The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-10-16
A DEFENSE OF BEDLOE
AN AGENT OF FILIBUSTER ABBEY
DETAILS THE CONsUL's POSITION.
He Acted Purely I'm n Routine Capac-
ity in Issuing the Registry-Animus
Of the Seizure at Batanzas.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 15.-Edwin B. Hay,
counsel for s. w. F. Sylvester, owner of
the steamer Abbey, which was seized as
a filibuster carrying arms and ammunition
to the Filipino insurgents, to-day made the
following statement in defense of DIR. Ed
ward Bedloe, United States consul at Can
ton China, against whom charges were
made in connection with the grant of
American registry to the Abbey: "Sylves-
ter sold only one parcel of arms and am
munition to the Filipinos, and that parcel
was sold at time when the same was
equivalent to assisting the United States
forces. the whole transaction being made
with the full knowledge and consent OF the
United States officials On or about June
6, 1898, Sylvester entered into a contract
with the Filipinos to sell and deliver 5000
Mauser rifles, 10000 rounds of ammunition
and two Maxim machine guns, the price to
include cost of steamer, delivery, etc. The
British steamer Pasig was purchased, the
merchandise secured and details arranged
for the expedition, but the goods were
being placed aboard the steamer the British
government revoked the export permit.
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 ex-
pedition off during June and July, when,
believing 1t would be impossible to accom-
plish this, he sold to the Chinese officials
at Canton the arms ard ammunition. The
terms of this sale We're one-third cash.
one-third in thirty days and one-third In
sixty days. Upon making the delivery dhe
Chinese objected to 4S2 Mauser rifles and
500 O0O rounds of ammunition, and as there
was no ammunition for the Maxim guns
they declined to accept these. This left
Sylvester with the goods on his hands and
also the ship, of which, under the above
conditions, the Filipinos were the largest
owners, and he determined to try and de-
liver this small quantity to close up the
transaction.
1.-The Pasig was changed from a British
register to an American register, under the
name OF the Abbey. in the United States
consulate of Canton, then under charge OF
DR.. Bedloe. 1t purely routine pro-
ceeding and any other consular officer in
DR.. Bedloes place must have acted as he
did. The Abbey sailed from Canton about
Aug. 26. Sylvester left Hong-Kong Sept.
3 and arrived at Manila Sept. 6. He
stopped at Manila for over a month. living
at the principal hotel and associating with
army and navy officers. The Manila news
papers 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 possession
Of the army and naval authorities, and yet
not a 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
Aguinaldo that the ship was not tn be used
until he had time TO take the papers TO
Canton and cancel them, thereby relieving
the United States government of any re-
sponsbility should the Filipinos use her IN
carrying arms or troops in their 'ampaign
against the Spaniards IN the southern group
Of islands during the armistice and peace
conference at Paris. The ship was Tot to be
transferred 10 the Filipinos until sfter the
registered papers had been Cancelled. Upon
arrival at Hong Kong Sylvester learned that
the Abbey had been seized. A telegram had
been sent to Admiral Dewey. at Hong
Kong, stating that the steamer Abbey had
left Macao about Sept. % with Sec
end expedition. There was not the slightest
foundation for this report. II was actuated
purely by malice, on the part of certain
enemies Sylvester had made in the compe-
tition for Filipino business. The Mccullough
was sent TO search for the Abbey and found
her at anchor In Batangas bay. whence
she was taken to Manila the express
ground that she had no papers aboard
There is absolutely nothing wrong in this
matter OF the Abbey 30 far as Consul Bedloe
is concerned. His connection with the case
was purely incidental"
In proof of his statement. Mr.. Hay sub
mits letters from c. T. Yu. secretary for
foreign affairs TO the Viceroy OF Marking.
to Mr. Sylvester. also letter from Third
Assistant Secretary OF State Thomas w.
Crfdler, declaring that the state Depart
Sylvester growing out OF the Abbey's op-
sI3a0n-