274 FUR-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 



make one remark on the sidewalk. I met General Harrison, who was an 

 old acquaintance of mine. lam personally acquaiu ted withhim. When 

 General Harrison saw me there, he said, "Mr. Kimmel, how do you do ? 

 How is your health ? " I heard Gavitt make use of the expression while 

 shaking hands, " I am going* to push that Alaska business through." I 

 did not know what he meant by it. He said that to General Harrison. 

 That is the only intimation I had from which I inferred what he wanted 

 to do. 



Q. Did he ever tell you he borrowed $1,000 from the company which 

 they made him pay back unexpectedly ? — A. No, sir. 



TESTIMONY OF GEORGE R. TINGLE. 



Geosge R. Tingle, sworn and examined. 



The Chairman. Mr. Tingle has been heretofore examined. He is at 

 present Treasury agent in charge of the islands of St. George and St. 

 Paul. I have recalled you, Mr. Tingle,iuconsequenceof publications that 

 have been made in the newspapers since you testified before, repre- 

 senting a very bad moral condition existing in some parts of Alaska, 

 and principally on St. George and St. Paul Islands, which consequently 

 exert a demoralizing influence towards the natives on the part of the 

 Alaska Commercial Company and its agents, as well as other white 

 persons. Have you read those publications ? — A. Yes, sir ; 1 have read 

 all that has come to my notice, and have read quite a large number. 



Q. I wish you would state to the committee generally whether there 

 is any foundation fur these reports as to the islands of St. George and 

 St. Paul. — A. Well, sir, I can state positively from my experience upon 

 those islands as the Treasury agent in charge that the published 

 stories are absolutely false. That there is some immorality upon the 

 islands of St. Paul and St. George among the natives there is no 

 doubt. It is under cover, as it is in the civilized cities of the United 

 States. It is not preceptible to the naked eye. I do not know a com- 

 munity of the size of St. Paul and St. George Islands in any part of 

 the United States where there is less immorality appearing. They are 

 all quiet and peaceable, well-behaved citizens upon those islands. They 

 look upon a Government officer in charge as a represeutitive of the 

 Government and the only law and authority they know ani ,^hing about, 

 and his authority is implicitly obeyed. They are careful n6t to do any- 

 thing that will bring reproach upon them and censurex)f the Government 

 officer. The stories as published in these communications I have read 

 and, as far as they apply to the natives of the fur-seal islands, are ab- 

 solutely false. 



Q. You are the general agent in charge of these islands at this time ? — 

 A. I am. 



Q. Did you have any instructions from the Treasury Department 

 about your duties there? — A. Yes, sir; when I was appointed I went 

 there with instructions, verbal as well as in writing, and I was directed 

 to instruct my assistants, which I did, and assigned them to duty, which 

 was the language of the Department ordered to me. 



Q. Who were your assistants there? — A. Oapt. A. P. Loud, J. P. 

 Manchester, and William Gavitt. 



Q. Did you give Mr. Gavitt instructions when he entered upon his 

 duties ? — A. He was assigned by the Department to St. George Island, 

 and I was ordered to place him there and instruct him in his duties. 



