The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-04-24


the sound and returned to Fort Van
couver.
HISTORICAL FACTS.
Shortly after the governors Departure,
Lieutenant-Coionel Silas Casey, Ninth in
fantry. commanding Fort Steilacoom,
received letter from the headquarters Of
the department of Oregon. dated at Fort
Vancouver, July IS, 1859, from which the
following is extracted:
Sir: BY special order No. 70, herewith fn-
closed, you will perceive that the general COM
manding has Withdrawn the garrison from
Beliingham ana Townsend, and has places the
steamer Massachusetts under your orders ior
the better protection and supervision OF the
waters of Puget sound.
To carry out these instructions with more
effect the general commanding desires me TO
communicate 20 you the following directions:
The steamer Massachusetts will proceed with
out delay to Feilingnam, to be used in estao-
fishing Company ID, Ninth infantry, on san
Juan island, aiser which she will convey Com
pany l, OF the Fourth infantry, to steilacoom,
when the company you assign for service on the
steamer viii embark under your supervision
After the skip has received the necessary
stores and supplies she will be instructed to
cruise in the sound among the islands ire
quented by the Northern Indians, who VIII be
warned not 70 come into any OF the waters
under the jurisdiction Of the United states,
which embraces all the islands and currents TO
the east OF the Straits Of Haro.
speedily checked, and the requirements OF
these INSTRUCTIONS will be maintained by force.
If necessary. The ordinary rendezvous OF the
steamer Massachusetts for wood and water Will
be san Juan island, and should the commander
OF that island cesire the assistance OF any force
from the ship for purposes connected with the
defense OF the island, the officer in command of
the ship Will be instructed 10 furnish force and
cooperate with the troops In all measures re-
quiring It's safety ard protection. At the end OF
every two months the ship will visit Fort Stella
m IN fr lfrTr a M n
spection required by the regulations. The COM
maad on the steamer Massachusetts viii be
borne on tho posi- return OF Fort steiiacoom as
a component part OF the garrison.
As the ship is mounted with eight
31-pounders anG the proper ammunition has
been provided, the crew viii be instructed, IN
Ger the direction of the master of the vessel, in
their use, to obtain the most efficient action
from all parties in cases requiring it
The general commanding is Pleased to com,
municate his confidence in the zeal. energy and
intelligence you exercise in the discharge OF
your duties to the service, and he rests assured
the details transmitted in this communication
will be rendered with satisfaction and advantage
to such worthy qualities. 4. PLEAsANroN,,
Acting Assistant Adjutant General
To a civilian the above, no doubt, seems
patriotic and unobiectionable, but the Of
fcers on the ground read between the
lines: The withdrawal of the companies
from Forts Bellingham and Townsend
dissolyes the old Puget sound district;
Lieutenant-Colonel Casey is simply COM
mander of Fort Steilacoom, as the address
showed; the command on the Massachu-
sets was, indeed, to be mustered at Fort
Steilacoom every two months, but that
was all; the commanding officer of the
steamer cannot make Steilacoom, where
there are wharves and water. his rendez-
vous, but it must be at San Juan harbor,
where there is neither; Captain Pickett's
post is independent of his seniors; his Off
cial instructions are conveyed direct to
him, and he communicates direct with
general headquarters; if he wants any of
the troops on the Massachusetts for pur-
poses of defense. the commanding officer,
whatever his rank or his opinion as to
the necessity for the call, must furnish
the force and cooperate with Pickett's
troops in all measures requiring its pick
ett's) safety. But the last clause is gilt
edged irony-the general sis pleased to
communicate his confidence in the zeal,
energy and intelligence" of Colonel Casey,
and at the very moment he intrusts Cap
tain Pickett, his Junior with position of
the grayest responsibility. requiring the
highest degree of intelligence upon inter-
national questions.
CAPTAIN PrcKErT's INSTRUCTIONS.
Captain Pleasanton. in communicating
to Captain Pickett General Harney's IN
structions to govern the latter, uses the
language copied below, which is an ex-
tract:
second-Anothsr serious and important duty
will devolve upon you in the occupation of San
Juan island, arising from the conflicting inter-
ests Of the American citizens and the Hudson
Bay Company establishment at that point. This
duty Is to afford adequate protection to the
to resist all attempts at interference by the
British authorities residing at Vancouver island
by intimidation or force, in the controversies of
the aforementioned parties.
rrnf hna he nd for N nua
quence OF the chief factor of the Hudson Bay
Company. Mr. Dallas, having recently visited
San Juan island with British sioop-of-war,
and threatened to take an American citizen by
force to Victoria for trial by British laws
Before the year 1858 the chief factor of
the Hudson Bay Company held the COM
mission of governor of the British prov
inces on the Pacific side of this continent.
This year the civil government was sep
arated from that OF the Hudson Bay Com
pany's, but the late governor was per-
mitted to elect for himself either one.
Thereupon he resigned the chief factorship
of the Hudson Bay Company, and Mr..
Dallas was chosen chief factor to succeed
Governor (now Sir james, Douglas, vice
admiral Of her majesty's navy.
Mr.. Dallas arrived in Port Townsend
from San Francisco on his way to Vic
toria. He assumed charge of the COM
pany's affairs, and visited and inspected
the Hudson Bay Company's Belle
vue ranch on San Juan island.
He crossed over in the Hudson
Bay Company's trading steamer Beaver,
which General Harvey has magnlfied into
the British ship-of-war Satellite. In ac-
counting to Mr.. Dallas for the loss to the
ranch of an imported boar of n choice breed
and invaluable TO the com oany, he became
indignant on learning that the blooded
animal was shot as if common every
day, razor-back pig" referred TO by our
friend Weir, happily, historically and
tacetiousiy! Such provocation. before an
American jury. would justify abusive
language to the slayer. Mr.. Lyman A.
Guitar. one of the "unwashed sovereigns"
of the United States who did not scare
worth a cent?" The version of the inter-
view given by General Harvey, assisted by
friend Weir. will immortalize Guitar and
pig. We should draw the veil of charity
over this part of history; it was Mr..
Dallas first experience in diplomacy with
Yankee sovereign, and was not success
Now, let us have General Harney's
official account of Mr.. Dallas proceeding
in this matter. In q letter to Governor
Douglas, dated August 8, 1859, he writes:
/ plneed military command upon the island
OF san Juan TO protect the American citizens re-
siding on inst island from the insults aud in
dignities which the British authorities of VAN
couyCT island aEd the establishment OF the
Hudson Bay Company recently offered them by
sending 4 British ship-oi-war from Vancouver
island to convey tae factor OF the Hudson Bay
Company 10 san Juan Tor the purpose OF Selling
an American citizen aud forelbly Transporting
him TO Vancouver island 10 be tried by British
laws
THE BTAvER BECOMES THE SATELLITE.
General Harvey, in an official dispatch to
the adjutant general, United States army,
in Washington city, from Fort Vancouver,
Washington territory, August Z, 1859, says
The next day the British ship-of-war
Satellite, with Mr. Dallas GU boat. who Is the
chief factor OF tae Hudson Bay Compsuy, aud
a sou-iu-,Sw OF Governor Douglas, visited the
island and thrcRtenei 10 take the American N