Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-01-30
BRITISH GOlUsIBIA.
The Trouble Up NOrth-Mission of the
oliver WOlcett.

The Trouble Up NOrth-NEission of the
oliver wolcett.
VICTORIA, Jsnuary 29th-The Oliver VOL
colt, with DIR. Powell, Captain Todd and Mr.,
Anderson aboard, arrived at Departure Bay
this morning. When the Wolcott left De-
psrture Bay on her downward trip she met
the Dolphin near Swansin's Bay, on Finlayon
Channel, with Bishop Ridley on board.
pc ss,eLger for Victoria. The Bishop went on
board the Walcott and returned with her to
Meslakstla. On arrival there it was found
that everything was in q state of some little
commotiop, caused by the Indians removing
some buildings from the promised church re-
serve, but which had never been needed
by the Government. to their own land.
This removal was effected with good deal
of the noise and excitement generally pecu-
lisr to the Indians. The Wolcott arrived on
the 18th of October, and summonses were
issued the same day, on the complaint of the
Bishop against Paul Legrie Robert Husson
and Luke Summer, Indians of the Duncanite
side, for riotous conduct and removing the
property. A summons was also sworn out by
Paul Legrie against the Bishop for assault,
and cross action was entered by the Bishop
against Sitka Jim, Robert Husson and Paul
Legrie, for assault also. The first charge,
that of riotous conduct and removing the
buildings from this sc-called church reserve,
was tried the day after arrival and dismissed
partly on the ground that the church did not
own the property, having no title deed there
for. The charge Of sssaulting the Bishop was
prosecuted, and Sitka Jim was fined $40 or
fifteen day., and Legiie and Hussou were
fined $40, or ten days. The ines were i'm
mediately paid. To give the origin of the
trouble which created the excitement: Two
thirds Of the Indians support Mr.. Duncan,
and the other third the Bishop. The latter's
followers had organized band, snd one of
them had purchased large drum from one
of the Duncanites. This drum. was owned
by a number of the India 2. In
fact it was o joint 3. :. 5rum,
but the man who SOLD th d. INA
had the largest interest in il. The other In
disns who owned the remainder of th
shares took this drum away from the pur-
chaser when he was taking it home. In de-
ing so they used some force. This occurred
a few days before Christmas. The Bishop
On complaint issued warrant for the captors
of the drum, named Mathew Johnston and
Robert Bates. on a charge forcibly taking it
on the highway, and they were lodged in
jail. AS the Bishop did not want TO try the
case alone, he postponed the hearing for six
days, refusing bail The Indians not
wishing to see their comrades cor
fined in a cold, unheated Jail, Curing
the Christmas festivities. made a.deputation
and walked down to the Bishops house. He
was not in, but they saw him coming up the
street. accompanied by his wife. They
thought this was their opportunity to see him
and walked to meet him. One of the Indians.
named Legrie, put up his hands in front Of
the Bishop to stop him, but he thrust his
hand away. They then closed around him.
when the Bishop squared eff in good style,
hitting right and left. This affair of course.
brought on more trouble. and the Bishop
started for Victoria on the Dolphin. After the
settlement of the different summonses, DR..
Powell invited the Indians to a pow-wow
at P. NJ. on Monday, the 21st, in the mission
building. When DIR. Powell arrived at the
building, at the appointed hour, not one In
dian was to be seen, and going to Mr.. Dun
car, the leader, he was told thst the Indians
had concluded not to go to the mission house,
as it was on church property but they had
no OBI ,ctipns to having the meeting in their
own church. Several meetings were held,
and Mr.. Duncan at one time threatened to
resign and leave the place :; but after a little
while pacific council prevailed. At one time
matters assumed a very black appearance, as
the Indians threatened to fence the Bishop
in, and goodness knows what, if he stepped
beyond the boundary. Itwas finally arranged
that each party should mind their own bust.
ness. The Bishop intends to remove his fam
lily from NAtlakatls, and return ana stay
himself