, 1872-12-05
San Juan Correspondence.
SAN JUAN ISLAND, Nov. 25,

oAN JUAN ISLAND, NOV. 20,
Editor Dispatch-It is about ono
month since | removed to this Island
md III that time 1 have had a chance of
seeing some things, which, if told we'll.
would be interesting, and some others
not so pleasing. As have not written
to you for some time, will try to make
a long story short, by stating in as few
words as possible what have seen.
When l came here politics were all
the rage, but as Mr.. Garielde was the
only man who came here to plead his
own cause. he did well and won the day,
but lost the night, for not vote did he
get from this Island.
The next 1 saw was the corpse of an
old man by the name of Samuel Fuller.
who was killed by some Fort Rupert
Indians, by shooting him through the
head. Some friendly Indians were sent
in pursuit and arrested the murderers
ana had them put in Jail at Whutcom;
but as our Lieutenant commanding here
would not send for them, they were dis
charged after weeks time, and are at
large to murder some other innocent
man. The cause of the murder was,
that some two years ago some of the
Fort Ruport Indians were taking some
deserters from the American camp, when
the officer then in command, with some
citizens, fired on and wounded two of
the Indians who soon after died in Vic
toria, and hence Fuller was made the
victim of their revenge.
After Emperor William decided that
these Islands belonged to the United
States, an order came to have the Brit
ish troops reroved. Last Friday, the
22d, was the day appointed for the evac-
uation, and was there to see the de-
parture. TIE be in time, l arrived there
the day before and saw the Union Jack
waving in all its glory That night 7
saw it hauled down, not to be raised on
this Island again At that time every
thing was upside down; boats were at
the landing conveying the traps of the
soldiers to H. NJ. sloop of war Scout,
Capt. Castor commanding, and finer
looking company of soldiers think
never saw. At noon on Friday the Brit
ish soldiers, Capt. w. A. Dilacombe in
command, were marched down to the
landing and conveyed in small boats to
the Scout. which lay in the outer har.
Dor, about three miles off. the citizens
assembled giving them three hearty
cheers. The day before they left the
camp Capt. Dilacombe addressed his
soldiers in the most complimentary
terms I ever heard an officer use to.
wards his men.
At sundown on Friday a detachment
of marines were sent on shore from the
Scout with an order to cut down the flag
pole, which order they executed. AS
the pole fell it broke into pieces, all Of
which were taken on board, with view,
no doubt, of preserving them as relics,
AS between friendly nations, greater
piece of Vandalism was never perpetrat-
ed. After holding JOINT occupation for
years to territory to wh.ch she never had
right or title, England had no mor
right to an inch of that old rotten pole,
than she had to demolish the houses on
the Island and carry off the earth, and
this piece of Vandalism could have no
o'her purpose than to exhibit an unman.
ly spite, which was but adding insult to
injury.
To-day the American flag is floating
over the late British camp, with Ameri-
can soldiers there to see that it shall bo
honored and respected in the future.
BARNEY O'RAGAN.