, 1884-01-10
Another Version of the San Juan Diff
ficulty.
EDS. ARGUS:

'D'AA u''i NAlAiN'Ai'J IA NNt'A hf-i''''N
edition OF December 9th, 1883. Being
an actor in that imbrogiio, recognize
your statements rs the outside record;
but there is an inner history which
does not appear, yet which should
not be lost. submit my contribution
as briefly as l can, as follows:
The British claim to San Juan Isl
and. and, indeed. to the Archipelago,
WAS set up, and brought 10 the notice
Of the United States Government
officially, by the British Minister
Gov. Marcy, at the time, was Secre
tary OF State uLder President Pierce
On examination Cf the wording Of the
treaty of 1916, a. to the water bound
aries between the United States and
British Possessions in the northwest.
Mr. Marcy admitted the language was
indefinite, aud his instructions to
Gov. Stevens Immediately placed San
Juan Island i'll the condition it was
by the earlier treaties with Great
Britain: that is to say, neither Gov
ernment should enforce jurisdiction
over it until the boundary line should
be established by commissioners duly
appointed by the respective Govern
ments for this purpose.
The British Government had ap-
pointed Capt. Provost, of Ii. NJ. cor
vette Satellite, as its commissioner,
also Capt Richards, of the Piumper,
and the United States had appointed
Air Archibald Campbell, with full
powers to adjust the northwest bound
AIRY. All these commissioners We're
on the ground Mr.. Campbell wa
located at SemiahmOo, pushing Wig
orously the boundary survey.
While this was going on, Mr.. Dal-
las, wealthy English gentleman. an
old bachelor and Il large shareholder
in the Hudson Bay Company, ap-
peared; his business was connected
with the interests of the Hudson Bay
Company. While visiting their farm,
Belle View, on San Juan Island, he
learned of the loss of II valuable boar,
and being an interested party, under
took to frighten Cutler. but Nh. CuJ-
| ler didn't scare worth a cent" He
was not Government official; there
fore, it was simple effort Of one pel
son to bulldoze another, and entitled
to no more consideration than any
other private quarrel. 1t should BE-
! born III mind that, when Capt. Pickett
landed his company on Sau Juan
Island, there had been uu attempt t.
arrest Cutler; it was ali talk. Alr.
Dallas was not then married, ana
probably WAS hot even engaged.
\ material part of the history OF
the San Juan ImDruSlIo hes i'll the
fact that Gen. Harney, with his staff,
came to Puget Sound and visited
Ports SteilacOom, Townsend and Bel
| lingham. He stopped over night III
Bellingham Bay, and there met fitz-
hugh and Pickett, (whO subsequently
| Joined the South III SecessIon.) and
next morning steamed to SemlahmOo
Wis ted Mr. Campbell, while Mr. War
rem, tAIr Campbelfs Secretary en-
tertaIned the Generals staff officers
Before parting, Mr.. Warren was IN
formed by one of the staff that Gen
Harney was going 20 send PIcketts
company to San Juan Island. Gen
Harney thence proceeded to Victoria
British Columbia.
1t seems, then, that Gen. Harney
knew, before he reached Victoria, thai
he would send Capt. Pickett's com,
pany to San Juan Island, yet when
Gov. Douglass regretted that the
| General had not advised him, at thai
visit, of his intention TO occupy the
disputed island, Gen. Harney, IL
replying, alleged that on leaving
Victoria he steamed to San Juan
Island, and there first learned of the
Cutler story about killing the boar
and threats TO seEd him to Victoria
for trial, which determined him tO
send troops there.
Very shortly after Gen. Harney's
visit to Puget Sound, MI. Campbell
and his Secretary came to Port Town
send to await here the arrival of then
mail. On receipt of my mail | found
military order directing Capt. Pick
ett to repair with his company to san
Juan Island, and my company TO
abandon / tort Townsend and repair
to Steilacoom. L showed this order
to Mr.. Campbell, who expressed great
surprise at the premature occupation
of that island, regarding 1t as inter
| ference with his duties, and he appre
nended that it might complicate the
settlement of the northwest boundary.
Mr.. Warren, III my presence, in
formed MIR. Campbell what had trans
pired at Semiahmoo, and added that
he supposed it was the special purpose
of Gen. Harney's visit there to consult
with Mr.. Campbell about the occupa
ton, and therefore did not mention
the subject to him before.
While my company was part of
the garrison of Fort Steilacoom the
Uni,ed States steamer Massachusetts,
was turned over by the United States
Navy Department to the War Depart
ment, and my company was designated
to embark after the usual monthly
Inspection, July 3fst, 1859, with orders
to cruise III the archipelago and re-
move all northern Indians found
within, beyond the limits of United
States territory.
AZ LLANAiib III III u ui O1oS ho9
Weakened WI. II Il request to repair i'm
mediately to Lieut. Col. Casey's, (the
commanding oflicer's,) quarters, l
learned there that Capt. Pickett had
landed upon San Juan Island and
vas in jeopardy from the hostile pro
ceedings of the British officials; also,
that the northern Indians had com
.nitted depredations near MIR. Camp
1ell's camp, and he was without pro
ection, as the soldiers furnished were
necessarily detached with, and for the
rejection of, the surveying parties
Col. Casey added to my company
of forty-ono men Lieut. Shaaf, 4ih
infantry, and twenty men, ultimately
to be left at Semiahmoo with MIR
Campbell, but with orders to proceed
early in the morning to San Juan
Harbor, communicate with Capt