FUR-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 273 



Did you say that ? — A. I only heard one complaint, and that was the 

 chief told me there was some money coming to the natives from some 

 former year for some seal skins which remained at the salt-house at the 

 time I was there, and he wanted to go to San Francisco and settle. I 

 told him tliat as far as I was concerned I had no objection to it, but 1 

 had to report to my superior ofiticer, aud if he had no objection to it he 

 could go. I reported to Mr. Glidden at the time and he said that he 

 could not give him any permission then, as he would have to report to 

 the Treasury Department and get the permit. 



Q. That is all of that? — A. Yes, sir; I never heard any other com- 

 plaint. 



Q. What sort of a man is Peter Rezanzofif? — A. I know him. 



Q. What sort of a man is he °? — A. He seemed to me to be a little more 

 educated than the balance of the natives there and talked with more 

 fluent English. 



Q. What is his character aud reputation f — A. It seems to me that he 

 always tried to stir up a little strife. 



Q. A mischief-maker ? — A. Yes ; you can say that. 



Q. Was he a truthful man *? — A. 1 did not have much conversation 

 with him. 



Q. Did you ever tell the reporter of the New York Sun or anybody 

 else this : "I believe him to be as honest a man as lives ?" Did you make 

 that remark! — A. 1 never made that remark or any such thing. 



Q. You are made to say : 



The school which the comi>any's contract pledges them to keep up was nothing but 

 a humbug. 



A. That never came into my mouth. 



Q. Aud '' the teacher was drunk all the time." Did you say that ?— 

 A. No, sir. 



An agent can do nothing for the natives. If he does not act to suit the company's 

 employes his life is made miserable. 



Q. Did you say that ? — A. No, sir. I said in regard to the company's 

 schools that I thought in this country the children could be better edu- 

 cated thau up there. 



Q. That is not the fault of the company ?— A. No, sir ; they try their 

 best. 



Q. This interview goes on to state that you said : 



They attempted to blacken my character while I was there, and invented a lot of 

 stories about me. 



Did you say that ? — A. There is some truth about that. There was a 

 man there by the name of Gus. Lauer, who was a porter of the company, 

 told some thiugs derogatory to me, and I told him if I heard of any- 

 thing of the kind that 1 would defend my honor aud character, which 

 1 will do to-day, at the risk of my life. 



Q. Anything more come of it ? — A. That settled it. 



Q. Now, you are made to say: 



That is a method with all the company officers who do not act to suit them. They 

 attempt to blacken the agents' characters, aud with the kind of men they have up 

 there it is easy to get them to tell almost any story about a man they do not like. 



I do not say anything about the company itself, for I understand that the men in- 

 terested in it are honest aud repatable meu ; but the employes who do their work are 

 a herd of rascals aud ought to be cleaued out. 



A. In oilier words, that is what Mr. Gavittsaid, and not me. 

 Q. Did Mr. Gavitt disclose to you his object in making up this attack 

 upon the Alaska Commercial Company ? — A. No, sir; only I heard him 

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