Fort Wrangel news., 1898-07-06
PROF. PORTER.
Disgraces Himself and humlIiates His Friends
 Left for Parts Unknown Last Saturday.

Disgraces Himself and HumIIiates His Friends,
 Left for Parts Unknown Last Saturday.
 Prof. w. H. Porter resided in Fort Wrangel for the past eight months and during that time made many friends i'll both social and business circles. He was elected secretary of the chamber of commerce and was formerly secretary of the |. NJ. C. \. of this city. He took prominent part in all church matters, and possessing good musical educa- ton. he led the singing i'll church and public entertainments. Dr. ThWing was a warm friend to Porter, and in fact he was generally esteemed and re spected He was from New Jersey, where he at one time conducted a sue cessful real estate business, but went down during the hard times of lS96-1.
 Some time ago, a little less than two months, Prof. Porter opened up gro cery business in the Cagle building on North Front street and associated ill business with him Andrew J. Barrett, formerly of Seattle. He did what We supposed to be a fair business, but do not think that he made more than eX penses. probably not as well as that. But the business went on and the Prof. to the outside world appeared happy and contented. The Prof. is fond of the water He loves a boat. He want ed to follow a sea-faring life, but gave it up at the earnest request of his pa rents. This love of the deep blue sea, his desire to own good boat, has caus- ed his downfall.
 It appears that four parties, whose names we have not been able to ascer- tain. owned and were in possession of d small schooner which was loaded with clothing and provisions valued at about SlOtOOO. while the boat is supposed to be worth about SlOO.OO. Porter opened up negotiations with the owners for the purchase of the boat which resulted in his paying ten dollars on the same. On last Saturday he concluded to give the schooner trial and went out on q cruise to Rambo and other islands some ten miles distant from the city. One of the parties to go along was part own- er in the cargo but not of the boat. His partner in business and Ed and John Adams of the Troy laundry made up the balance of the party. They sailed to Rambo island and tied up. All par ties landed and agreed to take a hunt. and off they went in all directions. The Prof informed the members of the party that they would sail for home at 1 o'clock in the afternoon and accord iug to the statements of some, Porter told them that if he got no game within q reasonable time he might cruise around awhile to test the sailing quail ties of the boat. but that he would be there to take them on board at four o'clock. As soon as the fellows were well scattered, Porter and his partner returned to the boat. \ small canoe was put ashore. Two loayes of bread and a can of meat were put in the boat and the oars were kept on the schoon- CT. Porter and his partner hOisted the sails and flew" and they probably have not yet stopped. Where they went to no one seems to know, but gone they are with the S4OO.O0 boat and 5l0OOOO worth of personal property.
 At one o'clock, instead of four. Ed and John Adams and the other man re turned to the place of landing to find Porter, his partner and the schooner gone. The small boat was there. with the two loaves of bread and tin of meat. They were a long ways from home and no oars. They made some oars out of some driftWood found on the beach, and after enduring hunger, thirst and great amount of hard work, they finally landed in Fort Wrangel last Monday forenoon about 10o'clock.
 ''I can hardly believe that Porter would do such a thing, l had so much confidence in him." said John Adams when seen by reporter of the News, and such disgusted look we never ob- served on the human face before.
 Attachment suits were commenced against The Porter company in the small hours of Tuesday morning by Wakefield & Young and Reid X Sylyes- ter of this city. Other creditors will no doubt show up in due time. A war rant is also out for the arrest of the Prof. on the charge of grand larceny.