The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-10-16
CONSUL BEDLOE'S DEFENSE
THE CASE OF THE STEAMER Al
BEr REVIEWED.
Sylvester Sold Her and Her Cargo
of Arms and Ammu milton to the
Filipinos ut . Time They Were

WASHINGTON. Oct is.-Eowin 4 Hay.
counsel for 5 w. F. Sylvester. owner Of
the steamer Abbey. which WIS seized as a
n.ihusier carrying arms and aI,munitioas
70 the Filipino insurgents. today made tas
following statement III defense OF Or. Ed
ward Bedioe, United States consul al Can
ton, China, against whom charges were
made IN connection with the grant OF
American registry 20 the Aaoey. SyIves-
ter sold only one parcel CO arms ana anu
uunition to the fIlipiaos, and tina, parcel
as sold at time when the same VAS
equivalent to assisting the United States
forces. the whole transaction being made
with the full knowledge and co1lsea, OF the
United States officials.
On or about June ., lS~, Sylvester ell
tered into a contract with the Ffiipinos ID
sell and deliver 100 Mauser rides and two
Maxim machine guns. the price 10 include
cost Of a steamer. delivery. etc. The Brit-
ism steamer Pasig was purchased, the
merchandise bought and details arranged
for the expedition. but As the goods were
being placed award the steamer the Brit
ism government revoked the export permit.
Sylvester believed il was his duty either
10 deliver the goods or TO sell to the best
advantage and make settlement with the
Ii!!pinos for the cash they had advanced
He tried IN various ways 20 get the expedi-
ton OF during June and Juy. when. oe~
lievins +; would be Impossible 10 accom-
plish this. he sold 20 Chinese officials at
Canton the arms and ammunition. The
terms OF this sale were one third cash. one
third IN thirty days and one-ihird In sixty
days Upon making the delivery the Chi
nsse objected to the i92 Mauser rifles ard
the ammunition, and there am
munition for The Maxim guns ghey declined
to accept these This left Sylvester with
the goods on hts hands and also the ship
He determined to Try to deliver the small
quantity 70 close Up the transaction.
The Pasig was changed from British
register TO an American register under the
name of the Abbey. n the United States
consulate al Canton. then under charge OF
DR.. Bodice. II was purely routine pro-
ceediug. and any other consular officer in
Or. Bedioe's place must have acted as ne
did
The Abbey sailed from Canton about
August %. Sylvester left Hongkong on
September ana arrived at Manila on
September c. He stopped at Mania for
over a month, living at the hotels and as
socacilg with army ard navy officials. The
Manila newspapers had full accounts Of
the landing OF the Abbey's cargo a Bstan-
gas. SO that the fact OF the arms ana am
mun;tion being furnished 10 the Fiiipnos
was In possession Of the army and navy
authorities and ye. not word was said.
Sylvester, after arranging for the final
settlement and transfer Of the steamer.
left Manila near the end OF September with
all the ships papers He had stipulated
with Asuinai6o that the ship Was nor 10
be used until he had time to take the pa
pers TO Canton and cancel them thereby
relieving the United States government
from any responsibility should the Fiji
ptnos use her in carrying arms or troops
In their campaign against the Spaniards
in the southern group OF islands during
Paris. The ship was not TO be transferred
to the Filipinos until after the registered
papers hid been cancelled.
Upon arrival az Hongkong Sylvester
learned that the Abbey had been seized.
A telegram had been sent 70 Admiral Dew
ey at Hongkong stating that the steamer
Abbey had lef, Macao about September 3
with a second expedition. There was not
the s.ightest foundation for this report II
was actuated purely by malice on the part
Of certain enemies Of Sylvester The Nc
Culloch was sent to search for the Abbey
and found her anchored IN Batangas bay.