Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-09-15
Immsdiaes Csuses ofths American ooou-
nNsznn Of Tia 1aland Of eAn Juan.

-
Imms6iaes Causes ofths American oocu.
/ paxkDa Of tho Island Of sAn Juan.
- ne evrival Of he ssas efihs West. - New
YsEk. sfsssflay. we leafn tAs immediate cause a
| the Aaerisaa eccupafioa Of he Island ~ San
JasA, "A eerss-pesdsateftAe yistoria Gazette
| ssyss *.
i ezisr 70 ascertain - asss movement thai
| led 10 tn present posiaioa a things, applied to
| Ne. HsAHs. the United Sfnkss deputy collector on
the iespd fbs The last three years or tbereaboat,
| rho kiadly fssnishsd ne With such data as be
had IN his pos-eesien. lie he'd exercised the func-
ton Of dcpnty celleetor on tbs bland for nearly
three years. and daring thss sine has made rega-
lar quarterly returns ~ all the Imports and ex-
ports 10 and from the island 10 this government
Daring his residence ON the leland there have
been quite number Of murders committed there
and in the immediate vicinity. and the American
residents on the island deemed ]. proper for their
safety 10 ask the protection of their government
Pending their action. the island was visited by
General Harvey, tho COMMUNICATIVE IF the
Pacific division. Who In furthefancc of orders Of
his government. examined the island. preparato.
~ 10 making permanent loca ton Of portion of
his command at that point. Shortly after his de-
rarfurc in order % has,en. If possible, the pro-
tect'n they desired, the American residents met
On the llth If July last. and prepared petition
TO Gen. Harvey. which was soon after sent 10 him
The following is u copy Of the Petition
San JUAN ISLAND, July Ii, 1889.
To General Harvey. Commander-in-chicf Of the
Pacific Division Of the U. s. Army:
The undersigned American citizens Gu the is-
land Of San Juan would respectfully represent
That in the month of April. in tho year 1883
the house If the United States insrect " of GUS
toms for this island wns attacked and fired in:o in
the night by party of Indians living on this is
land. and known ~ the calLan,s and had it not
been for the Hudson Bay Company, the inspector
tor would have fallen victim to their savage d.
signs.
IL the month Of July fljowjng we ferni on The
beach. close 10 the above ~ 'olioncd Indian enmr.
the bodies If two white meg, appa realty Ameri-
cans, who had. when found, cottcn cords about
their neck, which had been useI TO conceal them
under wafer.
Last fall: another during murder was committed
in tho middle Of the day and in the plain sight of
us all here, without the slightest chance of render
ing them assistance.
Only ten DAYS ago another body WINS found
our shore, Which had been the victim Of foul
play.
Inclusive to the ahovc dangers that we nre ex-
posed to from neighhorin. Indians, we are coli
iinually in fear OF descent upon us hy the bands
Of mnratdng northern Indians who infc-t these
waters in large numbers md are greatly r"tard-
ing the progress Of tle settlement Of this is,
lind.
According to the treaty cocludcd june 10. Is Is.
between the United States aud Grent Britain, (the
provisions If which are plain, obvious and point
cd 10 all hcre) this and all the islands east of
the lannl de llaro belongs to as. We therefore
claim Amrricnif protection in our present exposed
and defcncclcss position.
With ayiew Of these facts, auditor the essential
advantage OF having this aud the surrounding is
lands Immediately settled, VIC most earnestly pray
that you will have stationed on this island sui
fcient military force to protect from the above
mentioned dangers until we become sufficiently
strong enough to protcc, ourselves
Signed bp all the American residents on The
island, thirty in number,
Before. however. II petition could reach Genor
nj Harvey he had, in accordance with instruc-
siona from his government, despatched force for
the purpose. and. als" t" make regular station for
II portion If the troops ol his command.
Mr.. llubbs Informed me that in 1854 the civil
authorities of Wha,c"m county, Washington Ter
rtorv, assessed tie usual taxes on property in
San Juan Island. which not being paid. the as
SCISSOR seized thirty sheep belonging to the llul-
sons Bay Company. auA sold them to liquidntc
the taxes claimed. 'fha' company ha' SINCE made
n claim on The Unite States government for 49,
600 for the yalue OF ia" ,hccp.