The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-06-13
SEALERS RUN AWAY.
The M0hican Overhauls Two
Vessels From Seattle.
AND TIES UP THEIR FIREARMS.
Besides Ordering Them 60 Sand Point
II They Go Out Again They
VIII He Seized.

SIrKA, June 3-[special.l THE United
States steamer Mohican. flagship OF the
Boring sea patrol feet. arrived in port to-
day for mail and supplies, having been on
a cruise of FIVE days about Kodiak island.
On the third day of the cruise. in heavy
weather, the lookout on the Mohican saw
vessel well in shore. The warship bore
down on the schooner, which Immediately
piled on all sail in an attemptto get away.
The wind favored the schooner, and orders
We're given to fire across her bow. The
Hotchkiss guns sent couple of shots
after the schooner. which hove to. When
boarded she proved to be the Volunteer, of
Seattle. No direct evidence of illegal seal
ing was obtained, except all arms and i'm
plements were ready for use. These were
all sealed up and the Volunteer ordered to
Sand Point to await the end of the season.
The next day similar performance was
gone through with the schooner George r.
White, also of Seattle. The captainsof both
vessels were angered at being boarded, and
from their manner the naval officers ex-
pect more trouble with them. The next
time they are found away from Sand
Point they will be seized.
In talking with officers of the Mohican
the Posr-INTELLIGEScER correspondent
learned that there are likely to be several
seizures within the next few weeks, as
some of the vessels ordered to remain at
Sand Point have put to sea during the abb
sence of the war vessels from that place.
One officer said: 'The order to seal up
all arms and implements found on board
will not prove effective, as many captains
will take their chances on getting away.
break open the seals and hunt again.
Others will obtain arms secretly and leave
the sealed ones as We place them. There
is nothing to prevent them buying new
guns and shoot away as soon as they get
clear of land. This should be provided
against"
The only sealers who have given trouble
In any way out of the twenty or twenty
five boarded were the Volunteer and
White.
PoRr TOWNSEND, June 12-Private adj
vices from the Bering seal patrol, dated
June 3, state that up 10 that time the
United States feet had warned twenty
sealers, only eight of which were Ameri-
can. The department orders regarding
the treatment of sealsrs were not opened
till after the fleet left here on May l6, and
were found to be as follows:
When a sealer is boarded by naval
officer, English or American. he examines
the logbook under date of May 1. where.
if a seaier has been previously boarded, he
will find an entry. This entry will show
whether the sealer has been warned or
licensed. So far captains have offered no
objections 10 being searched, and all seem
anxious to learn the mission OF the patrol
fleet and get back TO port. In fact, the
English men-of-war carried orders from
owners of sealers which fitted out at
Victoria to return to that port. Be
side making an entry in the logbook
in regard TO boarding the sealer
the officer seizes or seals firearms and am
munition. The sealing of arms and am
munition Is done by placing the ammu-
milton in q canvass bag, which Is carefully
tied and the knots covered with wax,
which is stamped with the ships official
seal The arms are dashed together and
the knots officially stamped. Then the
sealer is told that he can take out license
If he desires, which will entitle him to
seal after August /. All seaers are given
copies of the presidents proclamation and
act OF parliament