Douglas Island news., 1903-05-13
WEDNESDAY, MAY 18th, 1903.
To Douglas Island Citizens


 this community, by the posting of prohibitory notices, in the Douglas Is- land cemetery, by w. A. Sanders, through his agent here, and the con- sequent intimidating of citizens from burying their dead there, the following history of the Douglas Island Cemetery, and its present standing, is warranted.
 We will further state that although we may have some legal trouble yet we will undoubtedly win out. The law in reference to trespassing on cemetery is severe. and whoever attempts to ob- struct or interfere with the Douglas Is- land Cemetery, will have all of the Douglas Island people to fight.
 We have been in legal and peaceable possession of the premises for about three years.
 Early in 1889 Mir. W. A. Sanders hay ing applied for patent to all the land from the mountains, on Douglas Island, N. w. of Douglas, to Gastineaux Chan nel and from the town of Douglas, in- cluding the x. W. end of the town, and its streets, also the Mission build ings and U. s. School House to Lawson creek and beyond, P. H. Fox, Mir, Rep logic, of the Friends Mission and VIC. Boyd, representing the town of Doug nlN fA issuance of the patent to the land so claimed.
 w. A. Sanders, hearing of this, came over from Juneau to see them about it. At first he tried bluffing; finding that did not move the committee, he agreed that if the citizens of Douglas, repre- sented by said committee, above men, toned, would not protest his patent, he would deed back, on obtaining his patent, all lots, easement ofstreets, etc, and other points in which his patent interfered with the town of Douglas. He agreed to go into written agree ment to that effect, and did so before his time of publication was over, but with reluctance and after more threats from the committee.
 After making said verbal agreement mentioned above, and at the same time and place, viz, in Mir. P. H. FoX's store, and in the presence of w. C.. Boyd, P. H. Fox and Rev. Replogle, he was also informed by said committee, that they demanded grounds out there for q cemetery for Douglas Island people. His answer was "I will give you cem- etery and not only that, but will build road to it; am as much interested in Douglas as you are; there is dry knoll this side of Lawson creek you can have; but you must not interfere in any way with my patent on your part" "Will you go into writings to that effect?n was asked him. He answer ed, 'No, l won't do that, won't be forced any further; you carry out your agreement not to bother my patent, then I will deed the cemetery to you; you can have that cemetery ground l said you could; there is a good, dry knoll there and you can have it; my word is good for it and I will do as I agree" Immediately afterwards P. H. Fox, M. J. O'Connor, Rev. Rep logic aud W. c. Boyd went out to Law son Creek and took possession of the knoll and ran line from Third street directly to said knoll.
 Mir. Sanders in the mean while went to Nome, and did not return for more than a year. The committee went ahead, built road to the grounds, cleared them off e acres) and fenced in between and acres with wire fence, expending several thousand dol lars on the road and cemetery. Sey- enty bodies are buried there and some have costly monuments over them, and all are. in regular order and neatly kept, with a record in the hands of the clerk of the cemetery (W.C. Boyd?
 When W. A. Sanders returned to Ju- neau from Nome, having obtained patent to part of the land claimed by him, he deeded back lots and ground taken in by his patent provided for by said written agreement, but ignored the verbal agreement in reference to the cemetery. On W. c. Boyd demand ing it of him he denied making it: but on being confronted by Mir. Replogle and Mr. Replogle substantiating all VIC. Boyd said about it as in first in- terviev at Fox's store. he admitted the