The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-04-28
CAPT BROWN or TIE ALASKA.
Why he Deserted his Post at SitEn, Leaving
the whites In Peril OF their Lives.


SAN Francisco, April 19.-The United
States ship Alaska arrived at Esquimalt Vie
toria. day before yesterday. on her return from
Snka. to which place she was ordered last
month TO relieve the British ship Osprey. and
protect the citizens OF Sitka and their families
from threatened massacre Every one who is
In any way interested In Sitka or its people is
astonished and shocked at the conduct Of Capt
Brown Of the Alaska. in refusing to remain in
Alas kan waters until relieved by tho James
town. now fitting out at Mare Island. for the
Alaska station.
As reported by telegraph and confirmed 10y
his prompt return toward san Francisco. Capt
Brown treated the white residents Of Sitka and
their apprehonsions OF an Indian attack with
contemptuous Indifference. He preferred
taking tho word OF the Indians. that they had
no hostile intentions and had never given the
whites cause for alarm. He has also taken il
upon himself to denounce the Collector Of
Alaska. the Greek priest and the citizens. ns n
set Of unprinciped iasiners who were fabr-
eating stories Of Indian outraGes for the pur-
pose OF deceivine the Government and inducing
Il 10 send ship Of war to the station. their real
purpose being desire to profit by selling sup
plies 10 the sailors. Capt. Brown appears 10
have arrived AT these conclusions within twenty
four hours after his arrival at Sltka. Acting
upon them. he only waited a few days before
leaving the port.
Now, against these opinions Of Capt Brown.
with his five days experience in Alaskan
waters, we have first the opinion Of Capt.
Court OF the Osprey. who deemed the dan
ger SO threatening that he refused 10 leave
the port until relieved 10y an American ship-of-
protect tho town. Capt A'Court waited over n
month before the relief appeared, and during
his stay he carefully examined the situation
li-hed throughout the United States and which
fully confirmed tho representations made 10y
Collector Bal. Next. We have the official re-
| port Of Capt. Scden Of the revenue cutter Wal.
! colt. corrOburating Capt ACourt's report. and
urgently advising ne constant pr,srhcer 9i .
We have the reports OF Collector Bah and his
! appeals for protection 10 the citizens of Sitka.
! proved on many battlrlelds during the rebel
| lion, and he is not u man 20 DE frightened 10y
| le'tor Of Alaska for four years, who knows In,
| dian character thoroughly. having passed
| thirty yeqrs among the Indians OF Oregon and
| hrnvcst OF the brave nj Monterey and Buena
| Vista, and who is now AT Sitka. with no interest
in the trade ot the place, confirms all that Col
| hector Ball. Capt. A'Court. and Commandcr Sell
den have stated rs TO the gravity OF the situa-
ton and the need OF armed protection.
! lrcferrlug % be guided By an opinion OF
| these gentlemen rather than 10y the abrupt de-
| cisions of Capt Brown, one cannot resist the
! offence in quitting Stka, ana abandoning Its
! white residents 10 the dangers of an attack
| from Indians who Outnumhered them ten to
! one. Many Of the whites at Sltka are Russo
! American citizens whom we are bound by
! treaty ms well ms by the laws Of humanity To pro-
| lrct; others are native born cllHrns 81 me
| United Strtes. Capt. Brown, of the United
! States Navy. must be- either destitute Of human
! ity and common sense. or he has some strong
| mducement to bring him back to San Fran
! cisco. which has tempted him to commit an act
| for which he deserves dismissal from the ser
When tho orders came TO him TO proceed to
Shka. Browns shin was at Mare Island prepar-
| ing for a summers cruise to the Sandwich
| Islands. and the wives Of the Captain and sew
| crAl OF his officers were nj the Palace Hotel
island. to meet the Alaska there, and have q
| series of festivities and general good time.
The whole party, men and women. were dis
appointed aud angry when the orders came for
| the Anska to go To Sitka. 1t postponed for u
time-perhaps for the whole summer-the pro-
| Jccted excursion; hence the desire Of Capt.
| Brown and his lirutenants to return to san
| fra1cisco Added to this reprehensiblc prefer
encf Of useless pleasure cruise TO the sand
/ wich Islands. whore the ship Is not wanted, 10
making longer stay in Alaska, whore she is
| wanted. there crops M a desire TO belltte the
| services of tho Osnrey by declaring that there
was no danger at Sitka, and that her voyage To
TINT place on her generous mission OF rescue
| was unnecessary.
But Tor tho decision Of Cant A'Court to wait
AT Sltka until relieved by n United States ship
and the obligation thus placed upon the Navy
| Department Ia send snip TO relieve the British
ship, the Alaska would not have been ordered
To Sitka, and her officers and their families
would ere now be enjoying a round of festivi-
ties at Honolulu. Hence It is that these naval
pleasure seekers hate the gallant and generous
British Captain for responding 10 the appeal of
the residents OF Sltkn by promptly proceeding
10 their rescue and remaining by them until a
ship of their own country arrived.
When Brown brusquey proclaimed, on the
very next day after his arrival that the appea
which had brought the Osprey to Stka was q
fraud, he indirectly expressed the opinion that
Capt ACouu was n fool for his pains. and
that his presence and protection had not been
needed.
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