The Decades-Long Battle Over Yesler’s Mill

For many months the court records have been filled with the proceedings of the controversy which resulted over the sale of the old Yesler mill to Colman in 1876. The longer the case ran, the more complicated it became, until many of the business men on the Sound have become tied up in it in the capacity of bondsmen or otherwise. During the discussion of the case in court yesterday, Mr. J. M. McNaught, an attorney for a number of the parties in interest, made a proposition to compromise all the differences existing between Yesler and Colman, which by many is considered fair and equitable. The proposition was plainly and distinctly made, and was as follows: J. M. Colman will pay H. L. Yesler $50,000 in gold coin, cash down, and pay all the costs of all suits now pending, provided Mr. Yesler will return to Mr. Colman the mill property, and obtain from McNaught a release of the same and get a deed from Mrs. Yesler thereto. It is understood that Mr. Yesler will not accept this proposition, though nothing certain is known as yet. If a compromise is not effected, the cases now pending will probably be taken to the Supreme Court of the United States, and several years elapse and thousands of dollars be squandered before a satisfactory or final settlement is reached.