The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1893-02-23

A Captain of a Wha}er Violates
the Law.
The Sealing Schooner Mathew Turner
Arrives and Departs Without
Leave.

Last night about 10 o'clock the
town was alarmed by frequent blasts
from the tug whistle. Many people
sprang to their telephones to ask
Central" about the strange commo-
ton, but this time the operators
could give no information. At first
it was thought that the crew of the
whaler William Tell, which is an
chored outside, had mutineered and
that story was believed unit! the re-
turn Of the tug to her wharf, which
was about midnight. Port Surveyor
Sanders came in on the tug and the
following information about her
errand was furnished by him to an
ADVERTISER reporter:
Yesterday afternoon about 2
O'Clock a strange schooner came to
anchor 10 the roadstead. 1t was
afterwards learned that she was
sealers the Mathew Turner,
and was from San Francisco. She
left that city on the 2nd inst Ell
route to the Japan sealing waters
with a mixed crew composed OF
twenty two hands.
AS soon as the vessel. came to an
anchorage, the Port Surveyor detail
ed men in shore boat to watch her
to prevent the landing Of contraband
goods. About four O'Clock the Captain
came ashore for the purpose of 'pur-
| chasing some stores for the vessel
After he completed his purchases, he
left the Mail wharf about $50 O'Clock
| and was rowed TO the schooner. As
the skipper did not go near the Gus,
| tom House to make an entry, the
officials became suspicious and dur
ing the afternoon Mr. Sanders re
ceived orders not to allow her to &C
to sea. 1t was discovered about nine
O'Clock that the seaier was tC
heave anchor, so the Port Surveyor
decided to call the tug into requisi
ton. She was to go out to tow the
strange craft inside of the harbor
but when the captain was notified Of
the programme he would not lister
to it for moment and said nothing
but a superior force could detair
him. Mr.. Sanders had but hand
ful of unarmed men, and as the Tur
ner had a crew all Of whom haC
revolyers strapped around theil
waists, it was decided not to fight
The captain was notified that he was
breaking the laws of this country by
not entering properly at the Custom
House, but he retorted by saying
that he had perfect right to anohor
inside Of the three league limit for ;
period Of twenty-four hours.
The captain was determined tx
leave these shores anyway, and sai(
as soon as two Of his men, who were
ashore, came on board he would hois
his anchor and leave for Japan. Ii,
carried out his word, as he left abou
11:30 o'clock with the protest Of tn,
Port Surveyor ringing in his ears.
Mr.. Sanders says that when h
read the ships manifest he was al
most frightened at the amount 0
arms and ammunition which was re
corded thereon. On the deck OF tn
vessel there was a cannon and il
other respects she looked more like
war vessel than a sealer. When TIA
Custom House officers got On board O
the schooner they were surprised t,
see men moving about in all direc
tons, each OF whom had cartridg
belt around his waist and armed wit
a big revolver.
The captains name could not b
ascertained, but he is described q
being Swede and about SO years c
age.
1t is not known what the oujcom
of the captains violation Of tie la
will be, but in all probability thi
Government will commence e suit fc
damages against the owners, who al
in San Francisco.