The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-01-14
WESTERN CROMWELL,

All stGGErts OF history 4t@fC 800
thar dramatic scene when o'iver eF0ia-
well. Ensiand's great protector. a. shs
head o. his iavincahse lronsioest
marched down ths great h2H waere mo
s'Lorg Parliament" was n session ana
dismissed th&. aigniied asseneisge' An
event somewhat similar 10 ihLs was en-
acted amid ths p-ireyAl forests O. ths
territory ot Washington more than forty
years ago.
IN Ixs the pioneers Of Washington were
engaged IN bloody border warfare
against the savage tribes Gov. stevens
had appointed Col +, F. Shaw. gallant
frontse. sman ard Indian fighter, 10 ina
command Of the volunteer militia Sew
eraI Frsach-Canadian fur trappers. who
We're charged with having gwen aid and
com:ert 10 the enemy had been cap
tured ard placed under military guard al
Fort sle.lacoom. IN order 20 keep tness
prisoners from the civil authorities, Gov
Stevens proclaimed martial law over
Pierce and Thurston counties.
At this time Edward Lander was chief
justice OK the territory. having been ap-
pointed by President Franklin Pierce.
Judge Lander WAS an upright, dignlneo
Democrat OF the o.d school The deelar-
alton OF marital Jaw had aroused the IN
dignation OF the worthy tur!st and ne
proceeded to open the spring session OK
the district court CT Pierce county at
Fort Steilacoom- with the Intention OF III
ficting Just punishment upon those who
had shown contempt for the majesty OF
the law as represented In his own august
ala a
q writ of habeas corpus would be issued.
ordering the military authorities 20 give
up the prisoners for trial by the civil
courts. This act Gov Stevens was de-
termined to prevent. When the day
dawned upon which the court was TO con-
we've the excitement was intense. News
OF the impending trouble had spread
abroad and many settlers from the sur
rounding country had driven to the settle
ment TO witness the exciting event.
II was pleasant May morning and the
people gathered In groups within the lit
tie clearing around the court house. dis
cussing the important questions OF the
day. including the general conduct OF the
war. 1t is hardly necessary to remark
that in conformity with their privileges
ers bitterly denounced the judge. the
governor. the militia officers and all
others In authority. With slow. digni-
fed steps the gallant judge walked by
the noisy groups and entered the court
room. He was followed by the ba:ii1
and. at a moro respectful distance. by the
entire crowd.
After seating himself and carefully ad-
justing his powdered wig. the chief JUS
tice commanded the bailiff to call the
eouN, to order. That gallant custodian
OF the law. mindful of his great import
ance, arose and In his ioudest tones
shouted:
Hear ye! hear ye! hear yei''
At this point he was interrupted by the
noisy tramp. tramp. tramp OF a band OF
men marching up the steps. The cry OF
Soldiers, soldiers" was heard in many
parts Of the room.
''Order In the court" sternly shouted
the Judge: ''Mr. Bailiff. proceed"
Thus admonlshed. that worthy contin-
ued: 1.-THE district court OF the fourth
judicial district Of the territory Of Wash
ington is now
Forward. march, Bang! The door
flew open with a slam, and into the room
rushed Col. Shaw at the head Of his CON-
pany OF brave Washington volunteers. In
spite of their vigorous protests. tho judge
and his bailifr were promptly seized ana
placed under arrest; the room was quick
ly cleared and the door locked.
1t may be safely assumed that when
the free American citizens, who had been
thus summarily elected from a public
building. again assembled on the outside,
their arguments We're somewhat heated.
The discussion was taken up by the poll
ticians Of that time and became the burn
Ing issue Of an exciting political contest.
Those who sided with Chief Justice Lam
der were called "confederates OF the saw
ages" while Gov. Stevens and Col. Shaw
were denounced as "tyrants" and mill
tary despots.'
AS the campaign progressed old party
ties were rent ssunder, and the war gov
ernor received the loyal support OF the
volunteers and the war Wings" His
party was triumphant in the ensuing cleo
ton. His vigorous war policy met with
the approval OF the people.
AT the conclusion Of the political con-
test all patriotic citizens Joined hands In
a united effort TO restore peace to ths dis
tracted territory. 1t is but fair to state
that Judge Lander himself shouldered a
musket and proved himself brave SOL
der as well as an honest judge.
This is a brief description of III. man
ner IN Which Gov. Stevens thwarted whs,
he considered an uncalled-for attempt to
interfere with his military operations a.
q critical period. After an examination
by military commission the prisoners
were released.
or the prominent actors In this stirring
scene Col. b. +. Shaw. the newly-appo,nt-
ed register OF the Vancouver land office
now aione survives. With his strong
giant-iike form and vigorous intellect. ba
seems fitting embodiment of the heroic
age Of Washington's history. He "a a
true tyre Of the sturdy pioneer yeomanrv
that fought so bravely upon Couna,ra
prairie and Spokane's plains.
GLENN N RANCK