Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1861-10-12

gigantic nettles, which prevented my
seeing the surface If the ground and
certainly prevented my making any fur
ther explorations in the vicinity.
One Of the methods of defemse shown
me by Wackamus consisted Of great
fir logs. which were kept ready at the
head Of the path. to be rolled down OH
any one who should have the temeritv
to attack them in their stronghold. l
believe +. w. James, Esq, Of Port
Townsend, to he the first white man
who went on top Of Alekistet, and l
therefore call it James's Island, far
easier name for white men to pro-
nounce than its Indian name.
Twas at Quilchuyt when the steamer
!Somhsrner, formerly the old kthmus,
was wrecked in 1855. A small portion
of the wreck still rcmainson the beach,
about mile from where the ship struck,
but the remainder has all disappeared.
The only relics visible were u few cop
per bolts and Il few spoons and forks,
some marked "lsthnus' and others
"P. NJ. S. S. Co." which the Indians
had and offered for sale.
THE NATIVES.
The Quillchuyt Indians are separate
and distinct from the Mackahs ut the
north, or the Qucnaiult to the south of
them. The language is almost identi-
cal with that of the Chcmakum Indians,
near Port Townsend. The legend re-
lating to the connection of this latter
tribe, as told me by Wackamus, is. that
many years ago the Quillehuyts were
very numerous, and their houses lined
the banks at the mouth of Tic river.
\ terrible storm with great flood
washed away their houses, filled up the
mouth Of the river, changed its course,
and carried off their best lands into the
ocean. a large body of the tribe, find
ing their means of subsistence getting
scanty, moved off through the woods,
aud finally settled at the head of Port
Discovery. and at Chcmakum, Port
Townsend bay, where they and their
descendants formed the present Chem
aknm tribe. | regretted that we had
not taken Chcmakuin with us from
Port Townsend, so that the identity of
the language could be confirmed.
The Quillchnyt village isat the mouth
of the river, on the little bay behind
Jamcss Island. 1t commands a fine
view of the ocean and the hcadlauds
and rocky islands of the adjacent coast.
Howcvatl, the head chief. is II qnictand
very friendly Indian, and was Of great
service to the whites ut the time of the
wreck of the Southerner. After the
passengers had left, II party sent to take
charge Of the mails, consisting Of MAJ
jor John Y. Scwell, F. w. James, EsI.,
Thos. Bracket, and Others, remained
several weeks and were treated with
the greatest kindness and hospitality.
Since that time, there have not more
more than two or three white men
passed that way. Ours was certainly
the first trading vessel ever there, and
the actions OF the Indians showed how
unaccustomcd they were to n stock of
goods, but they had but little to trade
with and our bargains were soon closed.
They evinced their kind feelings on
our departure by all coming down to
the beach and bidding us goodbye, a
procedure that / never saw Indians do
before on like occasion.
think this the best location l have
seen OF the coast for all Indian agency,
far preferable to Quenaiult. The river
admits vessels Of size quite sufficient
for the purposes of the Indian depart
ment, and there is plenty Of wool, fresh
water. and excellent land.
We left Qnenaiult river on the even-
ing Of the I'd, bound to Nceah Buy. 1t
was dead calm during the night, aud at
daylight We found ourselves almost
down to Destruction Island, 90 miles
south. / notice this fact, for. during
the winter months, the current along
the coast from Columbia to Cape Flat.
terry sets north.
Gains and head winds continuing,
we did not reach the Cape till the sf.
ternoon Of the 18th, when taking squall
from the southwest, we ran through
the passage between Tatooche Island
and the main land. The tide was rum
ming ebb. and the breeze raised heavy
chopping ssa, and Just a wc were in
the worst Of it, our tillsr hroke. Mr..
Rose, the mate, Who had bold of il.
came near being knocked overheard.
Fortuoatelv there wss . spare tiller in
vessel, which was soon shipped aud the
schooner put on her course. But fcw
minutes more delay would have piled
the little &areA NsIsloH among the rocks
of Tstoocl,o Island. where her cruis>s