Showdown at the Whatcom Land Dispute

According to Mr. W. C. Pettibone, who arrived in the city yesterday from Whatcom, the mass meeting held at that place on Saturday evening was not altogether a peaceable and orderly affair. Mr. Pettibone is one of the representatives of the Peabody heirs in the celebrated contest with the Washington Colony. He stated that all through the day on which the meeting was held, threats of violence were freely made against the Pettibone brothers; and indeed, some violent act was so generally expected that Mr. Pentland, the insurance agent at Whatcom, cancelled the policy on the hotel there owned by the Pettibones, claiming that it was the intention of certain parties to burn the building that night. The meeting was very violent in its character, and the speakers were bitter in denouncing the opponents of the Colony. Mr. Pettibone and his brother did not attend the meeting, but remaining in the office of the hotel, met the crowd which came in after its adjournment. Here they answered such questions as were put to them, but when they desired to leave the room were prevented and hustled about by the crowd. They then jumped upon the counter and stated that, if they were to be assassinated, then was a good time to begin the work. However, no further demonstrations were made. Mr. Pettibone also stated that the feeling in certain quarters was very bitter, but he does not seem to be frightened in the least, and is determined to carry the case through to a final decision.