Iditarod pioneer., 1916-08-05
LURID TALE OF SIBERIA
 TOLD BY SCHOONER CAPTAIN

The schooner Hettie B. returned to Nome from the Siberian coast on July II, bringing tale of what appears to be case of high handed robbery on the part of the Russian police official at Cape Serge, and the Nome Nugget relates the story of Captain Alfred II. Anderson as follows:
 "On arriving at Cape Serge the goods con tained on the little vessel were forclbly un- loaded by crowd of natives under the direction of the supposed police official, and were later taken to shore, where Anderson was told that they would remain until the arrival of the governor of the province Anderson was told that he could stay until the arrival of that official or not, just as he pleased The vessel anchored to the shore ice, which extended something over three miles from shore. A short time later two or three natives came out to the vessel and informed the traders that they could find a better anchorage a short distance down the coast In the opinion of Anderson this was done to entce them closer to the station.
 The Hettie B. proceeded to the desig- mated spot and all hands retired to rest. A little later a crowd of fifty or more na- tives appeared headed hy the alleged police man. Morgan, and a Norwegian trader named Wall, who acted in the capacity of inter preter Through Wal, Morgan demanded to see the ships trading license As the vessel carried TO license, none could be shown The policeman then asked if there was any liquor aboard, and was informed that there was small quantity intended fer the use of the owners The policeman was also told that it was not the intention to trade in the Cape Serge district as the owners had decided to go farther north where trading was better. Anderson says that no trading was done up to this point, aside from trade made at the demand of some of the natives for tea and tobacco. A small quantity of these commodities WAS exchanged for a couple of sealskins The plea was unavailing, however, as the police man immediately ordered the thirty or more natives who were aboard the vessel to Un- load her on the ice.
 While the cargo was being thrown ashore the remainder of the crowd of natives, all of whom were armed. stayed behind the ice hummocks a short distance from the ship as if in readiness to attack in case resistance were made Anderson demurred to the pro, ceedings, but was told that the Russian governor gave orders last winter to seize the cargo of all vessels having Equor aboard regardless of the quantity. Anderson de claros that his belief that the whole pro- ceeding was without authority is based on the fact that all of the trade goods were not unloaded Among other supplies left aboard was large quantity of flour, but this was apparently not wanted. Tea to- bacco and rifles were in good demand, as the case of rifles aboard was at once broken open end the guns distributed among the men, while there was no attempt to pre- vent the natives footing the remainder o the cargo. Anderson says that the whole proceeding appeared to him like piracy, a. no attempt was made to keep the good: together, and all the natives were allowed to surrepttiously carry off anything they | could conceal"