No. 93, Miscellaneous
5th December 1865
Sir,
I have the honor to transmit a newspaper account of the murder of the crew and plunder of the schooner "Royal Charlie" by Indians in the Russian Territory to the north of Stekin River. I have no further information beyond what this account furnishes. It is one of those numerous catastrophes which haveoccurredManuscript image occurred on these coasts resulting in almost all cases either directly or indirectly from selling whiskey to Natives.
I have every hope that the local Legislature now in session will enact Laws empowering me to put an end to this iniquitous traffic.
No good or useful purpose could result from risking valuable lives by sending a vessel on the coast to the north of Stekin at this season of the year.
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I have the honor to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant
A.E. Kennedy
Governor
Minutes by CO staff
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Mr Elliot
I should have thought that the Governor wd have communicated with the Governor of the Russian territories within the limits of wh: these murders have been perpetrated; though no useful end wd be gained by sending a British vessel to Stekin in the winter for reparation & punishment.
ABd 24-1
I think that we may content ourselves with acknowledging the receipt.
TFE 25 Jany
WEF 25/1
EC 26
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
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Newspaper clipping, The Victoria Weekly Chronicle, 14 November 1865, reporting the tragedy at Stekin River, as per despatch.
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Newspaper clipping, unnamed, no date, reporting the massacre in further detail.
Other documents included in the file
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Draft reply, Cardwell to Kennedy, No. 5, 31 January 1866.