, 1883-12-27


a series OF letters written by me and
published in the san Francesca Ere~
iag BaIiriia in 1859. lron which /
make the following extracts, winch
VIII interest some Of your readers aHsj
amuse others.
NJ ARRIVAL N PORT TOWNSEND.
On the :. day OF February. 1859, ]
left San Francisco on the ah'p Dash
away, Captain J. " Hill, ior Por,
Townsend. l had sailed with Cap
tam Hill before on the Old brig Orien
tai from San Francisco to oagalwa'ct
Bay. where l arrived November y
1852, that being the date OF my frs,
arrival in this territory, which was
Jhen a part OF Oregon.
Without entering upon tie stale De
tails OF Il sea voyage l viii briefly
state that after passage Of tweiY,
days we arrived in PUr, Townsend
harbor on the morning Of the l5tl
day oi February at IL o'clock.
PORT TOWNSEND.
This is what I wrote to the BuiicfiA
as my first impression Of the place u.
/ saw 1t twenty-four years ago, wh!ci
was published III that paper May .
1859:
Port Townsend IS situated ut The
entrance to Admiralty Inlet, ON Por
Townsend Bay, Il iue sheet OF water
three miles wide at its mouth and 81,
miles long. The principal settlement
Is at or near Point Hudson, on leve
spit a mile and a half long and d thirt
OF mile wide at It's widest part
Hirectly IL t. e rear OF me ne spit% 4tnfi
from seventy 10 ninety-iIFe feet high
rises, very abruptly at the upper par.
of the town bat gradually slopina
| down toward Point Hudson. IhetoI
OF the bluff Is open prairie, with sUml
timber, most delightful place fol
residences, and presenting Il ROUNDED
surface Of gentle elevation, most ad
mirably adapted for drainage. making
it q most charming site f0r a iutEr,
| town.
The prospect from this bluff Is very
fine. To the right are seen the build
ings Of the United States military
post OF Fort Townsend, located on
bluff bank at the western portion o.
the bay. On eacu side ot tins post the
dark green forest OF lofty tirs grow,
quite down to the waters edge: bacl
| OF this forest may be seen the mount
aims around Port Discovery. and higI
| above all these are tee snow covered
peaks of the .; pi: range o.
mountains. The view IA 'front.' Ioo5,
up toward the head % the bay. show
lng the Marrowstone islands directly
| opposite the town, with Ii distant view
OF Mount Rainier OF Tacoma. and tn,
narrow opening at the head of tn,
bay called the Chema!lum pass, which
is a portage over which canoe!
are hauled to Oak Bay. Iurnin.
to the left the spectator can be
hold the forest covered but fertii,
land Of Whidby's Island, and far il
the background, towering Ike Saa
among the prophets, Il hoad anC
shoulders taller JAau his brethren,
stands Mount Baker, one OF the lott
test peaks OF the Cascade range
Mount Baker Is volcano, and it !.
not many years ago that it was Il
| active operation bn!chiBg forth 5mok,
and steam. On the blum are a!reaIv
quite number OF private residences
which, together with the buildings oi
the United States marine hospital.
under charge OF Df. z. VI. OBrien
make a very fine appearance whei
viewed from the waters OF the bay.
a short walk from the brow OF ths
hI!I toward the west brings in wow {
lovely valley, in which are located the
farms OF AIes5rs. Pettygroye aac
hastings. No one vIcWIng P1rl
Townsend from the anchorage wOuiC
suppose tnat few moments wall
from the beach would bring him int,
so valuable Il location. 5Iessrs. Petty
grove and hastings and Mr.. Alfred
a fIulnmer are the p-Oprietors oI
the town, having Iccdtu,: tneir clain-
under the donstIOu act Judge Albert
Briggs and }. q. Ginger. ESQ, az,
also donation settlers at the head ol
the bay
There are between fifty a1d sixty
buildings III the place, the princiya
Oh which are the custom house. Il b:IcA
building OF two stories, Z5x4O lee.
square, built and owned bv Col
Morris Il Frost, the collector OF Gus
toms, the Pioneer hotel. the large
store and warehouse OF Fowler * 10.
and the court mouse The towu,sita
Is not the best location on the i.;ly. q
1t Is much exposed 10 tue southeast
winds of winter. which oc .azIJaa.iy
plow with considerable energy. \
tIr better locality could De Obtained
at the head OF the bay nom =. @.
CLnger's claim past the military posi-
20 the extreme southern portion o.
the Day beyond the CnanaAuln cres.l.
LhaI pcruon l. less exposed 10 y,llteg
storm and the anchorage ,uerc - ex-
ee-lent, the depth OF water nelus
from SIX to ten tasH0..-s. WITH E..,,,4
holding ground II ever Purs IJ,.u-
send increases that part OF liz "a.
must De the principal s-J5.em 80.
those persons VINO h.Ye IOrAo,. IN
OPINION of Port Townsend and its