Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington, Part 26

Author:
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: Spokane, Wash. : Western History
Number of Pages: 992

USA > Washington > Chelan County > Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington > Part 26
USA > Washington > Ferry County > Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington > Part 26
USA > Washington > Okanogan County > Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington > Part 26
USA > Washington > Stevens County > Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington > Part 26

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In 1900 the office of the United States Im- migrant Inspector was located at Northport, with Major S. C. Walker as inspector. He was succeeded by C. E. Dooley, who at present

holds the position. This office concerns itself with all immigrants coming to the United States at this point, and more especially China- men. many of whom have been ordered de- ported to China from this port by the United States Commissioner, W. P. Hughes. Con- nected with this office is an inspection commit- tee consisting of J. E. Daniels, W. H. Hutchin- son and A. J. Ferrandini.

The year 1901 was accentuated in North- port by a strike in the smelter. It soon devel- oped into one of the memorable strikes of the country, and continued in force and varying intensity for nine months. The underlying cause of this trouble was simply the customary objection of the smelter company to the forma- tion of a union among the workmen. The lat- ter, however, insisted on the organization, and accordingly the Northport Mill and Smelter- men's Union was formed. Although not of- ficially announced, it had been freely given out by the smelter company that a connection with the union would be considered equivalent to an invitation for a discharge from the company's service. Despite this announcement a large majority of the company's employes associated themselves with the union. When the com- pany's officials came to survey the field it was discovered that a wholesale discharge of all the men affiliated with the new union would seriously cripple their business. So matters were, for a period, permitted to remain in statu quo, and the smelter work continued to be carried on alongside the Mill and Smelter- men's Union. Still, there was constant fric- tion. On one side were arrayed hearty oppo- nents of all forms of unionism; on the other a body of determined men led by a few agita- tors with whom nearly every industrial center in the United States is familiar. The press of the county, too, was divided, and each side to the controversy had its journalistic organ car- rying weekly inflammatory articles into the two opposing camps.

Then it was that the members of the Mill

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and Smeltermen's Union discovered that their ranks in the smelter were being gradually, but surely decimated by periodical, yet significant, discharges of men, and the substitution in their places of non-union workmen. They at once grasped the situation, and contrived to check- mate this move, for a period, at least, by union- izing the new recruits from the far east. As fast as men could be imported they were in- duced to cast their lot with the Mill and Smel- termen's Union. As stated by the Stevens County Reveille, "It soon became a question as to who could master the situation the quickest, each playing at his own game."

In July the smelter company made a whole- sale discharge of carpenters and the strike en- sued. Following this demonstration the smel- ter company immediately became active in se- curing skilled labor from the mills and fur- naces of the east. In this connection it should not be overlooked that the local authorities, well aware of conditions prevailing at North- port, regarding labor troubles, refused to inter- fere in behalf of either the smelter company or the union. Accordingly the company, which was an English organization, transferred its property to a corporation organized in the state of Idaho, ostensibly for the purpose of seek- ing protection from the United States courts. Necessary affidavits were procured in support of a petition for relief in the federal courts. The result was an injunction issued against those who were presumed to be the most active in opposition to the interests of the smelter com- pany. The order was issued by Judge Han- ford, restraining the Mill and Smeltermen's Union at Northport from interfering with the management of the smelter, or their employes. Following is the text of the injunction :

In the meantime and until further order of the court herein, said defendants; and each of them, their aiders, attorneys, officers, agents, servants, and em- ployes, be, and they are severally restrained and en- joined from in any manner interferring with the com- plainant herein in and upon and about its said smelting plant, or in any part thereof, and from in any manner,

by force or threats or otherwise, making any attempt or attempts, openly or covertly, to intimidate any employe of complainant herein, or from attempting to prevent in any manner any employe of said complainant and North- port Smelting & Refining Company, Ltd., from proceed- ing to work for said complainant in a peaceful, quiet and lawful manner, in and upon any part of aforesaid smelting plant, or upon any works of complainant there- in or thereabouts, or at all, and that they, the said parties aforesaid, be, and they are hereby further en- joined from sending any agents or any persons whatever to any of the employes of complainant herein, and from intimidating and threatening, enticing or persuading, or in any manner trying to prevent any employe of com- plainant herein, from working in or about aforesaid smelting plant and property, or any other property of complainant, or from preventing in any manner any one from entering the service of complainant herein, or in any manner interfering with the business of said com- plainant in employing persons to work upon and about its property, or from going upon any part of com- plainant's property without permission from com- plainant, or its agents, or employes so to do, or in any manner entering the works of complainant without its consent or consent of its manager, agents or employes.

