IS said 10 contain startling dis
closures. Nearly al Of the letters purrort
20 have been written BY Dunbar. although
some OF them are signed by Blum.
ar some one using his name.
They give instructions Sonccrninr
the movements of the Heytan Republic
aud Wilmington and the earroes they are
81 hr.ns. There are also a large punbcr
ot kilograms OF 4 similar tenor. 4 clnhsrts
u,e'! IN many q 'hem. the key 10 winch had
also fallen INTO the hands of The customs
ofhceTs- Hy II Goa" - made 20 stand Tor
opium and tons" fog pounds - .,s.na
- tons Of coal By tae Isvtian Republic"
would according u the cipher code fnoa,
that the ship sas - bring ''swo hundret
pounds ~ oriufa.' Ia nsany O. the letters
ana kilograms signed hy Dunbar the y;e.
Iorta SCENT is urged 10 send more ..Das.
sengers, meaning Cinnamon. a, they nay
50 n head ana are more nroet.
abe than opium. Repeated alI,.
sons are made - the lsrr.
sums tina; have - 80 paid 10 cus.anns
officers =, Portland. th:s beng one % the
excuses made IA sioxness IN meet,ny
drafts. Al times Mr. N4soa Is informed
that the sale II goods" : slow ar ,ha,
the only Cinnamon wao are buvlur the
good" are not wiling 20 pay the mice
ssc In one Of the letters .h~ "a. tt,