The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1898-08-18
SIMMONS AND THOMPSON
A Letter to The Herald Gives the
Particulars of Their Separation.
THE ANNUAL SCHOOL REPORT
Shows an Increase In the School Population
and Decrease In the School Debt
for the Past Year-CouneiI
Proceedings.
THE ANNUAL SCHOOL REPORT

We are In receipt OF the following in
teresting communication signed by the
party that went north with Dan Simmons
The HERALD is not the paper that print
ed the letter from Thompson as stated
below, but on the contsry has suppressed
many criticisms Of Simmons conduct tina,
appeared from time to time in privat.
from Alaska that came into this Office
II We remember right q Spokane paper
printed some such communication, bu'
at all events we give herewith q COM
plete explanation OF the matter signed by
the members that made up the party.
HENDERSON PoINT, N. W. T.,l
April 81, 1898.
EDITOR HERALD: 1t has been reported
here that G. w. Thompson died on the
Hoadalmqua river sometime in January
that previous to his death he caused to
be written a letter giving the cause of his
sickness and laying the cause of his
death to d. w. Simmons, and that the
letter after his death was published in
your paper, and as We are familiar with
the circumstances between Mr.. Simmons
and Mr.. Thompson we feel that q great
injustice has been done Mr.. Simmons
and his fri ends to allow such letter to
be published without contradiction.
Mr.. Simmons and Mr.. Thompson join
ed our party at Seattle and we continued
a. party across the Skagway trail.
When in our last camp about three miles
from Lake Bennett Mr. Simmons met
with an opportunity to 20 down the river
at once, everything in waiting, also boat,
in company with ex-Sherif JAS Hagan
and Mr.. Horton of Snohomish. This
struck MIR. Simmons very favorable as
We had heavy outfit and it did not look
at that time as though we would get
down the river while it was open, this
being Oct. z, '97. So Mr.. Simmons con.
suited all the party as to the proposition
and all were Satisfied except Mr.. Thomp.
son who said nothing at that time. Chas.
Pond stayed In camp to adjust the pro-
visions which satisfied all, Mr.. Simmons
leaving the big end Of everything. When
it came to bedding, Mr.. Thompson had
bis choice. Mr.. Simmons left the entire
medicine chest with Mr.. Thompson and
many other articles as we'll. When II
come to settling the bills Of the party Mr..
Thompson was 1880 short, which Mr..
Simmons paid. Mr.. Thompson said he
would go to the lake and sell provisions
enough to repay Mr.. Simmons, but he
replying said, "No. you may need all
your provisions" This was Oct. 8, '97.
After Mr.. Simmons left, Mr.. Thorn pson
seemed very mad at him for leaving US.
Mr.. Thompson in few days left the party
himself, going to Lake Bennett, selling
his outfit, and starting back. But in the
meantime saw chance to buy another
outfit at considerable less than he had
sold his for, 90 he bought it and returned
to Lake Bennett, and started down the
lake and river several days before we
started with two others. Relative to the
particulars of his death, we know moth
ing, but these are the facts as to'the tran
saction between them, and in justice to
Mr.. Simmons we wish you to publish
this letter and send it to other papers in
the state that published the previous let.
ter Of Mr.. Thompson.
fonrs very respectfully,
J. W. SKULL.
9. +. PoND,
4 ~ SI-Aru