Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1861-10-05
A CRUISE IN THE SARAH NEWTON.
On the IsaciRc Coast.
NUMBER l.

I'D. STANDARD: i WrOtc you. my uraT
sir. that | purposed a cruise on the
coast during the past summer. as far
south as Quillehuyt river. l will now
give your readers the result of my OBJ
scrvations.
left Port Townsend on the 18th of
July last. in the little clipper schooner
Sarah Merton, Capt. Phillip Beynon,
and ran down the Straits Of Fuca for
Neeah Bay. where we arrived on the
22d, having been delayed on our pass
age hy running into Dungencss for
wood and water. An arrangement
had been previously made between
Capt. Benyon and an Indian for the
latter to pilot us down to Quillchuyt,
but as he he had gone to Clyoluot, on
Vancouver Island, we had to await his
return, which caused delay OF a week,
during which time the schooner lay at
anchor off Webster's Point, | amused
myself by taking sketches of the sur
rounding scenery, and Capt. Beynon
by fishing for halli6ut, All occupation
in which he was very successful.
Our Indian having returned, we made
sail on the morning of the 29th with a
light westerly wind and worked slowly
out of the Straits, bound to QuiIlchnyt,
where we arrived the next morning.
The Qulleluyt river is in lat. 470 5y
30" n, lon. 1240 35' w., aud lies south
from Cape Flat:ery only p or % miles,
but we had calm almost all day and Il
head wind at night which made our
passage unexpectedly long. When the
tide rose, we pulled the schooner into
the river, and anchored her in ten feet
of water near the Indian village. The
Indians Immediately came on board in
great numbers, all friendly and very
curious. | perceived among them,
some of the Que'naiul:s, old acquaint-
anccs, Mackamus, one of the chiefs.
He soon made me acquainted with
Howelatl, head chief Of the Quillehuyts,
who invited Capt. Beynon and myself
OH shore, where he conducted us through
the lodges of his village.
The following day we passed in trad
ing, and on Thursday, August 1st, l
made arrangements with lIowclatl and
Wacknmus to accompany me up the
river on visit to Camnass Prairie.
Prior to our. departure l asccrtaned
that an Indian was on the point Of
starting overland for Pisht, on the
Straits of Fuca. | took the opportuni-
ty to send IA note by him to Mr.. jew
ett, settler at Pisht, which, if he re-
received, is probably the first correspon-
dcncc that has passed between white
men over this trail between the two
points.
WEBSTER LAKE.
After an early breakfast, took the
schooncr's boat, and accompanied by
Howeyatl and Wackamus, the two
chiefs before mentioned, and two Indi-
ans to row, VIC started for the Cammass
Prairie. A short distance from the
schooner the Indians showed me on the
left hand, the mouth of small stream,
which is the outlet or one of the out
lets of lake which extends from with
in five miles of the quiIlehnyt rivers us
far us Flattery rocks where it finds an
other outlet in foaming, turbulent
stream at an Indian village called Suez.
This lake, I judge from the description
given me, to be from twelve to fifteen
miles long. and from two to six wide.
Although its existence has been made
known to other white men than myself.
by Indians. believe am the frs, who
has identified il loc:iliiy. 4; all events,
am the first who has given it public
itv, and | therefore take the liberty OF
naming it :. Webster" both in honor of
the memory of the Immortal Daniel
aud in compliment tn my friend Henry
\. Webster. of Necah Bay. at whose
house | am now penning this article.
| intend exploring this lake thoroughly
rs soon a. all opportunity occurs.
erILLEHUYr RIVER.
The Quillehnyt river is fine little
slc stream. varying from fifty to two
hundred yards in width. and with a
depth Of eight to twelve feet Of water.
1t does not fow directly into the ocean,
bnt takes sudden turn to the south
and flows behind the beach, which here
forms an embankment, or natural levee.
ard finally empties itself into little
bay, behind group of rocky islets.
The water is remarkably pure, and at
low tide is fresh almost to its mouth.
There are neither mud nor weeds in it,
but its current flows over a pebhly
bottom, which is distinctly seen spark
ling through the Transparent waters.
About a mile up from the bend Of the