370 APPENDIX TO CASE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 
and Mr. Spring published the notice I gave him in the Victoria papers. This I 
deemed sufficient notice to all the parties concerned. I have not received any order 
from Washington other than above mentioned. 
‘Very Tespectfully, 
(Signed) “BARTON ATKINS, 
s “United States Marshal.” 
The following copy of the despatch referred to in Marshal Atkins’ letter, and of 
the order made thereon by Judge Dawson, of the United States District Court, 
Alaska, I obtained shortly afterwards from the official records at Sitka: 
“To Judge LA FayetrE Dawson and M. D. BALL, 
“« United States District Attorney, Sitka, Alaska. 
‘WASHINGTON, January 26, 1887. 
“‘T am directed by the President to instruct you to discontinue any further pro- 
ceedings in the matter of the seizure of the British vessels ‘Carolena,’ ‘Onward,’ 
and ‘Thornton,’ and discharge all vessels now held under such seizure, and release 
all persons that may be under arrest in connection therewith. 
(Signed) “A. H. GARLAND, 
“ Attorney- General.” 
* Copy of Order. 
“To BARTON ATKINS, 
“United States Marshal for District of Alaska. 
Os You are hereby directed to release the vessels ‘Carolena,’ ‘Onward,’ aud ‘Thorn- 
ton,’ and ‘San Diego,’ which were seized in Behring’s Sea, for violation of section 
1956 United States Statutes, together with their tackle, apparel, skins, guns, ammu- 
nition, small boats, and everything pertaining to said vessels. 
“‘This 10th day of February, 1887. 
(Signed) “LA FAYETTE DAWSON, 
“ District Judge, District of Alaska.” 
About the time I received the above letter I met the Marshal in this city, and 
asked him why no official notice of the release of these schooners had been given to 
the owners. In reply, he said he thought it had been done, but if not he would 
attend to the matter on his return to Sitka. Such notice not coming to hand as 
expected, I, on the 16th October following, wrote the Marshal as follows: 
“BARTON ATKINS, Esq., 
“United States Marshal, Sitka, Alaska. 
“Victoria, BRITISH COLUMBIA, October 16, 1858. 
“My DEARSIR: Youmay remember a conversation I had with you when in Victoria 
in reference to the non-receipt of official notice of the release of the schooner ‘ Caro- 
lena’ at Ounalaska by her owners. At their request I have to ask that you will 
kindly forward the same to me by return mail. The owners, as you may notice on 
reterring to the records of the Court, are Munsie and Co. (Munsie and Co.) of this 
city. 
“Tam, &c. 
(Signed) “A. L. BELYEA, 
“Attorney for Munsie and Co.” 
By return mail I received from the Marshal a letter, saying that official notice had 
been sent to the owners of the ‘‘ Carolena,” with an order directing the Deputy Col- 
lector at Ounalaska to deliver the vessel to the owners, which notice and order are 
to be found on pp.7 and 8 of Mr. Milne’s statement. ‘Thus it was that not till nearly 
two years after the Washington authorities ordered the release of this vessel, and 
then only after asking for it was such notice received; and to this day the owners 
of the ‘‘ Thornton” and ‘‘Onward” have received no such official notice or order for 
delivery, and could not, if they so desired, obtain possession of their vessels. 
The telegram ordering the release was receiv ed at Sitka on the 9th February, 1888. 
The vessels were then under order for sale, which order Judge Dawson imme- 
336 diately revoked, and on the 19th of same month made the or der for the release 
above recited. This or der was given to the Marshal, but for the reasons appar- 
ently mentioned in the Marshal’s letter to me of the 4th August, 1888, the matter 
dropped. 
The officials at Sitka took no steps to find out whether the telegram was genuine 
or not, nor did they, so far as I can learn, ever acknowledge or notify the Washing- 
ton authorities of its receipt. This shuffling on the part of the Court Secretary calls 
‘some misconception and mistake,” but those who know and have felt the power of 
the Alaska Commercial Company in Alaska call it a vastly different name. 
