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Skagit River Journal

of History & Folklore
Subscribers Edition
The most in-depth, comprehensive site about the Skagit
Covers from British Columbia to Puget Sound. Counties covered: Skagit, Whatcom, Island, San Juan, Snohomish & BC. An evolving history dedicated to committing random acts of historical kindness
Noel V. Bourasaw, editor (bullet) 810 Central Ave., Sedro-Woolley, Washington, 98284
Home of the Tarheel Stomp (bullet) Mortimer Cook slept here & named the town Bug
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The Millers respond regarding their book,
Samish Island, a History by Sue and Fred Miller

      [Journal Ed. note: As we explained in the main story, we want to sincerely apologize to the Millers for prematurely posting a mini-review of their book in Issue 40, which included excerpts of their book, along with photos that were proprietary. We received a copy of the book just before they left for vacation. We should have waited until they returned and discussed such a story with them and we should have asked for their approval. We did not and that was a mistake that we regret.
      As Fred explained, some of the photos of the book were obtained after considerable effort and promises that they would not be reprinted without permission of the agencies and those who donated them. In addition, some of our excerpts from the book were based on memories of sources who also asked that they not be reprinted without permission. In our zeal and excitement over reading this fine work, we erred and we apologize not only to the Millers but the original contributors. We want to assure the contributors that the Millers did not authorize the reprint and did not violate their original promises. We pulled down the story immediately after Fred explained the situation to us. Further, we will not post any Miller excerpts or photo reproductions until we are specifically authorized. Return to the Journal review of the Miller book.
Authors' response
      Authors' Response to the Journal regarding Journal Excerpts, i.e. Capsulations, of Chapter 5, and Doris Green Term Paper, in Samish Island, A History. This Response is to advise those whom may have downloaded, or recorded in writing the excerpts of our book posted in the Journal and then withdrawn. Our request to the above readers is to read the following report and then contact us for a full report which gives additional examples and details.
      The excerpts consisted of a capsulation of 29 paragraphs of writing from Chapter 5 of the Book and seven longer paragraphs from the Doris Green Paper, appearing in pages 99 to l04 of the Book. Our concerns regarding problems created by the Journal excerpts are these: Some footnotes were omitted and/or, incompletely presented in the Journal work. Without listing them all in detail, here are the more serious ones:
      First paragraph, first sentence of the Journal capsulation is presented without a footnote. Result is it appears as a verbatim statement of the Millers, i.e. as if written by the Millers and being the Millers' words. In the Miller's book that statement carries a footnote number 11. It credits Chief Martin Sampson as the origin of the sentence and lists his words as coming from p. 29 of his book, Indians of Skagit County, as published by the Skagit County Historical Society. There is also a bracket inserted into that sentence [before 1835] which was not in the Miller book nor in the Sampson book.
      Paragraph 5 of the Journal excerpts has quotation marks around. Sentence one and three highlighted words placed in the paragraph but only references the third highlighted word and lists the reference in end notes. That Journal reference was for the last sentence of the paragraph, only. In the Millers' book: the first sentence carried footnote 29 and was the work of Professor Wayne Suttles, from p. 60, of Economic Life of the Coast Salish. Without this correction, now, it could appear the Millers might be speaking Dr. Suttles words, as their own. Or somebody else's, unnamed.
      The Millers' Book, Chapter 5 has 22 pages of length and carries in it 49 Footnotes. A number of other Journal excerpts carry quotation marks But not the footnote #'s or cited authors and works. This at the least might confuse the reader as to whom is saying what, and from where. So we again emphasize: Perhaps the best solution is for the readers of the Journal article whom Downloaded the excerpts is to contact the Millers for a concise rundown of the needed corrections.
      The second problem is the two engraving, one by Jose Cordero, courtesy of the Museum Naval,Madrid, and the other , by John Mix Stanley, courtesy of University of Washington, Special Collections Library,were both obtained under signed written agreements by the Millers for use,once only, and only in their not for profit book. Fees were paid and liabilities established. Anyone whom downloaded them should erase them. A final concern is that in the Journal capsulation of Millers' work, two other photos were included. These originated in Percival Jeffcott book on Blanket Bill Jarman. Neither photo were in the Millers' Book. Although The Journal did not say they came from Millers, it can be easily inferred. Particularily, photo regarding Point Williams cove, which carries a quote by Fred Miller. I had explained to the Journal what area it represented, when asked that question by the Journal, in a earlier e-mail query. A corollary concern is that the Jeffcott family is concerned about the use of Percival Jeffcotts works, without the user asking for that use. And I do not wish to harm my good relations with them.
      A final thought by the Millers. I agree that these errors likely occurred due to exuberance, rush to print, and perhaps fatigue, ie. late hours of work by a dedicated and good man. But it has caused difficulty and I trust it will not occur again. And I hope others are as tolerant of my mistakes when, not if, I make them. Regards to all, Fred and Sue Miller
      Return to the Journal review of the Miller book.
(Samish Island book cover)
Links, background reading and sources
      Blanket Bill Jarman and the stories associated with him are the entire contents of Issue 40. Go back to the Table of Contents for that issue to find the links to all the stories. If you are not yet a subscriber to the Subscribers Journal magazine online, please see the complete story list and details of how to subscribe. We are pleased to announce the publication of a complete history of the island where the Samish Indians were based. Samish Island, a History: From the Beginning to the 1970s by Susan and Fred Miller is a terrific new book and a loving story of the hook of land just west of Edison in Skagit County. Look for it at your favorite bookstore or online. There is no ISBN number, but the publishing information is: Mount Vernon, WA: Copy & Print Store, 2007. Gail Hopley laid out the book, which also includes poems and stories by and from one of our favorite writers, Berniece Hoyt Leaf, of Sedro-Woolley and Juniper Beach. When we finish reading the book, we will review it in depth in the free home pages of the Journal. If you want to purchase the self-published Miller book in your area, Fred shared a current list of retail locations: "WD Foods in Allen; Skagit County Museum at LaConner and Anacortes Museums; Stowe's Clothing Store and Horen's Drugstore, both in Burlington; Rosabella's Gift and Apple Store on Allen-West and Farm to Market Road; Rhododendron Cafe on Chuckanut Drive; and Blau's Oysters, here on Samish Island. Books can also be ordered thru our e-mail (miller.ff@gmail.com) and at Hopley's e-mail at (ghopley@wavecable,com). Or people can phone me at 360-766-6548 or Gail Hopley at 766-6823. We will go on line to such outlets as Amazon at some point. We arranged the publication ourselves, so there is no publisher sales outlet." If you live outside the area, look for it at your favorite bookstore or better yet, ask them to stock it. There is no ISBN number, but the publishing information is: Mount Vernon, WA: Copy & Print Store, 2007.

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