The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-11-30
HE RECALLED A FLOOD.
A Skipper Tells Of Port Angeles
in 1863.
The presenee Of an Old ship Carries
Him Back . Quarter Of
Century

y busy. interesting world outside
them which they overlook, or seldom
think 81. until some great catastrophe
suddenly draws their attention 10 the
fact That world IS on the great deep
which has so many mysteries buried
beneath is tosom, and from which 80
many narratives 81 thrilling interest
have sprung. Sea going men. as u
rule, look on vessels az endowed with
n personality which characterizes
them as distinctly as does special
isiiosyncrasy the person 10 whom il
is peculiar. A ship once sailed in is
alsays viewed. by him who has ex-
changed her for smother. as an old
associate; and. whether she appears
TO him in port after many stormy
years of travel. or IS passed in mid
ocean when waves roll in mountain
surges. recollection brings wildly
back incidents long since forgotten.
The presence in this port of the brig
antine T. w. Lucas, recently arrived
frem San Diego. furnished some very
interesting "reminiscences TO Captain
Minott OF the ship Palmyra, who held
the position OF first mate on the Lu-
cas- . years ago. At that time the
brigantiae was commanded by Capt
Anderson, who has since made
his fortune and is comfortably
settled in Scotland. In 1865 the vessel
sailed from San Francisco 10 Victoria
with cargo Of general merchandise:
and, on her return trip, entered and
cleared Port Angeles al the same
time. IL was along toward spring and
rain vas even more abundant than at
present, for the corresponding season
Of the year While the brigantine lay
in the waters OF the lonely settlement,
noise as of approaching thunder,
only far more appalling in character,
was heard. and majestic volume OF
roaring. boiling, seeihins, foaIn-capPei
water rushed down the valley to the
ocean. Ii was suppo ed at the time
that lake away in the interior and
up among the mountains had broken
through its confines, or else that 3 ire
mendous el0ud-bur-t occurred. Re
AAi@1 a. AZ AdA tAN 0A&- "a eA4N III AiA-s
was terrific and the sight awe-in piT
ing.
Large trees two and three feet in
diameter were torn up 10y the roots by
the furious current and dashed against
obstacle after obstacle until the trunks
were reduced TO splinters which played
on the surface lise 20 MANY straw.
The cnsiom-house was washed out by
the Hood, and one or two of the officers
Cro 2.iled. The event became Il chro-
biological mnemonic to the resident OF
the settlement. and subsequent as
well as former residents we're fixed by
reference 10 the fool.
Capt. Minott left the Lucas the fol-
lowing summer to take another posi-
ton which called him to make trips
around eapes Horn and Good Hope,
and ne has been cruising almost ever
since in East Indian and Australian
waters.
About three years ago he again
touched the Pacific coast, and, pre-
paratory 10 taking on a cargo of grain
at San Frauci-co for foreign port
was dispatched to Nanaimo to load
coal. On re urnirg from Nandimo.
Port Angeles was again touched at by
Capt. Ninott There was only one
building in the colony. IL served for
grocery store. posto:tfce and dwelling
house. The owner Was a Mr.. Meagher
who extended due 30 pitaliTy to he
genial captain, ana in introducing his
daughter. lively and attractive bru-
nette, added. "She was born inst one
year before the food" Capt Minoit,
who had quite forgotten the rush Of
water in Is. Jared in hewilderment az
the speaker and from him TO the girl
who smiled reguishly at the stout cap
tain's perplexity- To his mind at first
there was before him a veritahle she"
for which Rider Hsggard could not be
held responsible; and, moreover, there
she was, no myth or Wild fancy of the
Imagination but living flesh and blood.
1t then came back To the captain that
the Hood referred to was not quite 20
far back as Noah ark, and a hearty
laugh was INDUCED in as the age If
this Nellie was shown 10 be but % in
stead of four or i've thoasand.
Mr.. Meagher has since lied. but
during lie was always an ardent be-
lever in the future Of Port Angeles,
which he looked upon as the coming
northern terminus Of the railroad sys-
tenn of Washington. lie stuck TO his
l60-acre claim like a limpet 10 its
rock, and no inducements could lead
him 10 exchange il for other localities.
The Young lady who was "born a year
before the flood, it vas learned from
Capt Mino't, married q Mr.. Wood
who was government agent at Neah (
bay sometime ago. and ii j. supposed
both Mr. aud Mrs. Wood are now re-
siding in Washington. Ii SO they viii
Doubtless read tais and bv it learn /
that the appearance OF "A 20-year-old /
brigantine in Seattle waters brings up
-. 80 * ..u-ea.r