The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-12-04
GETTING AT THE FACTS.
CAROLINA CLAIMS COMMISSION
HEARS TESTIMONY.
Principal Witness the Mnte of the
Onward, Who Was Among the
Prisoners at Sitka CarOiina's
Owner Also on the Stand.

Victoria, 3. c., Dec. 3.-The claims
commission commenced inquiry into
the Carolina case yesterday morning.
Peters opened by reading pleadings
setting out in the claim that the Caro-
lima was seized on Aug. l, 1886, while
sealing in Behring sea, by the United
States steamship Corwin and taken to
Ounalaska. After trial, the schooner
and cargo were condemned, but after
being detained for some time her re-
turn was offered, but not accepted, on
the ground that the vessel had been
practically wrecked. Thirty thousand
dollars damages are claimed.
AMERICAS ANSWER.
In answer, the United States sets up
that the schooner was the property of
a citizenAof the United States and that
the damages are excessive. They deny
all liability.
Peters then went on to say that at
the time of the seizure the ship was
flying a British flag, a fact which, pri-
ma facie would show that she was
British, but he would put in a copy
of her British certificate of registry
AS seizures were made ten years ago,
il was at the present time difficult to
obtain evidence, as none of the Caro-
lina'S crew were now -obtainable, but
some of the members Of the crews of
other vessels which were seized at the
same time would be called. He then
took up the diplomatic correspondence
relating TO the case and proceeded to
read the records of the trial in the
district court in Alaska, containing
evidence as to the seizure and as to
seal life.
Dickinson objected to this evidence,
because the Paris tribunal had found
that the seizures were illegal if the
vessels were British and the question
cannot be gone into again.
According 70 the. terms of the con-
ventiOn all the commission is to do is
to find the facts not found by the
Paris tribunal. as it has already been
settled that the ship was seized be-
yond the legal distance from land.
Peters replied saying that certain
things had not been found and for the
purpose of ascertaining the compensa-
ton, it would be necessary TO find out
the articles taken. Besides, as third
it might be necessary. he
that everything that may
fairly go in should be received.
Judge Putnam said that so far as
the admission of evidence went. the /
would practically be in
the hands of the counsel Peters then !
matte correspondence and filed the |
whole. He then asked leave to ex-
anime John Margotich, mate of the /
who was the witness in that |
case.
A SAILORS STORY.
Leave was granted. and witness
called He said in 1886 he was mate
and interpreter on the sealing schooner /
which was seized on Aug. 2, 1886, by /
the Corwin. They had a crew of four 4
whites and 16 Indians, and had 400 Z
sealskins on board. 100 of which were I
taken the day before. The sealing was /
very good. The vessel was lowed to I
Alaska, and the crew of the vessel and I
also the Carolina were taken to Sitka I
and confined in the barracks, where. /
with the exc option of the Indians, +
who were allowed to- remain at large, /
they all, eight of them, slept in the I
same room, which was about SKIP.
They slept on the floor without mat
tresses and had only two meals daily. !
AT the trial they were given one
months Imprisonment, and were ac-
Lually confined for that time. The
Judge called them robbers. He said
they were robbing seals in American
waters. He gave the Indians $40 or SIS
to buy bread at Sitka. Captain Han
son of the Thornton, Harry Norman
and James Blake of the Carolina were
n jail with him.
On cross-examination by Dickinson,
said he was an Austrian
Dy birth, but had become a British
subject six years ago and since the
late of the seizure. He admitted that
he Jail or barracks in Sitka in which
hey were imprisoned was the court
house and the best building in Alaska.
Captain Ogilvie of the Carolina, who
wandered away and died in the woods,
vent out on the morning before court
sat They all slept on the floor. but
we're told in the morning to bring
heir blankets. He admitted that he
Snew nothing about how the Indians
we're fed in Sitka.
Munsie then gave evidence. He said
lie had been here IS years. In 1885, he
became owner of the Carolina. Nun
lie had not finished his evidence when
he committee adjourned.
Movements of SEins.