The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-04-05

According TO local officials who were
seen Yesterday the British ship Alpha VIII
take desperate chances should she attempt
20 land passengers and baggage at Nome
Deputy Collector of United States Gus
toms Mttten expressed himself yesterday
on the Alpha substantially as follows;
an going TO Nome the Alpha is vioat-
Ynr the customs laws and rendering her
relf subject TO seizure in landing freight
passengers and baggage. IL Is probable
thar a customs officer VIII be there to at
tend to the matter; II not the Alpha is
likely TO run up against one or more Unit
ed atates revenue cutters. ] see no reason
v,hy she would not be liable II she light
cred her cargo or sent ner passengers
off I'm small boats outside the three mile
limit for shore. Her cargo would cor
tainly be seized In that event, and posi-
bly, her passengers would not be permit
ted to land.
II have received no special Instructions
or information on the subject II does
not seem to me even necessary TO wait
ill the Alpha returns to American waters
70 seize her. | do not know what steps
have been taken or may be taken by the
government I'm the case of the Alpha.
The collector OF customs at Port Town
send woulo be the man TO attend to that
Assistant Postmaster Colkett said yes
terday that the Alpha would carry no
United States mail The postoffice here
mt first intended 10 send mail by the Al
pha until instructions were received from
the postofflce department at Washing
ton, D. c., not 10 do So Mr.. Colkett said
the Alpha would doubtless carry letters
Entrusted to the care of the purser. but
she would have no regular United States
mail aboard.
In consideration of the dispatch to Unit
cd States Consul Dudley II is anticipated
that the government will take steps
promptly TO prevent the Alpha from land
ing anything at Nome. even to the cx-
tent OF sending one Of the revenue cut
vers. now on tho Sound, in her wake. 1t
may be that a United States customs Of
ficer will go as a passenger on the Alpha
md when the ship arrives at Nome as
sert his authority and seize the ship. The
possibility of this has been suggested
here for some days
II has been reported in Seattle. incl
dental To the sailing OF the Alpha that
her real destination IL not Nome. but
some point on the Northeast or Bering
sea coast OF siberia. 1t is said that a
large company has been formed to work
placer mines In Siberia. and that those
who sail on the Alpha are interested I'm
the expedition. at least 20 the extent OF
agreeing 10 remain for a number OF years.
II is considered that this story might be
quite sensations were Il not for the fact
TINT II ~ known positively that tickets
by the Alpha for Nome have been sold.
local official yesterday suggested that
the Alpha might not have any intention
OF going TO Nome, but would discharge
her cargo and passengers Mt st. Michael.
which is "a SUPPORT OF entry Both freight
and passengers could then be transferred.
by arrangements made to be made
with an American vessel. 60 take them
from st. Michael 20 Nome. II IS thought
by many that the charteTers Of the Al
pha know what they are doing, for It IA
said not TO b. within reason that they
would risk the seizure OF their ship by
failtng her straight into the clutches of
incle sam on all sides the situation IS