The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-11-30
How It Reached Its Present Hon
ored Place in the Museum.
REGENTS NEVER OBJECTED.
Brought From Alaska by Party Of
Scientists and Presented to the
Institution Of Which the Editor
Of the Times IL . Regent by One
Of Its Professors-Other Univers-
aties Are Similarly Provided.

Before the totem pole controversy Is yele-
gated to the realm Of things that have
| passed out Of public interest. 1t may be
worth while TO recite the history OF the
expedition that robbed an Indian grave
yard" in behalf OF the Washington state
university. OF which the editor OF the Even
ing Times Is regent.
The most conspicuous example, in recent
months, OF the saving OF such ancient mon
umsnts, Is the action Of the members OF
the scientific excursion to Alaska last sum-
mer given by the generosity Of f. II. Har-
riman, Of New York. Some nfty gentle
men. Including many of the foremost in
educational and scientific circles, were CIV
en- a trip occupying more than two months.
taken up with inspection OF that great ter
ri,ory in every phase OF study in which II
presented itself to the eyes and minds of
the scholars eminent In their several de-
partments who thus visited 1t.
Professors from Yale. Harvard. Cornell
and Columbia from n, the sn
Columbian Museum in Chicago and
the Bontanicai Garden in ST. Louis:
artists authors statesmen ,sa and men
In science. and magnates in the great and
intricate enterprises Of commerce. were
comprised in shisf congenial company
Whatever elsa may be said concerning
an assemblage OF men would deliberately
and by COLLISION engage In project to
steal from their feIlowmen. no matter OF
what condition or degree OF social state.
Yet what they did In Alaska.
On their way home last July they stepped
al Fox point. just north of the boundary.
Finding there a deserted Indian village
Astounding in totem poles, they took down
and brought away with them no less than
seven or eight OF the finest, and, not con-
tent with this. they tore down and took
away the entire decorated front OF the
principal house. bringing all these relics OF
"a day that Il dead" to the states to adorn
the collections of the highest educational
institutions Of the country.
Was such proceeding tustifahle All
OF this company OF intelligent. we.i-ed
ucated gentlemen thought so. They acted
In accordance with their opinions. nor has
any one Of the several high institutions OF
learning. where the inculca,ion OF ethics is
as much a part % the training as any
study in the curriculum yet been known 10
disagree with their conclusions or TO criti-
else or reprove their action.
Deserted village.
Many Of the roofs OF the cabins were
fallen in, and all vera more or less in a
state OF dilapiiation. The ground was
grown up 10 tall thorny weeds. which filed
the old paths and gave unimpeachable evil
dence that no human foot had trod there
for a long time previously. Within the
houses no household utensils or garments
were found 10 hint that the departed VIII
layers intended ever 20 return. One OF the
excursionists a noted artist OF New York
had been Informed by \ friend. in the prev
| ious year. that the village was deserted.
Miners had Samped there in the mean
time. Dr. Dali. Of the Smithsonian Iustt-
tuition, an archaeologist OF high repute and
an acknowledged authority on Alaskan
ethnoogy who was Of the party. states
that the village antedaied the century.
Another member of the party WAS Prof
Edwin Chaplin Starks, now curator OF the
museum at tae University Of Washington.
Prof. Starks says: when we came TO the
village whore we got our poles we held
quite meeting 10 discuss whether I. was
proper to remove the totem poles and other
relies. The opinion there unanimously ex-
ranted in removing them and that no In
clan interests could possibly suffer there
by. sut that It VAS actually cur duty 10
save 20 students and 20 posterity these rel
les OF a disappearing race, Indeed. DR.. ID.
G. Elliot, curator OF Field Columbian Mu-
esum NJ Chicago, !ntinatsd that II the
them he should eraeavor To get an expeai-
lion sent out to procure the entire crlsec-
ton for his institution
II remember that John Muir. who wss
with ue. Sii raise objections, but they
were Of ;he sentimental order. not that
.ny living Indians had any interes, IN tho
poles. Sut that as historic relic. they were
best left IN their natural setting. whsre
sights and attractions 70 the Traveller.
Presented to the University.
Il brought one az the best poles 10 Seat
tie and OF my arrival Informed Registrar
Clark Davis that II was 81 the wharf. He
seat 4 team and had IL brought To the ami
versity. where fl occupies a prominent.
place in the museum. 4 description and
picture 81 Il were published I'm the Fa~i-
inteiligtncer al that ;inae. None OF .h@
regents have ever expressed 20 ne any
optnsen regarding IL. adverse or otherwise.
~ the other pcles hrc8ght with us ora
wsat % Cornell. appetizer, the mate 70 ours.
Il, Am ArbssT; another % the California
Academy OF Sciences and osher. 20 Ehe
Field Columbian Museum. The largest a
magnificent specimen. Fifty-folr fees htss
and fea- feet IN diameter with the front
a ~. chiefs aGGse. was left IN charge os
Mr., Ea-rtrnaD's agent, 20 30 given TO ma
Institution which could rrcyats = yizcs
where they cau8s ~ set up complete under
cover The taas5 Museum - probably the
onte ore whtrh sss = Building adapted fer