The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-11-24

arrived last evening from the north. set
forth that that august Alaskan tribunal
has begun formal investigation of the
case. -Four OF the officers of the City OF
Seattle were subpoenaed to appear before
the grand jury and tell what they knew
of how the totem pole came into the pos
session OF the committee from the Post
Intelligencer business mems excursion to
Alaska Capt w. A. Connell. Purser
Pope. First Oficer George Morgan and
Quartermaster Peter Obert were the on
GERS cited. They appeared and without
reservation told what they knew of the
affair. The papers citing. them to con-
front the grand jury were served by
Deputy United States Marshal Tanner
Friday while the City OF Seattle stopped
at Juneau en- route to Skagway. The
witnesses were told to present themselves
before the grand jury the following Mon
day at 10 a. m.
Completing her journey, the Seattle re-
turned. arriving at Juneau Sunday, about
midnight. but Ii was not until 3 o'clock
Monday afternoon that the grand jury sig
nified its desire to hear from the Seattle's
officers. Their testimony concluded, the
vessel resumed her homeward journey.
No attempt was made to arrest the on
GERS OF the vessel. notwithstanding a re-
port which gained currency yesterday, aft
effect that Capt. ConneIi and Purser Pope
had been taken in custody and held on a
criminal charge. Nor were libel proceed
ings instituted against the steamer.
Not Regarded Seriously.
mo one knows what the grand jury may
do Capt. Connell said yesterday. They
are investigating the case, but what action
they will take. If any. I am not prepared
to say. Around Juneau the people do not
seem to regard 1t seriously. There is a
deal Of joking about the matter, and
think some of the Juneau lawyers would
enjoy seeing VIII III. Thompson totemed
just for the fun of the thing.
I'VE left Juneau as soon as We had given
our testimony. the grand jury not having
made its report, SO / don't know what was
DONE
Only two of the four officers subpoenaed
were In any way concerned in carrying
away the totem pole, over the possession
and ownership of which so much is being
said These are Capt Connell and First
Officer Morgan. Purser Pope actually
slept as this most interesting Indian relic
was being secured and carried aboard the
steamer. while Quartermas,er Obert SEEM
ed utterly oblivious as to what was going
on
The totem agitators have found an
other subject In Edward H. Hartman, the
millionaire railroad man. whose generosity
and interest in scientific research led him
to promote the expedition which left here
last summer for a tour Of Southeastern
Alaskan waters on the steamer George w.
Elder. As purloiner of totems they say
Hartman is without an equal: that he
and his patrons actually appropriated nine
Port Tongass poles. An effort Is to be
made, so II is reported, to indict Mr.. Harri-
man and possibly TO cause civil suits to be
instituted against the several national in
stitutes and museums now in possession OF
the totems secured by the Hartman party.
Another Wild and baseless rumor was In
circulation last night to the effect that all
Of the members OF the business mems ex-
cursion had been cited to appear before the
Juneau grand Jury.
The subpoenaing incident caused the Sc
attic to lose about two days, time. She
was not actually detained that long, but
the delay caused her TO strike the Wrangel
Narrows tide wrong and to walt eight or
ten hours for it's more favorable condition.