Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1882-09-02


We have had occasion before this To
refer very pointedly to the tyrannical
acts Of the sot who il placed at the head
of civil affairs in the Territory o!
Alaska, and arc now pleased TO see the
same subject taken hold OF by a number
IT our contemporaries. The CORE
spondent of the O,egon'aH, who went
north with the Dakota, and who saw
and heard for himself. thus writes of
this man and bis acts:
The people there have saddled upon
them az Collector of Customs = man
thoroughly unfit for any position OF
public trust, whoee only claim To recOg-
nifion by tine Government seems to be
that he has name hOnored In revolu-
tionary history. Being the highest. and
sside from his deputies. tho only civil
functiouary in the Territory. he Is far
from regarding himself as the servant
of the people or of the Government,
but appears to regard himself as King
and the people "a his subjects. Unless
abject Difference is paid him. his lUrdly
displeasure il at once aroused, and he
,eeks to make the confines of his king
dom too warm for the unlucky offender.
Aside from some saloon keepers, the
g1iter heard but one expression of
sentiment with regard 70 this officer
that it wonld be a happy day for Alaska
when he Was removed. Such Was also
the experience Of the excursionists with
whom / conyersed concerning tho mat
ter. It is popularity supposed that no
liquor il admitted into Alaska, yet in
the three or four saloons in Sitka whisky
was TO be had, and the Collector is said
70 to their best customer. 1t is not
openly shipped as liqnor, bat desi2-
mated as something else. Still this Col
Iector caused it to be telegraphed over
the country that the people Of Sitka
we're plague-stricken. ard that to save
life stimulants were not 10 be had.
merchant of Sitka, John q. Brady,
owner OF several cattle, fenced small
plot of waste ground in which TO cOiifiue
the stock ut night. The Collector wrote
him an indecent letter of eight pages,
and this WAS also in the same way tele.
graphod over the country as the jump
ing OF valuable Government land. In
the same dispatch was an unjus.ifiable
personal attack upon Commander Pear
son. Of the Wachusett.
A short time previous tO the arrival OF
the Dakota the collector was guilty OF
an Outr lgeous action that excited indig-
nation in the minds of all who learned
the circumstances Of the CASE.
Word reached Sitka that the mission
iry and his wife ut Chiicoot were no,
only nearly out of provisions, but were
both sick, the life Of the lady oven being
despaired Or, and appealing to friends IL
come to their assistance. The steamer
Rose, owned by Brady and others. was
lying idle at tho wharf, because the Ii
censed engineer had gone to Juneau to
engage in business. A competent engi-
neer was engaged 10 take his place, who
was waiting the arrival Of Inspector
Morgan 10 apply for license. 1t was
decided to send the Rose to Chilc0Ot and
bring the missionaries to Sitka, where
they could be cared for. Lieutenant
Benson, in charge of the marines, fur
nishing her coal for the trip. Collector
Morris, who WAS cOgnizant OF these
facts, interposed no objection tn the
Rose going, but sent letters by her to
Juneau.
Notwithstanding this, upon the return
Of the Rose from her errand of mercy,
she WAS seized by the collector and a
fine of $1,000 imposed for running with
out licensed engineer, he making tho
demand of immediate pay
ment of the fine. Capt. Morgan, the in
speCtOr, who was passenger on the Da-
kota, examined tho engineer, found him
and granted him y license.
When the Dakota sailed from Sitka tho
result of the sickness Of the missionary's
wife " q still uncertain.
The Z. 8. District Attorney instituted
40 proceedings here in the Rose case, as
by the collector, simply refer
ing the matter to the Secretary of the
Treasury, and it is safe to predict, when
hat officer learns Of the facts, the Rose
will be ordered released.
The Indian dogs, not having the fear of
The collector before their eyes, made
way with several chickens belonging to
him. Nothing short of their extermina-
lion would atone for this outrage. So
from OF the piazza and out Of the win
dow Of tho custom house death and de-
structiOn was dealt out to any hapless
d0K that came within reach of his bull
lets, until seventeen had been killed.
The Indians dog stands in about the
same relation to him as does the horse
Or COW to the white man, assisting him
10 make his living by helping in the cap
gurc OF fur animals and game. There
were serious fears of an outbreak ON the
part Of the Indians, SO much 80 that
Lieutenant Benson, of the marine
guard. felt IL hia Cntv In issuo an <,rf1ar
the inebriated collector to
'ease the killing Of the d0ga. It ia diff
sult to think with patience Of such q
man being retained in any position of
public trust.