To this injunction there was filed an answer by the Northport Mill and Smeltermen's Union. It was drawn by its attorneys, Robert- son, Miller & Rosenhaupt. The answer in part was as follows :

That the Northport Smelting & Refining Company claims to be capitalized in the sum of $1,000,000, which is divided up into 1,000,000 shares of stock, at the par value of $I per share; that a majority of the stock is owned by aliens who are citizens and residents of England and British Columbia, which places are foreign territories over which the state of Washington, nor the United States, have any control, and the persons and stockholders are subjects of his Majesty, King Edward VII, who is now the reigning king of the country.

That the holding of lands by aliens is contrary to the constitution of Washington, and that the parties are by a few American abettors endeavoring to set the laws of Washington at naught and to do indirectly what they could not do directly in their attempt to hold lands in said state. The defendants admit that the Northport Mining & Smeltermen's Union is a branch of the Western Federation of Miners, and also they admit that they and each of them who have joined in this answer are members thereof.

And as the complainant comes into court with un- clean hands in this and other respects; that one of its officers, Bela Kadish, a superintendent, called one of the members and officers of the union into his office, and sought by unlawful use of money to corrupt and bribe said member, and officer, for the purpose of securing

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his services and the services of other members, for the sum of $2,000, to disintegrate and disorganize the union, and not succeeding in this purpose the management of the smelter closed one furnace after another until all of the employes, or nearly all, were locked out, and these defendants did not engage in any strike or any other act to prevent complainant from operating its works.

That the union and the members thereof only claim the right to whomsoever is willing to hear them and tell the exact facts concerning the action of complainant toward them, and to persuade any and all persons by peaceable means that they are not in the wrong, and that the complainant locked them out after years of accept- able and faithful service, through either malice, whim or caprice, and that it is likely to do the same to un- suspecting persons taking the places which the defend- ants formerly occupied. Defendants do not claim the right to trespass upon the premises of the complain- ant or to intimidate the employes thereof. Defendants inform the court that they do not know, nor have they ever believed since they were locked out, that the com- plainant could get experienced men to fill their places, and that they have been desirous of not creating any cause for ill-feeling or friction between the manage- ment of the plant and the members of the union, and for the accomplishment of this purpose and end, as well as to conform to law and order, they have counseled all of their members to be peaceable and law-abiding, and this they expect to continue to do.

It must be frankly granted that the course of the smelter strike, on the part of the work- men, was almost above reproach so far as re- gards riots and disorderly conduct. At times conditions were gloomy and the fringe of riot was reached, but the record shows that at no time were the slumbering embers of riot fanned into the flames of lawlessness and crime. The first approach to such a deplorable condition occurred September 2. It appears that in the afternoon of that day sixty-two men were brought in from the east by one Oliver Lamb to fill places in the smelter deserted by strikers. At the depot they were accosted by a number of union men who endeavored to persuade them to refrain from work, and the union men were successful to the extent of sidetracking thirty- five of the new arrivals. While marching from the depot to the smelter one of the union men was accidentally hit by a gun in the hands of Deputy United States Marshal Guyton. In- stead of proceeding to personal retailiation the

union men sought redress at the hands of the court and a warrant was issued for the arrest of Guyton. The document was placed in the hands of Deputy Sheriff Anderson. Guyton came quietly enough down town with the dep- uty sheriff, but when the latter attempted to disarm him he resisted. An altercation ensued during which six shots were fired, but without serious result. Guyton succeeded in effecting his escape and returned home. Anderson went after him a second time, but was kept away from the premises by a Winchester in the hands of Guyton. Word was sent to Colville of the existing conditions, and Sheriff Ledger- wood was asked to repair to Northport for the purpose of "quelling a prospective riot" be- tween the union and the smelter employes. The sheriff arrived on the scene and with little dif- ficulty disarmed two forces who were, ostensi- bly, "on guard." Of the sixty-two men who came to Northport from Joplin, Missouri, forty-five of them declined to work for the smelter company and sought other employ- ment.

