The San Francisco call., 1898-03-18
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steamer Corona. while being brought to Victoria by the tug Lorne for re- pairs the customs authorities haVlnS demanded that she come here De1ore proceeding to American ports, as she was wrecked in British waters, slipped her hawser this morning and lied to Port Townsend in tow of the tug Pio- neer, which, in accordance with prearranged scheme, was waiting TOT her in American waters near Patos ls- land about forty miles from Victoria The orders of the Canadian customs officers, it is said, were diSobeyed un- der sanction of the United States Treasury Department by whose orders the cutter Perry left Port Townsend yesterday to meet the Corona, to .&he her from the British tug Lorne, and cCnvey her to Port Townsend.
 The Lorne left Victoria to go for the Corona on Friday last, and found her lying alongside the Standard Can nery wharf at Skeena. waiting the tug. Her boilers were damaged some what, as when she was beached to have her hull patched after being raised she struck heavily amidships and one or the furnaces came to grief
 
 could proceed slowly under one fur mace. The Lorne left Skeena with the Corona in tow Monday last, experi- enced good weather, and proceeded without incident until last night, when the Perry hove in sight and her ac- tions excited the curiosity Of the men on the Lorne. She spoke the Corona several times, and after lowering around most of the night, put boats crew aboard. What those who were m the boat said to the officers of the Corona no one knows. but what fol- lowed was significant enough. After the interview the United States cutter left and returned south. About six hours afterward, when the Lorne was steaming along toward Victoria with the Corona, the hawser suddenly slackened and Captain Langley of the Lorne soon saw that he had lost his tow. She had slipped her hawser, and taking advantage of the repairs made to her boilers on the way down, she steamed away.
 The crew of the Lorne then saw the whole plot A short distance away lay the Seattle tug Pioneer awaiting the Corona. The American tug quickly put @ hawser on board and steamed for Port Townsend.
 Captain Goodall and all the members of the wrecking expedition, even the divers, were on the Corona when that vessel so unceremoniously departed for the territorial waters of Canada. Patos Island, off which the Corona left the Lorne, is American territory, and where she was picked up by an American tug is American water.
 The only breach of customs regula- tions for which the Corona is answer able therefore is failure to call at a Canadian port after having been wrecked in northern waters. When it was first learned that the Corona had proceeded direct to Port Town send, it was thought probable that the captain had communicated with the subcollector at Port Simpson, but the officers of the Lorne say he did not. Of course any proceedings against the Corona will have to be deferred until she calls at this port, and that may never come, for it is said she Will re- turn to her old run, between San Fran cisco and Southern California ports. Collector Milne, on hearing the report of officers of the Lorne, Immediately reported the facts to Ottawa, and un- til he hears from headquarters he de- clineS to express an opinion.
 WASHINGTON, March 17.-Assist- ant Secretary of the Treasury Howell said to The Call correspondent tonight that upon the request of the Pacific Coast Steamship Company he had au- thorized the revenue cutter Perry to proceed from Port Townsend to the scene of the Corona wreck and render such assistance as was deemed neces- sary.
 Tt is not unusual for our revenue