Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-06-06
FROM The TERRITORIAL
INSANE ASYLUM.
Complaint of Inhumanity and
Brutality.
n,rect Charges Made BY . Patiens..-
Rev. Geo. A. sloan.
SrgrLAoooM, w. T., June 4, 1883.
u D-ur T,-rRr rGryCYR.

SrgrLAoooM, w. T., June 4, 1883.
En-. Posr-
Public institutions are public prop
ertv. An asylum is humane institu-
tion and should be administered hu-
namely. The patients are not guilty Of
crime. but are often overworked. They
come here for rest-rest for the weary.
RyutaI treatment is not the kind o!
usape which the government intended
aver in the case of the most obdurate
and unruly.
This institution-Fort Steilacoom
Hospital for the Insane-is conducted
by brute force. came here from
Snraoue and Cheney, whore was
preaching az a Presbyterian minister
and building a church at each city. /
vas syesdone with incessant and pro-
tyacted labor during last summer-lS62.
finally was overcome with the intense
be,f of that climate. Nv room at the
hotel being situated between two sa-
loons. where In one of them dancing
and reveiry was carried on nearly every
NIGHT. sleep forsook me, and the result
vas that | was brought to this quiet and
GRAND place by nature, in sight of Mount
Rainier (or Tacoma, the Indian cOgno-
mem. the beautiful. the grand, and
where the SEA breezss blow softly and
the yoicss of nature speak audibly to
the senses. This Is "a calm, sure re-
treat"
But tho government of this institution
Ia failure as far as the present man
aoement il concerned. Under the
superintendency of DIR. q. w. Waughop,
profane and obscene language that
never before heard of a parallel, was
used by the wardens with one single
exception. Mr.. Guyott, of Olympia,
was the exception. Webster, Shelton,
Mayor Alden and o. Peterson have all
been dismissed on account OF cruelty of
the darkest hue. / asked for some
bread aud milk the second evening after
nv arrival, the Sth of July, 1882. l was
refused. complained, and they took
me to the Jail, third ward, where was
trapped and cruelty treated.
For variety played Hamlet, and for
that offense was cruelty beaten by or
der of DIR. Waughop, and commanded
by the gallant Alden, after had sur
rendered. DR.. Waughop stated to some
that after he gave the order he retreated
10 the city of Stsilacoom to get out Of
the way. I did not resist them seven
men. Alden, with the wardens, repeat
cd the "Fort Pillow Massacre" / was
taken MP for dead and carried to the
fail, in the third ward, strapped down
and the bed fastened to the wall by
means of a staple aud ring. l recov.
cred in about an hour and found my
ribs distigured and no one in tho dis
NAL room. The doctor never called IN
til the next day, and then he refused to
examine my wounds. l survived the
terrible shock to my nerves, and after
about one month was able to walk about
the room.
Al another time, about two weeks In.
ter, /, i'm sport, undertook TO box with
O'Peterson, the warden, and he called
Webster, and they pounded and kicked
me "a badly as before-kicking me In
the right side and on the spine and ribs
until despaired of recovery.
informed the Governor (Newell) OF
the brutal treatment and malpractice
Alden, Peterson, Webster, and Sheldon
were removed. In conclusion, would
state that tho tax payers Of Washington
Territory have a right to know Of the
dark and dreadful scenes that have
witnessed beating of patients, FOL
no Just cause, In more than Q score ol
instances the heart sick6ns, wher
we reflect that the records Of barbarisu
fail TO produce parallel TO this infa
nous treatment of innocent men, guilt
OF no crime, and loft without redress
who are threatened with sudden ant
terrible penalties IL fshey reveal the fact
In any case whatever.
Ibelieve in an almighty and merci
full Providence. I resorted TO tina
source, and from that I received cour
age to divulgo the base conduct OF
those entrusted with the care Of thos'
unfortunate patients. am only doinl
what my conscience dictates. The fea
Of man Is not worthy Of serious ant
candid thought.
Fraternally.
GEo. w. SLOAN.