The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1883-08-01

our ears. Old Jake who command
ed the erow|er had something aboart
which could talk long ways, and
knew full we'll that our sqnare-facet
skipper and his hang dog crew
would never wait to be interviewed
T. From San Francisco to the strait.
of Faca you see a continuous, bold
rock bound, coast, against which the
mountain pillows, of the Pacific lasI
and break with deafeuings noise; and
the overlapping cascade range will,
its snow white peaks act as beacops
to the north bound mariners. After
few days. Mount Hoods glitterine
dome could be seen rising far above
the cascade range and by moonlight
the shining mass reflected far and
vide its lurid light.
The wind being fair and weather
favorable, our brig glided into the
straits of Fuca, just as the evening
shades were casting their shadows
over the rocky coast to the north and
sonth of us. The whole crew was
called on deck to take in the sky and
top sails; the briggs course being
slackened, we scudded under our
mainsails towards the coast Of Van
couver's 1slaud. Perkins, who had
travelled this way before, was puz-
zled at the motions of the crew, but
turned it of by snpposing it was
the captains intention to put in Vic
toria Harbor to make some purcha
ses from the Hudson Bay Company.
We gradually neared the shore of
the Island, the din of the roaring
surf warning US Of the proximity Of
the rugged coast. We were either
making the offlng Of Esquimault
Harbor or rounding the point of the
Gulf Of Georgia. ! thought we were
hugging the shore too close on our
leequarter to be making an offing; it
was evident our skipper was not an
xioas to be too near the American
shore. The tide was flowing, and
what wish the laundering Of the seas
on the rocks, the lashing of the
waves as the tide met, running in
through the straits and from the
Gulf Of Georgia, I felt that our es
cape was not in our hands but de-
pended on~providential interference.
The little craft fairly trembled as the
boiling foam covered the forecastle
with it's spray
E'Mr. Mate, one more man at the
wheel" roared Capt. Sloan.
shows her head?"
"North: North East"
"Keep her full, Mr.. Mate.'
snake ready to wear"
CAL right"
The little craft as she turned slow |
y to the wind shook 10 all her tim |
bers, and the waves curled and top |
ped around her, falling back with re-
ports equal to battery of artillery.
For fraction Of a second she almost
ay motionless: mother wave dashed
IN her and as she raised from the
Singing foam we bad passed the
'oiot and were in the Cult of Geor.
yia. Our course was. changed north
md as day was breaking we sailed
,nder topsails into small inlet, an
'horing within a cables length from
British ship
Both vessels were soon dashed to.
,etber,s and the crews Employed in
oading our vessel with promiscuous
barrels and cases. Some fifty Indian
'anoes kept floating around offering
IS clans and fishes, while our yawl
vas out patroling the ofing, keeping
lookout for Mr.. Uncle Sam. Per.
Inns interviewed Capt. Sloan, warn
ng him that his course was without
parallel, inveigling innocent pas
engers in such desperate under
aking. Capt. Sloan assured him
hat in case the revenue cutter should
i've us chase, he would give him the
awl aud two men to enable him to Il
rake the shores Of the sound or
Vhitby Island. Z
The next day, the mate was sent {
] large Indian canoe to recounoi {
sr around Port Townsend; he re Il
,rned With the glad tidings that j
rowler Jake had stood towards the /
pen sea, expecting to be gone q I
eek. ss II
The news was soon carried around i
I'D Sloan kept chuckling at old /
axes face as be would see him on t
is returning trip to Frisco f
II forecastle. hounds counted their +
rtra pay as already clipking 10 their u
,ckets. Sloan and the mates set at
zee to business; the matches were Il
ell battened down, all the rigging FL
as inspected and sails ready, the $