The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1912-05-16
TAKES I Is | II / UP WITH POWERS
Capture Of Fishing smacks BY War.
shlps During spanish.Amerlcan
War Costs Uncle Sam Large !.
Sum for indemnify.
az GEORGE CLINTON.

~ % '
Nowadays with The Hague tribunal
IN occasional operation and with at
tempts being made for general arbi-
tration treaties the efforts Of the
government are toward eliminating
from the field of spoliation private
property whether at sea or on land. Un-
der an agreement which it is thought
has been given the effect of interna-
tional law unfortified cities on the sea
coasts hereafter are to be immune
from bombardment Various other ar
rangements have been made looking
to the Introduction of 'the humanities
into warfare
It has been said that it was Ash
bill which led to agitation Of the ques-
ton of the exemption from seizure Of
private property at sea In time Of
war. Doubtless 1t was pure accident
In the matter of date line circum'
stance, but 1t was on the last day Of
one Lenten season that the attorney
general sent to congress a huge fresh
fish bill which was promptly referred
to the committee on appropriations.
This fish bill or rather collection Of
fish bills was simply list Of judg'
ments rendered against the United
States by the Supreme court.
Paid by Uncle Sam.
Uncle Sam paid for eleven boatloads
Of fresh fish, simply because the hugs
navy which he collected in the West
Indian waters~thought for the first
month or two that the chief end and
aim Of it's guns was to seize Spanish
fishing smacks and their loads OF
smells and other things finny. If the
fish had been picked, smoked or
sailed 1t would not have been so bad
for Uncle Sam, or SO good for the
Spaniard, but on the day of their
capture the fish were very fresh. The
day thereafter they were less SO, tho
third day the American sailors con-
voying the prizes had strong smelling
suspicious, the fourth day the smell
needed another word beginning with
an IS" to do It Justice, and on the
fifth day the fish went overheard.
The Spaniards were good fishermen.
Julian Bengochea and Francisco Con
zales. in q 10 by II smack, the Poder
de Dios, had $1,42574 worth Of fish,
for which Uncle Sam paid, besides civ
ing $4,000 for injury to the olfactory
nerves and to the feelings of Julian
and Francisco. Every one of the elev-
on smacks when captured was loaded
to the gunWales with fish. Nothing
like the hauls that these Spaniards
made has been known in either sacred
or profane fishing history since that
day twenty centuries ago when the
nets did break with the burden of the
CATCH" The claimants got from Uncle
Sans purse about $4,000 each. There
are eleven Spaniards who are firm be-
Mevers in f1sherman's luck.
Most Peculiar Case.
The committee on claims some time
ago asked the house to allow great
fireworks company which was seeking
to recover money from the govern
ment to take It's case before the court
Of claims. The newspapers of tho
time contained much of the matter,
but there were some things which es-
capped public attention. 0
The case itself Is one of the most
peculiar which ever called for con-
gressional action. The plaintiff fire.
works company bought hundreds of
thousands Of what 1t supposed to be
blank cartridges from the navy de-
partment Tbs company gave a spec
tacular reproduction at Columbus, o..
OF the fight at San Juan Hill, Cuba.
The cartridges purchased from the
government were used on mimic
firing line, which proved to be ter
ribly real.
At the first round OF the volley mr.
ing two spectators fell dead in the
grand stand seats and half dozen
others were made SUBJECTS for the hos
pital ..*
The ammunition used with such fatal
results Is known In army and navy
circles as the gallery cartridges"
The claim Of the fireworks company.
supported, az it was, by an accident
that reused the country, created In
s. 6lS9I anu SCOL41ll0uL 0uU = l1tlI0 1NUlx.
nation IN the house. Members began
asking one another what gallery
cartridges" were, and because NO ono
seemed to know they turned to their
war-like brothers Of the naval and
military committees for light. They
didn't get It. Not one Of the men
who have 4 voice IN reporting appro-
priations for millions Of dollars
worth Of material for the army ana
navy and who talked wisely about the.
need Of this and that bit Of equip
ment. knew anything about the ammu-
milton In question. and this IN face
of the fact that It has been used for
years In tho twin services. and will
continue to be used a. long as It Il
necessary 70 make men accurats
marksmen. The gallery cartridge IL
one with q hight charge. used for close
range practice shooting.
He'd Have 70 Pay.