Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1904-11-14
CHAPTER IN.
Trouble Brewing.

Seadog owned large store. 1t was
a sort OF commissary where all IL e
fishermen were compelled to trade,
either directly or indirectly. Those
employed by Seadog had to trade with
him and the others had to trade with
him also, because he had plated the
town and placed proviso in the deed
to all the lots which he sold to the
effect that the grantee should not deal
in certain rchandise. This iten
covered about ything. Even
spurious, vtnous and malt liquors we've
prohibited. Still there were nearly
half a dozen saloons in the place, but
Seadog had contracts by which he re-
ceived, directly or indirectly, the larger
per cent of the profits. He also owned
the local cannery Cinnamon were
worked in the place. They lived at a
mess house where existence on rice
and spoiled fish was easy, and they
worked for Seadog for few cents a
day. He had struggled them overland
across the Canadian boundary and they
believed they were compelled to &C.
main in his employ; and they were in
q measure, for Seadog was not known
in the unlawful transaction and could
have handed them ever to the authori-
ties without risk to himself. He
might have sent some OF his hirelings to
the government prison, but he did not
mind this. Men were cheap and
money valuable.
Old Seadog also owned miles OF fish
traps. The ragged lines of piling
forming wings and hearts extended up
and down the bay and to the middle of
the river from Disappointment to Nc
Gowan's, about dozen miles.
1t is true that few men had taken
advantage oil their rights under the
law and had secured locations and had
constr ucted traps, but it vas necessary
to guard these like treasures. II they
were left alone the "stol ms" tore up
the piling and Seadogs traps We're con-
structed in trent and on the side of
them so that even the luckless fish
found their way to the fishermens
traps by the sheerest accident.
One by one they had succumhed and
sold to seadog at his own price, except
the few who preferred to work and
barely live than become the slaves OF
any man.
1t was on the fatal morning upon
which Sankala and Ringwold dared
the storm Old Seadog was mp
early, as was his custom. He superin-
tended ali OF his own business. He
lett nothing of importance to Others.
1t was to this fact that he attributed
his success, and he admonished his
sons to follow in his footsteps.
The storm was raging and the man
of wealth did not care to stir abroad
SO early. He grew confidential with
Mrs. seadog. FIe did this occasional
ly, but it was only when matters arose
that closely affected his business in
terests. He was by no means faith
full husband to her, as many OF the
fl. hermen knew, but he had great con-
fidence in her good judgment, and
sought her advice in the matters that
weighed upon him heavily.
He was still seated at the table.
Daylight had not yet begun to dawn.
The storm was raging. The mist and
rain fell upon the roof with a rasping
sound. The other members OF the
family had LETT the dining room. Mrs.
Seadog did he, own dishes. She aid
this from choice because she had been
brought up to work.
"Iet the work 60 foi awhile, wife,
,,J .ot J,,u, - ou ia tba i,Nol,,nI
Mrs. Seadog obeyed the request
readily. She knew something was
coming She had already seen it in
her husband g eyes and in his actions
But what woman does not like to be
taken into the confidence of her hus-
band?
"Do you know, wife, ana in more
trouble than trap full OF fish, said
Old seadog when his wife was seated.
II thought the foolish prejudice
against old Ringwold and Sankala
was something to worry about, but
now the troubles are multiplying like
sun fish.
'The title to the townsite is threat
en,d. The gill meters are preparing
for devilment and even the government
had secret service man here few
days ago trying to associate me with
the unlawful importation of the pig
tails who work in my cannery."
81 do not understand all of this, or
even part of it," said the anxious
wife. 81 thought you had deed to the
townsite property. The llnetters I
thought had recognized your measure
hient of the river. and as to the impor-
tation of the Cinnamon, supposed the
half-breed and his SON i'll law were re-
sponslble for that"
But you can't count on anything
these days" continued the fisherman
king. when old Lapham made the
iced to his homestead that night just
before he died in a drunken fit, there
were several present. But all of them
are dead from d, owning or otherwise,
except one of the witnesses that signed
the instrument. He has got foolish
religious ideas in his head and is try
ing to make trouble. I had my book
keeper give him 500 and send him to
the Sound, and that may quiet him.
But the transaction is beginning to
cost me something. Bumbo, the law
yer who drew up the deel, was stand
ing in with the other fellow in way
and had to employ him Yesterday bv