EXHIBIT I.
Report of the Commander of the Schooner Aleout to the Commander of the Port of Vladivostok, dated August 3, 1891. No. 385.
I have the honor to report to your excellency that on the morning of July 4, off the southern extremity of the Medney Island, from on board the schooner commanded by me, was sighted a two-mast sailing vessel approaching the island, which, having sighted the Aleout, fled under full sail. For the purpose of inspecting, I overhauled her 12 miles from the island, and having made the inspection, suspecting her of engaging in illegal sealing, I detained and confiscated her on discovering aboard many seal skins salted down, arms, powder, and shot. This incident is set forth in the act hereunto annexed of the confiscation of the schooner. This act has been read and signed by the captain of the schooner and in this act his protest is set forth. All of the seal skins were turned over by me to the chief of district of the Commander Islands to be sent to London and sold on behalf of the Government, thinking thus to obtain better prices than at Vladivostok.
The schooner was at once conducted to Petropavlosk, and will thence be sent to Vladivostok under command of Lieutenant Lebedew. As it was impossible to spare enough men from the Aleout, I placed 6 of her sailors aboard the sailing vessel with 6 of the American crew already there. Captain MacLean and the 10 remaining men of his crew I put under surveillance, to be sent on the steamer Vladivostok to Vladivostok, in conformity with instructions which I received, on account of the resistance made when arrested, when it proved necessary to take decisive measures to compel her to stop her course. While the attitude of the crew was for the most part apparently passive, next to the captain the most noticeable was the first mate, MacDonald, who, according to accounts, not entirely confirmed, however, drew a knife at the moment of arrest; therefore I decided to send the entire crew to Vladivostok, that the local authorities might pass upon the matter. The chief of district of Petropavlosk, in view of the great need of boats by the inhabitants of that town and the neighboring villages, asked me if I could not sell some of the boats of the confiscated vessel. I consented, and of the six boats I authorized the sale of three at auction. The sum realized by this sale will be handed by me to the administrator of the port of Vladivostok. I also transmit herewith to your excellency the ship’s papers of the confiscated schooner James Hamilton Lewis. I send the said documents by steamer Vladivostok, although the sailing vessel Lewis will probably reach Vladivostok before the steamer.