128 APPENDIX TO CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 
that vessel that the crews (and particularly the Indians) taken to Sitka on schooners 
previously seized had been very badly treated. The Indians became very mutinous 
on learning that we were to proceed to Sitka and report to the United States anthori- 
ties; they declared they would not go to Sitka and, to avoid trouble, Icame to Vie- 
toria, instead of going to Sitka. I arrived in Victoria on the 31st August, 1887, at 
about 7 P. M. 
109 And I make this solemn Declaration, conscientiously believing the same to 
be true, and by virtue of the Oaths Ordinance, 1869. 
(Signed) W. Hi: Dye: 
Declared before me this 1st day of September, A. D. 1887, at Victoria, British 
Columbia. 
[L. s.] (Signed) H. DaLuas HELMCKEN, 
A Notary Public in and for the Province of British Columbia, 
{Inclosure 10 in No. 70.] 
Messrs. Drake, Jackson, and Helmcken to the Minister of Justice, Ottawa. 
Victoria, BRITISH COLUMBIA, September 3, 1887. 
Str: We have the honour to inform you that we are in receipt of a letter from 
our Mr. Drake, written from Sitka, under date the 28th August, in which he states 
that a telegram was received at Sitka relative to the schooners seized last year from 
the United States Attorney-General Garland, directing their release and discharge 
of the men. The Judge gave an Order accordingly, which was afterwards rescinded, 
on the assumption that the telegram was a forgery. No official letter of any sort, 
either confirming the telegram or respecting the affair, has been received at Sitka. 
The schooners now seized and at Sitka are the ‘Anna Beck,” ‘‘W. P. Sayward,” 
“Dolphin,” and ‘‘Grace.” The ‘‘Alfred Adams” was also seized. The trial of the 
present men, Mr. Drake states, would not take place until after the arrival of the 
Revenue cutter “ Rush ;” also that, judging from the past and the views held by the 
Court, the result would most probably be the same, and urges that immediate steps 
should be taken to prevent the imprisonment of the masters. and that he would 
obtain declarations from the masters duly certified, and enter a protest at the trial. 
The “‘ Rush” was not expected at Sitka until yesterday. 
Regarding the seizure of the ‘‘ Alfred Adams,” we have to state that the schooner 
has arrived here safely. The declarations of her captain, Captain Dyer, and his 
men have been duly taken, which her owners, Messrs. Guttman and Frank, of this 
city, yesterday handed to ‘Honourable Mr. Stanley, Collector of Customs, together 
with a sealed letter, which the commander of the ‘‘ Rush” handed to Captain Dyer, 
to be delivered to the District Attorney at Sitka. These papers no doubt Mr. Stanley 
has already forwarded to the proper Department. 
We have since forwarded a copy of this information to the Right Honourable Sir 
John A. Macdonald, K. C. B., &c. 
We have, &e. 
(Signed) DRAKE, JACKSON, AND HELMCKEN. 
[Inclosure 11 in No. 70.] 
Mr. Burbidge to the Deputy Minister of Fisheries, Ottawa. 
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, Ottawa, September 12, 1887. 
Sir: I have the honour to inclose, for your information, a copy of a letter which 
has been received by the Minister of Justice from Messrs. Drake, Jackson, and 
Helmcken, in which they report with reference to the sealing vessels which have 
been seized in the Behring’s Sea by the United States authorities. 
I am to state that the Minister of Justice has taken no action with respect to this 
communication, but that he is of opinion that the Minister of Marine and Fisheries 
should, at his earliest convenience, take steps to communicate the substance thereof 
to the Colonial Office and to the British Minister at Washington. 
I have, &c. 
(Signed) GEO. W. BURBIDGE, 
Deputy Minister of Justice. 
