The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1877-02-23
Continued from 1st PAGE

A'ailio 't,i, although Wltn nOSt oI lue
grading done, still remains in that
unfinished, embryonic stage So I'M
comfortable for travellers, and for
horses who have to do the drawing.
Mr.. Tilley, the stage driver, is a very
accommodating gentleman, and does
everything in his power to make his
passengers comfortable. He had the
misfortune to break down his covered
stage the day previous, and so to-day,
when the weather was inclement and
eight or nine passengers awaited
transportation, he had to make the
best out of light express wagon
with three seats. But with a deal of
planning, crowding and backing out,
the wagon was at last off with six
passengers, besides the driver and a
two-story trunk containing sundry ar
ticles indispensable to the ball toilette
of the lady passenger. The wagon
bumped over the rocks, and the COM
pany were in the merriest frame of
mind imaginable. But a cloud was
thrown over their cheerful faces when
they drove by the
SMOKING RUINS
of the residence of Mr.. Hodgdon, where
only the night previous the fire had
burned everything to the ground and
destroyed the life Of beautiful little
Nellie Hodgdon, a young girl about
eleven years of age, who was sleeping
in the building and whom it was i'm
possible to rescue, 50 rapidly had the
flames done their work before discov-
cry. Around the ruins all was as
peaceful and still as though only a
few hours before it had not been the
scene of such great disaster and suf-
fering.
The driver did not spare his horses,
and at the expiration of two hours
we were descending the hill to Tum-
water, that picturesque little village
of water power notoriety. The mail
bags were exchanged and we swung
around across the bridge and were
soon on the plank road, which is the
extension of Main street, in Olympia.
Night was falling over us rapidly as
we passed in review the many famil-
lar scenes Of our by-gone home. We
landed at the Carlton House, cold as
a family Of frogs, but the hospitality
of Mrs. Clarke soon put good-natured
faces on the party, and active prepa-
rations were begun for surprising
friends at the masquerade at Column
bia Hall, at nine o'clock that evening.
OLYMPIA
has held its own during the past four
years, whatever may be said of dull
times. Youths and misses are grow
ing up and assuming their places
among the men and women of the
community, and SO the working force
Is increasing by virtue of this growth,
Independent Of immigration. We
note a number Of new buildings since
our departure forty-fve months ago,
the most noticeable among these is
the new dwelling house of Samuel
Percival, Esq, one of the leading mer-
chants. The house is situated on
plateau of rising ground at the west
end of Marshville bridge, commands
a fine view of the Inlet and is the
most commodious and expensive dwelling in
the Territory. The public school building in
Swantown is another improvement Of which
the Olympians may justly feel proud. Unity
Han, on Main street near the Surveyor Gener-
ais office, is a substantial building, designed
for the Unitarian Society. 1t has progressed
far enough toward completion to allow the use
of the basement rooms for the regular sunday
services. The main auditorium IS being iin-
ished by Geo. Pethorick, very competent
workman. The stucco work promises to be
very handsome. When completed it viii be
the finest structure Of the kind I'm Olvrlria