The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-07-20
"reminiscences of Captain Henry
Roeder, of Whatcom.
WITNESS IN A LAND CONTEST.
Title to Claim on Point Roberts-Start-
ing . sawmiil on BeliinEham
Bsy-Sehome Coal.

have no earthly interest in this matter ex-
cep. 20 see justice done. Mrs. Waller has
lived on Point Roberts for the last sixteen
years; and, indeed, she was the first white
woman 10 make home there. Seven
years ago her husband was drowned and
since then she has had hard work 10 keep
Up her farm and educate her children.
When Point Roherts-which had been q
military ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS thrown open TO
settlement . few months ago, she AZ once
fled on 40 acres of the land upon which
she had been living so long. Tomorrow
was to have been her day for the final
proof; bu: understand that protest ha.
been entered against her claim
by man Drysdale, who came
from the Fraser river two years
ago, and started fish cannery at Blaine.
What legal points he may have on his side
l do not know, but certainly the whole
community sides with Mrs. Waller"
Mr.. Bob.et is one OF the well-known men
in this part Of the country. for he came 10
Seattle in 1850. The year following he
went TO where Blaine now is and began
farming. Since a town has been started
there he has been selling his farm of in
lots.
Captain Roeder is one OF the prominent
pioneers OF the state He is now 6S years
old. for he vas born in Germany July 4.
1874. His father. John Roeder, was 3
soldier under Napoleon, and fought in the
battle of Waterloo. Not wishing 10 bear
arms for Louis. John Roeder came to
America with MS family in 1881, and
settled at Vermilion, O.
Young Henry Roeder began his nautical
experience on Lake Erie. and before he
was 20 years Old he was master OF 8
schooner. In 1919 he caught the gold
fever. and resolved 10 come 10 the mines
Of California. stay a year and then return
to take charge of fine vessel then in pro-
cess OF construction on the Nermilion
river. But twenty-five years elapsed be-
fore he went back.
The journey began in February, 1880
Twelve mules, two wagons and camp
outfit were secured az st. Louis. With
these the party of adventures reached
Salt Lake in time 70 hear Brigham Young
deliver his first Forth of July Grafton, in
which he declared that the Saints would
set up a government OF their own. At
Salt Lake the wagons were sold for $25
apiece in Mormon money - known
as Holiness TO the Lord" and
worth IS cents 10 the dollar in California.
From Salt Lake to California Henry Roe
der and his friends rode on muleback
But they had no little trouble with the In
dams
Once in the Golden state, Captain Roe
der had the proverbial hard luck of q
miner. In going tor supplies and mail to
Sacramento from 0phir Flat, where his
party was mining, he had an attack of
cholera and was also sick abed
for three months with typhoid fe-
yer. When he finally recovered he
mined, carried supplies, and finally bought
store Of woman whose profits from the
establishment used 20 be half-gallon jars
| of gold dust. The business was not profit
able 70 young Roeder, who lost too much
| by selling on credit. In fishing on the
Sacramento he made 500 a day, but when
he had laid up 5000 he loaned the money
| TO a friend, who lost ii all in the great Sac
ramento fire.
The profits of fishing suggested to Mr.
| Roeder that he might make money by
| catching salmon in the Columbia; and &C
| cordingly he came to Portland in the fall
| of 1852 "Whiie We were there" said he
| last night, I'VE learned that San Francisco
was in ashes. and that lumber was worth
| $500 thousand there. Everybody at once
got the sawmill fever. Puget sound was
country but little known to US
| then. yet we heard that there
was plenty of lumber there-and good
fisheries as well. So two of Us bought an
Indian dugout and padded down the Co
lumhia 10 the mouth of the Cowli.z river.
intending 10 come 10 Puget sound and
start a sawmill. We came up The Cowlitz
TO Coviitz Landing in what was called the
mail canoe, and from there 10 Olympia
We waded through the mud
AT Olympia We bought another canoe.
and started 10 hunt for water power for
our mill. We went 10 North bay and
hauled our craft across the neck into
Hoods canal-ani harder hauling never
did II my life. We were in dire need of
provisions, and though we had money, We
could not buy them anywhere. Every
body told US 10 go to Port Townsend,
where there was great plenty. but on
arriving there the only thug | could buy
with my SO gold pieces was wormy bread,
| very wormv bread"
On December II, 1S12 the PARTY of three
men went over 10 Whatcom county. and
! Captain Roeder took Ion acres as a ioua-
| tjon claim on the present size of Sehome.
| He returned 10 Port Townsend for carmen
| tiers and supplies, but failing 10 get them
| there he bought a sloop at Dungeness and
went across 10 Victoria. There AZ the
| store of the Hudson Bay Company" he
| continued, Il could get BIZ. one ration
| apiece for my men,
Captain ROe3er returned and built his
| mill For the machinery ne went 70 the
| Suffer iron works al san Francisco and
paid - cents pound. When the mill
| was finally completed the san Francisco
| market was gluttei, and 10 try IN sell luna-
| Ter there VAS useless. 50 Mr. Roeler
| sent his product 10 Victoria The first
| Church OF England there was built with
| his lumber. and also the barracks located
| 81 Esquim2.t during me Crimean var.
| 4 vas frequently At Victoria. " said he
| and when 1 had gotten acquainted with
| the governor. So James Douglas. we were
| on very good terms One day he asked
| me il | did not want 20 see how their
| criminals were punished. Taking me 20
| the prison. he said TO the turn kew in A
| deliberate tone, almost 4 draw: Mr.. Hall
! bring out number s>-and-so. .astea him 10
| tie post and give him two dozen
The poor fellow was brought from his
| cell and given twentv-tour singing ruts
| with the eat-o'-uine-;ails. Al the end Of
! the punishment the man made an angry
| remark. and the governor said very
| slowly; Mr.. Hail, see he has not We,
| had enough Give him a dozen more. and
| lay them on Iiltle harder
| The blood was already running down
| the mans back, and ut the frs. blow he