Another incipient riot was broken up in its early stages Saturday, November 9. Shots were exchanged in a saloon on that day be- tween union and non-union men, and one man named Kennedy was seriously injured. Four men were accused of disorderly conduct and landed in jail. Prosecuting Attorney Bailey and Sheriff Ledgerwood came up from Colville and succeeded in bringing about a more peace- ful state of affairs, and subsequently Deputy Sheriff Graham appeared on the scene and dis- armed both contending forces.

The Northport smelter strike was declared off Wednesday, March 12, 1902. An inter- esting account of the causes which led up to this denouement, written evidently, from a non- partisan view point, was published in the Northport Republican of March 15 :

"At a meeting of the Northport Mill & Smeltermen's Union Tuesday night, March 11, a unanimous vote declared in favor of continu-

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ing the fight to the bitter end, but hardly had the echo died from the loud cheering that fol- lowed the announcement of the ballot when it was learned that the Western Federation of Miners, with headquarters at Denver, had de- cided to cut off the weekly allowance of the Northport Mill & Smeltermen's Union. This sudden and very unexpected announcement nearly paralyzed the boys, and some could hardly believe that the federation would give them the cold shoulder so soon, but the follow- ing morning when the free eating house, con- ducted by the Western Federation, closed its doors they began to realize their predicament and a mass meeting was called for Wednesday night. At this meeting the question of declar- ing the strike off was brought up. * * * A vote was taken, but, alas, it did not correspond with the vote of the previous evening worth a cent. To cut off the rations made all the difference in the world, and when the ballots were counted it was found that a majority had voted to declare off the strike. The report of the vote caused dissension in the ranks, and a lively time ensued which at times looked threat- ening. It was with difficulty that order was preserved and when at last the storm subsided it was decided advisable to abandon the union altogether and surrender the charter. This ends the life of the Northport Mill & Smelter- men's Union."

Northport is a bonded port of entry of the United States custom service. This sub-port of entry was first established in northeastern Washington in the 80's, and Little Dalles, which was then a postoffice a few miles down the river from where Northport now stands, was the port. In 1893, shortly after the rail- road was completed to Northfield, that growing town became the port of entry. The following year it was removed to Marcus on account of a large wagon traffic between that point and points in British Columbia. In 1895, however, Northport again became the port of entry and has remained so since. Officials at this port

have proved quite efficient in checking the smuggling of opium and the importation of un- licensed Chinamen.

The public schools of Northport are of a high class and merit the evident appreciation of the people. The total enrollment is over two hundred and fifty. There are five teachers oc- cupying two temporary buildings. A new and commodious brick edifice was erected during the summer of 1903. The ninth grade is com- posed of four students; the eighth grade will have a class of eight or nine to write in the spring examination of 1904. The teachers, with their grades, are these: Prof W. C. M. Scott, 9th, 8th and 7th grades; Miss M. Link, 6th and 5th; Miss June Jackson, 4th and 3d; Miss Belle Nesbitt, 2d and high first; Miss Mary Shields, Ist grade.

At present the city of Northport contains about one thousand population. It is lively, and the business portion has more of the ap- pearance of a city than most country towns. One can not gainsay the apparent fact that Northport has a future, and with a fuller de- velopment of adjacent mines the prospects of the town will be, indeed, flattering. The people are energetic and show their faith by their works, putting all of their surplus earnings into mine developments. The smelter, of course, is the central enterprise of the town, and at pres- ent is employing about three hundred men. Wages range from $2.75 to $5 per diem. The lime rock in this vicinity is a valuable resource ; a large amount of it is utilized in the local Smelter and much of it is shipped to the smelter at Trail. Two marble quarries are located in the vicinity of Northport. They have been de- veloped to a considerable extent, but so far no shipments have been made. These quarries are the Chewelah Marble Company, seven miles southeast, on Deep Creek, and the Allen Mar- ble Company, two miles south of Northport. Several thousand dollars have been expended in development and machinery.

