, 1860-07-27

The following, fiom the Port Townsend Regis
ter Of last week, affords tangible clue, we think,
to the mysterious fate Of Mr.. Henry Schroter and
his companions, and confirms the opinion always
entertained here as to the manner Of their un.
timely death:
Most Of our readers on the Sound will recol
lect that some eighteen months since, the little
schooner Blue Wing, Capt Rodney Stowel,
having as passenger Mr.. Henry Schroter, Of
Seattle, Mr. Schroter was not Of Seattle, but Of
SteilacOOm] and native Of Sweden as q sailor,
and the schooner Ellen Maria, Captain Duncan
McHuie, were lost on the passage down the
Sound and never heard Of afterward. Mr.. Schro-
ter was at the time on his way here to attend
the February term Of Court in 1859. No trace
or clue was ever discovered of either vessel,
and the whole matter has remained profound
mystery. Strong suspicious Of foul play on the
part Of Indians were generally held, but nothing
could be elected from any one. Lately, how.
ever, circumstances give strong indication that
both vessels were attacked by lndians-the per-
sons on board murdered, and the vessels burned.
We have been informed that at q recent ex-
animation before Judge Pemberton, in Victoria,
an Indian witness stated that year and q half
since, he was in northern canoe with q large
party Of Northern lndians-himself being a
slave at the time-coming down the SQUAD
that short distance below Seattle, very early
one morning they overlook q schooner bound
down, with but one man Oh deck, who was eeri
ing. The Indians shot him, then boarded the
vessel and killed two others who were below
and after taking what they wanted, they set the
vessel on fire, and burned her to the waters
edge, when she sunk. On the afternoon Of the
same day, they attacked another schooner, sup.
posed to be the Ellen Maria, on the Western
side Of the Sound near Bainbridge's Island, mur.
dered the persons on board, and burned her
also.
As the evidence Of the Indian probably had
nothing to do with the case en- trial, no mention
was made Of II In the Victoria papers but the
person who heard the Indians testimony i'm
mediately told our informants; but they did not
see the Indian aiterward, and having business
Of their own to attend to, had no time to in!
quire iurther into the matter. We understand,
moreover, that the Indian appeared anxious to
tell all he knew Of the affair, and stated that the
parties who did the decd are now in Vitoria.
We know Of no other way Of asceitaining the
truth Of this statement than to inquire Of the
COlOnist or Gazette, whether their reporters are
cognizant Of any such evidence having been
given before Judge Pemberton at any time dur
ing the past ten days, or, In fact, at any time.
II il be true as related u US, il will account
for the mysterious disappearance Of the vessels,
and we hope may lead to the arrest and con-
dign punishment Of the murderers. The two
vessels were small schooncrs engaged in the
trade on the Sound, and the statement certainly
has the appearance Of beng true.
General Thos s. Jesup, Quartermaster-Gen
erAl Of the United States army, died in Washing
ton City on tho 10th ulL lie was native Of
Virginia. He entered the army May 8, 1908, as
a second lieutenant Of the 7th regiment Of 10.
fantry. He took an active part In the war Of
lsl2-lS-l4, and participated in the battles Of
Queenstown, Chippewa, Niagara and Lundy's