Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-09-01

opposite to south end OF WILDLY Is
land, to which Capt. Wilkes gave
the maine of Pilots cove as it was
there they were joined by the pilot.
! On the 1lth the vessels reached their
anchorage OFF Fort Nesqually, We're
heartily welcomed by Alex c. An
derson, ESD, in charge of the fort.
AID By Cnpt Mcneil in command of
;he steamer B,urrr, then undergoing
repairs.
Captain Wilkes SAYS: " Nothing
ctn exceed the beauty OF these
waters. and their safety: not
sLOal exists within the straits of
Juan he Fuca, Admiralty Inlet, Pu.
get S"und or Hood ) Canal, that can
III any way interrupt their naviga-
ton by Il seventy four gun ship.
venture nothing IN saying, there is
no country in the world that pos
sesses waters equal &c these
At Nesguaily, Capt Wilkes initia-
ted operations. The Porpoi<r with
two of lurennes' boats under Lieut..
Riuggold surveyed Admiralty Inlet.
The launch, first cutter and two
boats of the l'inctnncs under COM
mand OF Lieut.. Case surveyed Hoods
Canal. \ land party to explore tue
interior was assigned to Lieut..
Johnson, and accompanied by DR..
Pickering and Mr.. breckenridge.
Eighty days were allowed for it to
cross the Cascade Mountains, to 90
as far rs Colville and south to the
Lapwai Mission, thence to Walla
Walla, and return ria the Yakima
river across the Cascade range, to
Fort Nesqually.
The other land party consisted of
Captain Wilkes, Purser Waidron.
Mr.. Drayton and two servants, two
Indians, and Canadian guide with
fourpack horses. This party crossed
to the Columbia river, thence to As
toria, thence to Fort Vancouver.
The Wallamet settlements were
visited. 1t had been the intention
to go up the Columbia to Fort
Walla Walla. AT Astoria, Capt.
Wilkes had expected to meet the
Peacock, and by means of her boats,
the Columbia river was to be sur
veyed.- Disappointed by failure
of tldlngs from the Peacock', Capt
tain Wilkes 1ejoined the Iincennes at
Nesqually on the 10th June.
Fourth of July 1871, was the
first celebration of our nations birth
day in what is now Washington
Territory. Captain Wilkes thus de-
scribes that interesting occasion:
Wishing to give the crew a holt
day on the anniversary of the declara,
t on OF our independence, and to Nv
them to have full days frolic and
pleasure, they were allowed to Lar
becue an OK, which the Company's
agent had obliginsly sold me. They
were permitted to make their own
arrangements for the celebration,
which they conducted in the follow
ing manner. The place chosen for
the purpose was corner of the
Mission Prairie. This was the
prairie upon which DR.. Richmond
and Mr.. VIM. H. Wilson had estab-
lished the Puget Sound Methodist
Missionary Station.) Here they
slaughtered their OK and spitted him
on a sapling supported over the fire
which was made in a trench. The
carcase could thus be readily turned,
and committee of the crew was
! appointed to cook him. Others were
engaged in arranging che amuse-
ments. All was activity and hustle
on the morning of the 5th, as the
4th fell upon Sunday. Before nine
O'Clock all the men were mustered
on board in clean white frocks and
trousers, and all, including the mar
ines and music, We're landed shortly
after, to march to the scene of fes-
tivity, about a mile distant. The
procession was formed at the obser-
vatory. whence we all marched off
with flags flying and music playing,
Nendovi and the master at. arms
bringing up the rear. Vendovi was
dressed out after the FREEZE, fashion.
Two brass howitzers were
also carried to the prairie to fire the
usual salutes. When the procession
reached Fort Nesqually, they stop
ped gave three cheers, and waited
sailor-like, until it was returned. |
This was done by only few voices,
circumstance which did not fail to |
to produce many jokes among the
seamen. On reaching the ground,
various games occupied the crew,
while the officers also amused them
selves in like manner. At the usual |
hour dinner was piped, when all re-
paired to partake of the barbecue.
By this time, the Indians had gath
cred from all quarters, and were
silently looking on at the novel sight,
and wisttully regarding the feast |
which they saw going on before
them, at this time the salute was
fired, when one of the men, by The
name of Whithorn, had his arm
most dreadfully lacerated from the
sudden explosion of the gun. This
accident put 'momentary stop to
the hilavity of the occasion. The |
wound was dressed as we'll as it
could be, litter WIS made on which |
he was at once sent to the ship |
men-of-warS men are somewhat fam |
liar with such scenes, and, although |
this accident threw q temporary
gloom over the party, the impression
did not last long, and the amuse-
ments of the morning were now ex.
changed for the excitement of horse
racing, steeds having been hired for
the purpose from the Indians. At
sunset they all returned on board, in
the same good order they had landed. !
The rejoicings ended, the surveying
party was again despatched to COM
plete the survey of Puget Sound"