Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1886-12-03


EJsei Cox Ia I1a5oa TImes
Gaszzs Ta1eOzver, tie fEm0as
naFiRzfox. rs the eariiest co1scle1-
tious explorer Of tie co4st Of British |
C0lnmb54. De h4d serTed - : mid
shipnan under Capsasn Cook in rs
P4ci6e 0ceaa voFege. and when tie
Spani4rds yielded their possessions u
tie nei<h borhood Of EooSkR sound
70 tie Eaelish be wezk thitherin ia
% recaiEe The surrendex from Quadra.
the Spanish c0mmaadeE. Afterwards.
Tancouver devoted several years
70 surveying the co&st and intrc4se
inland chaanels fer about 1000 niles
along the Pacific shores Of America.
from ab0zs 80 degrees north latitude
up 70 the Russian POSSESSIONS FOR
many years the largest Islands on the
west coast Of America bore the names
Of both Qz8dra and VancoGver, bat
the former fell into disase. The var1-
oas channels and straits with The
larger Islands Of this interesting re-
giOn stiIl hold the names this famous
navigator gave them Vancouver
Island i about a75 miles long and s.
miles broad Up the widest part, with
an average width Of 30 mics. and /
covers a estimated surface Of some
Is, 900 square miles. Il represents,
with the myriads Of other Islands OF
all sizes and shapes that are in the
adjacent waters, the peaks and high
lands Of 3 submerged mountain
range running parallel 70 the great
ranges Of British Columbia, and in
some respects prolongatiOn OF the
Cascade and coast range Of Wash
ington Territory. Through the island
there extends q line Of bare and rocky
mountains. having an elevation Of
1000 70 5000 feet, but rising towards
the southern part % peaks Of GOO
feet. The coasts OF the islands are
abrupt and rocky with great cliffs
and prOmontories jutting out into the
surrounding seas, so that they are
much indented with bays. and May
smaller islands adiOin them, partic1-
larry on the western side. The two
ends Of Vancouver are comparatively
fat, aad the most of the settled por-
tons ara az the south end, where
Victoria IS situated, and in the region
around the coal measures of Nanal-
mo on the eastern coast. Among the
many islands in the archipelago
which makes up almost the whole OF
the Georgian Straits aud other seas
and sounds between Vancouver and
the mainland, is San Juan Island.
This roekbOund region, lying to the
eastward of the lower end of Van
ceuver, played an important part IN
the boundary dispute between Eng
land and the United States, now hap.
PLY settled. Forty years ago, when
various dormant claims were revived
and the States demanded 3 higher
northern boundary for Oregon, the
political war CRY IN American cleo
lions was, 'Fifty-four forty OF fight
The result, however, was neither the
one thing nor the other; there was
much disputing and an ultimate
settlement upon this present bounda-
~ of 80 deg. North latitude, with an
imaginary line among the islands in
Georgian Strait, disturbing some on
one side and some on the other. But
ultimately foTaging pig and stub
born settler got the two countries by
the ears in the San Juan eo3tro
versy," which fingered several years
before settlement. This and wa
used as q sheep pasture by the Hud
son Bay Company, then the masters
Of this whole region, and their herd
ers kept few pigs An American
came over and set up an establish
ment on the point of the island, since
called from him Hubs Point. One
Of the Hudson Bay pigs foragsd Ia
Hubs garden, and be is said 70 have
shot il and threatened to shoot it:
owner. The latter appealed 70 th'
company-so the story goes--and
they prepared 10 drive out the Amer
lean. But he was too quick for them
and got General Harvey 70 send /
company of soldiers over, who tool
possession, set up the American fiag
and claimed the island as part Of tn
United States. Two British war yes
sells went over to shell them out, snS
il looked for awhile like warm work
but there was no outbreak, owing u
the judicious forbeaEance Of the Eng
lish Admiral and General Harvey
and for several years there was ;
joint occupancy, British marines hold
ing one end Of the island aud Ameri
can troops the other. Finally th'
Emperor Of Germany was selected a
arbitrator, and the island awarded 4
thu Tnitad etafee tha boundary lin,