The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1872-12-27
TERRITORY OoRREs.
P0NDENOE,
SLAUGHTER, King county, w.
NnUap,f..,. oN 100

SLAUGHTER, King county, w. IT,
November 80, 1872.
EDITOR NEW NORTHWEST:
For several years past John w. Pin
nell has kept squaw brotheI in Seattle
and has been so well patronized by ali
classes of men-merehants, lawyers,
doctors; in fact, the general community.
as well rs the poor, debased sailor and
logger-that he has grown so wealthy
as to have had it in his power to rule
the town, and in some instances, the
county elections. Gambling, drinking
and licentiousness reign to such an ex-
tent that five squaw brothels and one
white one are supported in the little
town of Seattle. Moral and physical
pollution have become SO rife that
strangers coming here to settle go away
disgusted. The Territorial University
cannot be sustained-there being but
very few students attending, and scarce
ly any of them from the country-from
the fact that the farmers will not send
their children to Seattle to have their
morals corrupted.
The virtuous portion of the citizens
had several times tried to get rid of Pin
nell through the process of law; but he
was too much for them, until when 1
came into Seattle they had settled down
to the conviction that there was no help
for it, and that they should have to sub
NIT to have their children debauched
and destroyed soul and body, and all
virtuous people deferred from settling
in town. For over a year could find
no chance to help them, until last sum-
mer when the people became alarmed
about the smallpox, and the City Coun-
ell passed what they thought a small
pox Ordinance, but instead of saying
Smallpox, they got it "any conta-
gious or infectious disease" As soon
as | read it | said: "Now we have a
chance to get hold Of John Pinnell
through the Board of Health. / will
write petition to the health officer TO
go ahead and do his duty by placing a
yellow flag on John Pinnell's house, and
TO take up of the street all persons sus-
pected of any contagious or infectious
disease and cOnfine them in q pest
house, rs provided in the Ordinance" "
The response was ''do So" and 1 did,
and the citizens signed the petition. In
less than three days / got one hundred
and eight names. The health officer
(Dr. Weed laid the petition with his
report before the Council. His report
=, was ''that in his opinion John w. Pin
nelPs premises did not come within the
provisions of City Ordinance No. 30"
And the Council concurred in his opin-
ion. / Immediately wrote an answer to
their decision which completely silenced
them. After waiting a few weeks for
them to defend themselves, if they had
anything to say, lady of Seattle, sign
ing herself J. l.. B., came out with an
article asking them "what they were
, going to do with it," and so the wal
was fairly begun. The side of virtue is
prevailing, as you will see by the paper
I send you. IfIcan will get and send
you all the papers containing articles
on the subject.
I have just read the NEW NORTH.
WEST of Nov. 29th, in which you quote
from an article in the Seattle Hntelli
genccr on the moral standing of Seattle
That article was called out by the stant
the editor takes against morality anC
virtue, he being by common report one
of Pinnelps customers, patronizing hi.
house and upholding him through hi,
influence. We could not any of us ge
, the HatcLligCHcer to print an article oil
the side of virtue and morality, but a
soon as one on the other side, slanderinl
the OppOsers Of vice, was presented TO
publication, it was readily published.
Old Beriah Brown, with all his faults
nobly rendered as his columns and as
sists us with his pen and influence.
| / am sure the friends of virtue anC
; morality everywhere will rejoice tina
the women of Seattle have taken hole
of the matter with a determination t,
; rid the town of the pollution that i
$ surely destroying its prosperity.
[ MARY o. BROWN.