, 1890-12-11
How It Was Carried On in
Pioneer Days.
A DIVERS NARROW ESCAPE
"Reminiscences of Victoria as IL
Appeared Thirty Years Ago
"A Strange Appetite,

ham bay In pioneer uays' D'h ms
the year 1882 two steamers made
regular trips TO Bellingham bay.
These were the Chehalls and the
Welcome. Others made occasional
trips, but they were few and far be-
tween. At o'clock of the evening
OF May 20, 1882, the Welcome tied
up to the old coal bunkers below
Sehome, now almost entirely
obliterlted, where she lay until
noon of the next day. Her entire
cargo consisted of two passengers
dilapidated surveyors, who maue
the trip from Seattle for the purpose
of surveying the townslte of What
com. The voyage was made with
out incident, and the time was occu-
pied by passengers and officers play
ing whist. Captain Brennan was
master, and at that time there was
not II better known captain on the
sound The man at the wheel oil
the Chchalis was Captain Curtis
Browntleld, also we'll known In this
city. From two to three days were
generally occupied by these steamers
In making the trip from Seattle to
this bay, but they were sufficient to
transact the entire business.
On the 18th of July, lSS2, here was
a celebration ut Sainish, and Captain
Browniield, always accommodating
remained with his steamer to ac-
commodnte those who might wish
to enjoy the festivities at that place:
Almost every man, woman ana
child from Lummi to Chucknnut
were taken on board, and the little
steamer could not carry over seven
ty-hve passengers all told. This was
the entire number of steamers dur
ing the year 1882. Along with the
boom of 1888 came the first Increase.
The first to be put on was the City
of Quincy, the Washington, and
finally the Idaho. The steamers
then made three trips q week, and
passengers were landed on II scow,
of which Captain Newt Laswell was
master. Where previously half
ton of freight per week was landed
now gave place to several tons.
Where two or three passengers
landed the boom brought from fifty
to a hundred on each steamer.
Business was looking up!
The demand then went for more
steamers, and in another n daily
line was put on by two companies.
The old steamers began to fade
away. The Chehalis sank near
Seattle, the Welcome was blown up
aud her rotten hull now lies on the
shore Of WILDLY island above La
conner. In this last disaster Cap
tain Olney lost his life. The City of
Quincy plies on the waters of the
Skagit river. The steamer Wash
ington and the Idaho are the only
ones of the old-time fleets now COM
ing into port.
All have given place to floating
palaces, and others are constantly
coming in. Such steamers as the
Premier, City OF Kingston, Eastern
Oregon, Emma Hayward, State of
Washington, Sehome. Haytien Re
public and the Michigan are now
making regular trips, and still
the fleet is increasing. The
bay is dotted with sailing vessels
from all cllmes, and there Is u gen
eral air of prosperity. The old days
have entirely disappeared and soon
can only be called up In the MEM
ory of the old settler. Formerly the
little vessels ran their bows up To-
the mouth of Whatcom creek, where
they took water, and now commo-
dious wharves receive their cargoes.
Few of the old-time captains now
appear on the steamers. New faces
are seen at the wheels, and thus
time moves on. still the memories
of the old quiet days At Whatcom
are cherished by old and young who
have watched the varied changes In
the panorama. They have been
better. None wish Il return OF the
old times, and but few regret hay
ing passed through them.
John Nelson, who IL diving for Il.
Nj. Warren at Wallace island, had
a narrow escape for his life recently,
says the Cathlanet Gazette. 1t ap-
pears he was down in four fathoms
of water and was laying on his
breast with u hydraulic hose In his
hand, clearing away the sand from
"a sunken snag. In order TO get at
the snag he had crept under it,
probably distance of six feet.
There was a strong current runni ing
at the time, and he signaied for
more air to be pumped down to him.
He was lying with his feet slightly
elevated above the body, and the air
rushing to his feet caused him to
lose his equilibrium and come up
feet first. In this position the es-
cape valve at the back of the neck
got closed, preventing the carbonic
gas from escaping, causing him to
Instantly become unconscious. He
was pulled up insensible, but recov-
cred after being out of the water
little time.
The Colonist says: A reporter
happened to be present Mt q remin-
isccnt conversation between two old
Victoria pioneers the other day, and
he heard some curious and interest
ing incidents OF early times related.
The gentlemen are both we'll known
here, and thoroughly established in
business.
1t was gathered that they came
here in 1858 from San Francisco.
Victoria was at that time beauti-
ful wilderness, inhabited only by
the Indians and the Hudson's Bay
people, who traded with them. The
only indication Of the present lovely
city was the fort, which occupied