, 1862-02-20


way of making up stories, is trnly wonderful.
Scarcely a week passes by. in our ordinarily
quiet town, without some remarkable incident,
civil or military, having been dreamed or imag.
incd by somebody, which is forthwith related to
somebody else, aud by somebody else rctaiIcd to
the town at large, individually aud collectively.
Nothing is ever lost in the repitiion Of these
stories; they are passed from mouth to mouth
with new embellishments aud additions at each
recital until the original story is entirely lost in
the huge proportions which il finally attains
Thus We have been told from time to time Of
deS'rtions at Fort Steiiaco0m, until We had rea
son tn suppose 1t we believed the reports in cir
cu'ation) that none but the commissioned officers
remained; upon inquiry, however, we find that
hut one of the men enlisted ia California had dc.
serted, and that one was f,rmerly soldier, and
believed to have been drummed out Of the ser.
vice. Five others, likewise former U. S. SOL
dieTs, and all Of them enlisted in this Territory,
have deserted; and this comprises all who have
thus far run away. A Sergeant aud four men
we're dispatched in q Government boat after
three of these serters the day following their
departure. It was reported about town that
etereH Of the volunteers had deserted and stolen
a Government boat! To the surprise Of Cur
gnssiping and too creduous citizens, the boat re-.
turned in good time with her OriGii al crew.
Lieut.. n. Israel was subsequently dispatched
overland to Seattle in pursuit Of the saIUe men !;
the next day We heard that he, too, bad run ofr,
and stol,n $500 Of Uncle Sans money. The
steamer on Saturday evening brought him hack
to his post, where he was somewhat Aslonished
to lcarn that lie was thought to b. in Victoria
luxuriatng on the money he was said to havc
taken. Some months since, story was circu.
lated to the effect that one of the hest business
firms on the Sound, with branch in San Fian.
cisco, had failed, aud the San Francisco partner
become insane. This story, though entirely
free FROM malicious intent, came near proving
disastrous 10 It's eOnsequeucvs; but the lis was
happily detected in time to prevent the threat
ened injury. The last story which has come u
our ears is one relating 10 the young man john
sOn, who escaped some weeks ago from the Gus
tOty Of the Sheriff Of this county. Il is CON-
monty reported in the saloons OF Victoria, We
learn, that johnson, after escaping, was kept iou,
days ia the house Of a resident Of this town,
disguised as female, and daring thoss four days
he was constantly under training BY said resi-.
dent to make him walk as nearly as possible
like female. He afterwards walked arnl-in.arm
with the resident 70 the steamer which conveyed
him % victoria. We're this susceptible Of prOO[
the resident alluded 70 would be convicted Of a
felony which would send him to the Peniten.
tary; but. Ike the instances preceding n Il hal
no existence beyond the srtile brain in which i
originated. .la ,eas 3 3 t1 g.a,
verify We have ALLEN upon queer limea Ia
ths absence Uf employment ior their hands, Peo
seem to tuink !. necessary that their tongn,I
should do double duty, and that Invmbtrs con
sequently kept wsgghig inesssanlIy, sometime
70 llls ssrions annoyance o. those who DO no
like TO Be tho subjects n is labOrs. But ",
should not be over sensitive. So long as no alb
soln.s Injury rtsaIIs from h, (sDd none has u
resulted lsrv from these idle .aie,) our good IA
turs should prompt NJ y Indulge ll,is phase .
human iIailty, for the Qualification aud employ
ment L affords 6lsFye elass u Otherwise harnl
lsss creatures. We shoaId also rrmeabsr thu
ours Is . gossrnmepl which allows tie large'
license % the tpiigne, and our people dvsire q
show their appreciation q this liberty BY max
ing the nost II i. lisl - y r isn'i' ,i'gaefH
a Seriously though. We commend to some Q
4 r "a "a. -