While there are no developed mines in the

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immediate vicinity of Northport, some of the richest prospects in the country are located hiere. Eight miles from Northport, on Deep Creek, is a galena mine from which two thousand tons of ore has been shipped, and the mine is now be- ing more extensively developed. One mile north of the city, on the bank of the Columbia river, is located another rich mine from which shipment has already commenced. Northport is frequently referred to as the "Terminal City," it being the division point for three rail- roads, all of which belong to the Great North- ern system. These roads are tlie Spokane Falls & Northern. between Spokane and Northport, built into Northport in 1892; the Nelson & Fort Shepard, from Northport to Nelson, com- pleted in 1893, and the Columbia & Red Moun- tain, between Northport and Rossland, built in 1897. The railroad machine shops and round house are located at Northport, which is, at present, headquarters for about seventy-five railroad men.

Secret societies are well represented in Northport, there being the following orders: Foresters of America ; Improved Order of Red Men; Women of Woodcraft; Ancient Order United Workmen; Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Eagles and Masons. Three church societies hold regular meetings, Presbyterian, Catholic and Episcopalians.

The four serious conflagrations which vis- ited Northport. the last and most damaging in 1898, signified in no unmistakable terms the pressing need of a suitable fire department. One was organized in 1899. The efficiency of this organization is amply attested by the fact that, although a number of fires have secured a threatening opening since that time, in every instance the flames have been confined to the buildings in which they originated.

United States Commissioner W. P. Hughes resides at Northport, where he holds his court.

CHAPTER VI.

CITIES AND TOWNS-CONTINUED.

MARCUS.

The little town of Marcus, with its possibly two hundred people, located at the confluence of the Columbia and Kettle rivers, is the oldest town in Stevens county. To the south of the town is what is known as Marcus Flat. a rich agricultural tract of three or four square miles surrounded on all sides by high hills. In the center of this tract are the old buildings of the Hudson's Bay Company. Here in the early days of the 19th century the post known as "Fort Colville" was established, and from this point the company governed absolutely a ter-

ritory comprising hundreds of square miles. They exercised autocratic ownership and con- trolled completely all the contiguous Indian tribes and monopolized their trade.

The Hudson's Bay Company's fort at the Kettle Falls was named after Lord Colvil. an English nobleman high in the councils of the company. While it is not generally known the name of the Hudson's Bay Company's fort was spelled Colvil, from the period of its founding until its abandonment. With the establishment of the United States military post, or fort, at Pinkney City the orthography of the name was changed to Colville, and has since remained

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so, and the Hudson's Bay Company's fort is at present generally referred to as Colville.

The name Colville has, since the establish- ment of the old fort, been given to river, valley, mining district, Indian tribe, military post and town.

The date of the establishment of Fort Col- ville, near Marcus, is still a matter of specula- tion. Most historians give the date as 1825 or 1826. There are grounds, however, for the be- lief that it may have been built at an earlier date. Donald McDonald, who is the present owner of the old fort building, says that he has every reason to believe that the fort was estab- lished in 1816. Mr. McDonald is the son of Angus McDonald, the chief trader of the fort from 1854 to 1871, and he has made his home at this old post since he was a boy, fifty years ago. His information is gained from conver- sation with former employees of the fort and ancient Indians. A visit to this old landmark is replete with interest. Perhaps the most at- tractive edifice in the little group is the main building or officer's quarters, although the house now standing was not built until 1863. It was erected at that time to replace the former one which was located just north of the present site. It is a fairly large building, and has two rooms. Upon entering either room the first thing that attracts the eye is a fireplace. These are composed of clay, and a space in the floor at the bottom, about three feet square, is made of stone and brick. Two huge chimneys, built entirely of stone, protrude from the roof. The floor is laid with two-inch hardwood strips, manufactured at the company's "whip-saw" mill. Standing in one of the rooms is a large hard wood desk, of ancient design, undoubt- edly brought from England nearly a century ago. The other room is embellished with a monstrous home-made writing desk. The sills of this house, of 12×12 timber, are still in an excellent state of preservation.

