The Black Diamond,' seized by the United States revenue cutter
'Rush' for sealing in Behring Sea, has, after all, escaped, and probably it was intended to escape. The Captain of the 'Rush' put only a single seaman on board as a prize crew, and that one man made no resistance to the Captain of the Black Diamond' taking possession of his vessel again and steering for Victoria, Vancouver's Island, instead of the United States port of Sitka, ordered by the captor. There is, so far as we know, not the smallest justification in International Law for what was done, and though the vessel seized has escaped, the matter cannot end there. The Government of the United States must be challenged to disavow its revenue officer, and to pay any compensation which the vessels seized may fairly claim for the annoyance to which they have been illegally subjected. Even the United States Press appears to. be astounded at the proceeding, and disposed to condemn it.
Previous page
