310 FUR-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 



Q. What do you attribute tliat to ?— A. The conduct of tie Alaska 

 Commercial Company. 



Q. So far as you were instructed by the company and its agents, what 

 is the policy of the company as to the treatment of the natives ? — A. 

 We are supposed to treat them as well as we know how, 



Q. Whar do you do at holiday times, Christmas or New Year's"? Do 

 you make them presents or visit them "? — A. We always gave them a 

 little spread. 



Q. Who attends on those occasions ? — A. The men, women, and chil- 

 dren. 



Q. Is that spread made by the company ? — A. Yes, sir. 



Q. Are presents generally given to the widows and orphans ? — A. Yes, 

 sir; they give the widows pairs of shoes, stockings, dresses, handker- 

 chiefs, etc. 



Q, How do the widows, orphans, and old men live ? — A. They are 

 supported by the company. 



Q, All supported ? — A. Yes, sir; they are furnished everything they 

 need. 



Q. Out of the companj^'s funds ? — A. Out of the company's funds. 



Q. It was testified to here by Mr. Gavitt that a prostitute could go to 

 the company's store and buy luxuries when other people could not get 

 them ; how about that ! — A. That is not true. 



Q. You know that ? — A. I know that. 



Q. You are the assistant agent? — A. Yes, sir. 



By Mr. Felton: 



Q. What is the cause of the feeling between yourself and Mr. Gavitt; 

 what caused the unpleasantness which he talks about? — A. As far as I 

 understand it, he came to me and wanted me to bring charges against 

 the company, and I refused. I told him I had no charges to make. 



Q. Did he specify any that he wanted you to make ? — A. No more 

 than general charges. 



Q. He was angry because you would not do that? — A. Y^es, sir. 



Q. Have you any reason to know why he was afraid of his life up 

 there ? — A. No, sir. 



Q. Do you know of any demonstrations made against him by anybody 

 there which would cause him to fear for his life ? — A. Nothing of the 

 kind happened, to my knowledge. 



By Mr. Dingle y: 

 ■ Q. You said Gavitt came to you and desired you to ma e general 

 charges against the company. Was that the language that he used? — 

 A. Yes, sir. 



Q. Did he specify particular charges ? — A. No, sir. 

 Q. What kind of charges would general charges be? — A. I do not 

 know. I asked him no questions. I do not know what he wanted. 



Q. And he gave no explanation ? — A. No more than that he expected 

 the company to buy him. 



By the Chairman : 



Q. Did he say that ? — A. He said to me he expected the company to 

 buy him, and he was a high-priced man. 



Q. Do I understand you to say that he said to you that he expected 

 the company to buy him ? Did he use those words? — A. He did. 



Q. And he also said he was a high-priced man? — A. Yes, sir; that 

 they could not buy him low. 



Q. When was that ?— A. Along in the winter of 1887 and 1888. 



