Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1889-01-09
A MODERN CIVILIZER.
That's What the Alaska Commerci.I
Company Is Made Out to Be.
SIDE OF THE CASE
The Stories of outrages Denounced "a.
Utterly False in Every Particular
Natives Represented to BE Happy
and Contented-SeaI Pirates.

WASHINGTON, Jan. S.-The house com
les, investigating the charges against the
Alaska Commercial company, continued
the hearing to-day. Capt. johnson, gov
eminent agent from 1887 to 1888, testi-
fed to the good effect the residence of
the company's officers on the islands had
upon the natives. He stated that during
his stay there he had seen or heard moth
ing to confirm the many newspaper re-
ports published, and says he does not
think that they are true. He advises
more protection to seal life from pirates.
During his stay there were thirty-five
Of these pirates reported sealing. OF
this number fifteen were captured and
12, 900 skins taken from them, and he
estimates from reports published that
10000 seals were killed Illegally during
his stay.
Lieut.. Nichols, u. S. N, said he found
the natives of st. George and st. Paul
islands the company's headquarters)
more contented and civilized than those
in other parts of Alaska. AS to the
newspaper charges, he thought them
without foundation.
Capt. Abbey, in command of the
United States steamer Chicago, who was
ordered to Alaska to protect the seal life
during the sealing season of 1886, was
next examined. While on duty there
he captured several pirates and took
1,400 skins. He advised more protection
from these pirates and stated that the
Alaska company had fully carried out
their contract.
]. II. Moulton, treasury agent from
1877 to 1885, was the next. He said the
company had done great deal
for the natives, and their association
agents has greatly elevated them. The
company furnished them good homes
and plenty of provisions. They also
provided for the widows and orphans.
He thought the newspaper charges false,
at least he saw nothing to warrant them
during his stay there.
Joseph Ii. Johnston, United States
commissioner, and Simeon Melevedoff
said the Alaska company had always
acted kindly and fairly.
Louis Kimmel, who was interviewed
some time ago in Indianapolis, and quot
ed as painting a dark picture of the peo-
pies morals, repudiated the interview in
great part, and testified that he had
never known OF a case of rape.
Thomas Wilkinson of San Francisco
testified to the liberal treatment of the
natives by the Alaska company.
George .Tsasle.. the genera treasury
agent in charge Of the islands of st.
Paul and st. George. testified that from.
three years experience on st. George
and st. Paul islands that the stories pub
lished that the immortality on these ISL
ands was traceable to the Alaska Com
mercial company were absolutely false.
He knew Mr.. Gavitt, the treasury agent,
who was put IN st. George island. Mr..
Gavitt quarreled with every mar on the
island. Mr.. Tingle said all the charges
made by MI. Gavitt were disproved on
investigation. Mr.. Gavitt's statement
that Mr.. Webster was constantly drunk
was untrue. He (Tingle) usually had
liquor in his house on st. Georges ISL
and, as he did not know at what time a
congressional committee would visit
him. This statement created some
laughter. Mr.. Jingle said the natives
were now treated with such considera-
ton by the company as to spoil them.
They work about ninety days a year
and receive about $500 per year for it.
He knew of but M case of open inn
morality, which he tried, and fined the
offender $40. Mr.. Tingle then read sew
eral letters from his agents on the island
denying the charges made by Mr.. Gavitt
against the company's agents. The COM
pany's agents are always instructed not
to come in contact with or offend the
government agents, and he never knew
of a case where they tried to intimidate
them.