The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-04-22
BRITISH CAP TURE
AMERICAN VESSEL
Fishing Schooner Charles Levi
Woodbury. Fired on by the
Cruiser keStrel.
P0ACHING ALLEGED AS
CAUSE OF THE SEIZURE
Captains of Respective Boats
Tell Conflicting Stories;
American Protests.

VANCOUVER. 3. c., April 21.-Thc
Dominion government cruiser Kestrel
arrived in port today, having in charge
the American halibut fishing schooner
Charles Levi Woodbury., which she
captured after firing four rounds from
her Nordcnfcldt machine guns and
threatening to sink the alleged poach-
ing vessel unless she surrendered. Three
of the vollcys were intended as a
warning. but AS no attention was paid
10 them, a fourth was directed at the
schooner which struck and slightly
damaged her. The captain of the
American vessel did not surrender,
however, until his schooner was
boarded by n force from the cruiser
The action took place Sunday after
noon in northern waters, alleged TO be
contiguous TO Canada. -Four bullets tore
through the air in the direction Of the
Woodbury.. Each time the machine gun
was fired as the vessels headed at full
speed from the west coast Of Van
cOuver island and pointed toward the
middle OF the Pacific.
Last Round Has Effect.
Three of the rounds were merely in
tended TO call attention 10 the com
mand TO hcavc 10 which has been is
sued TO the American schooner. But
the last series of shots meant bust
ness. The gun was pointed at the fish
boat, which was then at distance Of
about 200 yards, And still making for
the open sea ms rapidly as possible. The
bullets were aimed high and ripped the
mainsail of the schooner, and one or
two knocked splinters of tho main
mast Capt. Sinclair feared that he
would be sunk right there if he did not
stop. Al tho same moment the second
gun Of the kcstrel was swung across
her deck to get into range Of tho fish
ing boat The Woodbury. engines |
were then stopped and her sails, gashcd !
by British bullets, hauled down, But !
even then the American captain would |
not willingly surrender he declined TO |
fasten hawser aboard his vessel, bat |
n few minutes later an officer and three |
men from the Kestrel boarded the |
Woodbury. and took charge
Claims Clear Case.
Capt. Ncwcomb of the Kestrcl de-
clares that if he ever had clear ease
q gainst an American vessel, that is the |
one Early Sunday afternoon, he de-
cIareS tho Kcstrcl was stcamiug north 1
from Quatsino Sound on the west coast.
when he spicd an American vessel
fishing between east and west Haycock
Islands. These islands lie about ten
miles Off Cape Scott. the northcrmost
point of Vancouver Island. The islands
are five miles apart. so that from Capt
Ncwcomb IS figuring it is impossible
that the American boat could bo moro
than two and a half miles from either
shore. AS a matter Of fact, Newcomb I
saws that when he FIRST observed her
the vessel was within milo of East
island. BY the time she had picked
up her dories she was within a short
distance of West Island.
Capt. Sinclair OF the Woodbury. ap-
parcntlv did not notice the arrival Of
the Kestrel on the scene until the gov
eminent vessel was within about three
miles.
Then the American ran along, pick.
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