The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-04-21
F | s II | N &
VESSEL
SEIZED
Dominion Cruiser Cap
lures AmericanHal
Fishing Schooner


government cruiser Kestrel arrived in
port today having in charge the Am
erican halibut fishing schooner, Chas.
Levy Woodbury., which she captured
after firing four rounds from her Nor
denfeld machine guns, and threaten
ing to sink the alleged poaching YES.
sci unless she surrendered Three
OF the volleys were intended as n
warning, but as no attention was paid
TO them, a fourth was directed at the
schooner. which struck and slightly
damaged her. The captain OF the Am
erican vessel did not surrender, how
ever, until his schooner was boarded
by force from the cruiser
The action took place Sunday after
noon in northern waters alleged TO be
contiguous to Canada Five bullets
tore through the air in the direction
OF the Woodbury.. Each time the ma
chine gun was fired as the vessels
headed at full speed from the west
coast of Vancouver island and point
ed towards the middle OF the Pacific.
Three of the rounds were merely
mand to heave to, which had been IS
sued TO the American schooner. But
the last series OF shots meant bust
ness. The gun was pointed at the
fshboat which was then at a distance
of about 200 yards and still making
for the open sea as rapidly as possible.
The bullets were aimed high, ripping
the mainsall OF the schooner. and one
or two knocked splinters off the main
mast. Captain Sinclair feared that he
would be sunk right there, If he did
not stop. AT the same momenr. The
second gun OF the vessel was swung
across her deck to get into range pf
the fishing boat The Woodbury's en.
gines were then stopped. and her
sails. gashed by bullets. hauled down..
But even then, the American captain
would not willingly surrender. He de-
cllned TO fastcn Il hdwser aboard his
vessel but a few minutes later. all
officer and three men from the Kes-
trel boarded the Woodbury. and took
charge
Captain Newcomb, of the KeStrel,
declares that IL he ever had a clear
case against an American vessel, this
is the one, Early Sunday afternoon,
he declares, the Kestrel was steam
ing north from Quatsino Sound on
the west coast. when he espied an
American vessel fishing between cast
and west Haycock islands. These is
lands lie about ten miles off Cape
Scott the northernmost point OF Van
couyer island The islands them
selves are five miles apart, so that
from Captain Newcomb's figuring, 1t
IS impossible that the American boat
could be more than two and a half
miles from either shore. AS a matter
of fact. Newcomb says that when he
first observed her, the vessel was
within a mile OF East island By the
time she had picked up her dories, she
was within a short distance of West
island.
Captain Sinclair Of the Woodbury.,
apparently did not notice the arrival
OF the Kestrel OH the scene until the
government vessel was within about
three miles.
Then the American ran along, pick,
ing his five dories. the fishermen cut
ting their gear without wasting time
TO pull fathom of 1t in. Within
twenty minutes after the Kestrel was
sighted, the last dory had been pick
ed up. and the schooner with her mot
or power working to its full capacity,
and her sails spread to fine western
breeze, turned toward the highlands
Of the Pacific. The cruiser gradually
overhauled the American schooner.
and by the time they were four and
al
was alongside and the captains of the
two vessels were conversing.
Captain Newcomb had been yigor-
ouSly sounding blasts from his siren,
as the signals for the American to
stop. but she kept on her course. The
first round of the machine gun was
fired when the race had but well be-
gun. and the next two were directed
to send the bullets across the bows of
the Yankee vessel But the captain
of the latter made no attempt to stop.
When Captain Newcomb got abreast
the American. he opened communica-
tion through a speaking trumpet.
stop. or will put hole through"
called Newcomb.
II don't think so" said Sinclair. in
reply that came plainly over the rag
ing water.
Then the big gun went off and a lit
tie section of the Woodbury's sail was
In shreds When the second gun OF
the Kestrcl had been unswiveled and
trained on the schooner, Captain Sin
clair realized that further flight was
useless and surrendered. Hc refused,
however. to help navigate his vessel 10
port and would not even make fast a
hawser His engineer declined to
turn over the gasoline equipment
The warsbip then took the Woodbury.
ir tow and headed for Vancouver. ar
riving this morning, when the prize
was tied up at a wharf
The Woodbury. Is schooner about
100 feet long and is of 120 tons Dur
den. She has been fishing out OF Sc.
attic for a number of years. She had
about 1000 pounds OF fish on board
when taken. There was no time 10
clean the fish and the cargo was de-
stroyed.
Captain Sinclair. master OF the
Charles Levi Woodbury., visited the
trott.d ctotoc CONSUL fQday and lll6Q