Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-08-11
The Disturbances at Puget sound.

From an interesting article in the Salem Reg
ister compile brief account of tho origin
and present aspect OF the disturbances which
have arisen at Puget's Sound. Our readers
doubtless are aware that Vancouver's Island is
separated from the continent on the south, by
the straits of San Juan de Fuca, which are
some twenty miles in width. The waters turn
north after passing through these straits, and
flow through St. Georges Channel. The space
between Vancouver and the main is filed with
large and small islands, concerning the iuris
diction of which dispute has arisen between
the American and British local authorities.
The Oregon treaty provides that ,te bound.
airy line shall be continued westward along the
49th parallel of north latitude 70 the midd2. ~
the channel which separates the Continent from
vancouver's Island. and thence soutberlv
through the middle of the said channel and Of
Fuca Straits, to the Pacific ocean, with the free
navigation of said channel and straits south of
said parallel to both parties. Now it happens
| that there are two channels through the islands
This led to a dispute as to which was the one
designated by the treaty, and while the people
were awaiting a settlement Of the question, the
British governor of Vancouver placed on San
Juan, one of the disputed islands, justice of
the peace, and eight or ten other men, with a
thousand head of sheep. Thereupon Collector
Ely, of Olympia, in Washington Territory. pro.
ceeded to San Juan and left an inspector there.
The Hudson Bay Company's agents were much
irritated at this defiance, and made an attempt
TO arrest the American inspector on the ground
that he falsely pretended to be an officer of the
customs. The scheme fell through, however,
and he was not afterwards molested.
subsequently, about one hundred Indians
were stationed at the island by Gov. Douglas,
Of Vancouver, all armed and fed ut the expense
of the Hudson Bay Company. They were
placed there to defend the island from the
Americans, and perhaps, also, TO prevent the
seizure of the sheep by the American collector,
on account of their having been landed in the
collection district Of Pugets Sound without en-.
try Mt the custom house--a rumor having pre-.
vailed that twas the collectors intention toseze
them. At this stage of the proceedings, acting
Governor Mason, who was then at OLYMPIA.
proceeded to Dillingham; Bay with twenty sol,
diers, for the purpose of protecting the frontier
from the depredations of the Indians who an. |
gered by the murder Of one Of their chiefs by an
American, near Olympia, had threatened to at !
tack Olympia and kill the "Bostons.r There |
were at this time, besides the one hundred In. |
dams at San Juan, three hundred of the same /
tribe on the nearest section OF Vancouver, and [
the inhabitants Of the American shore were
much alarmed, anticipating an invasion. AL. |
though several whites had been murdered by |
marauding band Of the Indians, yet the impress
sion was entertained that the settlements were
in no serious danger, and that the loud threats
OF violence by the Indians would only result in
cutting off some individuals or small parties.
Thus matters stood at last accounts.
With regard to the proposed purchase of
Vancouver's Island, negotiations for which, it
is said, are going on at London and Washing
ton, correspondent Of the New York Courier
writes as follows;
1.-The island would make beautiful State.
containing an area Of from thirty to forty thou
sand square miles, and being covered with for.
ests, rich with coal, and other mineral deposits.
The British government appears to attach very
little importance to il, and has not managed Il
70 the satisfaction Of its own subjects, or with |
profit to the exchequer or to the commerce of .
he kingdom. In American hands il would be
What California, Oregon, and Washington have
ZACH hcrome--rich, powerful, and prosperous
neutrality-suspicious. within splendid
aggregation Of Independence
TEE CANADIAN PARLnMxSr--Thc Provincial y
Parliament Of Canada will meet on The 5th of Sep
ember. The Montreal CARTE classes the mem. !,
ers elected 10 Paramen. thus far, 90 20 7o;,s,s.
islists, 6S oppn.:;ion and IL dorh;iuI