, 1888-07-19
LETTER FROM JUDGE SWAN.
BosToN. Mass, July 5tb, 1888.

BosToN. Mass, July 5tb, 1888
DEAR Mr.. W,!IR.-I received, today,
the ARGUS of June 2Stb, containing au
account OF the death and funeral of my
old friend the Duke o. York, aud that it
is proper TO erect monument to his
memory.
I enclose herewith five dollars as my
| subscription towards sufficient sum to
erect n suitable monauen al tablet whlch
shall commemorate and keep fresh in the
memories of every p;orerr aud every des-
cendant of The pioneers. TIE uame Of
| CheizaRoka, the Duke OF York, head
| chief Of the ouce Grca. irihe of Cialiam
Indians OF Puget Sound. WIN, during
the Indian EostIllj!es of our early his'o-
ry, did more than any other Indian
chisf to keep tue tribes OF tho 10 er
sound from joining in the general up
rising OF the savages 10 ex!erminate the
| Writes.
The Duke of York never received
from the Government any reward for
his meritorious services. But the early
settlers of Port Townsend always respec-
ted him aud as long as h9 lived he was GER
tain that he and bis would be cared for.
The Duke Of York was man of more
than average intellectual capacity and
had 'ull understanding Of justice and
integrity, and during the mauy years of
our personal acquaintance, l never knew
him to wrong or defraud any one. What
he promised he performed, and the early
pioneers can tell many a tale of kindness
shown by him to distressed white per-
sons. He never has appealed in vain to
his old friends of Port Townsend, when
sickness caused him to solicit their al
ways ehecrfuily given assistance. Though
an untutored Indian he had manly
sense u right which showed by his acts
that be had an intuitive col ception of
better things.
1 am one of those, as Longfsllow teau-
tifully expresses it,
'.Who have faith In God and Nntnre,
Who believe, that in al ages
Every human heart is human,
That in even savage bosoms
There ars longings, yearnings, strivings
For the good they comprehend not,
Tint the feeble hands and helpless,
Cropping Dindly in the darkness
Toseh Gods right hand in that darkness
And are lifted up apd strengthened
/ first met the Duke OF York in 1857. |
1t WAS in San Francisco. He went there
on the brig Franklin Adams, Captain
FeIker. 1 was with AdraIn & Story
ship chambers, where Capt. Felker |
traded. He turned the Duke over to me
aud / took him all over the city. BE /!
saw the crowds of people. the soldiers, |
the shipping in tte harbor, and visited |
the great ocean steamers. He was i'm
pressed with the great coucourse OF white
people and their evident strength and
aud on his retnrn TO the
Sound he told his people that the white
men were as the blades OF grass in mum. |!
Der, and the best thing the Indians
could do was 10 be friends and trade with |
tire whites, instead OF trying to fight |
them. When 1 went to Port Townsend |
in 1858, again met the Duke OF York |
and 10 the time of his death, we have |
warm friends.
'Ye who sometimes in yoGr ramLles
Through the green lanes of the country,
Pause by rome neglected graveyard
For n while 10 muse, and ponder
On half effaceG inscription,
Written With little skill OF song craft,
Homely phrases, but each letter
Full of hope and yet of heartbreak,
Full of all the tender pathos
OF the Here and the Hereafter.
simple inscription telling OF this friend |
ly historical old indian, will recall mem
orIes of interest in the heart of every pi- |
oneer and every true hearted descend
ant OF theirs, and be of great value to
the future historian. The Duke of York |
was as intimately connected with the his
tory Of Port Townsend as was old Chief
Seah'tl with the history OF the Queen
City, and everything of historic value
connected with these two once famous
chiefs, becomes of more Importance ss
the years roll by.
I ana glad that my fellow citizens OF
Port Townsend have honored themselves
by the houors they bestowed upon the
Duke of York while according to him q
Christian burial, and regret that was
not present to have testified to my re-
spect for my old friend. which now
wi to show by adding my mite to the
subscription for his monument.
JAMES G. SWAN.