FUR-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 193 



Q. VVliat did the tnaa want to tell? — A. He wauted to ask tliat the 

 natives have some rights aud be protected in thein. They have asked 

 me, " Does your Goverument approve of this 'P 1 said, " JSTo," and they 

 said, ''if (lot, why do they not stop it!" 



Q. What particular thing was he complaining of ? These immoral 

 habits of these individuals ? — A. Tliey wauted some protection for their 

 wives and children. 



By Mr. Macdonald : 



Q. This general misdemeanor you refer to ? — A. Yes, sir. 



Q. Well, if I understand you rightly, you are the only Government 

 officer on the island ? — A. I am the only one during the winter when all 

 this trouble comes up. 



Q. And practically the company governs and controls the natives on 

 the island? — A. The Government officer, both. 



Q. It is a fact in reference to the natives ? Practically, I am speak- 

 ing. — A. Y^es, sir. 



Q. And you while there were powerless to exercise any authority or 

 control? — A. Yes, sir, [ am like a whipped dog. You are aothing, 

 and if yon try it, they will teach you a lesson you will remember the 

 balance of your life. I was afraid of my life, and my wife was, too. 



Q. Was anything said or done to cause you to be afraid of your life ? — 

 A. Dr. Lutz tried to strike me with a iiile in his hand in the company's 

 house, when my wife dragged me away. 



Q. Anything else? — A. Kirk was a pugilist from San Francisco, a 

 big-fisted man 



Q. What did he do or say ? — A. He said he would lick any Govern- 

 ment officer who interfered or reported him. 



Q. Did you quarrel with him ? — A. No; he wanted to give me to un- 

 derstand what he would do if 1 interfered with him. 



Q. We would like to understand what you said. Tell us how it was. — 

 A. Kirk was telling about Mr. Ryan, who was there, and he said Mr. 

 Eyau did not interfere with him, but he would whip him or any Gov- 

 ernment officer that interfered with him, and in his presence I said, 

 "What do you call your business?" and he said, "With women here 

 on the island." 



Q. Can you state when you had this first trouble with the company's 

 employes in that respect, and what it was about? — A. I want to see the 

 exact date. I think it was November I, when I gave the priest pups, 

 seal pups, for food — all the natives are entitled to them — regardless of 

 their protests that he should not have them. 



Q. Whose protests? — A. Webster's — all of them. 



Q. Just please answer my question. When was this? — A. Novem- 

 ber 1. 



Q. There was nothing connected with the women, or protests about 

 them ? — A. No, sir. 



Q. When did you have your next trouble with him or any other of the 

 employes of the company? — A. This all continued. 



Q. You mean this was the beginning, and it continued right along- 

 after that? — A. Then war was declared and they kept it up. 



By thv- Chairman: 

 Q. Just to continue Judge Macouald's inquiry further, the point he 

 was driving at was, the disagreement between you and these persons 

 was (Ml account of the execution of your official duties in enforcing the 

 laws of tiie United States, or was it on account of their immoral habits 

 in connection with the Aleut women — their personal habits? — A. It was 



