The San Francisco call., 1899-10-16
SAYS BEDLOE
DID NO WRONG
Edwin Hays Defense of
the Consul.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

WASHINGTON, Oct 15-Edwin b Hay,
counsel for S. w +. Sylvester, owner of
the steamer Abbey, which was seized as
a flibuster carrying arms and ammuni-
1ion to the Filipino insurgents, to-day
made the following statement in defense
of DR.. Edwin Bedloe, United States Con-
sui at Canton, China, against whom
charges were made in connection with
the grant Of an American registry to the
Abbey:
sylvester sold only one parcel of arms
and ammunition to the Filipinos and that
parcel was sold at time when the same
was equivalent to assisting the United
States forces, the whole transaction be-
ing made with the full knowledge and
consent of the United States officials.
"On or about June 6, 1898, Sylvester en-
tered a contract with the Filipinos to sell
and deliver 5000 Mauser rifles, 500 900
rounds of ammunition and two Maxim
guns, the price to include cost Of a
steamer delivery, etc. The British
steamer Pasig was purchased, the
merchandise secured and details arranged
for the expedition, but as the goods were
being placed aboard the steamer the Brit
ish Government revoked the export per-
NIT.
Sylvester believed it was his duty
either to deliver the goods or to sell to
the best advantage and make settlement
with the Filipinos for the cash they had
advanced. He tried in various ways to
get the expedition off during June and
July, when, believing it would be impos-
sible to accomplish this, he sold to the
Chinese officials at Canton the arms and
ammunition. The terms of this sale were
ene-third cash, one-third IN thirty days
and one-third in sixty days Upon MAX
ing the delivery the Chinese objected to
492 Mauser rifles and 100000 rounds of am
munition, and as there was no ammuni-
ton for the Maxim guns they declined to
accept these. This Sylvester left with the
goods on his hands, and also the ship. of
which, under the above conditions, the
FuipinoS were the largest owners, and he
determined TO try and deliver this small
quantity TO close up the transaction.
The Pasig was changed from a British
register to an American register, under
the name Of the Abbey, in the United
States consulate at Canton, then under
charge Of DR.. Bedloe 1t was a purely
routine proceeding, and any other con-
sular officer in DR.. Bedloes place must
have acted as he did.
The Abbey sailed from Canton about
August 70. Sylvester left HOngkong on
September 3 and arrived at Manila on
September 6. All stopped at Manila for
hotels and associating with army and
navy officers. The Manila newspapers
had full accounts of the landing of the
Abbey's cargo at Batangas, so that the
fact of the arms and ammunition being
furnished to the Filipinos was in posses-
sion of the army and navy authorities,
and yet not a word was said.
sylvester. after arranging for the
steamer. left Manila near the end of Sep
tember, with all the ships papers. He
had stipulated with Aguinaldo that the
ship was not to be used until he had time
to take the papers to Canton. and cancel
them, thereby relieveing the United
Stat$ Government from any RESPONSE
bility should the Filipinos use her in
carrying arms or troops in their cam
southern groups Of islands during the
armistice and peace conference. The ship
was not to be transferred to the Filipinos
until after the registered papers had been
killed.
learned that telegram had been sent to
Admiral Dewey at Kong station that the
steamer Abbey had left Macao about
September % with a second expedition
There was not the slightest foundation
for this report. 1t was actuated purely
by malice on the part of certain enemies
Sylvester had made in competition for the