Revenue Cutter Mohican Captures Schooner Volunteer
A small sealing vessel is intercepted in the Bering Sea and brought to port in Seattle, highlighting the tense enforcement of maritime laws.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
The little schooner Volunteer, which was chased and captured by the United States revenue cutter Mohican when on the sealing grounds off Sand Point, in Bering sea, yesterday returned to Seattle. Capt. J. M. Wheeler, speaking of the capture, says: 'We got caught after a long chase, but if we could have had half an hour longer the Mohican would have had so little water under her keel that we would easily have been safe, as I was heading for shoal water between the islands. Upon getting behind a point of land the wind died out somewhat, which gave the steamer a chance to get within range, when she opened fire upon us, and when a shot crosses your bows the safest plan is to come about, and mighty quick, too. The officers of the Mohican looked surprised when they saw what a small craft the Volunteer really was, as we carry a considerable canvas. They sealed up our arms, but did not order us back, but we came of our own accord. We shall go back to Bering sea, however, but will use spears instead of guns.'
“When a shot crosses your bows the safest plan is to come about, and mighty quick, too.”
The Bering Sea sealing disputes were a major international legal conflict of the late 19th century involving the U.S., Britain, and Japan. This story captures the local human cost of those geopolitical maneuvers, as small-time mariners were forced to navigate tightening regulations.
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