The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1890-08-28
HISTORY OF THE SOUND.
The Early Explorations Of Puget
Sound.
Deception Pass n mIsnOmeP--NRm m.
Ing OF the Bays and Islands by
the Ancient Mariners.

The names Of towns, villages, rivers,
mountains, lakes and bays Of the coun-
/ try are often an excellent record Of its
history. So far there has not yet ap-
peared any history Of Puget Sound, and
some time will probably elapse before the
muse inspires an author to become the
Herodotus OF the Mediterranean Of north
western America. Meanwhile, however,
there is the record Of the names of locRli-
ties which, though mostly overlooked by
those who are busy with the acquisition
Of wealth and absorbed by the alteration
Of the almighty dollar, speaks eloquently
to those who pause to think, and who let
their thoughts wander backward to the
days that are gone in order to learn what
the days that are to come may bring and
to mediate on the childhood, maturity
and old age Of nations. Probably the
first mariner Of European birth who
sighted, as far as we know, the waters Of
Puget Sound was a Greek sailor in the
service Of the Spanish viceroy Of Mexico.
His vessel sailed along the waters in the
north Of the Sound about 400 years ago.
The brave pilot has been dead for CEN
turies, the rule of the Spaniards in Mex
leo is over and the English speaking race
has meanwhile conquered almost the
whole North American continent, which
in those days when the first white ex-
plorer approached our coasts belonged
still to the red men. But though these
great changes and others OF equal import
have taken place, the name Of the plucky
Greek still lives in the name Of the straits
through which he sailed. Even to this
day the waters are called the straits of
'Juan de Fuca."
! Three centuries elapsed after Juan de
Fuca's adventurous voyage before the
first white explorer entered the Sound it.
self. This navigator was lieutenant Of
Vancouver's, who sent him from his CEN
tral station at Restoration point to ex-
plore the inlet on May 10, 1892; the his
torical fact is again recorded by the name
of the waters, which, in honor of Lieut..
Peter Puget, was called Puget Sound.
A great island in the north of the Sound
is called "Whidby's island" 1t is the
largest island of these waters and was
once inhabited by the "Satchets," whose
villages were located among the beautiful
pastures and meadows that are so char
acteristic of the island. The Spaniards,
Quimper and Elisa, passed 1t without pay
ing much attention to it, but Vancouver's
officer, WILDLY, explored its coasts from
one end to the other during the months of
May and June, 1902, the name which the
island has retained until to-day bearing
witness Of the event,
Fidalgo island received its name from
the canal de Fidalgo, which was baptized
thus in 1871 by Vancouver in honor Of a
well known Spanish officer Of that name.
The highest mountain on the island is
named mount Erie" in honor Of Com
modore Perry, Of the United States. the
hero Of Lake Erie.
Deception pass, which separates the two
islands above named, also records an in
teresting historical fact. The entrance to
this passage was first observed by the
Spanish explorers, Quimper and Elisa;
afterwards it was explored by Vancouver's
officer, WILDLY, who, not thinking it
passable for large vessels, called it "De-
ception" passage, which name it has re-
tanned, although Mr.. Ringgold, in the
ship Porpoise, 1871, sailed through it and
proved the name misnomer.
Port Townsend, or, as it should be
called, Port Townshend, received its name
from Vancouver, in honor of the Marquis
Of Townshend, one Of the lords Of the
English admiralty, who signed the navi-
gators instructions.
Port Ludlow was named after Mr.. Lud-
low, a well known United States naval
officer Of the war Of 1878, who received
his death wound on board the ship Ches-
apeake. Vancouver had not explored
this port, and Wilkes, in ls4l, who was
the first to survey, gave the name men.
toned to the harbor.
Hoods canal was discovered and ex-
plored in its primeval parts in boat ex-
pedition from the 10th to the l4th of May.
1892, and named in honor Of Lord Hood,
another lord Of the British admiralty.
Port Gamble is a small basin on the
east, near the entrance Of Hoods canal,
and was named by Mr.. Wilkes in honor
Of Mr.. Gamble, another United States
naval officer Of 1913.
Bainbridge island was named by Mr..
Wilkes after an officer under whom he
had served.
The name Of Vashon island dates fur
ther back. It was discovered by Van
couver and named after his friend, Capt.
Vashon, Of the English navy.
Port Madison was entirely overlooked
by Vancouver and was probably named
by Lieutenant Ringgold, who explored il.
Dyes inlet was named after one Of the
officers Of Wilkes exploration party.
Admiralty inlet itself is translation Of
Canal del Almerantzago," a name given
to 1t by the Spanish explorers.
In the south Of Puget Sound, Budd's in.
let, Eds inlet. Totten's inlet, Cases in
let, Hartstein's inlet, and several other
inlets, were named by Wilkes after officers
Of his squadron.