Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1882-02-05

Notes on Seattle, w. r., h Rising
city of the Northwest.

EDITOR SENTINEL: After leaving Eure-
ka your correspondent tarried in San Fran
cisco three weeks, embarking Jan. 10 on
the steamer Idaho for Seattle, Washington
Territory. Passenger steamers for Puget
| Sound leave San Francisco every ten days,
and are from three to five days making the
trip. The Idaho sailed Tuesday, and that
night encountered high winds and a rough
sea, to the intense disgust Of most of the
passengers, as the emotions awakened were
far from being Of a poetical character. On
Wednesday, however, the wind falling, a
smoother sea prevailed, and the two follow
Ing days were exceptionally fine. When
thirty miles off shore from the mouth of
the Columbia River snow-crowned Mt.
Hood could be plainly seen, a distance OF
$50 miles, quite an unusual sight, as the
Captain, who called the attention of the
passengers to it, said it was very seldom il.
could be seen from the sea.
Going on deck Saturday morning we
found we were in the Straits OF Juan de
Fuca, and Victoria was reached at noon,
where hes steamer remained until ii O'Clock
that night. AS a rain prevailed during the
time, the writer did not see as much OF
this town on British soil as he wished to,
but the impression received was that 1t Is o
decaying rather han a growing place, with
a quiet and sleepy population.
just as the steamer was preparing to leave
Victoria for up the Sound . waiter, who
had been ashore and was coming aboard
quito intoxicated, created a sensation by
walking off into the water. When he first
went over he made an cutlery which at
tracted attention, and a cry rang through
the ship of Man overboard!' 1t was
dark and all was confusion. After the
first outcry the man gave no further sign
Of his whereabouts in the water, and it
began to look as though he had found a
watery grave, when the second officer
stepped forward and was let down the
ships side, holding a lantern and the heav-
ing line in his bands, and swan along,
clingiDg to piles until he found the
with his head under water, his body hav-
ing caught on a piece Of timber, and in a
very short time he would have been dead.
The waiter was hauled aboard, the heaving
line having been passed about his body be-
meath his arms. When the second officer
reached the deck of the ship, chilled and
dripping, he was greeted with loud cheers,
and congratulated upon his bravery.
Seattle was reached Sunday morning as
the church bells we're calling the people to
worship. A stringent Sunday law is be-
ing enforced and it was hard for one to re-
alize that he was in SO distant a frontier
place. The saloons, cigar and fruit stands
and all other places Of business we're
closed.
While the streets bore testimony to there
having been plenty Of rain, during my
stay | never experienced more delightful
weather, cool nights and warm sunshiny
days. The people l talked with concern
ing the health of the place were loud in
their praise of the healthfulness of the
climate, and the appearance Of the people
generally confirmed their statements.
Seattle is really the only commercial
city on Puget Sound, and is situated equi-
distant between the mouth Of Admiralty
Inlet and Olympia, at the head Of the
Sound, within three miles Of the outlet of
the Duwamish River, which Is IL miles ia
length, and formed by the uniting waters
Of Black and White Rivers. The lest
two rivers are navigable for about 80 miles
for small steamers. The convenient location
OF Seattle to the trade OF the valleys. saw
mills, logging camps and coal mines OF the
Sound, all of which are growing In i'm
portance, mark IL as the rising city of
Western Washington at least. 1t stands
on rising ground on the east side Of FL
liott's Bay, with Q sweeping panoramic
view Of the Olympic range Of coast noun
tains, capped with eternal snow, and Of
the lower and upper Sound. with all the
passing steamers and sailing vessels IS
they arrive and depart. No harbor on the
Pacific Coast outside of San Francisco has
such shipping advantages of deep water,
sure anchorage and shelter as Seattle.
The largest steamship in the world can
run to her piers without a pilot. The
population is increasing rapidly, and q
number Of business houses and many resi-
dences are in course Of construction. The
writer has been informed that in
all branches of business there is
from so to go per cent improvement
within the last eighteen months. There is
an air Of energy and thrift about the peo-
pie that speaks well for the permanent
prosperity Of the place, that now numbers
about 5000 souls. 1t ought to. and doubt
less will, become an extensive manufactur-
ing point. The manufacture OF heavy
machinery is already an important branch
Of industry. there being several foundries
and machine shops in operation. Boiler
makers, furniture and chair factories are
also represented. There is an extensive
barrel factory which gives employment to
from so to 100 hands. A seasons produce
of this concern is $50. 900 barrels, which
are readily disposed Of in the San Francis
co market. There are four irst-class iron
steamships in the coal traffic direct between
Seattle and San Francisco. The output Of
coal from this point averages 500 tons
daily.
You have probably had the particulars
by telegraph of the killing Of an esteemed
young man of Seattle by foot-pads. and the
summary manner in which the citizens
dealt out justice to them. In the future
desperadoes will avoid coming in contact
with SO determined class Of people.
Your correspondent also visited New
Tecoma and Olympia, the Capital Of the
Territory. and both situated on Puget
Sound, after which he came to Portland,
but will reserve mention Of them for a
future letter. NJ.