The Great Seattle Hoax: How a 'Captain' Fooled the Press with a Phantom Ship

When 'Captain John Brown,' of the mythical Oriental bark Mikado, entered the office of a Seattle newspaper last Tuesday afternoon and offered a good story for the small sum of $10, he was received with open arms. When the three shining quarters had been transferred from the sailor's pencil-book to his rapt pocket, he filled an anonymous tin tobacco can at the bartender, wiped his mouth, and began a thrilling tale of the voyage of the yacht from the land of the seventy-two islands, laden with a valuable cargo intended to enhance the earthly comforts of the people of Seattle.

'Massages came,' and his valiant bark 'toddled up and down for several days, ultimately righted herself and proceeded merrily on her way.' Several sailors were injured, and the captain himself just escaped being drowned by contriving to keep out of the water. Finally, the good ship steered into port, and last Tuesday lied tap at Schabacker's dock, two of the injured sailors being transferred to Providence Hospital.

The graphic story was published under sensational headlines, and caught the eyes of the custom house officers. Visions of lost jobs floated before their eyes as they frantically hunted for that mysterious bark which had arrived and had probably discharged valuable cargo without a cent of duty being paid thereon. They finally ascertained, greatly in later relief, that the sailor in search of a few dollars ism was a constitutional liar who had started with some green goods to the end in question, and that the Mikado had no existence.

The funniest part of the story is that another daily paper rehashed the story yesterday, taking it from the one that buncoed, and fed its readers with a fascinating piece of fiction. The Star was 'scoop'd' by the other two papers, having failed to publish Capt. Brown's story; but it takes its medicine with the best possible grace.