The record-union., 1892-06-16
SEATTLE S0UNDINGS.
Gossip From the Queen City of the
North Pacific.
"Beselena'' Relates a Blood-Curdline
Ghost Story. and Offsets 1t With
One of a Parrot.

One windy afternoon I was strolling
down the street when / came across a
ragged little newsboy, not more than
ten years old, sitting on flight of steps
and smoking pipe with all the enjoy
ment of an old man. l passed on, but
impelled by curiosity retraced my steps.
This time a companion was with him;
the pipe had gone out, and the little old
man was proceeding to relight it. His
face was study in itself. He screwed up
one eye TO look into the bowl, his breath
came in short gasps, and one dirty little
finger was thrust into the opening. say,
Jim," said his companion in a stage
whisper, "she's onto yer" Jim tried to
hide the tell-tale pipe. but it was too late.
He gave me conciliatory grip, and
passed on with a warning shake OF my
head at the young reprobate.
A few days ago six half-grown bears
were seen standing by an electric car
track in Walla Walla Addition. The
motor man saw the animals first and
called the attention of the passengers to
the bruin tribe. But the occupants OF the
car did not take much undue interest in
the four-footed strangers, and pathetically
begged the conductor TO crowd on all the
fluid possible, SO they would not be de-
voured alive.
g,A cougar was also seen lately by q
young lady, whose cries and 'sprinting"
qualities exhibited almost paralyZed an
electrician conductor. These animals
have been alternating in tie woods; the
spring has been unusually backward,
and the berries are not yet ripe, so the
animals come to the city for food. Hunt
ont 10
direction, and declare they will not re-
turn until the last of these fierce animals
has been eXterminated.
The bewitcbing u countenance of
Princess Angelina, old Chief i5eattles
daughter, greets me at every turn. There
is hardly shop in town which does not
exhibit the aged scion of Toyalty's
pictured face in its window. The Princess
is said to be in somewhat straitened cir
cumstances; ii this is the fact, then why
does not someone suggest to her the idea
of charging q royalty on all the pictures
thus exhibited? Almost any day the
dusky damsel may be seen prowling
along the street, clad in garments Of
which the make and fit se9m to trouble
her but little. How she manages 10 ex-
ist is u mystery, but that she does not
starve is a palpable fact. | have been
told that the old residents of the Queen
City have the ancient Princess under
their especial charge, and see that she
wants for nothing.
The all-important question of the day
is, ''What shall be our State 1lower-the
modest clover, or the stately rhododen-
dron ?" Both have their stanch adherents,
and it will be a close draw between them
The clover is very sweet and pretty, but
reminds one too forcibly of a sylvan ex-
istence with cows, and pigs, and chick
ems, purling brooks shady trees and
l~TpllS Tho Thp1nHaDArps, Th iC nv
clusively native OF our State, and by
ali means should be the emblem Of the
great State of Washington.
Monday, the 9th Of June, commence
rates the third anniversary of the great
Seattle fire. The particulars OF this great
contlagration are known to all-how, in
one hour, the entire business portion of
the city lay smoldering mass OF ruins
siXty-four acres Of ground swept by the
devastating fiames; thirty-two business
blocks burned 10 the ground. The loss
exceeded ten million dollars. What
looked almost like an irreparable loss at
the time has at last proven the city's
greatest blessing. PhmniX-like the new
Seattle arose from the debris and ashes,
and from being an insignificant village
she is now the coming great city OF the
Northwest.
4 certain prominent young man, hail
ing from Tacoma, arrived i'll this city
some time ago. Not being familiar with
the city, he put up ut a fourth class hotel.
The establishment was overrun with
rats, which the proprietor was seeking TO
extermlnate with rat poison. The young
man retired, and being fatigued after his
journey, soon fell asleep. One OF the
rodents got locked in his room, and dur
ing the night, through The effects OF the
poison, got maddeEed for water. The
animal ieaped upon the bed, and danced
NN-IlI nn y. g.,
and shoulders. OF course he awoke. and
seizing the intruder by the throat hurled
him from the window. Going down
stairs the next morning, he met tie land
lord.
"Nell, how did you sleep last night?''
he was asked.
"Oh, Tairly WELL" was the reply. 81
was only troubled by one fiea.'
Hehad mistaken a Seattle rat for a Ia
coma nea!
Seattle can boast of the proud distinc-
ton OF owning ghost. This isn't an inn
ported spook, but. a real domestic article.
and is supposed to be the ETHEREAL part of
a man who was murdered last winter, and
his body found found floating in the bay
This is the story: There are three young
men of this city who have a taste for the
athletic. When their days work is DER
they cool their fevered brows by taking a
row on the lake. A few nights ago pale
Luna shone from a cloudless sky; the
water was as smooth as glass. The young
men rowed on oblivious of all around,
save the beauty OF the night and the soft
splash OF the oars in the placid stream.
They were near the shore, when suddenly
blood-curdling, unearthly scream was
heard. The rowers dropped their oars
and gazed at each other open-mouthed.
Again that terrible cry. The hair on their
heads commenced to rise, and they shiv-
cred with fright. The third cry came: it
sounded much nearer, as though the per-
son was coming toward the bank. Sud-
denly. as if by magic. a white-robed
figure, which looked like human being.
came in sight. Throwing back its head
it again gave vent to that awful cry.
After coming to the waters edge the
specter stopped and commenced to wash
its hands. This it continued to do for
some time. Then. lifting its white face to
the moonlight it gave vent to a series of
cries similar to the preceding ones, and
quickly vanished from sight.