Douglas Island news., 1918-12-27
FIRST ALASKAN
 PAPER AT SITKA The Editor Was Also a Tailor and Lawyer and Published Paper
 as a Side Line

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 the Territory Of Alaska was publish
 ed at sika. April 2g. 1869. and was
 called "Thc SitRu Times" lts editor
 and proprietor was T. c Murphy.
 who combined law and tailoring
 with his newspaper venture in order
 Co ckc out a living. Tho littlc sheet
 was gotten out as Che organ of an
 aspirut for gubornatorial honors.
 and through ita efforts the new city
 government at Sitka was formed.
 with w. Dodge as mayor.
 At that time Sitllo was in control
 of Che military authorities. who
 looked upon any attempt of Che cly-
 uious Co establish government
 witch dlsfavcor The new govern
 mcut laborcd under great difficulties being confronted at every turn with
 military orders and threats of be-
 ing confined iu the guard house. At one time so bitter was Che feeling between che civilians and Che mili- Iary that Che latter threatened Co sacl, che newspaper office and throw Che Httlc outfit In the bay if its cd- itor did not cease from his attempts to organize city government ] A truce was finally effected thru . thc efforts of scccrtary Seward, who visited che then capital of Alaska in che month Of July 1869. He was so much pleased with Che govern. mcurs new purchase that he desired Go offer every uducement to settlers, and recognizing Che unjust attitude of tbc military hc effected a compro- mise.
 Courramat0ry speeches were cN- changed between Mir. Seward and thc mayor of tbc new city, the mili-| tary commander and Che board Of aldermen. After his visit things ran smooth for Che little paper for a time. although the editor was at times hard pushed for his paper and supplies iu time for publication day as but few boats ran from san Fran ctco Co Sitlu at that time. and these were mostly scalers and whal- crs and their crews were thc off- securing of tbc California ports.
 The church at Sikto was robbed of several richly jcwclel articles Of parapbcrnalia. and minor thcfts were Of frequent occurrence Dis putcs were common and several fatal tcrminotous Co these quarrcls fol-| lowed One duel was fought by Che officers of the garrison General Thomas in command of the mili-. tary division of the Pacific, made tour through thc territory, and de- tcrmiucd to abandon an military posts with thc exception of che one at sitka.
 Before this order came into ct- feet. however difficulties arose with Che natives An occurrence took place ot Wraugcll which delayed the abandonment of that post for some time Some white troppcrs passing Che winter at Che post sold liquor Go thc Indians. and one Of che drunken sayogcs beat his sluaw until thc blood ran from her mouth In streams. The trader Leon Smith, iutcrfcrcd and had Che woman ear rIcd away for medical treatment The brutal husband reigned regret for hts treatment of che uuoffeuding wo- man and offered Co shake hands with tbc post lauudrcss. at whose home she was lying Suddenly he thrust thc womau's hand into his mouth and bit one Of her fingers off, HcI then fled Co Che Indian village A detachment or soldiers was sent Go arrest him. but the Indians displayed considerable hostility, and Che re- turned The trader Smith. then set out Co Che village. hoping to pocify Che Indians and induce them Co give 'up Che criminal for punishment . but after advancing a few steps he was shot down. After considerable delay and bombardment of the n- ! dian village from Che military ou- . thorItes. Che murderer was deliver cd tried by court martial and was hanged. Che chief of Che tribe con- curing in the sentence.
 In Che spring of 1870 another murder was committed at sitka by soldier who had been dishouorably discharged for some offonse This man. William Bird, had a grudge against thc commanding officer Of. the post. and meeting him in sac