The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-08-09
Account Of Mr.. Sims.

the Japanese VINO were hllleu OH Of.
Paul's island.
Account Of MIR. Sims.
The following contains the main fea-
lures of the dispatch of Solicitor Sims
sent to the department of commerce
and labor, and which was cabled by
Acting Secretary Bacon to Ambassador
Wright at Toxic
Fur seal rookeries st. Paul island
were raided by crews Japanese schoon-
ers July Is and H. About 200 seals
we're killed. but raiders were eventually
repulsed as a result of the eourag eOus
action of Chief Agent Lembkey and
Assistant Agent Judge at head of navi-
cation. Five raiders were killed and
twelve captured two of the latter being
badly wounded. Three boats and some
small arms were also captured The
force protecting rookeries suffered no
casualties. The schoOners were first
observed on July Is and were close to
shore, easily within the three-mile linn
it. On this day a boats crew of six
men who had landed at the northeast
point were surprised and captured by
Agent. I4embkey and native guards
without casualties on either side.
Poachers Shot.
ION the morning OF July II two ma
tive watchmen shot and killed two and
wounded one of an armed landing par
ty The crews OF the schOOners, under
protection of a dense fog. shot seals in
the water close to shore most of the
day, During this time shotgun firing,
which could be easily heard from
shore, was frequent. 1t is unknown
how many seals were killed in this
manner. but the number must have
been considerable
ION evening of the same day the
crews of at least three schOoners made
concerted raids on widely separated
rookeries. The raid on Seapand rock
cries was repulsed by the native guard
after considerable firing. The raid on
the northeast point was partially sue
cessful Owing to the dense fog the
raiders there were not discovered I'M
til nearly 200 seals had been killed.
More Raiders Killed.
This raid, which was apparently
participated i'm by an entire ships crew
of five boats. was repulsed by Agents
Iembkey, Judge and native force only
and three of the raiders were killed and
five captured Most of the seals killed
on shore by the raiders were pregnant
females with nursing young few days
Old which died Of starvation. large
proportion of those killed In the water
were also females in search of food for
Young. Some of the raiders taken state
they are from the schooner Toyai-Maru
No 2. and one of the captured boats
bears this number.
During the time / was on the island
= schooners were frequently sighted less
than three miles from shore. 1t is evil
dent that at least eight or ten schoon-
ers, believed to be japanese, are sail
ing in close proximity to the islands.
The twelve prisoners were taken on the
cutter McCulloch to Kodiak after hear
ing before commander. and were held
before the jury and taken in charge
by marshal.
No Cause for Complaint.
The Japanese charge, Mr.. Niyaoka.
called at the state department this
morning for information about the kill
ing of the Japanese He had received
no dispatches from his government
concerning the affair, and Acting Sec
retary Bacon gave him the same infor-
nation which was sent to Ambassador
Wright.
Seals are recognized as property by
international law, and the Japanese
killed by Americans off ST. Paul island
stand In the same position as burglars
shot In the act OF stealing, according TO
prominent authorities on international
law. NO INTERNATIONAL lnc1QenI can
arise from the shooting of the japanese
poachers, it is said at the state de-
partment. This government has no
amends to make TO japan, other than
those that OF courtesy and mere ex-
preston OF regret that such an incident
should take place is all that is looked
I for. Japan has no treaty obligations
N which in any way require her to pro-
feet seals in the Boring sea.
Similar to Other Cases.
After discussing the matter with Mr..
Bacon Mr. Niyaoka agreed that 1t was
not a case to cause an international in
cident. but that il was similar TO other
cases that have occurred between citi-
zens of one country on the soil of an
other.
The Japanese raiders were repulsed
nv the agents OF the lessees of the
island. and not by United States au-
thorities. Special Agent Lembkey re-
furred to i'm Solicitor Sims dispatch. is
Gnot connected with the government, but
~ Continued on Page 8.