The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-14

WASHINGTON, Jan. 13.-Mrs. Homer
Bird, whose husband was convicted Of
numbering his two mining associates on
the Yukon over year ago, is In the city
endeavoring to secure a pardon from the
president for her husband. She tells a
most thrilling story Of self-defense, but
United States Commissioner F. B. Shep-
hard. Of st. Michael. who Is here. and
before whom testimony in this murder case
was taken. says unhesitatingly that 1t was
a cold d-blooded act of assassination.
BIRD was not defending his life." said
Mr.. SHEPPARD ''but shot his associates
while they were eating breakfast their
backs being toward him. He used a shot
gun and Herlin fell over dead. Patterson
was fearfully wounded. but lived for some
time afterward. Before dying he told
some missionaries who had gone to his re-
lief the circumstances of the tragedy"
Bird was formerly we'll to do con-
tractor in New Orleans. who deserted his
wife and went to Alaska with another
woman. When arrested for murder he
telegraphed Immediately to his wronged
wife,, and She woman-lke. forgave all
and went to him and is now trying to
save him from the gallows. He had been
sentenced and would be hanged next
month unless pardoned by the president
Alaska Should he Two Territories.
Speaking of the purpose to create mil
Itary district OF Alaska, Mr.. Sheppard said:
"It Is good thing that our government
Is going to give authority to Gen. Ram
dali to preserve order in Alaska, for un-
der present conditions civil authorities are
powerless. The best thing that could be
done would be division of Alaska into
two territories. The country is SO large
that different sections have distinct in
terests, and Sitka is too distant from the
placer fields of Cape Nome and other
gold camps to be of any benefit to people
of those localities"
Mr.. Sheppard will press these views
upon the attention of the territory COM
mittee Of the house and senate.
Collector Heustis at Washington.
Collector Of Customs Fred d. Heustis, of
Port Townsend, is in the city on important
government business The Post introduced
Heustis to its readers today thus:
"Heustis.-He became well known for
his efforts in preventing the smuggling
of Chinese into the United States some
time ago, and was the originator of a coup
by means of which he trapped several hun
dred Celestials. with their guides, on a
eraI ciques of "highbnders'' to assassinate
him required the services Of body guides
for some time"
Advertisement OF Seattle.
A. B. Maddox, of Seattle, gives that city
a good advertisement In an interview pub
lished here today. He says:
"The Klondike trade has been verita-
BILE gold mine to Seattle. and everybody is
= Iaoc
outfits there during the past year, and
as each outfit averages cost Of $500, you
can see $l0000,O00 right there, without
counting in food supplies. six steamers
are running regularly between Seattle and
Alaska. and by spring the fleet will be in
creased to seventy-five vessels"
Maj. Roudiez' Orders.
Maj. Leon s. Roudiez, quartermaster
of volunteers, has been ordered from San
Francisco to Seattle, thence ON the trans
port Sheridan to Manila, where he will SUI
pervise the construction of the refrigerat-
ing and ice plant for the use Of army
headquarters.
other Army Orders.
Lieut.. Col James Jackson, upon his own
application, is detailed to Portland as pro-
fessor of military science in Bishop Scott
academy.
Prvates G. Coulson and William A. Nc
Bee, of Company L. Seventh infantry, Fort
Egbert. Alaska, were transferred to the
hospital corps.
Cutter COrwin Condemned.
The revenue cutter Corwin has peen con-
demned to be sold, and the cutter Daniel
Manning has been ordered to take her
place.
Postmaster mt Sunnydale.
John C. Horan was today recommended
for postmaster at Sunnydale. King county,
vice Arestes NJ. Gale, whose time has ex-