The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-02-22
THE BLAINE FORGERY
1t Is Traced to the Postal Tele-
graph Operator.
RESOLUTIONS CONCERNING IT..
4 Practical Joke Carried Too Far.
which May Prove serfous-Tels-
graph Omcials Act.

The origin Of the telegram purporting 70 have
come from Secretary of STATE James G. Blaine,
which was read by Mayor Cornish at the meet
ing at the Blaine opera house after the spike
driving ceremony on the boundary, has been
discovered. The supposed telegram was the
work Of man named Gerrish and was written
with typewriter on Postal Telegraph blanks by
the operator At Blaine, p. D. HARNESS.
AZ usual In such cases there ID dispute 40 to
where the blame really lies Mr.. Hardness
claims that the document was brought 10 him to
Be copied with the typewriter, and that he mad
vertently used Postal Telegraph blanks for the
purpose. He also claims that Mr.. Cornish Is try
ing f09 pefDOnal reasons to make him the scape-
goat
The following account Of the matter was given
10 APosT-IHIKILIGENcER reporter yesterday by
Mr.. Cornish, who was in the city. .The dis
patch was brought to us at the meeting by the
Postal Telegraph messenger and we accepted IL
in good faith, supposing il to be genuine. Now
We hnd that trick was played by Pete Hark-.
ness, the Postal Telegraph operator at Blaine.
when Secretary Blaine declared he had writ
ten no such dispatch, / Immediately set about
finding out the source of the trick, and q man in
Blaine named Gerrish confessed to having COM
posed It at the instance Of Hardness. This Ger.
rish was really innocent, as he supposed Hark-
ness would not send the telegram In seriously,
but would make it apparent that the whole
thing was nothing more than joke
mayor Cornish says that the people of Blaine
are very indignant, and will push tho complaint
against Harkness The Chamber of Commerce
haa already taken action on the matter, having
passed the following resolutions at . meeting
held laat Thursday:
been sent by Secretary OF State James g. Blaine
TO the mayor and council of Blaine. Wash, was
rcceiyed by that body from the hands OF the Pa
cine Postal Telegraph Companys employees at
Blaine and publicly read at the International
epikedrivirg ceremony, on the 18th inst, by
Mayor Cornish OF Blaine, he assuming the same
"waEREAs, Many distinguished officials were
present from British Columbia and Washing
ton:and
forgery and Insult to the visitors and the
citizens OF the town OF Blaine; be 1t
"Resolred, That we deplore the condition Of
telegraphic service that makes the preparation
Of such an outrage possible; be it further
"Resolped. That we demand the matter be
thoroughly Investigated In order that the guilty
furt6er '1s ~ ''' '''11' AHo 0'1ns % y
.Rcsotrcd, That we unite with the mayor and
town council OF Blaine in appointing . joint
committee TO confer with the representatives of
the Pacific Postal Telegraph Company"
Mayor Cornish has also sent the following let
ter to J. g. Blake, manager OF the Pacific Postal
s'On February II. 1891, at Blaine, Wash, the
telegram enclosed herewith was sent up to a
meeting at the opera-house by Pete Hardness,
messenger boy and delivered as any ordinary
message, the same being bogus.
This y the second bogus telegram emanating
from that ONCE since Hardness has been in
charge The other was one purporting TO come
from parties in Seattle, and contained islse and
scandalous matter rejecting on the credit and
Standing OF the First Bank OF Blaine, thereby
causing run and subjecting il to unnecessary
annoyance and trouble"
The ofhcials of the Pacific Postal Telegraph
Company have also taken the matter up and are
determined to place the responsibility tor the
onenae on the guilty party John Leatch, of San
francisco. the assistant manager of the Postal
the compia ints from the Chamber of Commerce
ct about o'clock yesterday afternoon, and at
once sent the following dispatch to Mr.. Hark-
"You are accused of delivering . spurious
telegram. typewriter, on one of the company's
plank ferms signed sJames g. Blaine" ad-
dressed to the honorable mayor and citizens
OF Blaine. on the 18th inst What are the factse
Please answer at once"
To this. Hafkness sent the following reply:
The writer's Of the alleged telegram have per-
the same and asked him TO hold them responsi-
Die for same copied the article on nv tyne
writer, as any other remnnerative work. they
to have been ,eesram anu Thou Thoush ssmsc
used company form Mr.. Cornish has been
requested by Chamber of Commerce to ignore
the matter Cornish Is disgruntled at the loca-
ton OF the telegraph Office and makes this a
personal matter. II desired can send you the
names OF four -hfths OF members of Chamber of
me-"
In regard to this explanation Mr. Leatch said
last evening: "The matter is in the hands of
M. Storror, the general manager of the com
pany Mr.. Harkness' excuse is insufficient as
given, and shall investigate further The com
pany is extremely particular about allowing its
blanks to be used, and the rules against such an
action as that OF Mr.. Hardness are extremely
stringent"
The telegram in question is typewriter on two
Postal telegraph blanks and reads as follows:
''Check 3 p. m.
"WAsHISGToN. ID. c., Feb. IA. f0a MI
DEPARTMENT OF STATE.
Hoa0raoie Mayor and Citizens of Blame Blnins
Wdsh-. II is with the most kindly feeling that
my thoughts turn towards you and your British
brothers today while You assemble To perform
the solemn ceremonies of connecting yoar won
derfui countries in commercial union and il in
my earnest wish and hone that the bonds
formed today by you may not only be OF a COM
merclal union, but Of that grapder and nobler
orofheriy love that viii unite in the end the two
nauons In one powerful union. aud with your
port OF entry. which your congressman inform
me will soon be established, you will be placed
IN position to form the gateway to two mighty
nations May success attend all your under
takings and goodwill and peace be with you
Ill. RfAr~rv