, 1854-12-30
LAWS OF THE TERRITORY OF WASHINGTON,
PUBLIsuED ny AUTHORITY.

AN ACT to create the ofnce Of Wreck Master, ant
defining his duties.
SEC. /. BE Il enacted By The Legislatir,
Assembly Of The Territory of Washington
That on the next annual or general cleo.
ton, the qualified voters of Pacific, Cheha.
lis, Thursion, King, Jefferson, Island and
Whatcom counties shall elect a wreck mas.
ter, whose duties shall lie as hereinafter pro
rided -
Sec. 2. That until said general elec-
ton ]. D. Holman he and he is hereby ap-
pointed wreck master within and for the
county Of Pacific, d. K. Welden in and
for the county Of Chelalis, Hilary Butler
within and for the county Of King, Joseph
Cushmanin and for the county Of Thurston,
G. H. McAlmond in and for the county Of
Jefferson, r. B. Holbrook in and for the
county Of Island, William Pattel, in and
for the county Of Whatcom.
Sec. 8. Every wreck master before en-
tering upon the duties Of his Office, shall be
sworn faithfully to discharge his duty, and
shall give bond to the judge Of probate,
for the county in which he resides, with
mficient security to the acceptance Of said
Judge, for the faithful discharge Of bis duty,
and every person having a claim against
any such wreck master, for any breach or
neglect Of bis official duty, may have rem
edy therefor by q suit on his bond to be
prosecuted in the name Of the Judge Of Pro.
bate, In like manner as bonds given to
Judges Of probate by administration Of the
estate Of deceased persons.
Sec. L. No ship, vessel, boat, nor any
goods, wares and merchandise, that shall
be cast by the sea upon the land, shall be
deemed to belong to the territory as
wrecked property, but may be recovered
by the owner, consignee, or person having
the charge thereof at the time of the hap
pening Of the disaster by which the wreck
was Occasioned upon the payment Of a rea.
Sonable salvage and necessary expenses.
Sec. 5. The wreck master in each coun-
tyto which the provisions Of this act are
applicable, in which any wrecked property
shall he found, when no owner or other
person entitled to the possession Of said
property shall appear, shall have power
and It shall be his duty, to pursue all nee.
essary measures for saving and securing
such property, to take possession thereof
In whose hands soever the same may be in
the name Of the people Of this territory, to
cause the value thereof to bc appraised BY
disinterested persons and keep the same in
some safe place, 10 answer the claims o.
such persons as may thereafter appear en-
titled therto. a1aIn ai n.iE.
Sec. 6. If the property so saved shal
be in perishable state so as to render the
sale thereof expedient, 1t shall be the duty
Of the wreck master to apply to some judge
Of the United States district court, or jus
tice Of the peace by petition supported
by an affidavit Of the facts for an order au
thorizing such sale /; and If the judge Of
justice Of the peace to whom such npplica
ton shall be made, shall be satisfied that I
sale Of the property would be most bene6
cal to the parties most interested, it shal
be the duty of the officer TO whom the ap
plication is made to make the order so ap
piled for. 0 h'
See. l. II such order be made, the Off
Ger having custody Of the property direc
ted to be sold, shall sell the same at publi
auction, at the time and in the manner tina
shall be specified in the order and tn
proceeds Of such sale deducting the expens
thereof, as the same shall be made by tn
otHeer making such order, shall be paid t.
the treasurer of the county.
Sec. 8. II within one year after sucl
recorded property shall have been fount
and saved, any person shall claim the sam
o. the proceeds thereof, as owner or con
slgnee or tho agent Of the4 or con
signee, and shall establish his claim by ev
idence, which any United States Judge o
Justice Of the peace shall deem to be satisfaC
tory it shall be the duty of such officer +
make an order directing the wreck maste
IN whose possession the property may be, t
deliver the property if not sold as above
or to pay the proceeds arising from tn
sale thereof, if sold Gs aforesaid, to tn
Claimant, upon the payment by him of