Digital Bob Archive

MAY 10, 1881-The camp has been honored by a visit from the naval commander for Alaska, Captain Henry Glass of the U. S. S. Jamestown, stationed at Sitka. Captain Glass arrived on one of the ship?s steam launches, accompanied by Ensign J. C. Gillmore. They met with Recorder Richard Dixon and others who had not yet gone to the basin to work on their claims. Captain Glass promised to assign one of his men, Master Gustave Hannus, who is experienced in survey work, to run the lines of the blocks and streets in the townsite.

The captain also met some of his men to make a count of the population of the camp, which has been growing rapidly in recent weeks. This court disclosed that there are now approximately 150 whites and 450 Indians within the boundaries of the townsite. The Indians have moved here from Auke Bay and Youngs Bay and from various Taku villages to the south of here, as well as from some other villages of Southeastern Alaska. They are eager to find work and the miners welcome them as packers and for other heavy jobs, but the fact that so many of them have pitched tents on the townsite, without regard to previously entered claims to the various lots, its causing some conflicts.

On May 2, Captain Glass called a general meeting of the miners having first sent an invitation to those at work on their claims. A large number attended and Captain Glass explained the authority of the Navy in Alaska and announced his intention to preserve good order and protect all residents. To this end he proposed sending a contingent of men here in charge of the popular Lt. Cmdr. Rockwell, to establish at least a temporary garrison. There was objection to this by some of the miners who felt that it would, in effect, bring martial law to the camp, but the captain assured them that the Navy will not interfere with miners? own rules for the conduct of mining operations so long as order is preserved. He suggested, too, that the miners start collecting a fund, from among themselves, to be used by the Indians now camped on the townsite to move to other locations. The matter of reestablishing them could, he said, be handled by Mr. Rockwell, but he felt that they should be compensated for their trouble. This suggestion was generally approved by the miners present.