The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-10-12
|pulyEER MEMORIES.
las Of Early Days on Pu-
get Sound.
aey Mr.. CHARLES PRoscH.
Army Recruited the Local Fi-
saiaiers a. Buiiies-I Military
Life in the Pioneer Era.

NJ more heartily welcomed than
- STATES army psyma-ter. For
Major Alvord flied this posi-
no compliment to him 10 say
s.r.s an extremely popular man.
.e.-snce always relieved the money
s,d g.sddeped the hearts OF suit
s,soonkeepers and traders generally.
-os.s.;onal gamblers, Of whom this
s,.st had large represeution from
-. disooyery OF gold in California.
- IN the alert on such occasions to
.bsre Of the money the paymas-
S.l,,rsed. and they invariably sue
- : getting a large portion OF il: for
q the soldiers, after settling with
3 a:.I<- aud drawing their pay, lost no
roirg 70 the nearest town and in
that remained in faro bank or
8. cher gambling scheme
s-srnaratiyely small amount Of money
long way among small number
-. So it proved in regard 10 these
srs.e.l disbursements by the paymas-
r. same sums put in circulation
,.h our largely augmented popula-
!. soaId make no percePtible difference
80 Al The time spoken OF il had a
s.~.afay enliyening and stimulating
- rasinly observable especially in the
~s.,,sarcs- Of business inen. None of
ss.oarces Of the country save that Of
! 80 we're then IN process of develop
1 =, snd the money derived from that
81 -, aid not suffice TO meet the wants OF
80. and Others outside Of the mills.
Nsuplsins the reason Why the coming
: a. nsymaster was always looked for
- 70 with pleasant anticipation.
!. ia there were four military stations
.-orsd by United states troops on or
- ne shores Of the Sound. They were
.prtiyeIy Fort Steilacoom, Fort Town
"A Fort Bellingham and Semiahmoo
- Al these four stations the pay 10
.s1n and soldiers aggregated $4,000
rsslly. The commissary department
ssas,ssa about an equal amout, while the
= sxs,rmaslers expended much more. In
ssrd figures the military contributed
fss, 1890 annually 10 the money in
! ,,,aIs,ion on Puget sound. This. it will
4 : =en. was no insignificant SUN when
z sstnea TO not more than 1900 people,
u ,sth comprised about the population OF
q BE- srntory al that period.
though the existence of the garrison and
: aswesence of the soldiers was of great
sasst in q business or pecuniary view. ii
m not an unmixed good. There were
= sny bard characters among the troops,
shee proper place was the penitentiary,
a.. whose vicious proclivities were only
partially kept In check by the rigid disci-
pine enforced b. their officers. When of
auty and assay from their quarters, they
sometimes menaeed the peace and property
OF The citizens, and occasionally one OF two
would be turned over 10 the civil authori-
ties tor infractons OF the civil law. When
inehriated they Here always more or less
vuahlescme and sometimes dangerous.
y more than one occasion citizens have
sn Indebted TO the timely presence OF the
A1ss tor their escape from threatened in
srst ihe hands OF parties of drunken
ssdsr
| esse in point. and also one showing
y sdn'rable discipline prevailing in the
rry, occurred on Fourth OF July in
saacoom. All of the soldiers At the gar
30, except those in the guardhouse. re-
ssd passes To 90 into town aud unite
"a the citizens in celebrating the natal
81. Eor some hours they were very or
NJ and peaceful. bat by degrees they
tAe4 various stages of drunkenness.
nj finally the men who had come into
40 Is harmless "a doves became perfect
kHons, ready for any atroei,y. Just then
ag more OF them proposed to take the
Wa, or, IN more modern parlanoe. paint
xnxn red" And they could have done
shf they were sufficiently numerous.
ssd The citizens, hearing their threats.
FSFed them to me. Seeing Major Haller
nroGp Of gentlemen short distance
approached him and communicated
ca had been told me. Instantly plac-
BIS arm in mine. We directed our steps
ssoOrey grog shop, then the worst re
IS Tor DRINKS in town, where We found
Exris OF a hundred Of the "bulwarks of
.tHs IN the hnmor for any deviiment.
's MAJOR saw at "a glance how matters
sed and acted accordingly. Tapping on
shoulder The nearest soldier. whose
nsa' turned to hiu, the major said.
so 10 the garrison. my man
npnpuy saluting by touching his cap,
s,aldier replied
bll I've got pass, major.
Con care d-n FOR your pass; 60 10
garrison" sternly responded the
ssp1.
saaoal more ado the man started in tbo
sseon OF The garrison. when the major
WEE the next man on the shoulder and
WAITED the order. He. like the first, re-
sesGAIed by saying he had pass. to
.aa ths MAJOR responded As before. ky
g eMe the others saw the game was up,
~ saen the major ordered the entire
~ 70 return 10 the garrison. they
1'saei Oh as meek and submissive IS
ssN saluiing him as they departed.
IVY never doubted that. hnt for this
EST seton on the part of Major Haller.
1'9ody would have been hurt on that
sa0'aer Incident illustrative % the dis
- uen prevalent occurred 81 my
~eas office. The soldiers we're very
- 70 my paper. quite a number sub
~ and PAID for is. and some were in
aA@' OK visiting the office ~ intervals.
80 them was Il man named Mcdonald.
- VISITS were too frequent and too pro-
% oe always agreeable he was
sma0dtln condition, and az such
specially Was bore Lieutenant
AsniS was also q frequent and very
80 visitor Al ihe uiiice and happened
When this maa made his last cali
A. the uan opened the door aud
A'oe' 10 enter. the lieutenant asked. in
Nyou want that man in here
80 l repl.ed.
s@sa arninG TO the soldier. he said:
Vel cat, Mcpousld."
Il ~seier Aesi,A.ej aad o,ean To mum
sa.e'alng that NaS uniute.ls Eloie ~ Us.
a,s sc lieutenant. iu : tone nsore stern
- Tore. Sald to hns-
ssssaln." ''''''' '''' ~ ~
stFtr dtI enter r.tc Ollie. again and