The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1892-10-01
ALL BECAUSE OF A PIG.
HowAFAT PoRKER CAME NEAR
CAUSING A WAR.
Incident OF the Early History OF wash
ington Territory-Quarrel Over
Ban Jdan--when Pickett
Was Captain.

San Jian--when Pickett
Was Captain.
The celebration OF the anniversary
OF the entrance OF Captain George
Vancouver into Puget sound and OF
the discovery OF the Columbia river
by Captain Robert Gray has led to .
searching OF records and bringing
to light OF a number OF interesting
facts concerning the early history OF
the Pacific Northwest says Seattle
special to the New York Times
One of the singular incidents was
the quarrel over San Juan Island
when pig came near involving the
United States and Great Britain In
war. The causes OF the difficulty ran
back several yeara In 1918. when
the title OF the United States to the
land up to latitude 40 deg. N. was
disputed by Great Britain. a treaty
was formed. allowing a joint occu-
pancy OF the region now covered by
Oregon. Washington and Idaho Into
this neutral territory the Hudson Bay
company extended its posts and ut
the same time settlers from the Unit
ed States began making their way
through the trackless wilderness.
Finally. after our government had de.
manded that the boundary be fixed at
81 deg. 40 min. N. and there had
been much negotiation with little
practical result treaty was agreed
upon. In 1916 setting the interna-
tional boundary from the Lake Of the
Woods westward at the forty-ninth
parallel.
This settled everything until salt
water was reached. and then the
dividing line ran between the islanda
giving all OF Vancouver to Great
Britain. There was some misunder-
standing from the wording OF the
treaty. which of two channels the
lines should follow. and accordingly
San Juan the largest and most fertile
island in the Archipelago dc Haro
was claimed by both countries The
territorial government OF Washington
asserted that San Juan belonged to
the territory. and attempted to col
lect taxes on property OF the Hudson
Bay company situated on the island.
The factor in charge informed the as
SCISSOR that the island belonged TO her
majesty Queen Victoria but the
sheriff OF the territory levied on some
sheep and sold them for taxes. The
Hudson Bay company then appealed
to the British minister at Washington
ID. c.. and in 1859 boundary COM
mission was appointed to determine
81 hat he fxuo fria
While the commission was at work
Lyman A. Guitar one OF the Ameri-
can occupants of the island was
greatly annoyed by the depredations
in his garden OF boar belonging to
the Hudson Bay company. Guitar re-
monstrated with the officers OF the
company but obtaining no relief. he
took the case into his own hands and
shot the animal. The next day the
company's chief factor Mr.. Dallas
appeared in the steamer Beaver and
Victoria for trial. Guitar picked up
his gun. pointed 1t at the officer and
said they might take him to Victoria,
but they would have to kill him first
Dallas did not care to precipitate a
contest then and there. and so he
went back to Victoria empty handed.
The attempt OF the English to ex-
ercise jurisdiction on the island reused
the wrath OF Brig. Gen. William S.
Harvey. then commanding the depart
ment OF the Columbia and no sent
Capt Pickett with company OF IN
fantry to protect the interests OF
the American residents ut San Juan.
The British replied by dispatching
three vessels TO the scene--the Trib.
une. the Plumper and the Satellite
which had been lying In Victoria.
This was In August 1859. A boat
from the Tribune landed Capt horn
by afterward admiral-and several
other officers OF the vessel. They
were met by Capt Pickett who was
cool and courteous.
The English captain said: Il have
l. 100 men on board the ships ready
to land tonight"
The reply OF Capt. Pickett was:
Captain. you have the force to land.
but II you undertake 1t / will fight
you as long as have a man"
Horribly answered. Very we'll /
shall land them at once"
III you will give me forty eight
hours" continued Pickett till hear
from my commanding officer, my
orders may be countermanded. II
you do not you must be responsible
for the blood that follows"
mot one minute" was Hornby's
retort
The Englishmen went back to the
vessel. and Pickett gave orders for
the drawing OF his men in lines on
the hill facing the beach, where the
English would have TO land. His
directions were to fire. one-third at O
time at close range and then fall
back. He added: I'VE will make q
Bunker Hill OF 1t and don't be afraid
OF their big guns"
In less than fifteen minutes the men
were In line six PAGES apart on the
hill every settler on the island volun-
teering to reinforce the regulars The
boats of the English vessels were low
cred. but the sailors and marines were
not landed.
| For several days the Americans