The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-03-13
BRYANT WON'T TALK.
He Does Not Consider the
Charges Worth a Reply.
MORE DAMAGING AFF,pavrTs.
Masters and Pilots Practically Unsns-
anous-Investigstion Demanded
Steamer Cascade Wrecked.

the Charges preferred by TIE local haroos-
masters and pilots against Capt w. j.
Bryant. United States local inspector OF
huiIs, for nnscondec. in Office, WAS tia
subject Of much comment during the daY,,
not only among steam toatrnen, but rner-
chants and business men a. vel. The
case has excited general interest, and sew
eraI prominent citizens hare already writ
t<n 10 John Birmingham. supervising in
srecsor At Fan Francisco. urging him -
come here and thoroughly investigate the
case.
Capt Bryant wm asked yesterday by
posT-IsTKLLrsEScxs reporter II he had any
reply TO make 10 the charges. He said:
considering the source from which
they come. don't know as shall make
any reply" He appeared to be undecided
IN the matter and said he would think it
over and If he concluded to make an
answer would send word later in The day.
He sent no word. however.
The movement 20 get Capt Bryant re-
moved - somewhat larger than Indicated
by the action Of the masters and pilots.
In connection with the charges . nd am
dayits forw arded 10 Washington City
by the harbor was q petition ask
ing for Capt. Bryants removal.
This petition was signed BY large
number of merchants and business
men of Seattle. That the action OF the
harbor Of masters and pilots was practically
unanimous is shown By the papers In the
case. There are sixty-nine members IN
good standing and Of the twenty-seven
pfesen. at the last meeting in which the
question Was considered, twenty five voted
IN favor OF rreferring the charges. OF the
remaining members thirty have signed
abatement certifying that, while they were
not present at the meeting. they heartily
tndorse the action taken. A fe. have been
found Who claim the agitation is a political
one but Capt. Bryant is Democrat. and
Ii removed would in all probability be sue
ceeded BY a Democrat so that no party
ends could be served by his removal.
Among the af'idavits supporting the
charges against Capt. Bryant is one by
George III. Smith, the weil-known resident
Of Seattle, who makes oath to the follow
ing statements:
THAT about the year Isss afiiant was
the owner of q small steamer called the
Yuma. plying on Elliott bay and M the
Dpwamish river; that at said time atiiant
made application to the inspector of huiis,
W. J. Bryant, to have said vessel in
spected; aifiant asked said Bryant how
many life preservers IL would be neces-
sary to have for said vessel; he told me
the number and asked me where | was
going to buy them: | told him. when he
said: If you buy them there you will
have then. on your hands, because will
not pass them told hii.i they were the
tnie life preservers and were passed by
the New York inspectors: ne said
that II did not make any differ
enee, that the party from whom |
ssid ] would buy them would take the
sSlle out OF them and stuff them with
Gtrau: this man from whom proposed TO
buy the life preservers was one of a firm in
which said Bryant had been a partner.
and these life preservers were ordered
whiIe Bryant Was in the company, al
though at the time this conversation was
had Bryant had left tho firm owing to a
quarrel between him and the other mem
bers OF IT, Atfiant further says that he
knew that the life preservers were all
right, as they were in use on other boats;
and affiant finally purchased the same
make OF lie preseryers at an advanced
price from another firm to avoid trouble
with the inspector
Afiidavits OF .. c. Smart and Milo @.
Conrad. old pursers on the Sound, show
that Capt. Bryant never paid any fare on
the boats on which they were emnloyed.
nor for meals or berths and that Bryant
always presented note from the officers
OF the steamboat company. notifying
rurscrs 10 pay no attention to said Bry-
ant and not 10 collect fare from him."
Capt. Nathaniel l.. Rogers makes a long
deposition covering several cases in roini.
rs tn what certain persons. who decline To
sign atfidasits FOR fear Of Capt. BRYANT,
Will testify tn II summoned before the
proper tribunal. One of these relates to
the granting of n mates license to LOFTS
Crosset, and thirty-eight days afterwayd
giving him license az master and piloi.
when he could not box the compass.
Attiant believes this vas done because
the tug J. T. Boyden, on which Crosset
was employed, was insured in the insar-
ance company for which Bryant was az
one time agent. In conclusion. Can't,
Rogers sweats that he thinks BRYANT
very unit person 10 hold the position of
Inspector os bulls here and thai his zen
erai reputation Tor square and honorable
dealing is not good aud his reputation for
fairness and importantly in the discharge
OF bis duties is unfayorable. and thar he IL
considered u very overbearine person.
Tae following letter Vas received from
Capt. Rogers last eyening.
SEsrTiF March u, iSat
To fuE EpiroE; / notice IN ala .yeu,u..
paper that Capt. Bryant, Inspector OF
hnii>, comments GA my AFFINITY As pilot
aud SAYS that hc honestly does no; think
| VIA entitled 20 = license "a act As such
ts Can't Bryant ~ candid ia his belief
Why did lac give yue certificate ~ act a.
such. which he did | would again ike
To ask Capt Bryant why ne came
60 nae aud offered me the position
~ pilot ON the Pacific Coast Steam
ship CompAny's vessels II he ana
not think nae capable II performing
the duties, Can't bryant also alleges that
when rAH 10 Alaska went on the out.
eide and lid not run through those mar.
row channels" When the gentleman
makes tie assertion thai | raa on the out
side route he tells something that lac
knows 10 lie utterly false. as he sell kuoas
that raa on the inside route. through
those narrow channels"
In reply - Capt. BFysnts reflections
upon him Capt Rogers cites the cases Of
several men MO have teen granted
licenses st;hogt nav.ng had previous .x-
peylenee that would eutltss them Tn =.
license. nUe 90 these 5 ueu. toned as nav.
Ing qualified himself as Master hy teoatn,
. country store. another bv serving a.
steward Oh steamer. another as rurs.-
and another a. steamers agent ashore.
IL - well-kaosn TACT aud ths rreorss
Of Capt Bryaut's own oti.cr mnars -
Fan Francisco Office sii SHOW taA. Caa,
Rogers Vas master ana quot ca The mai
route 10 Alaska on the steamer. t;e,~-.
= Wright. 0u.sie Tc.fAir and Csltforota
This occurred before there vas snv -.
vey of the waters Of SoGiaesstern Ala.ss
A. l.