Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-02-17

Bold Attempt to Fob Cftizens OF
Their Possessions.

Their pa~ses-tohs.
Some two years ago Messrs- Whit
worth, Smithsrs and number OF other
respectable citizens Of this county, dis
coyered rich coal deposits on Section
81, in the Green River country, and at
once located on that section. In order
10 get the matter in shape TO develop
the mines located there, they organized
A syndicate, composed Of some OF our
best citizens, who have since kept ex-
perienced coal miners ct work. opening
no the various rich veins Of coal In
order to induce the Willard combination
70 build road into that section, the
propristors offered the land 10 the VII
lard people at reasonable coslsideF@-
ton. and we are told that Dir. Howard
agreed TO bay it, provided II would De
transferred to him personally. ms
the holders of the land refused TO do,
rather choosing TO hold II themselves
than to allow II ~ pass INTO the hands
of a private individual. Finally the
railroad people. or their attorneys, con
cluded that they would like 10 have the
land. and instead of paying for 1t, a lot
of men were hired to go up there, under
the direction of q man named CHICK,
a brother-Iu-iaw of James Mcknight,
the attorney for the company, and drive
the citizens who were developing their
coal off the land. This man Chick first
made his appearance on the land week
or SO ago, we'll supplied with revoivers.
Nr. James McGulre, an employee OF
the syndicate, saw him coming, and as
he approached, showed rim the lines
and warned him that he crossed them
at his peril. Chick, who II fluent
talker, told Mcclure and his friends
that he was a brother-in-law Of James
Mcknight, and was backed by more
capital than old Vanderbilt or anybody
else, and stated that he had been sent up
there TO take possession of the land.
Finding that the employees Of the syn
dicate would not flee even from a broth
or in-law of James Mcknight, Mr..
Chick mounted his horse and started
for Seattle for instructions. Dir. Nc
CURE also came to town and received
instructions from his employers, and re-
turned. The result of Mr.. Chicks in
-tructions seems 20 have been a REIN
forcernent, for Sheriff McGraw was
called upon onl Thursday morning TO
proceed to Green river and arrest Chick
and his whole gang, on a charge OF
forcible entry, sworn out before Justice
Cam, by Patrick Matthews, an en-
ployee Of the syndicate. The Sheriff
returned last evening having VIM. Ken
ney, Samuel Evans, Geo. Upton and
Mccoy in charge. Chick had cisap-
pearsd but will probably be arrested to-
day. Mr.. Whitworth went to see MIR.
Jones, the man who succeeded James
Williams As Superintendent at Newcas-
tie, and told him the circumstances, and
said the syndicate were on the land law
fully. had been there for two years and
intended to stay. WELL" replied Mr..
Jones, IF you intend to hold the land
you had better send some collins up in
TO that country"
For the benefit of Mr.. Chick, James
McNaught's brother-in-iaw. and Mr..
Jones, who are strangers here, we will
state on behalf of the syndicate. that if
they imagine the respectable citizens of
this country who discovered that land,
and have spent thousands of dollars in
developing it. are going TO be driven
from their possessions by lot of mis-
guided hirelings they make a great mis-
take. Oh, no, gentlemen, no bulldozing
like that for citizens of this Territory
If you please. II has come to a pretty
pass when a great corporation or its at
torneys will resort to such practices as
this. The employees of the syndicate
are all peaceable men, In possession OF
the land lawfully, and like old Paul
Jones have adopted the motto, Don't
tread on me-"