The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-03-15
THE CHARGES AGAINST BRYANT.

Much Talk Concerning Them-selling
Ltfe-Preservsrs 60 Steamers.
Thecharges preferred against Capt Bry-
ant, United States local inspector of hulis,
by the Puget Sound Har5or o! Masters
and Pilots and che request for his removal
continue to be the principal topics of con-
versaiion among steamboatmen and many
Others Is well. Ii the supervising in
spector at San Francisco. John Berming-
ham, comes here to investigate the case.
as ali interested now hops he will, o great
deal of testimony will be presented by the
harbor. which its members now refuse TO
make public. Q1ite q number OF men
have made affidavits in the case on condi-
ton that their statements DO not made
public unless an investigation is made.
Others have declined to sign affidavits, but
at the same time express their determine
ton to testify to facts within their knowl-
edge when summoned before the proper
tribunal The reason why these men do
not desire publicity in the matter IL OBJ.
vious TO steamboatmen on the Sound.
They do not wish to incur the ui-will Of
Capt. Bryant needlessiy, but will not hesl-
tate to testify in the case.
From present indications the life-prs-
server business promises to cut quite fig
ure in the case. The law specifically for.
bids government, steamboat inspectors to
be interested directly or indirectly in any
patented appliance used on steamers, but
several men have already made affidavits
that Capt Bryant sold life prsservsrs.
Capt. Patrick Burns, now master Of the
steamer Fairhaven. makes affidavit TO one
of Capt Bryant's alleged methods of using
his official authority unjustly. He swears
to the following:
THAT in the summer Of 1889 he was cap
tain of the tug Queen City. and that said
tug was chartered by Can't. W. B. Seymour
TO run on the Port Orchard route in place
of steamer Grace. Said a.fiant went to Capt
W. J. Bryant, inspector OF huiis. and asked
him for permit to carry passengers.
Bryant said: All right, but I want you
to 90 up to the head Of the bay and tow
some logs out of there Said afiant told
Capt. Bryant that he conld not do it, as il
was time for him to leave with the mail,
whereupon said Bryant said: If you
don't 60 and tow those logs out Of there
won't give you q passenger permit.
Affiant further swears that said Bryant
would not or did not give him passenger
permit and for no other reason than his
refusal 10 help him out of his (Bryant's)
personal troubles. AfIiant further swears
iuat oaau Dtgdut uAu GIVEN INC SSt0 Queou
City passenger permits on various occa-
sions previous to this time. Further, said
afiiant believes said Bryant uses his Office
for the purpose Of furthering his own per-
sonal ends"
The following letter was received last
evening:
SEATTLE, March II, 1904
To TIE EprrcR: Will you please
answer the following questions: First
Was there an investigation held before the
local inspectors, Bryant and Builens,
when the steamer 0iympan ran into and
sank the tug Virgil Price while the latter
was at her dock, one-half mile from the
other steamers landing7 Second-If no
investigation was held, what we're tho
rsasons1 Thirds ii not true tina, Capt.
Bryant and the captain that Was in CON-
mand OF the steamer olvmpian the night
that she sunk the tug Virgii Price, were
partners in brickyard near Edmondsl
WATKR FRONT.