The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-04-25
THE MILITIA EVNTlD.
Given Twenty Minutes to Get
Oh Sand Island
~ THE UNITED STATES TROOPS
Also Ordered to Leave Their Camp on
Chinook Beach, Washington.
~ THE UNITED STATES TROOPS
Tho Militia Threateued with Arrest
Tho Traps Which They We're Pro-
tectine Likely 20 Be Torn Up by the
United states, for Sand Island II 8
Government Reserve.

Astoria, Or. April 2s.-The company of
the National Guard sent to Sand island, In
the Columbia river. by Gov. McGraw. OF
Washington, 10 preserve the peace among
the fishermen. was today ordered to va
cate the premises by The war department
at Washington City.
Acting under instructions from the war
department. Gen. Otis, commander OF the
Department OF the Columbia, telegraphed
10 Maj kenzie. In command at Fort Can
by, ordering him to demand the immediate
vacation OF the island by the militia. Ac-
cordinsiy Maj. kenzie. with a detachment
OF regulars. went TO Sand island
The army officer asked the militia cap
tain BY what authority he was occupying
the island
by virtue Of the authority vested In me
by the governor Of the state Of Washing
toa. replied the militiaman.
Are you aware OF the fact that you are
occupying government reserver' asked
Maj. Kenzie.
Il am" was the reply. "and my orders
are to protect the lives and property Of
citizens of the state of Washington"
In this Instance said Maj. Eenz!e IT
am the duly authorized agent Of the Unit
ed States government, and as such / will
allow you Just twenty minutes In which to
vacate. In the event of your failure to do
90, my orders are TO place the detachment
Oregon"
This conversation took place about mid
night on Wednesday, and the milisiamen
were hastily summoned from bed and or
dered to pack their tents
The militia on Chinook beach, which u
also government reservation. were also
ordered TO move.
1t is generally believed that Maj Kenzie
will not stop with the election of the
Washington state troops from Sand island
but that he will also cause the removal Of
the obnoxious fish traps. as well as all
other traps which now surround the shores
Of the island.
There has been a long standing enmity
between the sillnet fishermen OF the Ore
gon side Of the river and the trapmen on
the Washington shore. The gillnet men
claim that the trapmen have placed their
traps in the channel where they are ac-
customed to drift with their nets, and
In many Instances. they claim, their nets
are destroyed by coming in contact with
the traps. On April 2 a number Of gill;
net men from Astoria made a raid on
the traps south Of Sand island. and with
the aid of snag puiler the piling Of
number OF traps was drawn and several
piiedrivers set adr.ft over the bar. In
tense excitement was caused by this act
Of violence. and trouble was anticipated.
On April about thirty fishermen sailed
oS"A TIC pdy anu coInpeile0 n tf0pmAQ
to use his own piledriver In pulling up
about $50 piles.
Gov. McGraw on April ordered a COM
pany Of the National Guard from Seattle
to proceed to Sand island and protect the
property OF the trapmen. The militia pa
troled the river In tugboat and pre-
vented any further violence on the island.
Sand island was set aside as q govern
ment reserve during the administration OF
President Lincoln.
1lwaco. April I.-Special.-By orders
from the war department. the Washington
National Guard has been ordered from
Sand island reservation and regulars from
Fort Candy posted thereon. with orders
TO keep OF all persons. II the govern
ment will continue this action until the
end OF the trouble IL will be satisfactory
TO the guard, who have so far prevented
mob gathering there. where property
could be quickly destroyed. II gives the
guard the whole company for effective
patrol.
I: Is presumed the guard were ordered
from the reservation through Astoria in
fueace. but the replacing OF the guard by
regulars shows that the government con-
the Washington authorities in maintain
ing peace and protecting property. on the
reservation at least
Before Sand Island was occupied by the
militia Capt. Adams asked Gen. Otis for
permission TO station the National Guard
there. This permission Gen. Otis said he
had not the authority to grant II is un-
derstood that the Olympia authorities re-
quested that the United States troops oc-
cupy Sand island. IN order that a portion
OF the militia might return home.