The morning call., 1892-11-18
JUNEAU'S JOKERS.
CrOtOn Oil and rIelons
Combined.
A SIWASH TOLD OF THEM.
They Were Speedily Jailed in Pun
ishment for Their Fine
Work.

Society in far away Alaska is very much
wrought up over an incident that recently
occurred at juneau.
Judge Hoyt is an honorable Commissioner
Of Alaska Territory, whose duties are
equivalent to q Justice of the Peace here
abouts, but from a social point of view his
position permits him TO rank as high as our
Observation-Disclosures. and the dignity of his
standing in the community requires due
| observance of social etiquette, which
usually takes the shape of semi-occasi0nal
card parties with abundant refreshments.
The Judges turn for a blowout" hav-
Ing come recently invitations were duly
forwarded to the eligible with the exeep-
tion of two of Juneau's elite, the exceptions
being In the case of Frank f. Meyers.
editor of the Mining Record. and Charles Z.
Coon. Juneau's handsome druggist.
These gentlemen were not accustomed to
social ostracism and were beeomingly ipdig-
nant at their ill-treatment. There was no
excuse in their estimation for their degra-
dation, even If they were at "Outs" with the
Judge. and they decided that the shabby
course pursued by the latter should be re-
sented. But how the insult was to be
avenged proved to be a poser to the
neglected couple. Finally, however, a
solution OF the problem was arrived at. the
Druggist agreeing 10 supply a sufficient
quantity OF er0ton oil to "do up" regiment
of their enemies, while the editor guaran-
teed TO furnish enough watermelons TO hide
all the drugs in the store. Having loaded
up the melons TO their liking, an old Siwash
was paid to deliver the goods at the Judges
residence on the evening of the card party.
which he did.
But alas, for the plans of the conspIra
tors, the merrymakers had brought more
good things to the party than they could
eat, the night was too cold anyway for
watermelOns, besides there were not enough
plates TO 90 around, so the luscious fruit
was permitted 10 lie untasted while the
festivities proceeded without hitch.
But in the morning the Judges good wife,
seeing she had on hand more melons than
could be eaten before they spoiled, sent a
couple OF them to neighboring friend. a
lacy VINO could not attend the party owing
TO an ailing baby.
The latter approaching the gift cut one
open and partOok but little thereof, giving
the baby taste also.
Soon they we're taken sick. and doctor
called in, who, after an investigation, found
the cause of the trouble to rest with the
doctOred melons.
An analysis showed that the lives of the
mother and babe had been saved by their
psrtaking of the melon so spariDgy.
The next thing was 10 ascertain who the
guilty parties were, which was not difficult
alter the Slwash who took the melons to
the house had been found. This individual,
although bound to secrecy, fully confessed,
and implicated Meyers and Coon as the
offenders, and the two were immediately
placed under arrest.
The populace was highly ineensed, and il
was evident had either of the victims died
there would have been a lynching party as
a sequel, but cooler heads prevailed aud the
two were examined before United States
commissioner, who held them for trial In
5000 bail at the next term of court 10 be
held in Sitka some time this month
The authorities increased the bail OF the
men from 5000 TO S50O0 and as the latter
sum could not be raised before he steamer
sailed they were taken on tile Mexico TO
Sltka. where they now laDguish, meditating
over the social amenities and vlcissitudes of
the polar regions.
The Mining Record, referring TO the mat
ter, styles the occurrence as practical
| joke, stupid and vicious but with no real
intent to do harm. II asks an abeyance of
public opinion till after the trial.
One reason for the high state of feeling is
owing to the various cliques among the
people up there, consisting mainly Of the
missionary element, Oregon officials, and
the miners and business men.
The objection 10 the Oregoniaus Is that
they are TOO numerous. receiving nearly all
the lat places. They do not like the Ore
gon laws, CHASING them as antiquated and
obstructive.
The Oregonians and missionaries clash
because each desires to run things to suit
themselves.
As Meyers and Coon have mixed ND con-
sldersbly In the affairs of these cioues thew
don't know just where and how hard thew
will be dropped.