The New York herald., 1872-10-23


or the United States, and propose to stay here and
cultivate 1t until find out that this is NOT Amerf
| and taken 10 Victoria YOU take my advice and
| don't try that game-yOu might,
LIKE THH PIG, LOSE YOUR BACON"
Dallas perfectly fumed at the snubbing he had
received. He rode back, vowing that ne would
carry ont his threat; that the man should be ar
rested anu carried 10 Victoria tie called q coun-
/ Gil OF the chiefs Of the Hudson Bay Company. He
claimed that the colony OF vancouver was, by acs
OF Parliament, granted TO the Hudson Bay Com
pany; that Douglas was Governor by virtue OF be-
ing the senior onicer OF the Company; but as
| director ne was the ranking officer and virtually
had the right TO dictate the policy to be pursued:
The council was a short one Tor both Douglas and
1 Dallas had a common dislike TO Americans and II
was determined immediately TO assert the British
righI 10 the sovereignty OF the island by the ap-
poin tment OF magistrate.
/ THE BRITISH MAGISTRATE.
At the breaking out OF the Frazer River gold eX-
citement and the establishment in consequence
thereof OF the colony OF British Columbia, since
united with thai OF Vancouver, there came out
lot OF English ck-hnnters-broken down gentle
| men, who had been shipped out in hopes OF getting
| rid OF them. Among the number was DE COurcy,
who managed 10 get appointed bearer e OF lie de.
to provide Tor him. He was nephew OF Lord
Kinsale and had been IN early & lie lieutenant an,
| mean war he had been major OF the
Turkish contingent in which, hewever, he saw but
1 little service. IL this individual that was ap-
! pointed for San Juan. His history is entitled to
! more than passing notice, because, in order 10
| try for which he proiessed so much contempt, and
in the early stages OF the civil war, when we were
gaa 10 accept S services o. nSa ne M
volunteers. u was tins De Courcy VINO was thePres
dent OF the Military Commission which tried inc ONO
| member OF Congress, Vallandigham, and sent hlm
to the Southern lines. DE Courcy's record In our
army by means brilliant. General Burnside
| relieved him for his conduct at Cumberland Gap.
THE BRITISH PUZZLED ABOUT THE TROOPS.
| When they found they had been iorestaed IN the
| requirement OF jurisdiction Captain Provost ana
De Conrcy appeared somewhat puzzled as to what
course to pursue, and after remaining at the island
some twenty -four hours returned Victoria in
|
nounced his determination 70 drive the troops
from the island. In Esquimate, the naval harDor
OF Vancouver, in addition to the Satellite, cor
vettc OF twenty-one guns, there were the Tribune,
frgate, thirty-one guns; Pylades corvette twenty
one guns and surveying steamer Plumper, ten
guns. The nagship Ganges, cighhy-four guns, an
old-iashoned line-ofbatte ship was daily ex-
| OF engineer troops under Colonel Noodle at New
Westminster sixteen miles nom the mouth OF
Frazer River, the available force Of the BRUSH
might be estimated at
ONE HUNDRED AND sIxrYsEvEN GUNS AND TWO
| THOUSAND MEN.
The Tribune was at once despatched TO San Juan.
The Plumper proceeded too. ana brought down
about Two hundred marines, engineers and
soldiers, who were transferred to the Tribune to in
crease the force of the landing posse, which was TO
he under the command OF Captain hornby, OF that
vessel These warlike preparations created much
excitement at Victoria. The main population of
the town were Americans, as was that also OF
, British Columbia, who had been attracted thlther
by the Frazer River gold excitement. They were
men Injured to dangers by the life they mad leu :
were, as general thing, well armed, proud OF
their nationality, and ready to fight for 1t. They
quietly organized and sent word to Captain Pickett
that II an attack was made upon him they would
take the town and hoist the American nag over 1t.
