, 1857-05-01
Northern Indians.


ged scow H. C. Page, recently from Bel
lingham Bay and Port Townsend, roports
that the schooner Phantom was boarded
and robbed by the Northern Indians,
whilst en- route to Victoria from Port
Townsend. He reports some three or four
canoes in the harbor of Port Townsend
and vicinity One large canoe, containing
GO men-no women-subsequently gave
chase to the II. C. Page half the distance
between Port Townsend and Volcano
Point We have learned no further par
ticnlars concerning the meditated descent
of these British-Russia savages upon our
settlements The revenue cutter Jeff. Ddris
should return without delay, and the com
mandant of our naval forces in the Pacific
should at once dispatch at least one U. 5.
steam vessel of war to guard our settle
ments along the Sound and Straits.
P.S. Since writing the above, we have
had the pleasure of an interview with Col.
Ed. C. FrzHuGH, who has just arrived here
from Bellingham Bay, who informed us,
that about the first of this month, party
of Northern Indians visited Whatcom in
the night-surrounded the house of Mr.,
LOUIS LosHER, awakened him, and by hos
tile pantominec demonstrations, frightened
him into silence, when they deliberately
proceeded to plunder the house Of blankets,
and such other articles as they desired !;
after which; they compelled him to accom-
pany them to their canoe, when they moved
off. They informed Mr.. LosHER that their
then mission was not that Of plumber or hos
tilty, but merely oh ofinspection; that they
were spies that they wanted to see how
strong the place was-how much of guard
was kept out by Capt. PICKETT, command
ing a detachment of U. S. troops at that
place, and how large force would be op-
posed to an attack that they had been
there some time previously-had, 'unob-
served, thoroughly inspected the place, and
that they could take it with. all ease that
they had raised ten gallon keg of whiskey
which had been buried on Elizas Island,
some nine miles from Whatcom), which
had been buried there by their confeder.
ates last fall-that they were only await
ing for sufficient force to make an attack,
and that they were determined to have the
heads of Col FIrzHUcH, Capt. PICKETT and
Mr.. PEABODY, at all hazards They ad
vised Mr.. LosHER to leave the place forth
with-peculiar reasons intervening to pre-
vent him from becoming victim also.
About this time it was known that
thirty armed canoes were in the vicinity
having few days previously been refused
q landing at Victoria, by Gov. DOUGLASS
Their whereabouts at present is unknown
All the circumstances above recited were
known to Capt. SwAarwouT, of the U. S
steamer Massachusetts, prior to bis depar
ture for San Francisco yet, after consult
ing Cor. Douglass, he concluded to leave
our waters, thinking, we presume, tina
there was no danger The U. S. steamer
John Hancock, McDoUGAL, commanding, il
expected from San Francisco in O short
time.
The citizens of Bellingham Bay hav'
formed themselves into volunteer com
pany to aid the military in case of an at
tack, and have provided themselves will
block-houses They are much in want o
howitzcrs there, and Col. FrrzHucH will re-
turn with one, at least Considerable fea
of an attack is apprehended to the north
ward.
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