Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1861-12-07

slipped at the time the steamer was got
under way. There was no buoy at
tached to the cable, nor was it necessa-
r., a. We we'll knew just where it was
let 20, and that the cable lay between
the rock aud the shore. Capt. Rich
ards gave Capt. Melvin = written order
to recover the property aud deliver it
it at Esquimalt, aud on Melvin's re-
turn to the schooner, he. with Capt.
Beynon and myself, took boat and
sounded the passage, taking the bear
ings so as to know exactly where to
sweep for the cable. As neither schoon-
err had grapnels on board, and as We
were ready to sail for Port Townsend,
an arrangement was made between the
two Captains by which the Sarah .Ne,c-
ton was to return as soon as practicable
with suitable materials while the Eli>a-
beth was to remain few days longer.
We accordingly sailed for Port Town.
send anc in few days the Elizabeth.
Both schooners then returned to Neeah
Bay with grapnels, blocks, rigging, ETC.,
to raise the anchor, but they found it
raised and gone, aud this brings me to
an interesting portion of my tale.
It appeared that man named Win
sor, keeper of Tatooche light, not sat
isfed with the salary he receives from
Government for attending to the duties
pertaining to the light, and totally re-.
gardless Of the positive instructions of
the department, which forbid his leav-
ing his light except on certain stated
occasions and for specified purposes,
and equally regardless of all principles
of honor or honesty which forbid q
man from interfering with another
persons business--this man, like an
old fish.hawk or carrion-crow, perches
himself in his eyrie on Tatoocke Is
land, watching every opportunity to
make descent on the adjacent coast,
either trading with the natives for old
copper, sailors clothes, fish, cranber-
ries and oil, Or picking up old anchors
aud junk.
This old fsh-hawk watched till the
schooners had left, when, taking the
property belonging to the lighthouse,
he makes sally from his stronghold,
sweeps up the cable and anchor, places
it on board a vessel he is an owner in
and transports ii to Old Dungeness.
Now for the fun of the thing.
Melvin returns, and finding the an
chor gone follows it up, and getting
out writ of replevin, which being de-
cided in his favor by Justice Bradshaw
of Dungcness, takes the anchor and ca.
BILE, goes to Port Townsend, clears for
Victoria, and finally delivers the pro-
perty safely to the Admiral at Esqui.
malt.
The fish-hawk's party were in di-
lemma, they screamed, they yelled,
they got out writs and sent the Mar
shal to get back the anchor, but it was
too late. They then sent notes and
writs to stop Melvin in Victoria, but
that bold and intrepid navigator baked
them again, for he arranged his busi-
ness and came back in safety to Port
Townsend where the affair had occa-
stoned 90 much interest, aud in his IA
vor, too, that when be anchored off the
end of Fowler's wharf, the boys got
out the hovitzer and fired salute, and
then gave the "intrepid" three cheers.
1t was at this period that l took pas
sage in the packet, and after taking in
stores aud several passengers for Dun
geness, We started for Nceah Bay, in-
tending to stop first at Dungencss to
land our passenger and take in . car
60 Of potatoes, ~ q means not only of
trade, but for the purpose - our wor-
thy captain said, Of melioratiug the
condition Of the Indians. His pious
intentions regarding the natives, how
ever, came near being frustrated, for
the schooner getting aground on the
fats after she was loaded. heeled over
% much that the returning tide flowed
into some seams in her upper works
that bod beea strsinsd open b. The
weight Of the anchor and ahls carried
to Esquimalt. A. the tide roe ws
pumped and By woskisg hasi fnal.y
freed her from the wsasF sed naAe eli
snug ag.in.
Capt. Melvin now sscsrsd he ST.
vices of IN aneisot mariner of the
Scotch persuasiss. - - qsaintly ~
marked, who w1s 70 o1eixGo . mate.
OuP crew consisted of . 6inssan Isdi-
a, canned Bill; snd thus manned and
equipped, We pot fasth boldly 10 bssast
H. 6illow. I'D dss the dangers ef The
6rsits q Fuca.
William Campbell, ths mats, OF -
b = ness fhmiliariy termed, Unele
Bill, i man we'll known among the
enrlY scttlon az this Teefitory. hSNin9