, 1878-12-19
COMMUNICATED.
A THANKsGIvING AT DUNGENEsS
AND SEQUIM.

/ IelU NeedU, Lay A'o' ~'''' W. ''N
steamship Dispatch, for Dungeness'
There were 2 ancient mariners among
the passengers; one of them, a Scan
dinavian named Jansen, or johnson,
told me he was with Commodore
Jones of the American navy in early
davs, on the Southern California
coast. | asked Mr.. Jansen if he re.
collected a boatswan's mate named
Slater. 81 think | dc" said he, there
were fourteen of the sailors in that
crow who answered TO the name of
Jack Slater, and were numbered
from one to fourteen. There were
four John Johnsons, and was called
johnson number four, but it is many
years ago, and my memory is some-
what dim where so many sailors on
board one ship had the same name"
! told him if he could see the Port
Admiral at Port Townsend, | thought
he would recognize one of the four
teen. He said he hoped he would
meet him.
On my arrival at Dungeness ]
found many old friends whom | bad
not seen for long time, who all
gave me a cordial welcome. My old
friend, Captain William Barker, for
merly of Lexington, Massachusetts,
was among them, and as my native
place was within sight of another
revolutionary battle field, Bunker
Hill and Lexington shook hands on
the classic soil of Dungeness. Cap
tain Barker, or as he is more famil-
iarly known as Bill, has been one Of
the strongest men on Puget Sound
1t was told me by Mr.. Smith, the
present superintendent of Port Dis
covery mill, that on one occasion in
early days, that mill was shut down
tor want Of oil to lubricate the ma.
chinery. Several vessels were wait
ing for cargoes, and the expense was
considerable. Barker was equal to
the emergency. He had a supply in
his boat, but could not get below
Point Wilson, owing to head wind
but he actually took a twenty gallon
cask on his shoulders and carried il
from Port Townsend to Port Discov.
cry. ! asked him about it, and ht
said it was true. "And what do yol
think Charley Wood said when | go
there? he said was a fool, and
think | was" On another occasion
Mr.. Smith told me he had a boom a
the mouth of Dungeness river, and j
was necessary to get some bales 0
hay up the bank for the team. There
was no road and the bales must q
up. Barker took a bale OF hay ol
his back and carried It up, and fnall,
packed up the lot. ] asked him how
he managed; he said the men hoisteC
the bale on his back and lie held i
with rope, Indian fashion. Tn,
weight was nothing said he, but tn,
size Of the bale made it little diff
cult TO squeeze through the brush.
These incidents are we'll authenticat
ed facts, showing the great muscu
lar strength of the man. "In fact,
said boss Smith to me, "Barker did'n
know his strength"
No wonder the men OF Lexington
proved themselves such terrible foe,
in the first battle of the revolution
Bunker Hill don't boast of sucl
strength; true, he could carry bal,
of hay up the bluff at Dungeness
but it would be by armsful and no
all together as Barker did.
passed the day, Tuesday, in ex
amining the new schooner now build
ing by Capt. E. II. McAlmond, AM
receiving the congratulations o
friends, The schooner is nearly al
planked. She is very sharp, will
considerable dead rise, but has a lon.
floor to sail on, and | think vii
prove fast and able vessel She i
not adapted for general heightin!
business, but is admirably adapted 70
trading north, or for sealing or fish
ing She is very strongly built, an,
IS a credit to the enterprise of he
builder. The master carpenter EN-
ployed on her is Mr.. Hayes, who i
well and favorably known among tb
ship carpenters Of the Sound
AS was bound out to Sequin
Prairie, felt very desirous to know
the road, but ] found great yariet
OF opinions, almost all however unit
ing In assuring me that the bridg