St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-12-23
A BIG FISH STORY.
Maj. Ferguson Has Private Island
at Public Expense.
lspecial Telegram TO the Glohe. |

Especial Telegram to the Globe.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 22.-Lieut. Wood, of
the navy, reaffirms his recent charges against
Maj. Ferguson, of the fish com mission, not
withstanding the majors denial, which is
supported by the records of the commission.
Lieut.. Wood says: II will have no trouble in
disproving Maj. Ferguson's assertions, if
the published reports of his denial are
correct, nor in proving the other charges
made by me which he overlooked,
but which are most important points in this
controversy. He takes advantage Of what
little record there is of public duties per-
formed at his direction, but he entirely ig-
nores the private ones he ordered and the
private schemes he carried out. He makes
no mention of the little island in the Susque-
hanna, near Havre de Grace, which belongs
TO him, but which has been fitted up at pub
lie expense, ostensibly for fish Matching pur
poses. 1t is a private shooting station, upon
the best ducking grounds in the country,
pure and simple, and used for that purpose,
with a cottage handsomely fitted up
for the use of Maj. Ferguson and his guests
When Maj. Ferguson bought that island it
was nothing but little marshy spot He
gave the use Of it free to the fish commits
sion. The Improvements were to belong to
the government, of course, but the govern
ment can't remove them without removing
the island. 1t has been built up at public
expense with oyster sheds, with crib work all
around, until it is much larger, and the land
good and firm. should say
$50, 600 or $4,000 had been squan-
dered. No fish Matching has ever
been done there except very little that
might have been carried on on board The
fish commissions vessel. charge that
this is simply private dueking station. Ny
predecessor, Lieut.. Low, was detached be-
cause he wouldn't obey. Mai. Ferguson's
order to have everything in readiness for him
and some private guests to go ducking, de-
coys out, beds made, provisions on hand.
The party arrived, but nothing
was in readiness except Fereuson's
private quarters. Lows answer that he was
not servant for ducking station caused
his detachment for incompetcncy. Maj. Fer
guson says nothing about having his private
yacht, the Lookout, entirely rebuilt at the
navy yard, under REPAIRS about his stop
ping hCi VIZ NJ ldL llLtlO SAG 10 10 III
the shad season, that he might take junketing
parties down the bay; about her lying week
after week for two summers at his
private wharf at Newport. directly
in front of his cottage, that
he might use her for pleasuring whenever he
chose. can prove my charges, and have
asked for court of inquiry that,I may do
So asked to. be detached last October, before
/ made my charges, in order that no personal
differences might enter into the matter
When Ferguson saw that l was watching
him. year ago, he arranged
that a naval officer should obey
the commands of the assistant first
commissioner in the absence of Prof. Baird.
There is no such thing as such an assistant
He is simply an agent of Prof. Baird The
secretary of the navy righted all that in bis
recent order. These are only few OF the