Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1861-10-19
Death AZ Cart otap2oo.

VI tuS AOitOwauB oSSOoos w W. 0C"sAa
of Capt Geo. w. Staples. which &c.
CURED in Portland on tie l2th inst. -
Our usually quiet towa ~ thrown
into state Of excitement On Friday
last BY the tragical end Of Capt Staples,
of the steamer Pacjfe. He Wa shot
by q man named F. Patterson, . gain.
bier, from Yreka. There are various
stories in circulation rs to the origin of
the difficulty which led to the shooting,
in all Of which the law seemed to be on
the side Of Patterson. The following
are the circumstances, As l get them ::
Capt. S. had just received an appoint
ment as commodore in tn. U. s. Navy,
and intended to resign bis position as
captain Of the Pacific, and enter imme-
diately upon the duties Of his new Office.
The present was to have been his last
trip to Portland. Senator Nesmi,h
WAS 10 leave upon the steamer with
him, for Washington. Their friends
had jus, fired them salute-Nesmith
a national salute of thirteen guns. and
Staples commodore's salute of seven
guns. This occurred on Thursday
night, about eleven o'clock, at which
time the Pacific was to have sailed.
After the firing, the parties repaired to
saloon, where they remained till a
late hour, and, of course, become more
or less under the influence of liquor.
While they were drinking, Patterson
came in, when one of the party asked
him to come and take drink for the
Union" Patterson, it seems, enter
tains secession sentiments, and SO ex.
pressed himself, declining the invitation
to drink i'll no friendly terms. This
led to words, and / believe to blows be.
tween him and the person who invited
him to drink. They were separated,
and the bar-keeper succeeded in get
ting Patterson out of the back door,
when he went to his hotel-the EPIC
neer." Capt. S. and his friends went
off to the steamer; but unfortunately,
they concluded to return to the SALOON
to get another drink. Returning, they
found the saloon closed, and went to
the "Pioncer." They found Patterson
there, and the difficulty was renewed.
They wished him to fight, which he de-
clined, saying that he never courted
difficulty, but "whcn he fought he did
SO to whip, and took all the advanta-
ges." He escaped from the company
and got up stairs, when they proposed
to follow him. He warned them not
to do SO, saying if they did he would
shoot the man who attempted it. They
started and he fired, but no one was in.
jured. Several shots were then fired
at him. After this, the crowd drew
back moment, and began to consult
about arresting him-a thing, of course,
they had no legal power to do; and all
seemed afraid to attempt it. Finally
Capt. Staples volunteered to arrest
him, and in the face Of Pattcrson's
threat that he would shoot the first
man who should attempt to ascend the
stairs, Staples started up, when ball
from Pattersens pistol entered his ab.
domen, and ranging downward lodged
in his thigh. Other shots were fred,
i'm all eighteen, eleven of which were
fired by Patterson, who had two pis-
tols,-but no further damage was done
other than the rerforation of the doors
and walls Of the hotel. Patterson was
up stairs in the dark, while the party
below had lights. Medical aid was at
once summoned to Staples, and
his wound was pronounced mortal.
The shooting occurred about two o.
clock on Friday morning. and Capt. S.
died about one o'clock on Saturday
morning. He was buried OH Sunday
by the Masonic fraternity, and one
of the largest funeral professions have
ever seen in the city followed his re.
mains to the grave.
Patterson was arrested by Sheriff
Starr, and is now in Jail. awaiting m
examination on Friday. 18th inst. The
cause Of this sad affair may he summed
mp, - such occurrences usually are, in