Captain Winchester was a British captain of the
Caribbean. In 1858, he rescued twelve Japanese sailors from a disabled ship floating in the
Pacific Ocean.
1 While on his way to China, he stopped in
Victoria to take on tradeable cargo.
2 Winchester departed from
Victoria for China with the rescued sailors on September 20, 1858.
3 He transferred the Japanese men to a British ship off the coast of Japan and they
were then safely returned home.
4 The
Daily Alta California, however, reported that Winchester
detained
these men
although not against their will.
But they saw his
persistence in retaining these people
as part of a
selfish policy
of the British to
obtain commercial advantages with Japan for the British flag.
5