344 APPENDIX TO CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 
1. Affidavit of Owen Thomas, of Victoria, British Columbia, master of the British 
sealing schooner ‘‘ Black Diamond.” 
2. Affidavit of Daniel McLean, of Victoria, British Columbia, master of the British 
sealing schooner ‘ Triumph.” 
The Minister recommends that copies of the inclosures herewith be immediately 
forwarded, for the information of Her Majesty’s Government. 
The Committee concurring advise that your Excellency be moved to forward 
310 this Minute, together with copies of the inclosures, to the Right Honourable 
the Secretary of State for the Colonies 
All of which is respectfully submitted. 
(Signed) JOHN J. MCGEE, 
Clerk, Privy Council. 
[Inclosure 3 in No. 222.] 
Captain Shepard to Mr. Hankanson. 
UNITED STATES REVENUE-STEAMER ‘‘RusH,” 
Behring’s Sea, Lat. 56° 22’ N., Long. 170° 25' W., July 11, 1889. 
Sir: You are hereby appointed a special officer, and directed to proceed on board 
the schooner ‘ Black Diamond,” of Victoria, British Columbia, this day seized for 
violation of Law, section 1946 Revised Statutes of the United States, and assume 
charge of said vessel, her officers and crew, twenty-five in number, all told, excepting 
the navigation of the vessel, which is reserved to Captain Owen Thomas, and which 
you will not interfere with unless you become convinced that he is proceeding to some 
other than your port of destination, in which event you are authorized to assume full 
charge of the vessel. Everything being in readiness, you will direct Captain Owen 
Thomas to make the best of his way to Sitka, Alaska, and upon arrival at that port you 
will report in person to the United States District Attorney for the district of Alaska, 
and deliver to him the letter so addressed, the schooner ‘‘ Black Diamond,” of Vic- 
toria, british Columbia, her outfit, and the persons of Captain Owen Thomas and 
Mate Alexander Galb, and set her crew at liberty. After being relieved of the 
property and persons intrusted to your care, you will await at Sitka the arrival of 
the “ Rush.” 
Ihave, &¢e. 
(Signed) L. G. SHEPARD. 
[Inclosure 4 in No, 222.] 
Mr. Hamley to the Customs, Quebec. 
Custom-Housks, Victoria, August 5, 1889. 
Sir: I forward herewith, in original, the orders given by Captain Shepard, of the 
United States Revenue-cutter ‘‘ Rush,” to J. Hankanson, special officer, to proceed on 
board the British schooner ‘‘ Black Diamond,” seized in Behring’s Sea, and to take 
her to Sitka. 
‘The master of the schooner reports to me that the Indians employed as hunters in 
the schooner would, he believes, have murdered Hankanson if an attempt had been 
made to take her to Sitka. The master got out of the sea and sailed at once for 
Victoria, without any opposition on the part of Hankanson, and I think it is very 
probable that the orders given him privately by the Captain of the ‘‘Rush” were 
not to interfere in any way with the destination of the vessel. He arrived here 
on Saturday evening, the 3rd August; the object of the Revenue-cutter was no doubt 
attained in taking her skins, rifle, ana Indian spears away, and sending the vessel 
out of Behring’s Sea. Her certificate of registry was also taken away. 
Shall I give her a fresh certificate? 
Ihave, &c. 
(Signed) W. HAMLEY. 