A few steps from the officer's quarters is what was known as the "store house." This

building was erected in 1858. Here the com- pany carried their stock of whiskey and other merchandise, which was traded to the Indians for furs. An iron 56-pound weight, used in weighing furs, may still be seen in this build- ing. Adjoining the "store" building is the fur house where the stock of furs and pelts received from the savages in trade was stored. The present fur house was not erected until 1862. This building, as well as the store building, was quite solidly built, the walls being made of ten-inch tamarack. Large doors, made of heavy plank and fastened with hand-forged spikes, guard the entrance to these buildings. The hinges are also of home construction. There still stands also a building that was known as the clerk's house, and this is one of the oldest structures at the fort, having been erected doubtless at the time the company lo- cated there. The powder magazine proves not the least interesting of the sights at the fort. This is an underground room not unlike a cy- clone cellar, and one might easily imagine that ammunition would be quite likely to dampen in such a subterranean apartment. The whole of the room is curbed by flat stones, the inter- stices being filled with clay.

The block-house is the oldest structure at the fort, having been built by the company upon the establishment of the post. It is con- structed of ten-inch tamarack and has stood the test of time well. It is about ten feet square. Several rifle port holes, beveled from the in- side, command a good view of the surrounding country-or a possible enemy. Larger port- holes on the east side of the building were cal- culated for the artillery, which consisted of one brass cannon. This implement of destruction is still one of the relics of the fort. It is so small that it can easily be picked up and carried in one hand, and resembles a toy gun. It is a matter of history that there was never an attack on this fort and the little howitzer was never called into play in actual warfare. Sometime } in the 60's, however, during a celebration at the

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fort, the muzzle of this gun was blown off owing to an overcharge of powder.

Surrounding the principal buildings of the fort, about eighty or one hundred yards, in former days was a stockade sixteen feet high made of trunks of trees, and some of these are still plainly in evidence. These are all of the buildings now in existence, but just south of the group is pointed out to the visitor the site of a row of houses which were once occupied by the employees of the fort. Time has de- stroyed these ancient structures, but there still remain on the spot numerous small flat stones which formed the chimneys of these houses. Another spot is pointed out where once stood the bakery. A slight depression in the ground shows where in the long ago, stood the com- pany's brewery, presided over by Thomas Stranger. A trifle northwest of the group of buildings which were surrounded by the stock- ade, is a pit where stood the historic whip-saw mill where trees were rudely fashioned into lumber for the buildings. A short distance north of the fort a circular depression locates the spot where stood a wind-mill that provided the power for grinding grain.

A feeling of awe steals over the visitor as he gazes at these ancient landmarks, beyond a doubt the oldest buildings now standing in the state of Washington. What pages of historical detail could they record were they animate and voluble! Chief Factor John Work established this historic fort, and was the first officer in charge. He was followed by Archibald Mc- Donald, granduncle of Angus McDonald; An- derson, Lewis, Desce and Angus McDonald, who had associated with him part of the time Chief Trader George L. Blenkinsop. A mem- orable occasion in the history of the fort was the consultation held here in 1855 between the Hudson's Bay people and Governor Isaac Ste- vens and George B. McClellan, the latter then a lieutenant in the engineer corps of the United States army. Stevens and McClellan remained at the fort two days.

. In 1866 the Hudson's Bay Company sold out all their rights in this vicinity to the United States government. The purchase price is said to have been $800,000. In 1871, when the fort was abandoned, the buildings and land in the immediate vicinity became the property of An- gus McDonald, and his son, Donald McDonald, and they are still owned by the latter.

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Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington, Part 26

Author: Publication date: 1904 Publisher: Spokane, Wash. : Western History Number of Pages: 992

Author:
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: Spokane, Wash. : Western History
Number of Pages: 992