Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-08-09
Japanese Seal Poachers
Shot While on Raid.
Twelve Prisoners Taken, Of
Whom Two Are Wounded.
MldeIs Refuse 10 Surrender and Vessel
i, Escapes With 100 SeaIskias.

New York, Aug. 8.-Further details of
i've Japanese poachsrs in the Prib-
iloff islands, are contained in a special
to the Herald dated Dutch Harbor.
Alaska, July 26, via Seward, Alaska,
which says:
Five japanese were shot and killed
on the island of st. Paul Of the Prib-
iloff group by order of the agent of the
department of commerce and labor on
July II. as the result of a raid by four
Japanese schooners on the seal rock
cries.
TIE revenue cutter Mccullough
reached here today from st. Paul with
~ prisoners, two seriously wounded,
who were turned over to Deputy Mar
shall Harmon. The raiders were discov-
eHed lying near Northeast point, st.
Paul, by native lookouts of the North
American Commercial Co., which leases
the seal privilege from the government.
word was telephoned from the patrol
station near the rockery, in which the
raiders were aiming, and Special Agent
Lempke. of the department of COM
merce, on duty in the Pribiloff islands.
arrived on the spot as the japanese
reached shore. He ordered the boat
crew 10 SuITtUutt, WliSi my VIVA va
climbing the promontory at the end of
the cape overlooking one of the larger
rockeries a schooner was seen close
in shore. Looking straight down over
the cliff. the patrol saw dozen or
more Japanese skinning great num-
Der of seal. which had been slaughtered
Unfortunately.
The raiders refused to surrender
when Lempke reached the scene and
tried to make off with their booty in
email boats, several of which were
,.drawn upon shore. The agent then or
dered his guard of natives to open fire
The japanese offered no resistance, be-
ing without firearms.
Three of the men fell dead on the
tmeach, fourth was seen to be thrown
overheard from one of the boats that
escaped, and a fifth body drifted ashore
later in another boat.
The men had killed more than 20'
seals, many of them cows. Those who
escaped carried away about 120 skins
The RAID is believed,to have been
concerted effort by the japanese, who
have been hanging around the island
for months and giving the revenue cut
ter much trouble.
The Tokwa Maru. a schooner was
.sverhauled by the cutter Perry on july
s off the new volcanic island which rose
near Bogoslof. 40 miles from here last
March She was crowded with Japan
Csc, but no sealskins were found
aboard. Suspicious of Captain Dun
woodie Of the Perry were aroused anc
he proceeded to the Pribilott at once
but a dense fog set in and lasted unit
the Perry returned here Oh July Is
The Mccullough reached the islands
on July 20 and took charge Of the riI5-
oners.
- Resides the Tokwa Maru the steam
er Bosso,.Maru is known to nave beer
in the raid last autumn. japanese were
found fishing and trading with tn" ma
tiyes on the island of Attu. the west
ernmost in the Aleutian cham, anc
were routed bW the Perry. The rad /
the most serious that has ever occurred
in the troubled history of the ro"k"rie:;
The last attempt to rifle the island Wa;
made about 10 years ago by a Schoon
or fying the Mexican flag. She was IN
fercepted by a cutter before carrying
out her purpose.
The raid was supposed to have beer
MANNED by Alex Mclean. He wa;
known to be in Victoria. 3. G., las
winter but left there for parts un
known in the early spring.
Many prisoners were taken Just al
ter the raid, but were allowed to re
turn to their vessels, as the guard wa
considered insufficient to control g
many The prisoners buried their owl
dead on the beach.
ThePerry is now temporarily OUT
business. This leaves the patrol Shor
of vessels and the islands unguarded
The Thetis is in the Arctic. the Rust
on duty at Nushagak. Bristol bay, tn
Bear out of commission and the Nc
Cullough under orders to proceed L
Sitka to take on board the governor o
the district and land Fish Commission
er Bowers, now at st. Paul, on Rodii
island.
The prisoners left on July q on thu
monthly mail steamer for valdez
where the court of the second judlcia
district, in which the seal islands lie
sits In August. The charge Will propa
bly, be piracy.