The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-05-13
Desperate Deeds by the Outlaws
and Smugglers.
THE MURDER OF EDWARDS.
1t Leads to Earring and Feathering o.
Another Missionary, DIR. Con-
nett, Of Douglas.

Further adyices from Alaska show that
affairs in the southeastern part OF The ter
ritory are n a condition far from satisfac-
tory Under the present Law whisky IS
contrabond article there, and yet those in
aposition to know say that 1000 gallons
OF the liquor are smugeled n each year.
Most Of it is sold 10 the Indians. IN spite
Of the fact that even 20 give liquor 10 an
Indian is a violation OF the law. The
whisky sells for s. pint, SO that the traffic
is extremely profitable. and a small fleet
OF vessels is engaged in the business. In
summer the western part OF Alaska IS
watched pretty closely By the revenue
cutters, and the presence OF naval and
army officers at Sitka tends 10 preserve
order there; but in Southern Alaska the
smugEler5 are running NOT. There are
few officers with authority TO arrest man,
still fewer with the inclination 10 do II.
and fewer yet with means OF transporta-
ton to pursue smuggler. The result is
that the smuggGeTs are growing steadily
holder.
On January II they shot one of the mis-
sionaries. Charles II. Edwards. He had
been Instructor for two years on Douglas
island, but last fail the government trans
ferred him to kupranioff island, to a
work few had the courage 10 undertake.
The natives of this island. known as the
Make Indians, are the most savage i'll
Alaska. and yet NJ. Edwards hSd not
been among them more than two months,
when he had them. when they were sober.
under almost perfect control. Those f.
niiiar with his work say that he was prob
ably doing more than any one man in
for. he. Oh Of =,
He found that the chief difficulty lay in
the fact that the smugglers KEEP, supply
ing the Indians with liquor on January
IL loop manned by two men, Malcolm
Campbell. and Emory Elliott, residents of
Douglas, dropped anchor about two miles
from the Kake village. Through an
Indian interpreter Mr.. Edwards learned
that the sloop was loaded wi,n whisky,
and so he formed party 10 capture
the men and their cargo, and,
taking them TO Fort Wrangel. turn
them over 20 the deputy United
States marshal there. Edwrrds and his
Indian posse started ont carrying no fire.
arms, but simply ropes with which TO tie
Campbell and Elliott. The latter was
easily captured, but Campbell, powerful
man, resisted stoutly, ana retreating TO the
farther end OF the cabin, kept his pursuers
at bay. Edwards then kicked boards off
the roof of the cabin so that the Indians
could finally get in and take the smugger.
The vessel was searched for firearms, and
then eleven OF the Indians went ashore
while Edwards with two others prepared
to take the boat 10 Wrangel. AS the eleven
neared the shore in 4 small boat they
heard firing on the sloop, and saw her pull
out in the direction opposite Wrangel
On January Ii the 81 oop arrived at Sitka
in charge of Elliott and Campbell, with
Edwards unconscious and dying fron
gun shot wounds. The two Indians had
disappeared. Campbell himself confessed
that he had gotten his left hand loose, and
securing revolver concealed in bunk,
had opened fire. Edwards died January
-. without recovering consciousness.
When Dr.. J. +. Connect, who had euc-
ceeded him at the Quaker mission on
Douglas island. learned of the tragedy he
he at once chartered small steamer and
went 20 Hamilton to start an investiga-
tiOn- Connect was extremely active in
procuring what evidence ne could against
the smugg.ers, and as he had been fight
ing them Tor some time the feeling against
him grew very bitter. He wrote a letter
about the matter 70 the National Era. q
little weekly paper Published al Robinson,
Ill. Copies Of this paper came back 10 the
territory and fell into the hands
OF the smugclers. They took their re-
venge on the night of Sunday, April II.
After dark some one called at the doctors
house TO ask him to attend a miner who
was very i'll. The doctor had gone but
little way, when he was seized gagged and
bound. Then he was stripped and treated
TO coat of tar and feathers. Threats
were made against his life in case he
should further interfere with the snug
s!erS. As he is 4 man OF great personal
courage, more trouble is expected.
The truth i. however. that ne and the
few iaw-abiiinE citizens of Southern
Alaska are having hard time in a turbl!-
lent community. A. least thirty saloons
are running openly in Juneau and
perhaps fifteen on Douglas is
land. There is abundant evidence
that ths whisky Is freely sold 70 the In
dams. but no arrests are made. Souaw
dance houses. establishments whose sole
purpose IS the ENCOURAGEMENT OF drunken
ness, prostitution and every other form of
vice among the Indian women, are com
mon, and no attempt is made n close
them. The Indian women are drunk At
at these places day and night. and the
amount Of decentralization. disease and
crime caused by them : inca.culab;e.
The whisky tina: supplies these places
comes from Victoria. The SrlpgrIcr> nav
onC-th.rd Of the purchase money in ad-
vance, and q cargo IS consigned t. them Z.
Por, simpson. where they corp,ete the
nN = 81, s.
Fort Nrangei and entered into bond tor
transportation through tn the Simu.kecn
river. There j. no bonded warehouse and
the barrels are piled ~ in house belong
Ing u a private man. ana real lilly s.,es-
Si7je The genera. hei!rf Is that the
whisky IS drawn ont OF the barrels while
they are q, WranseI. ana then barrels
filed with water are taken Gu. and after
being carried mile or two beyoni Wcan-
ce!. thrown away. Other carroas OF
h9Ho- are run in among the many islands
OF Alaska and thus distributed
Few attempts are male 10 enforce the
law against smuggling, because The SNUG
g.ers are aggressive, ana ;hey have the. sun
po-; OF ialr T-oV1-t On q. the community.
WhNh consists ~ ey-conyicJS and tur.tiv,s
from jUst.ce. Thev th0ari every officer
who tries - execute the Law. bully him
.r.o submission. w.a him over by brides.
g drive hun - resign and leave the com
~ When an arrest j. made. a raske!
jury nTln-S in a verdict OF 40: guilty. and
ALASKA Justice : a farce.
"oIGANIZATIoS OF LABOR"
Abe Spring Adiresses the Carpenters.
taiou-i Special Session.