Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-08-15
TRAGEDY OVER SEALS
Details Of the Killing Of Five Jap.
anese Poachers by Uncle
Sans Guard.
THEY ARE CAUGHT RED.HANDED
Refuse to Surrender, and the Deadly
Rife Then Speaks.
No Apology Needed for Killing Them,
as They We're the Same rs
Burglars.

Washington. Aug. 9.-With refer
ence to the killing of five japanese
seal poachers on st. Paul island In the
Prybiloff group. Alaska, dispatch
from solicitor Sims, at Sitka, Alaska,
received by the department of com
merce and labor gives the following
details: THE fur seal rookeries on
st. Paul island were raidcd by crews
Of Japanese schooners on July 10 and
Ia. About 200 seals We're killed, but
the raiders were eventually repulsed
as Il result of the courageous action of
Chief Agent LembSey and Assistant
Agent Judge, at the head of the native
guard. Five raiders We're killed and
twelve captured, two of the latter be-
ing badly wounded. Three boats and
some small arms We're also captured.
The force protecting the rookeries suf-
fere no casualties.
We're Playing Havoc with Seals.
1.-THE schooners We're first observed
on July III. and We're close to shore
easily within the three-mile limit
On this day boats crew of six men,
which had landed Mt Northeast point,
was surprised and captured by Agent
Lembkey and the native guards, with
out casualty Oh either side. On the
morning of July II two native watch
nell shot and killed two and wounded
one Of an armed landing party. Crews
of schooners under the protection Of n
dense fog shot seals in the water close
to the shore most of the day. During
this time shotgun firing which could
be easily head from shore was fire.
quent. 1t is unknown how many seals
We're killed in this manner, but the
number must have been considerable.
Poachers We're Very Busy.
"On the evening of the same day
the crews of at least three schooners
made concerted raids on widely sepa-
rated rookeries. The raid on the Sen
pand rOokeries was repulsed by the ma
tive guard after considerable firing.
The raid on Northeast point was partly
successful. Owing to the dense fog
the raiders there We're not discovered
until nearly 200 seals had been killed.
This raid, which was apparently par
ticipated in by an entire ships crew
in five boats, was repulsed by Agent
Lembkey, Judge and the native force
only, and three of the raiders were
killed and five captured. During the
time l was on the island schooners
We're frequently sighted less than three
miles from shore. 1t is evident that ut
least eight or ten schooners. believed
to he Japanese. are sailing in close
proximity to the islands.
No Apology to Japan.
Washington, Aug. 9.-Acting Secre-
tary of State Bacon has sent to AM
bassador Wright Mt Toxic, the sub
stance of the dispatch received by the
department of commerce and labor
from Solicitor. Sims, Mt Sitka. Alaska,
regarding the killing of japanese fish
ermen on st. Paul island. In sending
the dispatch the acting secretary
states that it is forwarded for the
purpose of giving information such as
this government has Of a regrettable
incident, news of which may reach
Japan in distorted form.
There is no intention of Offering an
apology or any further regret than lie
contained in this dispatch. as the state
department regards the japanese fish
ermen as poachers If they We're with
in the three-mile limit and the dis
patch from Mr.. Sims emphasizes this
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