The Americans along Puget Sound caught the
enthusiasm and stood ready to come to Pickett $
assistance at d moments notice. The Governor or
Washington Territory made arrangements to call
out the militia; expresses were sent to Colonel
Harney, on the Columbia River, OF the unexpected
threatening state & Of aalrs. General harney n a.
with his whole force. informing him that he would
also send additional troops from Fort vancouver.
PICKETT ORDERED OFF THE ISLAND
In the meantime Governor Douglas having de-
termined on his plan De COurcy returned TO San
Juan. Mr.. Griffin, under Instructions, wrote note
TO Captain Pickett informing him that his camp
was on the lands OF the Hudson Bay Company (he
was not within mile of any OF its encosures) and
requesting his immediate removal. stating tina un
less compiled with he should be compelled TO appeal
to the British authorities to enforce this request
Captain Pickett replied that he was there by order
Of his commanding general on what he deemed
American SOIL and he should remain until recalled
by the same authority.
DE COurcy then waited upon Captain Pickett, an
nounced himself as the British magistrate and
having civil jurisdiction over the island, and warned
ing him Off 1t, stating that if he did not leave
within reasonable time he should call on Captain
Hornby TO enforce the order. Captain Pickett very
OF peace were subordinate TO the civil authority he
was willing to pay all proper respect TO officers OF
Court that he must recognize. Governor Douglas
reported to the home government that, in order to
the Island, an American judicial orfcer had accom-
panied the troops This was not true. No civil
Official Whatever came with Captain PICKETT.
IT, Il. Crosby, the Justice OF WnacOm county,
arrived the next day In the steamer Constitu-
tion. He came merely on visit; but. finding
there was an English ordcia on the island claiming
to be the civil au ,h0rity, he remained as such on
the part of the United States. He did so in accord
ance with what he deemed his duty in the premises
and at the interview alluded to, and which he
called into by Captain Pickett, he informed Major
DE Courcy that while he could not for moment
acknowledge that he had any right to exercise
magisterial functions the island, and the attempt
to execute any process which he might issue
met
into consideration the dcplOrable results that
might ensue by a collision OF the civil authorities
he would not, by any action OF his bring il about
De Courcy, still persisting in his authority and that
II was British soil, returned to his quarters al the
THE AMERICANS PREPARE TO FIGHT.
1t looked as though the issue had been made
~ The next day IL was confidently expected would
bring about fight. Sixty rounds OF ammunition
were issued TO the men and three days rations.
An extra supply OF ammunition and ratiOns was
prepared lor conveyance to the places to which II
was intended to retreat The settlers put their
house OF the American magistrate under whose
orders they placed themselves. A swift canoe was
carry messenger to Victoria, and another al the
otner end to carry the tidings TO Port Townsend,
thence 10 be sent up the sound The plan which
was adopted was for the settlers to throw them
selves in the woods, which approached near the
place OF landing close to the waters edge,
and pick of the Officers in the boats
OF the attacking party. As the men were all deer
hunters and Keen shots the officers would have lost
heavily; very few or them would have got ashore.
Pickett intended to deliver the fire OF his and
field pieces (he had three with hml they came
up the hill, do as much damage as possible, and
then ial back to the point selected In the noun.
tains and which could only be stormed with great
loss OF llfe The camp was changed early in the
morning over the hill and out OF the range OF tile
guns of the Tribune, but no move was made on the
part OF the British. The leverish excitement and
expectation were kept up for several days. as during
that period every day one OF the war vessels
into the harbor from Victoria, communicated
with the Tribune. and without anchonng
steamed back to Victoria. Dispatches were
evidently continually going backward and or
ward, aud the Americans were much harassed.
They knew not at what moment they
would he attacked. &The determination of Pickett
to fight any force, no matter how greatly outnum
bering his own that might he landed: the attitude
OF the population OF Victoria and along the Sound .
the fact that OF the naval captains only Hornby
| ta,tar M inn Iinnc lnu nuIu a4.