Foreign Relations of the United States, 1902, Whaling and Sealing Claims Against Russia, On Account of Arrest and Seizure of the American Vessels “Cape Horn Pigeon,” “James Hamilton Lewis,” “C. H. White,” and “Kate and Anna,” Appendix I

EXHIBIT VI.

[July 21, 1891]

Extract from the Log Book of the Schooner Aleout Concerning the Navigation of July 21, 1891.

At 4.40 a.m. a sailing vessel was sighted, bearing to northeast, which at once veered about and passed to southeast before the wind; we accelerated the engine to 80 turns. At 5 o’clock the crew were aroused. Prayer and breakfast. At 5.47 carrying

of coal from the hold to the coal bins. At 6.15, nearing the schooner, we fired a blank shot, upon which the sailing vessel hoisted the American flag and fled. At 6.20 we lowered a long boat and sent two officers to inspect her. It was found that aboard the schooner, named James Hamilton Lewis, was a quantity of salt, piled in the hold and in sacks, also powder and bamboo rods, with hooks and grappling irons for lifting seals from the water. On the return of the boat the crew was armed with revolvers.

At 7 o’clock the rowboat, with an officer and a number of the crew, were again sent to detain the vessel. The captain refused to quit his vessel, and sailed on. Leaving the rowboat to follow, we quickened our speed and pursued the schooner. At 7.43 we fired a gun ahead, but the schooner continued her flight in the same direction. Fog began to gather.

At 8 o’clock, according to report, all goes well; there are no sick men, no men under arrest, no water in the hold.

The captain of the sailing vessel obstinately continued his course, and struck our schooner with his bowsprit a little ahead of the bridge. Her jib boom became tangled with the starboard beam; the jib boom was broken, but the shock was deadened, and the vessel hove alongside, shattering the hammocks in two places, and with one of her sideboards tore the port edge of the starboard side, bent the beam of the stern boat, damaged the awning stay, and scratched the side with her port anchor, which then became detached and fell into the sea. In the meantime Ensign Trentovius, with a portion of the crew, boarded the sailing vessel, which lay alongside, and ordered the captain to report to the commander of the Aleout. As the vessel was still under sail and striking our side, in brailing up sails she cut a part of our rigging. At 8.25 we tendered her a tow cable; and the boat which had approached in the meantime went to get the remainder of the crew. There were 16 men of the crew, of whom 4 were at once placed aboard the James Hamilton Lewis, and 12, with Captain MacLean, were left on board the Aleout. Lieutenant Lebedew with 6 men were left aboard the sailing vessel; at 8.50 we started.

(Signed)

Lieutenant Tchernikow,
Officer of the Pilot Corps.