, 1853-01-01
Another Outrage of the Queen
Charlotte indians IA Vessel
Burned, and Grew Captured!

Another Outrage of the Queen
Charlotte Indians IA Vessel
Burned, and Grew Captured!
We are indebted 10 Captain WM. WEB
srER, of the schooner Mary Taylor" for
the following particulars with regard TO the
seizure and destruction of the schooner
" Susan Sturges," andthe outrageous treat
ment of the crew by the Queen Charlotte
Indians during the month of September last.
Such outrageous conduct most imperatively
demands, and justly deserves prompt and
condign punishment from both the English
and American authorities, thatthe brutal saw
ages of the Pacific coast may he made 10 un-
derstand the practice Ofsuch aggressions with
impunity can be no longer tolerated. Some
Of our own citizens have had an opportu-
nifty of practical experience as to the man
ner the redskins referred TO are capable of
treating those who are unfortunate enough
10 fall into their power, and have not for
gotten the peculiar hospitalities extended 10
them by the natives of the Island during last
winter, and at divers other times and pla-
ces on the Pacific within the last few years.
Our fisheries are already attracting consid'
cradle attention, and bid fair, at no distant
day. to add greatly to the commercial i'm
portance Of the coast and the safety Of
both English and American small fishing
smacks seriously require that both authofi-
ties should unite in effectually suppressing
the piratical oulrages with which the Indi-
ands have been amusing themselves of late,
at the expense of life and property Of their
white neighbors. ,l
1t appears from The information before US
that on the 26th of September last, the
schooner Susan Sturges" was sailing
along the coast with light breeze in the
vicinity Of Queen Charlotte's Island, when
about thirty canoes filed with Indians came
alongside, under the pretext, as it was m.
derstood, of wishing 10 sell some fish. No
suspicion of any trouble was at the time en-
tertained by the crew, but watching ia
vorable opportunity, several hundred sud-
denly leaped on board-tOok possession Of
the vessel--stripped the crew perfectly ma
ked, and took them all prisoners to the shore.
They then burnt the vessel. and made slaves
of the captives. Information concerning
the transaction was communicated to the
Hudson Bay Company's trading station at
Fl. Simpson, and with commendable promp-
titude that cOmpany's agent dispatched the
steamer " Beaver " in charge Of Mr. WoRK,
gentleman connected with that post, for
the purpose of rendering such assistance
and shccor as circumstances might warrant.
Mr.. Work succeeded in effecting the re-
lease of all but one Of the crew, and brought
them selely to Victoria, Vancouvel's Island.
The Indians peremptorily refused 10 surren-
der a certain ONE of the party, and it is
thought probable he has been butchered by
them ere this time.
We have been unable to learn the names
Of any Of the crew, and know. nothing Of
the terms Of capilulation between tho cap
tain of the Beaver > ana the Indians con,
cerning their release, but earnestly hope
that the next vessel they undertake to board
may be an American or English man-of-
war, in order that they might receive lit
lie useful instruction in nautical warfare.
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