RUSSIAN RASCALITY.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1657, 6 March 1884, Page 2

RUSSIAN RASCALITY.

The St. James' G-azette of Dec. 7 publishes from a correspondent a very strange story indeed, and one which, if he is rightly informed, is likely to make a considerable sensation .- The first scene of what promises to be the last act in a very strange drama will open to-day. The British Consul at ICortch. is to meet a very serious charge, the nature of which will presently appear. For twenty years past the sou of "\ zoff lias been the dread of the shipping community. Vessels sent there have had not u\\]y to suffer from long delays, hut from a remarkable system of robbery. lvortch is the key of Azoff, for every vessel has to stop there and receive free pratique at the quarantine ground before proceeding towards the different ports. Now, no vessel can get near the AzofE ports; and in the case of Taganrog, the largest of all, ships must drop their anchors 25 miles from the shore. All cargo must, therefore, be carried down in small craft; and this means a groat loss to the skipper. In the best of weather much grain is wasted by spillage and much more by robbery, but the place where the robbers succeeded, best is the sea of Xenikale. In former times the supineness of the (xovernment left this channel undredged, and almost every ship had to lighten before she could jmss through. Small craft came off, took grain aboard, and then the vessel proceeded. But while she was making her way through the channel, a gang at Yenikale (this is the assertion), were taking toll of her cargo. In 1871 Mr Barrow, Avho was then vice-consul at Kertch, put such pressure on the Uussian Government that the channel was deepened to 18ft, and the plunderers found their occupation nearly gone. The owners of lighters and steam tugs had grown rich in the good times, and they now saw their opportunities passing* away. Something must be done. Some .enterprising person soon contrived a scheme whereby the dredging of the

channel, so fa* front causing the 1 Ifenikale gang any, loss, --enabled them to increase 1 their gains), 7 This is how it wals .done. IJThe^^Governinent pilots are paid eight roubles for each vessel which they take up and down ; and, ■as there are thirty-two of them, the average amount received by each is about £2 5s a month. It is a poor pittance, yet men were willing to pay heavily in oi'def to get into one of these posts. Now, the conspirators succeeded-in -getting nearly the- entire— set of pilots under . Jhuinb, and a system ; of . wholesale 'plunder"' 'began. The pilots- '.arranged- to -run -vess'elß~ aground iv the channel, and a twist of the wheel easily put a steamer hard and fast. t Then steam-tugs hurried off, euormdus '• salvage /rates were ~ demanded, and ; the captain, had. to,' choose between leaving' his vessel " on" the ground and paying an extravagant ransom . When vessels 'in the Azoff came back they stopped at the entrance of the channel and sighted -'•' the signals, which showed the depth of water. Then the pilot came on board and proceeded to make a bargain. If the captain was ani. honest' •' man, and found that his|;yessel drew too much water, he would insist upon lightening before entering the cban- 7 nel; and in that case the pilot simply ran the ship ashore, aiid ' thus steamtugs and lighters alike obtained a haul. If the captain could be bribed the process was simplified, foi 1 the vessel was run aground at the entrauee of the channel. But in most cases the pilot took his owu way, and the vessel grounded at any point which " might have been arranged with the confederates onshore. The business ; nourished ; sixty ships w;ere run . ashore in three months, and that, toOj during calm weather. The under- , waiters paid £33,000 in three months. Piles of eo'inplairiis were sent to tHB Consulate, and the Yice-Coiisml, Mr Colledge, succeeded iii gettin pilots dismissed at one stroke, but apparently without auy good result. At last a fine vessel called the Dora Tully went aground and stove her bows in a little. She had on board a cargo of .wool .worth £72,000. This freight, being, most entirely soaked with salt water, had to be sold at almost any. price- rii^d the harpies iv: sisted on the 1 captain paying. 2,3 pcr 1 ? cent on the value of the cargo before they would tow his vessel off. He. had to submit . to be plundered in order that he might save a little of his owner's property. This transaction brought no less than 180,000 roubles to Yenikale for division among the men who arranged the disaster. After the Dora Tully affair the insurance clubs would stand it no longer, and they appealed to. the Foreigu Office for help. The Russian Government was at last made to act, and the leaders in the conspiracy, wei'e laid by the heels. Nbw . c"dmes the" nio'et' incfeaible page 5 in the romance. Whe'ii ; the chief organiser was searched in. prison, he was fouud to have in his possession an acceptance signed by the British Vice-Consul. This acceptance was for 23,000 roubles, and was payable on demand. Further investiga--tion showed that the money had been advanced by this man on grain shipped by the Consul from Odessa. ■ But suspicion was aroused ; the arrest of .the British official was ordered ; and now he is accused in set terms of having been the head of the gang ! ' But itjis all but absolutely . inconceivable an English gentleman should be in league with such creatures, that he should be false to his trust, and false to the great commercial community whose interests he was paid to protect. Mr Colledge has tat en the only means open to him for clearing his reputation. He has reported himself at the Foreign Office, and challenges public investigation. Whatever the result, the public will shortly hear some of the most startling revelations ever made.