The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-10-05
BRAVE MRS. MAYNARD
MUST CONTINUE TO WAIT FOR
wELL-EARNED RECoNPENSE-
4 Special Act OF Congress Necded-A
Young sailor Who Wants His
Freedcm-Southern Half of Col
Vile Reservation not to be Opened.


I late Dr.. Maynard. ore OF the pioneers OF
Seattle, for sl.ea9 for messenger service
performed IN IsSS and 1885, Is rot likely 10
be paid without q special act az congress
| authorizing Ii. No one doubts that Mrs.
1 Maynard performed the service alleged
and carried messages between the warship
I Decatur, AT Seattle. and the Indian reser-
walton in kitsap county, at great personal
danger to herself, and at a time when no
/ man could be found willing TO undertake
ths perilous trip. Mrs. Maynard was only
able to make the trips I'm safety owing TO
! thu srisndnness CT some squaws. who con-
cealeG her n the bottom OF a canoe, and
thus conveyed her TO and from the war
ship.
The act OF March 2. 1851, provides for
payment for al kinds OF service rendered
the territories Of oregon and Washington
during lS5S and 1855 when the service is
reported by the proper officer. and the
claim was presented 10 the commissioners
appointed by the secretary OF war during
the Thirty-sixth congress. TO ascertain
and report all expenses incurred by
those territories IN the suppression
OF Indian hostilities IN 1855 and is56." But
the records OF the Oregon and Washington
Indian war Of lS55 and 1856. on file in the
oaica OF the auditor for the war depart
ment, furnish no Information in regard TO
any service rendered by Mrs Maynard as
a messenger during that war. The auditor
for the war department says that II the
service had been authorized by the COM
handing officer OF the Decatur It would
have been paid for by the navy depart
ment. and II ordered by an Indian agent.
by the interior department.
The probabilities seem 10 be that Mrs.
Maynard ike many other brave pioneer
women, did what she did for the safety
and benefit Of the early pioneers whose
lives were in danger without any thought
OF pay al the time, and IL seems rather
hard, therefore. that IN her old age and IN
her need. she Is now denied any recon-
pense because she neglected 20 have an
authorization IN writing from the Indian
agent or subsequent voucher from the
commanding officer OF the warship De-
catur TO tho effect that the service had
been performed
The matter has been agitated before sew
eral Of the departments on behalf OF Mrs.
Maynard by Representative Lewis. but in
each case he has been met with the rebuff
that there was no authority of law for
the payment Of such claim 1t Is said
that he intends 10 make an effort to get
special bin passed at the next session or
congress for Mrs Maynard's relief.
Alonzo n. Mofrat, Of Tacoma, has APP
piled to the secretary OF the navy for the
discharge of his son. Archie Il. Moffat,
who has served as an able-oodied seaman
on the United States flagship Philadelphia
since December l. 1898. Mr.. Moffat, in
his appeal TO the secretary for his sons
discharge. says that the latter IS an edu-
Gated and efficient young man, . years
OF age. who has hsd much experience in
commercial lines, and who finds in the
naval service no opportunity OF advance
ment except for graduates of Annapolis.
The young mans discharge Is asked for
in order that his services may be avail
I IL IL. - 70 H.
With his son help IL Is stated, Mr.. Moffat
would be able to do business, even In his
present poor health. which he could not
do alone. Young Moffat receives for his
services in the navy department only sl9
a month. which affords him but little for
assistance 10 his fathers family.
number Of prominent men throughout
the country have interested themselves in
behalf of the young man. notably ex-
Senator Palmer. ex-Congreasman Doohttle.
Hon. o. ID. Conger and the present sem
ators and representatives from the state.
Failure to open to mineral location the
south half Of the Colyille Indian reserva-
ton, which was attempted at the last ses-
sion OF congress, has not disheartened the
many wouid-D De prospectors OF Eastern
Washington. who are still looking with
covetous Eyes upon the Red Mans land.
AS usual with all inaccessible places, fabu-
lous stories of wealth hidden in placer
beds and quartz veins are continually
reaching the department in this city.
coupled with queries as TO when that por-
ton Of the reservation Will be opened TO
mineral location. All sorts of rumors are
reported by the writer's OF these letters.
The most foolish OF all these probably is
the report that President Mckinley viii
proclaim the reservation open some time
In midwinter in order TO give certain Spo-
IL FOL .fz Sire ~ ffz-
owing TO their proximity TO the reserva-
ton, to ''gobbe" up all the the best
claims obtainable One reports says that
Senator Turner and HIS friends are quietly
picking out all the best locations, another
has Il that Senator Wilson and his friends
are the ones doing the "gobbling."
The facts IN the matter are that there is
less likelihood OF mineral locations being
allowed I'm the south half OF the reserva-
ton now than there was a year ago. The
Indian bureau, from the commissioner
down, Is opposed TO any such action. As
one official remarked the other day, the
opening OF this portion OF the reservation
10 mineral location would mean nothing
less than the over-runnlng of the entire re-
serve by bands OF white men, who would
undoubtedly create trouble with the In
dams and probably provoke war that
might not only prove very disastrous but
cost tho government a great deal OF money
70 suppress. The Indians are very ieal-
GUS OF their rights. and might not be
easily made 10 see that the white man had
any just claim TO the gold upon the reser-
walton given them by the government"
Or. Elmer +. Heg. Of North Yakima. has
taken the oath OF office and IS now duly
qualified as medical pension examiner at
that place. This appointment VII be a
great benefit TO old soldiers living IN
North Yakima and vicinity, who have
hitherto been compelled 20 20 20 Ellens-
burg every time the medical examination
was required, either n their application
for a pension or IN their claims for an in
crease.
No Official report hss yet bean received
| by the secretary OF the treasury ia regard
10 the alleged smuggling OF Chinese at
/ Port Townsend. in which g IS asserted by
certain papers Of the Pacific coast that the
? present collector og customs was interest
Z ed. The matter has been referred 10 a
( special inspector. who will, IN due course
s OF time. make a fun statement Of the facts
/ in the case.
Since the Klondlke gold craze ha.
Z spread over the country, the war depart
+ snent has received q great many sppl.ca-
( items FOR copies OF the report q Lieut.. IL
p. Allen made several years ago. II
Explorations Of Copper. Tenana and Ko-
{ yukaks Rivers. ALASKA" These We're
published during TIRE forty-ninTh congress
/ both as var department publication and
as senate executive Gocureut. bat recent
( calls for them have developed the fact
thar outside OF the various Libraries in