The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-07-19
BRIZING OF POACHERS
Gchooners St Paul and Alexan-
der Were Hunting Otter.
"DETAILS or cApruRE ~ RUSH.
s1AVG nsA1sss9stss, - DesA oss,s
Ansnss. q Cs0~aeA - - Wss-
49,, lGsy - RSsss1ss cssDs

: etyxA. Alaska, JAY 10-fSpecisi 1.-The
4 Fnsteul States ssvsnus eustsf Rash, Cart
{. =. Hooper eom0anding. arrived - shis
tiaos % Juiy & and reports having seized
las echonnsss Alsxander, Of San Fran
t5seo. sad 81 PsuI, II Kodiak, % Chirikod
sagand On Jpiy z fcr Illegal hunting Of -
Ssaoe. Both vessels vers pat In charge OF
"a efness snd pfiss crsv. their papers and
hsmO yunovod 10 the Rush, and they are
ssov On shsir way 70 6ttks 70 b trtsd BE-
Snss the distsies courk The ssssufs Of
aasss vessels has caussd considerable ex-
ksssmsns In local circles, tar thsir trial
;sIDI settle The much disputsd question -
tS The rights Of white huntsrs u take go
pstsr aione the Alaska coast The Alex
Hsdsr bslongs 10 The wealthy fur dealers.
ia. Liebss 4 Co, of San Francisco. and the
IT Psul % the Alaska Commercial Com
sany. and - both there parties will I'M
ssoubssdly make . stubborn light, lively
sfimss ara expected. Tho story Of the pur-
:Eutt and capture Of the vessels. ~ ascer-
taiasd from one Of the Rush's men. II
invsn below. and forms m interesting
ehapssy Of the history og the - otter i'm
dustSy.
Il viii b sememLsrsd that the treasury
department Ia April last issued . circular
soebidding the capture Of sea otter within
she waters Of Alaska 20 al classes except
,astivs hunters. This rule. II rigidly in
4sspseted, meant that white msn who had
married natiys women In the territory
were not 10 b considered - natives any
longer. and g serious fears were enter.
1atned that the ssa ottsr was on the point
81 determination, especially 1t the hands
ri thsse squaw men, IL Was the desire OF
The department 70 have its subordinates
DO everything within thsir power TO In
force the law to the fullest extent. When.
therefore. Capt Ludlow, the senior naval
olhcss IN command Of the Boring sea 0eet,
reached Sand Point and ascertained that
several schoonefs were suspected Of being
engaged in hunting otter contrary to law.
~ assigned to Capt. Hooper Of the Rush
The duty Of overhauling the suspicious
ieralt and looking into the matter.
IL 10 . hard mattsr to ind
q small vessel among the islands Of the
Alaskan archipelago, especially 20 il the
hunted craft - not DESTROYS Of being
found, but Capt. Hooper started out on
his GRAND about June "a, and for week
OH0k0SU Utkub 0A30 NY Qu 1ttU Dtttb NUM-
Every nook and Granny Of the islands was
examined between Unga and the south
western end Of kodiak without success.
and on Sunday, July 2, the Rush's head
was turned 70 the sestward again to re-
5oin the 1sst Saturday night was foggy,
and Sunday Il opened up % thick that IL
was like sailing through mush. Tho Rush
slowly steamed along 10 the westward.
and u VAS Capt. Hooper's intention to
take look among the islands In tho vicIn-
1ty Of 6annakh before going 70 Unalaska
- report his lack Of success. whom. 1t sun
Siss on the day Of the capture. the fox sud-
denly liltsd and strange sail Vas sighted
veil - the windward. The Rush's head
was Immediately turned in the direction
Of the stranger. and In short time she
was ordered 70 hsavs to and b boarded.
An examination Of the vessel, which
proved 70 b the 81 Paul. disclosed the
fact that che was manned BY . mixed
crew Of whites, half Russians, japanese,
Sandwich Islandsrs and one man from the
ias-od chores Of Ceylon. There was not
single full blooded native OF
Alaska Tor whose benefit the restrictive
Law was passed, among the lot II Was
furthermore ascertained that sea otter had
been killed by the hunters on board the
81. Paul while we'll within the waters of
Alaska ~ defined by Law. snd a. there
Vas Absolutely no excuse offered except
that they had been shot by the Russian
hunters picked up AZ Kodiak, the vessel
Was seized. Meanwhile the vicinity Of
Tho St. Paul ~ Chirikoff island. where
there Is m anchorage bat no ha rbor
80 speak Of and IL on this &C.
count seldom visited. suggested to Capt.
Hooper the possibility that some other
otter hunter might not be far away. He
therefore directed the master OF tho st.
Paul to stand in for ChirikoE anchorage.
where his case could be more conveniently
settlii. When those in the St. Paul
heard that tho Rush Was going TO cali by
~ Chirikod island . wide grin Of satisfac-
Sion lighted up their faces. for even among
such bold spirits as otter hunters tho old
sdage holds good. Misery loves company"
In the course of the morning the low.
rolling shores Of tho island lifted
gradually into palmer view, and rs the
cutter drew nearer the watchfui officers
saw close in shore another vessel, with
calls down and rolling gently on the
ground swell As she swung idly to her an
ehor. A boat was quickly dispatched with
On officer. and IL was learned tina, the ves-
sel VAS the Alexander. of San Francisco.
sea otter hunter, With. II possible, a worse
mixed crew ~ hunters ON board than the
81 faal. There was ono difference, how.
ever. While some of the formers men
were residents Of Alaska, the Aiexandsr's
people made no sach claim, the most O.
thetn N fact being fusl-oioos.ed japanese
The official leg OF the Alexander showed
that she also had been taxing otter within
The marine limit OF jurisdiction OF tn,
United states, and after due delihe-a,ien
Capt. Hooper decided 10 ssi.a both Yes
s<is and send them 10 Sstka. Lieut. Rein
ears With prsss crew Was placed in
charge q the Alexander and Isscut. John.
ssoa took charge Of the 81. Paul Both
ofiieefs we're given orders In take their re-
sreetivc commands ~ Silka and turn
them over 10 the aaiharssies.
Whea the Rush reached ror, Can,
Hooper held consultation with rai, a,
States District Attorney Johnston. Who
after careful examination Of tia mates
has expressed The opinion that both YES.
sess are undoubtedly liable under tho N, -
law and thar trial ~isl result In eany,c.
tsou. He eAses hts opinion on TIA. Of ,ae
presiding Judge Of the district coart a.
given In the case Of the vessels ssasrl Tor !
like oGsnss BY the Mes,eAa lass year
These vessels were found in aeoa. ,As
same locality. bat escaped conviction on
She plea that the huatsrs On board Il IL.
time we're natives Of Alaska A. has beer
sirssay seen, this viii nos save sh~m in the
present instance. unsogsanasely for ths
owners AZ the sessed vessels tasy win no,
be able to give bonds for their appearance
~ the next term og the court ewing 20 the