Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1882-08-20


The Victoria Colonist gives publ
cation 10 old time "reminiscences as
follows
With the razing of Theater Royal
building will pass away the last OF
the old Hudson Bay Company's store
houses that formerly stood within the
enclosure called The Fort" The
palisades surrounding The For. were
of timber some Is feet IN blight.
They enclosed the quarter OF the city
by Bastion. Government and
Wharf streets, and line running
between Smith 6 Ciarkes and Hay
wards manufactories Where Fort
stree, nov crosses Government street
was the eastern gate VI the enclosure.
Il was guarded all day by q grim
Indian from Petropsuloski. and al
night was securely bolted and barred.
This native piloted the combined
British md French fleets when they
made their disastrous attack on the
Russian forts at Petropsuloski, and
being afraid 10 return to bis native
land, be was brought to EsQuima! by
the
SHATTERED FLEETS
When they came to ref, in 1854, and
accepted service with the Hudson
Bay Company. lie proved faiihfll
servant. Within the enclosure stood
a great mauy large log buildings SINH
lar in size aud general appearance to
Thcaier Royal building. The first OF
these buildings Was erected IL 1913
under the supervision Ut ex.Mayor
Rodcrick Finiayson Of this city. then
sa active, handsome young follow.
who brought with him a gaus OF
French Canadians 10 hew timber that
grew on the present town site OF We
loria aud II clear the site Of The Fort.
which was thickly wooded Theaier
Royal building was erected in 1916.
and was the fur storehouse. On the
northeast corner OF Tue Fort, where
John Wilson's brick building now
stands. was
A BAsrIov,
From the portfolios Of which frowncd
six cannon. Another bastiOu siini-
larly armed, vt the southeast corner
commanded the harbar The west
erp entrance to The Fort Was at the
foot of what is now Fort street. Al
one tire all the company's officers
resided within the palisades for sccu
r.ty. as the Indians were savage aGd
warlike; bu. after q while dwellings
were erected along the northern
shore OF James Bay, now known as
fiumboldt street, and along The iine
Vt Government street opposite the
Boomerang Inn. The late Sir James
Douglas then Governor. about this
time cleared the land along the south
ern side Of the bay. and erected the
family residence which Lady Doug
las now occupies. Gradually the
town began to assume
SETTLED APPEARANCE.
Rude dwellings sprang UP here and
there, and q map was prepared in
1853 or 1854 BY Messrs. Pemberton
and Pcarse. Then the Hudson Bay
Company began to sell lots. but the
were few and tue price Of
he choicest corner locations was
rom $50 to $l00.
EARLY IN 1853
came the discovery of gold on Fraser
liver, and IA rush to the cosniry took
,lace from California. As many rs
Is. 900 persons came north. Some
ettled on the American side and en-
ieavored 10 build there towns that
vould rival Victoria. None Of these
ndeavors were successful. aud Vic
oria became what she has since con-
inucd. the principal commercial port.
he whole OF the town site in the
ummer of 1858 was covered with the
ents Of Californians. who waited for
he river to fall before proceeding to
liz gold. The $50 aud 800 lots grew
o be worth fabulous sums There
we're few hotels--thc chief and best
icing Bayly's. now known as Thistle's
al0on. II still stands on the north
asst corner of Government and Yates
treets. Just where the Co,onist
flee, the Bank Of British North
america and the Adelphi corner are
ow were the first government offices.
'uilt of frame-low, One-Story struc.
ures. The Hudson Bay Company's
garden" extended from Fort to
,roughton streets, on the east side Of
Government. There was another gar
en. belonging to Mr.. James Yates,
70 Yates stree, from Wharf to above
he American Hotel is now. The site
4 London House was occupied by
no company's bakery, presided over
~
JIMMY THE BAKER,"
In odd genius ip bis way and much
,iven to imbibing whiskey and rum.
rhe first ,heater was locatedln two
tory frame building which stood on
he present site of Masonic Hall, on
Government street. II was erected
q 1858 by McShane s. Co. The room
\ which tho entertainments were
iven was 10 feet by so. The stage
ras a rude affair, three feet in hight; |
he drop curtain was Of white un.
lesched muslin. and rolled up or
ropped by hand at the beginning or |
nd Of each scene. The next temple
{ Thespis was the
COLONIAL THEAvER,
Iuilt In 1850. Victoria House, on
Government street. occupies the site
I where it stood. The room held
bout $50 people. and had q pa rquct.
0. with gallery in the rear for the
recommendation Of the gods" Poll
lcal meetings were held in this build.
ng and many rich scenes between
ieorge Hunter Cary, Amor De Cos.
los. George Tomline Gordon, G. B
ioung aud other Of tho early politi. |
ians were enacted therein. On the
Ipper floor OF the Royal Hotel (now
he OccidentaD. on Wharf street, the
ate James Wilcox set apart = room
or concerts, balls and theatrical enter
sinments. Il accommodated about
80 persons. The Royal Hotel. by
he way, was the