Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-04-18
the Observation-Disclosures PUB. CO.
Seattle. June 10 lsS3.
ellHPsEs ALONG JUAN DE fICA
STRAIT.
BY ]. ". BALTIMORE.

scenery. can be found on the Amerlcai
continent or along her almost lImitles
stretch OF coast line. The route takel
is directly north, or nearly so. up tn
main channel of Admiralty lnlet, and
wosderfully fine view Of the Sound ant
shore ludentAtIons IL aifOrded.
Recently the writer had occa sion I,
make the trip from Seattle to Victoria
and can speak from pcrs mai knowledg'
Of the unsurpassed .eauty, not nnnlxtt
with certain elements of grandeur, o
sea. shore, islands and distant mount
aims. At nine o clock pm. the spiendic
steamer left Seattle, bound for Victoria
A large number of passengers enib rkeo
for the delightful trip. A,nid tho NOISY
hustle incident To the departure OF tn
steamer, the waving Of handkerchief.
and the haaty exchange OF mutual con
rratulations, the last whistle WAS shrIliy
sounded. Lanes we're hastily cast of
the steamer moved slowly away fron
the wharf, swung round and headed foI
the entrance Of Admiralty Inlet. Ovel
the broad expanse of the inland sea
hung an Opaque cloud Of fog. This fog
bank, added to moonless and starles'
night, rendered the prevailing darkness,
almost palpable. Objects could not b.
sighted two lengths of the steamer
Later the fog bank lifted from the face
of the water. and then the pale stars
peeped in a half hesltatIng way through
the misty curtain of the night.
WearIed by the fatigue of travel, the
excitement OF the shifting scenes, and
lulled by the dull grinding of the ma
chlnery and the ceaseless plashing of
the wheels, the passengers were soon
wandering through the shadowy realms
of dreamland. Through the mis-. and
darkness the noble steamer sped rapidly
On IN her watery course. Here aud
there. as she passed down the Great
Mediterranean of Americl, bright
friendly CLEANS shot athwart the gloom
sent forth from light stations loc ,ted
along the shores at safe and convenient
intervals. Occasionally the di.mal moan
from the fog whistle came booming far
over the dreary watery waste. To these
sights and sounds the eyes and ears of
the slumbering passengers were seal, d
All on board slept but the pilot, the
quartermaster, and the man sn the
lookout.
Before the gray dawn shone dimly
over the distant shores of the Sound
the steamer had emerged from the mar
row confines of the Inlet. and was plow
ing her way across the broader stretch
of sea known las the Straits of Juan de
fuca. by ones and twos NJ first. and
soon by half dozens. the passengers
made drowsy appearance on the deck,
when IL became known We had entered
the Straits. Beyond the most asdeut
desire tue morning was lovely. Ere the
sun rose thin white vail of fog hung
above the wide expinse of sea. Ihis
WAS quickly dispeilcd by the earliest
morning beams. such u sight as gree
ed the eye. what pen can describe or
what pencil or brush adt quat.ly por-
trgv,
II. hind us stretched the broad wake
OF the steamer, TIE W yves dancing III m-r
rile and sparkling IN the sum-a vide
oelt OF glefmlpg sapphlres. Farther
away appeared the mouth ar entrance
OF Admiralty Inlet, through which We
had steamed less than an honr before.
Southward of ;be entrance could plainly
be discerned Point Wilson, Middle
Point. Protection Island, Cape George,
and the entrance To tort Discovery.
ahreast, New Dungen,s - appeared III
iai', unoosttucted view. Far above the
ann ard shadowy STORE line rose the
LOFTY and snow crested peak Of Mount
thatra, towering nearly 1850 feet above
TIE sea level. Touched bv the early
rays light, the snow cleaned with "A
nefce ros.ate fire, SO bright aud dazzling
'nat tue eye shrunk from the glare with
hsehse OF pam. Running westward, n
nigh range of densely woodeo mountains
Trends along parallel with the coast.
these shone with dark aerial blush
Tar L.. tt.Rts - II
Following the shore line further west
ward, Its windings became more and
more indlstinct. and finally melted
sotiiy away from human sight in the
iliimitable expanse of the Pacific ocean
beyond.
Swes 'ing the eve once more astern to-
"afu tue southeast. the western shore
OF "hidby Island swelled gently above
The gold and purple sea, STEPPED in the
gior'ous hues of morning. Admiralty
Head. with its column like light beacon.
co"'d be distinctly outlined. North.
~afo the eye plainly traced the aaver-
ing shore-liue Of this island county.
stretching across the strait Due north
tne blurred and dreamy outlines of San
Juan and Lopez islands were seen. jus.
PeepinR above the water rimmsd hoii.
Hance to the Canal de Haro WAS very
uimly discerned without the aid of a
marine glass. Just ahead, Vancouver
island rose IN plain view. No element
was lacking 10 complete the absolutely
perfect picture of blue. purple and gold
eh sea. bright and cloudless sky. near
Sha remote shore, and distant mountain
ranges. As II 10 highten and intensity
.Ae ehchaniin0 spectacle, the sun show
sieu down a flood of light. ard the fresh
ueheious morning breeze blew softly
over the sea
"htie crossing the Straits, and Just
oiofe 'he steamer entered Victoria har
Sor, splendid view WAS caught of the
as'ant entrance To Juan de Fuca Due
'oi US stretched the long. wide ch an
uc'' uhiretted 10y single island, the
.,ues OF shere seeming to converge as
ieoeced with sInuous coarse to-
iu the mouth of the Strait. DINNER
WINNER and less distant grew the Sc
uihe lines until the grayish land
ni, efeehish blue waters gently miu.
., ana Were lost in each other BE
80. ,Hese softly fading marks Of land
W.ueu the llmltless exp,nse of sea
b,.,s us Ieehie and uncertain vision the
~ Ah eve was scanning the eastern r,u
VI Tie mighty Pacific ocean.
Nil. steam collier WAS just passing out
T'a cargo of coal from Seattle o,
iaooma' bound for San Francisco. Ii.
snnL t narrow. black hull had partisll,
,sa anA oelo' the horizon. and the stack
se'noied ,rsned slender speok. from which
s,a, M"i'ed dark banner of smoke. Sew
d. vessels We're entering. beating slowl,
.ns under gentle wind, the rigging
ny, huiis bearing a dim. phantom as
al ,, Ahead OF our steamer. and jus,
r,s ne entrance to the barbor of Victo
sw,n's o.e'si large ships rode al anchor
win 49, ls'iessly With the sluggish tide
mor,;n el s,iis happing Iaziiy in th.
brseze.-Sda Fsuneiscds.
irnIv hNiffs DANDELIoS Tonic il
S.y named the King of Bitters. n