, 1876-09-08
WEEKLY ARGI- $.
CORRESPONDENCE.
SEQUDi PRAIRIE, CLAIAN Co.W.T. I
August 26. l>1f.

New DungeneSS. and is from four to four
and one-half miles from the bay. and is
one Ofthe lOvelieSt spots on Puget Sound,
whether considered in an agricultural point
Of view, or in reference to the mag
nifiCent and varied scenery. There are not
a great many settlers on the prairie, but all
have excellent farms ard fine crops this
wear. particularly of wheat. The eXten-
sive fields of MeSsrS. Mctiinness, Gerrish,
LaightOn. Fitzgerald, DOnnell, Webster,
Bel. Brown and Irwin, can all be seen at
one glance from any of the foothills which
surround the prairie, and give evidence Of
general thrift and bOunteOus harvest.
As this community is entirely Isolated,
the settlers are thrown upon their own re-
sources for amusement, which, in long
winter nights takes the form of story-tell-
ing and clairvOyant seances. Some funny
scenes are related of the seances. a few
winters since a famous clairvOyant known
as DIR. Vincent gave some startling and
thrilling performances, and obtained many
converts to the belief both on the prairie
and the neighboring settlement OF Dunge-
ness. One night Vincent announced him
self as talking medium and appointed
Prot. Watkins to ask questions of the
spirit, which could be answered through
the medium. After series OfgrOund and
lofty tumbling, of demoniac hOwls and
frightful shrieks, the medium announced
himself as the spirit of New York pork
butcher. What is your name, and Of
what did you die?" asked the professor.
my name," said the spirit, ''when was
on the earth, was Jim Judd. was pork
butcher, and belonged to the fire depart
ment, and wall fell down on me and killed
me-" at Is some distance from Sequim
Prairie to New York, said the Professor,
may ask what brought you here" The
medium, in sepulchIal tones. replied, g
was told to go to hell, and this is the near
est place to hell that 1 Can find" Jim
Judd then retired, and the next spirit an
nOunced was that oil a man named john
son who had been killed at Sequim few
years previous, and was famous while
alive for his f0ndness for old Hudson Bay
rum. When his name was announced, the
Professor asked him how he was enjoying
himself In his new sphere, and whether lie
had plenty Of Hudson Bay rum. johnson
replied that he was having first rate time
and had plenty of rum TO regale himself
with. rhe Professor finding the spirit so
cheerful thought he would ask him prac-
teal question. ',Johnson,' - said he, is
there any coal in the hill near my claim ?"
AAl ALPlI was AllC 1tliiAbc nCNCh 0lAo0Ct
frivolous questions" This eonvulsed the
party with Laughter. which ineensed the
medium, and in a loud voice he exclaimed,
1--WE are surrounded by lying spirits
this seance Is dissolEed.a The Professor
remarked, ''Well, have heard Of various
kinds Of spirits there are the spirits Of
just men made perfect, who don't seem to
have visited Us tonight; then there's the
spirit Of Hudson Bay rum, which johnson
told US about; and then, again, there's the
spirits Of turpentine, which consider to
be the best and most rational for any man
to believe" The medium here ruled the
Professor out Of order. and the seance
closed. But my time and your space will
not admit Of any more spiritual tales ut
present, 50 will just give you a specimen
OF the storytelling faculties of some of
these honest farmers. One Of them known
as William the ThDughtfcl, who formerly
lived in New Zealand, and who can vie
with De Quincy the celebrated English
opium eater In his masticity Of that healthy
drug, when under the influence OF a piece
of the size Of an ounce bali can tell para
bles that put Baron Munehausen and Sin
bad the Sailor in the shade. William was
assisting nelghbor recently in getting
his wheat harvested. and at dinner time
he asked person at the table how large
a mussel he had ever seen. The person
addressed, replied that the largest he had
seen cgme from Tatoosh Island. and were
from 10 TO u inches long. /" Nonsense," Z"
said William the Thoughtful, ~ have
seen mussels In New Zealand from ten to
twelve feet long, aud in one hotel was
in they had one Of those shells for wash
tub, and l have actually seen three chill
dren bathing In one at once"
But his eel story caps this. He says that
the New Zealand eels are monsters, some
measuring from 10 to IA feet long and as
big round as q nail-keg-~ In the winter
these eels burr0w Into the salt marshes,
where they remala torpid for three months,
and during that time It Is only necessary
to take space, cut out a sod from the
marsh, and you are sure to find eels. lone
day." said he, ssfiVe men came HneXpect-
edly to my camp and had nothing fresh
for them to eat. They all said they were
fond Of fish, 50 took spade and cut out
sod three feet long and fourteen inches
wide, and on lining It found | was on
the back Of one OF those enormous eels. /
just took my spade and cut out a chunk of
that eel as big as the sod and carried it
home and cooked it for my guests. They
wanted 70 know where got it. 1 told
them but they did not believe me. Well.
said |, gentlemen, after dinner we will all
60 to the marsh. and will show you the
place. We didso. There was the sod
had removed, and the hole 1 had made by
so doing, but in looking down found that
the two partsoi that eel had somehow wig
gled together and they were perfectly uni
ted. You may think this Is fish story.
gentlemen, but can prove it to you by
au old shipmate Of mine named Tom Pep
per-" William the Thoughtful is eele-
brated for his views on tobacco culture, ,cul-
tivation OF Indian corn, and for sound.
practical views relative to irrigating Sc.
nuim Prairin- hIlt 1 r,nrn.t ..ll.Sa - -