The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-03-13
Captain Keesan. Of Wrecked
Schooner Howe. Escapes Tar
and Feathers.
RESIDENTS MADE INDIGNANT
Slander0us Stories Told by Mas.
ter and Men Concerning the
Good People of llwaco
who Kept Them Alive.

pc That Captain Austin Keegan. lat
&c master OF the shipwrecked schoone
!, Frank w. Howe. and the good peopl
Ia OF llwaco and North beach are warn
: personal enemies. Is attested by tn
70 statement made by a leading residen
y of the Pacific county town to an As
torian man yesterday. This gentleman
said that public feeling had becom'
so aroused against the unpopular cap
tain that there was talk OF admins,
tering to him coat OF tar and feath.
ers, and that the only thing that saved
him from such humiliation and pre-.
. served the peace and quiet OF nwacc
was the fact that Keegan went tC
Portland when events had about reach
ed a crisis.
Whether the smell OF tar caused his
departure Is not known. but II Is clear
that his leave taking was opportune
as far as he was concerned. The rea-
son for the captains unpopularity rests
upon. alleged statements made by him
that reflected upon the integrity and
honor Of the people that suecored him
and his crew In their time of need.
The captain stoutly denies that he has
ever entertained aught but the kinell-
est of feelings for those whom he Is
accredited with slandering, and says
that he was never treated better in his
life than since the wreck of his ves-
sell He was interviewed recently by
the nwaco Journal and made the fol-
lowing statement:
This talk about me criticizing the
people OF Ilwaco is wrong. and / want
to refute the charges. was never
treated better in my life. They have
assisted myself and the crew In many |
ways, and l am very grateful to them
did say that was over-charged in
the bill at the Hackney cottage. and
l say so yet. / told Mr.. Hackney so,
but did not spread malicious reports
about him"
All OF which First Mate Ritchie
spoils by saying:
"our clothest were removed from the
boat by people from Long Beach and
Ilwaco. They even took letters from
my wife, which had carefully laid on
a table. The public at large can draw
It's own conclusions from people who
win do such acts. For the necessaries
Of life we were required to pay two
prices at Iwaco."
This expression of difference be-
tween Captain Keegan and his superior
officer is not the first disagreement Of
opinion exhibited in which the master |
of the schooner figured as the minor !
ty. In this instance the members Of |
he crew all agree with the first mate !
hat they were robbed Of their clothing,
we're charged double prices and are be-
ng treated generally in shameful
manner. The people Of Ilwaco and G
yicinity have done everything possible J
or the men, and are justly indignant J
hat they should be slandered. (
In speaking of the matter the Ilwaco I
Journal says In part: Il
"The trouble started over the board t
ill charged at Hackney cottage, where \
he men were nursed back to life, after
icing removed from the stranded ves-
ell The sailors thought the bill was I
and gratefulness did not pre- 7
ent them from making kick They G
aid the bill, but spread the report d
round that they had been robbed. I
"They encountered their second e
rievance when they went to the ves- o
el, and found that some Of their be- e.
,nglngs were missing. They refused N
. believe that the breakers might have !
,ashed their effects overheard, but on v