Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1891-07-28
LOVELY ORCAS ISLAND
A Land of Mountains and VAL
leys, of Fruits, Trees and
Flowers
A Delightful Summer Resort,
Where Days and Nights
May be Enjoyed
Its Agricultural Capacities, Its
Balmy Climate Conspire to
Make it Famous

Orcas, the beautiful, one Of the fair
est, if not the most delightful of the
many islands which constitute the
Archipelago de Har0, just now is to
be seen in the rugged grandeur or
mountain scenery and the sweet Sim
plicity of vale and meadow, nesting
between high mountains covered, here
and there with heavy growth OF FIR,
and anon there stretch down the
mountain sides, great bare patches
where, apparently, tree or shrub never
has taken root, and which now have a
reddish brown tint, but in the spring
and later in the fall, when kindly
rains start the vegetation afresh,
these mountain slopes are covered
with verduTe. These picturesque
glades slope down to the valleys at the
base of the mountains, or sometimes
run right down TO the sea, and
the emerald green of the mountain
is mingled with the sea green of old
ocean.
The loveliness of these islands Of
the Lower Sound is just becoming
known and appreciated The beauty
of landscape and sea view, the balmy
air redOlent with the breath and per-
fume of meadows and the odOr Of
forests, with just enough Of salt water
tang to make it inYigOFating, combine
to place OrCas island in the front rank
of watering places. There is music
in the waves, as they gently lap the
beaches of the numerous, beautiful
bays aud nlets which indent the
island on every side; there is an
eternal song being whispered through
the branches Of the lofty trees on hill
and mountain side; there are poems
in every valley, from the pastoral to
the sublime; there are literally ser
mons in the stones, and books in the
running brooks, which, falling from
the tops Of mountains, course gently
through placid valleys and amid green
pastures. The ever restless ocean
may be apOstrOphiZed from Il high
prOmOntOry, or song bucOliC sung
from some sylvan dell or shady bower.
There is no limit to the variety Of
sights and sounds, the Kaleidoscope
changes, the eyeF-ChaHgiHg panorama
Of land and sea.
Through the courtesy Of Manager | 5.
Richards, Of the Fairhayen Steam Nav
igatiOn Co., HERALD representative
visited East Sound, OrCas Island, on
Sunday. The steamer Cascade, with a
goodly number Of eXCursiOnists on
board, left the Ocean dock at $3.50, and
sailed down the bay Of Bellingham.
What "A grand sheet of water it is, and
as we gaze over its broad surface and
look back at the beautiful city sloping
down to its shores, the thought comes
invOiuntarily, what mighty city will
be there, and how soon will this great
harbor be dotted with the white sails
OF scores of ships bringing the pro-
ducts OF other Climes and carrying
awav manufactured and raw materials
for the needs of less favored peoples.
The Cascade glides gracefully
| through the water, fresh breeze is
| blowing, the day clear and the eXcur'
| sionists settle down to enjoy the
| scenery. Lummi island Is passed on
| the right, and out there on the star
| board side is Eliza island, with Sen
| ator Canfield's hen ranch, looking
neat, well-kept and prosperous, Tho
] monarch of the isle. There is Sinclair
or Cottonwood island, and here are
| NendOra and Cypress aud a number OI
smaller islands. Neat farm houses
are observable here and there, some
well kept and prosperous, Others hav
ing the appearance OF being only the
abiding places Of some lone fisher
men, who plough the deep rathe
than cultivate the soil. Passing
through Obstruction channel, gOOC
view OF the east side Of OrCas is oh
ltained, A cloud hangs low over the
island ObscuTing the base of thC
mountain range, the tops Of which
however, stand out above the clouds
clear and distinct. The shore is dot
ted with well cultivated fruit farms
and the bees can almost be seen gath
ering honey from the numerous Glove
fields, and winging their way TO ant
from their little homes.
Away out toward the straits ar
Clark and Barnes islands, and furthe
still is Malta, a lovely little island, al
most perfectly level, and looking lik
an emerald, surrounded by blu
waters. South are Blakely and Lope
and Decatur, and southeast is Gueme
land EidalgO, and scores or Smalle
islands, varying in extent from fey
acres TO hundreds and thousands.
East Sound is entered; it Is a lOvel
bay or sound running far into tn
island, and almost dividing it, and !
has a nearly uniform width Of abou
a mile. At the head Of the inle
is the little town of East Sound on
OF the most picturesque and altOgethc
delightful little places one would wis
to see. A number of Fairhaven pee
ole are rusticating here, either stoI
tping at the East Sound hotel, or camI
ing out, and white tents and merry
Laughing children are seen in man
cool, sequestered glens.
| AS the HERALD man passed dow
the village street leading to the hote
a sound Of hymnlng praise was hearC
| 1t came from the Episcopal churc
hard by, of which Rev. S. II. S. Ora
J is the indefatigable rector. II
, has lived here for the past 81
years, and has been for as long tim
, the guide philosopher, tutor and frien
\ Of all the people residing there, as we
as the visitors who from time to tim
have visited this place. On the Ops
! site side OF the street there is also
noat church In which the afhodigt