Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1885-03-12
INVESTIGATION pEuAspE..

fhe seah Bsy Agency aaa rraa.y-
saip Gs~d 20 the Peeaaiary IsIavy
OF tie Indians aud 90 the Detvss.~as
OF the Public Service.
FOR some time past repeFts have h.,sp
ahoai Of Official wrong doing ON IN.
Aeah Bay Indian Reservation. III.
Indians have complained that they we're
not fairly treated By Oliver Wood. the
agent that they were oompelled hv
him TO boy their goods of S. Baxter the
trader there that they were oblioad 20
work for Baxter for less rpo1ev thsn
taey could get from Others for like zey.
wees ana that they were compelled to
9eh y, D4Aber Tor less money than others
woain give Tor their peltries. It has
also ooen reported that one of Baxter's
cssfEs mas oesn drawing his pay from
the General Government.
Ansse are very serious matters, and
tney demand immediate and rigid er-
snolnatlon. The attention of Special
agent Newell 10 pablicly called 10 these
alleged abnses, With the hope that, il
tnsy exist ss reported, be will cause
tusif immeoiate abatement aud tbs
speedy removal of the offending agent
and trader.
A proper and, We believe, substantial
bass Tor the Investigation demanded
VIII De found In the letter following.
fee-ived by rs yesterday
NEAH Bar, March ., lsss.
EDTroE PosT TiETKLLI6KscEE
i may be taking liberty, for / an
not much posted on the right way TO tell
YOU what have 10 say, bat il you don Z
want 70 make Il public there IL no harm
done Dot would like the citizens of
Pneet Sound TO know what they do IN
Sean hay. Ay name ia Alexander Ne
Eariane. am captain and owner Of
tho schooner Mist, aLd am engaged in
the pilot business OF Cape Flattsry.
ana u has been the custom for Years
sack TO seal in the summer that is.
take Indians on yonT schooner and let
tben seal from her, and take them on
ooAfd at night, buy their seals al
price agreed upon. keeping one-tbird
TOT the sohooner's share. Now, Mr.
BAXTER. of Seattle. keeps store here. He
wants TO do the whole bHsinsss ~ himself.
as will Vet you see. He has GOT the
schooner Ieasef. believe be owns her.
The lyottie, Mr.. Landes' schooner, of
Port Townsend, be has got chartered,
and be tells the Indians that be has got
MI Frank Ctapp's schooner Granger
also. Bat he can't trouble Mr.. Clamp.
Tor II l don't mistake Frank has too
much money and influence for 8 man
IKE Baxter to balldoss. It in altogether
dinerent wfth me. The schooner is all
have got, and he is SO brave. Nv
schooner Is small, I6 tous register. but
she has been i1 the sealiag business for
years. Now ! have offered $5for large
seals, so can get the Indians TO 90 with
me. Baxter won't give more than a.,
and at this time there are no Nsah BAY
Indians who will work for him. The
men ars all doing nothing. Wood, the
agent, viii Eot ALLOW the indians 80 90
With me or any schooner but Baxter's.
There are two more sohooners IasinR
here doing nothing. Nos, l think Mr..
wood vas sent 10 Eeah BAY 10 see that
the Indians got fair play. but when
asknd him u he had any objection TO
the Indians eeing sealing with me he
told me must not give more for seals
than Baxter aud | must not interfere
with the trader. told him that would
give 10 for all the sea got on my
schooner. Then be told me be would
not allow me ashore. There is q pest
oftice and a Telegraph Office here. I dare
not 20 TO either or he will fine me $500
for the first offenso.
MI. Baxter sent note 30 me, which
enclose 20 you. You can make any usa
You like Of il. Ii ought 10 be publish.
ed. IL will let people see what the man
h willing 70 do. l went ashore after
get the note. He asked me what vas
after. | said nothing. only for him 10
leave me alone and les me seal. He
said. thought you was after some
thing else" said no. Then he told
mo that ] could not get one canoe of
the beach. Now. this was before ask.
ed Weed tkat question-if | could GET
canoes. SO IL seoms they had ID ali set
tied. Here lay, doing nothing; plenty
OF Indians ready and willing to 90 with
ms, but IL they do the agent will put
theaI In jail. The agent SAYS this 10
them openly. and the poor men are
afraid 10 20, for most surely be will do
10. would like to have Judge Burke's
opinion, II can't come on this Wood
for lost time; bat be knows am poor
man.
Nos, aiF. you know the way things are
here. ALL | wart In fair play. I could
tell yoa lots of The doings Of this place. |
bat am afraid ron will get tirea OF IL. |
I am pretty well known on tie sound. |
! mske my hone at Port Townsend. |
have BEEN pilotinQ around here for some |
yeaFs. Hoping you will see dc to put
lish shis. | am, slf, yours respectfully,
A. McF1RLANK,
Captain and owner Of the schooner |
Mist Of Port Townsend.
Y. ST. hoIH you will publish this. |
II IL The truth. caA prove IL by lots Of |
people. can get 86 for skins all round |
IL pay <A. "a. %, 81. 81, you zee I can |
make money, as | have third always |
clcar Of this for my own share.
This letter from Baxter 10 McFariane,
iryinst 10 buy the latter OF 80 as 10 give |
Baxter monopoly of the business. TO |
The los Of the Indians. reads as fol-
Iews:
NsAa Bar, March 8, 1855.
Cag.sass ReRariaHs, Sekeosssr Mist |
DEAR Sra; am told you are Offering &5 |
each for sealsyand ~ they are nos worth !
this price 10 me. and s.ch an effef in
terferes with my basiness in creating
an excitement amoBgst the Indians,
thai can only result in my loss and
theirs, without any profit 30 yoa. shall
be very mach obliged IL yea will state
10 me By the bseref what price you will
seeept MOI TO interfere with my business
In purchasing neal skins. II yoar prizes
is nos too extortionAts. 10 will be eheap
or. pefhaps, 20 me 20 nay is.than 10 have
you IN the way. fonrs traly,
5. BAxrKA-
BAXTER Was exeeedingly offensive IN
,he last politioai campaign. He and
wood certainty come within the scope