The record-union., 1896-12-03
Counsel for United States Denies Liza
bility in the Matter.
An Oregonian's Mind Wrecked by
Reading Stories of the California
Air-Ship-Henry w. Herne, Liv-
land, Becomes a Raving r1aniac,
and is Sent to the Insane Asylum.

VICTORIA (B. CO, Dec. Tine
Claims Commission commenced inquiry
into the Carolina case this morning.
Peters opened by reading pleadings
setting out in the claim that the Caro-
lima was seized on August l, 1856, while
sealing in Behring Sea, by the United
States steamship Corwin and taken to
OunalaSka. After a 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.
In answer the United States sets up
that the schooner was the property of
a citizen of 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 fly
ing the British flag, fact which, prima
facie, would show that she was Brit
ish. but he would put in copy of her
British certificate of register. AS the
seizure was made ten years ago, it
was at the present time difficult to OBJ
tain evidence, as none of the Carolina 9
the members of the crews of other YES
sells which were seized at the same
time would be called.
He then took up the diplomatic corre-
spondence relating to the case and pro-
ceeded to read the records of the trial
in the District Court in Alaska. con-
tanning evidence as to the seizure and
as to seal life.
Dickinson objected to this evidence,
because the Paris Tribunal had found
that the seizures We're illegal if the
vessels were British, and the question
cannot be gone into again. According
to the terms of the convention all the
commission is TO do is to find the facts
not found by the Paris Tribunal, as il
has already been settled that the ship
was seized beyond 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
arbitrator might be necessary, he sub
mitted that everything that may fairly
go in should be received.
Judge Putnam said that so far as ad-
mission of evidence went the Commits
sioners would practically be in the
hands of the counsel.
Peters then read certain letters and
parts of diplomatic correspondence and
filed the whole. He then asked leave to
examine John Margotich, mate Of the
Onward, who was the witness in that
case. Leave was granted, and witness
called.
Margotich said in 1856 he was mate
and interpreter on the sealing schooner
Onward, which was seized on August >
1856, by the Corwin. They had a crew
Of four whites and sixteen Indians, and
had 400 sealskins on board, 100 of which
were taken the day before. The sealing
was very good. The vessel was towed
to Alaska, and the crew of the vessel
and also of the Carolina We're taken to
Sitka and confined in the barracks.
where, with the exception of the Indi-
ans, who were allowed to remain at
large, they all, eight of them, slept in
the same room, which was about eight
by twelve feet. They slept on the floor
without mattresses, and had only two
meals daily. AT the trial they We're
given one months Imprisonment, and
We're actually confined for that time
The Judge called them robbers. He
cen waters. He gave the Indians SO or
S1o to buy bread at Sitka- Captain
Hansen of the Thornton, Harry Nor