The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-05-29
STEAMER SEIZED.
Haytian Republic Suspected Of.
Smuggling Opium.
EVERY CORNER IS SEARCHED.
Customs OMeers Make sudden Decent
and Yisd seefes Apartment, bus
No Dope Yst.

The steamship Hsytian Republic was
seized by Special Agen. WOOD yesterday
afternoon at o'clock when she arrived at
Haffieid's wbaYf. and il nov under tie
survesiIance Of Deputy United States Mar.
shsl West. What charges viii be made
against the owners Of the boat is a iBys-
terry and eanno. be stated until the
investigation closes this afternoon
Capt. J. A. Hatfield. agent for the
boat, thinks the act is caused by
some PARTY who has an object in hurting
the boat > reputation. The United States
officials will not give any canse for their
action, but . reporter learned late last
night that information had been received
in this city 70 the effect that . large
amount Of opium was concealed in the
boat and that an attempt would probably
Be made to land il in this city.
The Haytian Republic left Portland
with rs tons Of general freight and landed
ut Vancouver LAST Thursday or Friday.
There she took on $3.50 sacks of Chinese
sugar. There were also on board twenty
five japanese and one Chinaman. The boat
left Vancouver and was passed by the Gus
toms officials at Port Townsend yesterday
afternoon. She then proceeded on her
In some mysterious manner the custom
house officers in this city had gotten wind
OF something, and were prepared for
the landing. On the dock stood
special agent Wood, Deputy Col
lector of Customs u. A. Mckenzie,
Deputy United States Marshal West
and United States Customs Inspector J. II.
Coblentz. The captain of the boat and
Agent Hatfield we're notified that the
boat was seized, but that until the
search had been made no charges or
papers would be served. The steamer was
then placed in charge of Deputy United
States Marshal West, and permission was
granted Capt Hatfield to commence un-
loading freight under the inspection Of the
United States officials. ID. A. Mckenzie
went aboard the boat and allowed the
twenty-five Japanese to land. The one
Chinaman wanted to get cit but was re-
fused.
As soon an possible the search OF the
boat commenced. Every move was kept
quiet. and the fact tha, the boat was
undergoing an inspection did not leak out
until the evening. How many men were
acting with Deputy West in the search
could not be learned, but it is said
sugar, box Of tea or other article that came
off was overhauled. Every stateroom.
nook and corner came under the eyes Of
the officers. The hold was gone through.
and when some Of the men came out
they were sweating like men thse work
before furnace. The hunt was thorough,
and. while those engaged refuse to talk, it
10 known that secret apartments were dis.
t,st l...A
O'Clock last night Capt. Hat
field was notified that the investiga-
ton would probably close this after
noon at 4 O'Clock and more would he
known concerning the cause of the seizure.
Although the men had been at work four
hours, they found nothing. and Capt. Hat
field and the purser Of the boat, who were
seen by Posr-ISrELLraEScEar reporter last
night, fsci sure the result will be the same
today.
Where the information came from that
led the officers to seize the boat could not
be learned last night. neither could Special
Agent Wood be found. d. A.
Mckenzie was sought at his home
and in all other places he
Is known to visit, but
no one had heard or seen him. DEPUTY
"ess " 40 iuauu III charge Oh tue boat, ana
In response To an inquiry concerning the
seizure told tho reporter to wal, until to-
day and the facts might be learned. lie
had instructions To say nothing.
Capt. Hatfield was asked for statement,
and said be had none 10 make, otherwise
than that the boat had been seized and
permission granted to unload the freight.
II do not know what the charge. are"
he sad. and, while | believe the
officers are acting in good faith,
look on this affair "a Matchmaking
scheme of some party who wants 10 hurt
the boat. l believe the owners are as
innocent Of smuggling opium as an I'M
born babe and have letter in my posses
sion from Mr.. Dunbar. OF Portland. saving
that he hopes stop will be put to
the opium smuggling business. | wrote
Ia him about She two men who were ar
rested With opium In their possession the
last trf,e The boat made and he did not feel
pleased that two OF the boats crew we're
implicated in such an affair Ii any
opium IS found or the boa, shall be sur
pFlsed."
TWO NEW WESTERN LINES