The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-08-09
Five Were Shot.

Dutch Harbors Alaska July &c, via Sea-
ward, Alaska, August Five Japanese
were shot and killed on the island of
St Paul of the Pribiloff group. by order
of the agent of the department of COM
rnerce and labor on July II, as the result
of a raid by four Japanese schooners on
the seal roolSeries.
The revenue cutter Mccullough reached
here today from st. Paul with twelve
prisoners, two seriously wounded, who
were turned over to Deputy Marshal Har-
mon. The raiders were discovered lying
near the northeast point of st. Paul by
natfY lookouts OF this North American
: Comrhercial company A~IanFa aaaasasstEs'
I seal privilege from the government Word
was telephoned from the patrol station
near the rookery for which the raiders
were aiming. and Special Agent Lempke
of the department of commerce, on duty
in the Pribiloff islands. arrived on the
spot as the Japanese reached shore He
ordered the boat crew to surrender, which
they did.
On climbing the promontory at the end
of Prililoff, one of the larger rookeries,
a schooner was seen close in shore. Look
ing straight down over the cliff the patrol
saw a dozen or more Japanese skinning
a. number of seal, which had been slaugh-
tered
Refused to Surrender.
The raidErs refused to surrender when
Lenuke cached the scene and tried to
make off with their booty in small boats,
several of which were drawn up on shore.
The agent then ordered his guard of ma
tives to open fire. The Japanese offered
no resistance, being without firearms.
Three of the raiders fell dead on the
beach, 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 200 seals
many of ehem cows. Those who escaped
carried away about 12O skins.
Bacon Receives Report.
washington, August 8-Acting Secretary
of state Bacon has sent to Ambassador
Wright at Toxic the substance OF tne
dispatch received by the department OF
commerce and labor from Solicitor sims
at sitka. Alaska, regarding the killing OF
Janapese fishermen on st. Paul Island
In sending the dispatch the acting sec
retary states that 1t is forwarded for the
purpose of giving Information such as
this government has OF a regrettaple IN
ctdent news of which may reach japan
IN distorted FORM There is no intention
or offering an apology or any further re-
81 Il than Is contained In this dispatch
as the state department regards the Japa-
nese fisherman as poachers II tney "ere
within the three-mile limit, and the dis
retch from Mr.. Sims emphasizes this
fact 1t is stated that American fisher
rnen in Newfoundland waters, If within
the three-mile limit, would be subject to
arrest by the authorities and would have
no redress, as they would be poachers,
the same the Japanese, who were
killed on st. Paul island.
The following contains the main feat
,,res Of the dispatch of Solicitor Sims.
cent to the department of commerce and
labor, ana which was cabled by Acting
Secretary Bacon to Ambassador Wright
at Toxic:
Solicitor Sims Describes Affair.
..F,ur seal rookeries st. Paul island were
raided by crews Japanese schooner July
1s and II. About 200 seals were killed
hut raiders were eventually repulsed as
result of the courageous action of Chief
gent Iembkey and Assistant Agent
Judge at head of native guard. Five raid
ers were killed and twelve captured. two
Of latter being badly wounded. Three
hoats and some small arms also cap
fured. Force protecting rookeries suffered
no casualties The schooners were first
observed on July 16 and were close to
shore. easily within three-mile limit. On
this day boats crew OF six men wnlch
had landed at northeast point were sur
prised and captured by Agent Lembkey
and native guards without casualty on
either side. On the morning of July II,
two native watchmen shot and killed
two and wounded one of an armed landing
party. Crews of schooner under protection
of dense fog shot seals in water close
- H. nt.rtr4 hfG ina
shotgun firing, which could be easily
heard from Shore were frequent. I'm
known how many seals were killed in this
manner. but number must have been con-
siderable.
Made Three Concerted Raids.
ION evening of the same day crews of
at least three schooners made concerted
raids on widely separated .rookeries. Raid
on Eapand rookeries were repulsed by
native guards after considerable firing
Raid in northeast point was partially sue
eassful Owing to the dense fog raiders