The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1906-08-09
NO APOLOGY TO JAPAN
Seal Poachers Slain In Alaska
Considered Burglars by In
ternational Law.
KILLED MANY OF THE ANIMALS
Hundreds of Fur Bearers, Many of
Them Females Seeking Food For
Young, Taken by Mikadc's Subjects.
Twelve Prisoners In Hands Of Ameri-
can Authorities.

Young, aiken by Mikadc's Subjects.
Twelve Prisoners In Hands Of Ameri-
can Authorities.
Washington, Aug. 9.-It is not prob
able that the government will take any
| further action In regard to the killing
of five Japanese sailors who were shot
while poaching seals on st. Paul is
land, Alaska. The twelve japanese
| prisoners taken in the fight between
United States Agents Lembky and
Judge with a force of native guards
have been taken In the revenue cutter
McCulloch from ST. Paul island to
Kodiak, where they have been held for
trial. They are in the custody of a
United States marshal
Acting Secretary OF State Bacon held
conference with Mr.. Miyoaka, Jap
anese charge d'affaires, and discussed
the killing Of the seal raiders. 1t was
announced later that the state depart
ment did not consider there was any
question Of international import In
VOWED, as the men were within the
three mile limit and were armed, thus
being in the same position as burglars.
Mr.. Miyaoka was inclined to agree
with the acting secretary Of state and
said he had simply called at the state
department for information as to the
killing Of his countrymen.
Seals Considered Property.
Seals are recognized as property by
| International law
This government has no amends to
make to Japan other than those that
courtesy may prompt, and mere ex-
preston of regret that such an Incident
should take place is all that is looked
| for.
The details of the encounter between
the United States agents and the Jap
anese raiders were received in an Off
cial dispatch from Solicitor Sims at
Sitka to the department of commerce
and labor, which has control over the
sea fisheries.
The dispatch says that the fleet of
eight or ten Japanese schooners was
first observed on July 16 close to shore
and easily within the three mile limit.
A small boat with a crew of six Jap
anese was landed at Northeast Point
and was surprised by Agents Lembky
and Judge with squad of the native
guards. There were no casualties on
either side. On the following day an
armed party was landed from the Jap
anese schooners and was attacked by
the native guards. Two japanese were
killed and one wounded.
Carried Off Many Seals.
After that encounter the schooners
stood off shore and under cover of
dense fog shot seals for several hours
1t is not known to the officials at Sitka
how many seals were taken in this
way, but about 200 were carried off by
the japanese after the final repulse
Crews from at least three of the
schooners on July II made raids on
the Seapandi rookeries, and three of
them were shot, and twelve prisoners
| were taken. After that the fleet of
schooners set sail and disappeared
The prisoners took their capture with
| Indifference. Some of them said they
were members of the schooner Toyai
Maru, and others said they belonged
on board the Mel Maru Small boats
| with the names of these two schooners
were captured. 1t is believed by the
officials at Sitka that the schooners are
not far away and that they will make
further efforts to raid the seal rook-
cries Many of the seals they killed
were females in search of food for
| their young. The killing of the females
resulted in the deaths of many of the
young from starvation
Says Real Raiders Are Canadians.
Cleveland, O., Aug. O.. Professor
Henry w Elliott. who for the last five
| years of John Hays life was his con-
/ "a al