The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-05-18
TEA PARTY DUE TO
NEGLECT BY j. S.
Detroit Woman Receives Letter
Describing Raid on Coal Docks
at Cordova, Alaska.

Mrs. r. II. Post, No. 2S3 Alexan-
drine-ave. west, has received letter
from Mrs. c. T.. Nicholson, OF Cor
dova, Alaska, formerly OF Indian
apolis, Ind, who was an eye witness
OF the throwing OF British coal into
the Cordova harbor, an incident
which is compared to'the Boston tea
party.
Mrs. Nicholson says that the out
break was not inspired by the Gug
genheims, as has been stated, but was
protest against the neglect or Alas
ka by the United States government
Her letter reads:
Long before this letter reaches
you. you will have read OF the giving
away OF our feelings here In Cordova.
AS an eyewitness 10 an event second
only to the Boston tea party, l must
say that the spirit OF progress Is not
dead. The other afternoon the Cor
dovans showed themselves to man
To be no longer willing TO tolerate In
Justice, the like OF which has never
been known in the United States
since our American revolution.
"A better time could not have been
chosen. The United States marshal
was out of town. There was no boat
In the harbor, only lone Waterman,
and there was that huge pile or ror-
eign coal. When the signal was CIV
en-. men, hundreds OF them, yes, ana
women, gathered at the dock, an or
derby crowd yet determined. Men
and women worked shoulder TO
shoulder, and as each shovel scraped
up the coal, then splashed 1t into the
placid waters of Prince William
sound, there arose a cheering which
would awaken George Washington
and his noble followers and the dull
echoing from the mountains across
the way made each man feel that he,
too. was applauding the good work
The news soon spread. Special
deputies were sworn In and appeared
on the scene not, however, until ton
after ton Of King Georges coal was
dumped into the sound-coal that Is
costing good, honest American citizens
from SIS to Sic a ton, here on Ameri-
can soil, where there Is supposed TO
be no taxation without representation,
and good American coal right here
at our very door.
"And these rioters? Why, human,
every one OF them-professional men,
men In every line OF business, and
not the riff-raff OF a Coxey's army, or
as no doubt will be supposed by some
of the conservators, Guggenheim
agent. Pioneers OF this great coun-
try; men who have blazed the trails,
endured untold hardships, and women
who have shared these hardships;
wives, mothers and sisters. These
men and women, most oil them, have
spent the best years Of their lives In
prospecting for this country's wealth;
established themselves here In Cor
dova from the proceeds OF their little
stake. erected comfortable homes,
feeling all along that Uncle Sam
would at least act fairly by them, and
lust because one man, or several men,
failed to live up to the laws, all must
suffer. The coal Is the one essential
thing necessary for the development
OF this great country. Without 1t, We
are no better off than a wagon with
out Its four wheels-we can't move
one way or the other.
81 think in letterssthis winter / told
you of the gold quartz and copper
properties that are, and have been,
located around here Coal, as fuel.
will play an important part in its de-
velopment. Many a poor prospector
will welcome 1t. l am personally ac-
quainted with many OF this class who
have ben hanging on for several
years, living from hand to mouth,
waiting, like Micawber, for something
to turn up Unless That something
turns up, there is no telling what will
happen.
ION the streets they talk OF "a body
of men opening up the land and defy