Land Sharks
Pioneer and Democrat
Olympia
February 10, 1855

On the arrival to Olympia of the passengers, officers and a portion of the crew of the steamship Southerner, recently wrecked near Cape Flattery, many of whom were in destitute condition, a subscription was at once opened to provide those destitute with the necessary comforts of life. Captain William Baker an "Old Salt" in a few hours raised the sum of $465, which was handed over to Captain Sampson to be applied by him as he might think most advantageous to those in want.

On the other hand. We learn that those unfortunate men became the prey of "land sharks" in several instances on their way to this city. This taking advantage of men's misfortunes, is a system of piracy which we are thankful does not exist in this city. We have the names of several persons which do not appear in today's paper, together with the details of their meanness, which we shall publish hereafter.

"Pictures" of the above showing unexplained and without close investigation as the their truthfulness in detail, are calculated to be productive of ill blood between residents of neighboring territories, as well as to create a general false impression abroad, relative to the observance of the principles of hospitality and generosity, extended by the people of either, towards legitimate subjects, demanding their exercise. 

And as it is assumed elsewhere in the same paper, in a communication over the name of R. N. McClaren, that our thoroughfares of travel are swarmed by "a string of land sharks," thereby more or less implicating with few exceptions cited, our entire community, as tolerating and justifying the same, we have thought it proper to say a few words in vindication of the mass of our people.

We are far from bring apologist of those who avail themselves of circumstances, for the purpose of taking an unjust and unwarrantable advantage of the traveling public. In fact, we have referred to, and taken occasion to condemn such proceedings on several former occasions, knowing full well, from experimental knowledge that exorbitant duties were exacted for transport up and down the Cowlitz river, and that worthless, broken down Cayuse ponies were frequently hired for the overland journey between the landing and Olympia, and vise versa, at a cost exceeding the actual value of the animals. 

All this is wrong, and requires correction; and more especially would we deprecate thae taking advantage of the misfortunes of ship wrecked mariner, or the unfortunate passenger with whom the elements have been at war until he at length finds himself in the midst of an enlightened community, where the land of the good Samaritan, instead of one containing the lancet, might reasonably be expected to be applied.

And whist the frown of a liberal public should be visited upon the perpetrators of all such acts of extortion upon the victims of untoward circumstances of the traveling public in general, we would beg leave to assure "all to whom these presents may come," that such conduct is not approved of by the people of this territory. A few facts may serve to show, that the community in general, in and about Olympia, are neither censurable or responsible for any acts of omission or commission referred to in the "Oregonian," and we will venture the assertion that the people of Olympia, and of the territory at large, are possessed of as much genuine, unostentatious liberality when apprised of a necessity for it exercise, as any other on the Pacific coast or elsewhere.

The steamer Major Tompkins arrived at this port on Thursday evening January 18th after dark, with the officers, passenger and crew of the ill fated Southerner, and although we were up a greater portion of the night in order to give publicity to the particulars of the disaster in the issue of the next morning's paper, and covered freely with some of the officers and passengers relative thereto, nothing was said that would lead to the supposition that want or destitution existed amongst any who had been on board; and understanding from several of them that the next morning at 4am was fixed upon for their departure for the Columbia river, supposed that all necessary arraignments had been satisfactorily completed for that purpose. 

A number of the passengers remained until the next departure of the mail conveyance from Olympia, and we will venture the assertion that they will bear testimony as to their kind and hospitable treatment by the proprietors of both our hotels, and we know that a certain amount of money was raised in aid of those who might require assistance in the furtherance of their journey.