The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-05-24
JUST A CENTURY AGO.
Captain Vancouver Discovered
HarbOr of Port Orchard.
NAMED FOR AN OFFICER.
The Old Navigator Then Steered In the
Direction of Tao ona, and Circum-
navigated yashon Island.

British ships Discovery ana thatnanh' III
command of Captain George Vancouver,
lay at anchor near Port Madlsoni to the
great wonder of the natives, who padded
around the vessels. offered articles for sale,
and conducted themselves with the
utmost propriety." Following is an ex-
tract from Vancouver's narrative:
On Wednesday, May %, 1892. We had
some lightning, thunder and rain, from
the southeast. This continued few
hours, after which the day was very serene
and pleasant. Some of our gentlemen
having extended their walk to the cove L
had visited the first evening of our arrival,
found it to communicate by
very narrow passage with an
opening apparently of some extent.
In consequence of this information. accom-
panied by Mr.. Baker in the yawl. | set
out the next morning. Thursday, the oath,
to examine it. and found the entrance OF
the opening situated in the western corner
of the cove, formed by two interlockng
points, about a quarter of mile from
each other; these formed channel about
half mile long, free from rocks or shoals,
IN which there was not less than i've
fathoms of water. From the west end Of
this narrow channel the inlet IS divided
into two branches, one extending to the
southwest about five or SIX miles, the
other to the north about the same dis
lance, constituting a most complete and
excellent port, to all appearance perfectly
free from danger, with regular sound
ings, from four fathoms near the shores
to nine and ten fathoms in the
middle, good holding ground. 1t occu-
pied us the whole day to row round
it, in doing which we met few Struggling
Indians, whose condition seemed exces-
sively wretched and miserable. The coun-
try that surrounds this harbor varies in its
IL H., H. V1a
low, level land; in others of moderate
height, falling in steep, low cliffs on the
sandy beach, which in most places binds
the shore. 1t produces some small riyu-
let's of water, is thickly wooded with trees,
mostly of the pine tribe, and with some
variety of shrubs.
This harbor, after the gentleman who
discovered it. obtained the name of Port
Orchard. The best passage into it is
found by steering from the Indian village
for the south point of the cove, which Is
easily distinguished. There is also an
other passage round to the north of the
rocks in the cove, in which passage there
is seven fathoms of water; this is narrow,
and by no means so cOmmodOluS to nayI-
gate as the southern channel.
About O'Clock in the afternoon of Fri
day, the 25th, the Chatham was seen from
the masthead over the land, and about
sunset she arrived and anchored near us.
Mr.. Broughton informed me that the part
of the coast he had been directed to
explore consisted of an archipelago
of islands lying before an extensive
arm of the sea stretching in a variety of
branches. Its extent in the northwest
direction was the most capacious, and
presented an unbounded horizon. On due
consideration ofall the circumstances that
had fallen under my observation and the
intelligence now impaired by Mr.. Brougll-
ton, became thoroughly convinced that
our boats alone could enable Us to acquire
any correct or satisfactory information re-
speeding this broken country, and although
the execution of such a service in open
boats would necessarily be extremely
laborious and expose those so employed to
numberless dangers and unpleasant stu
tons that might occasionally produce
great fatigue and protract their return to
the ships; yet that mode was undoubtedly
the most accurate, the most ready. and
indeed the only one in our power to pur-
sue for ascertaining the continental
boundary.
The main arm of the inlet leading to-
ward Mount Rainier still renamed unex-
plored. 1t became evident from the length
of time Mr.. Puget and Mr.. Whidbey had
been absent that the inlet they had been
sent to examine had led them to con-
siderable distance. We had no time to
spare. and as 1t was equally evident none
I.
tombstone, in the Chatham's cutter. should
accompany me in the morning in the Dis
covery'S yaWi for the purpose of examin-
ing the main arms, and that Wr. Brough-
ton, on the return of our boats. which
were now hourly expected, should take
Mr.. Whidbey in one of them and proceed
Immediately ito the investigation of that
arm of this inlet, which we had passed on
the eastern shore, stretching to the north
northeast, and | desired that Chatham
might be anchored within its entrance in
some conspicuous place on the starboard
side. where the Discovery or the boats
would easily find her in case the result of
my inquiries should render it expedient
for the vessels to proceed further in that
direction.
On Saturday morning. the 26th, accom-
panied by Mr.. Baker in the yawl, and
favored by pleasant weather and fine
northwardly gale, we departed and made
considerable progress. Leaving to the
right the opening which had been the OBJ
ject of Mr.. Puget and Mr.. Whidbey's expe-
dition, We directed our route along the
western shore of the main inlet, which is
about league in width; and as We pro-
ceeded the smoke of several fires was seen
on its eastern shore. When about four
leagues in southwardly direction
course OF the inlet take a south
westerly inclination. which we pursued
about six miles with some little increase
of width. Toward noon we landed on a
point on the eastern shore, round which
We flattered ourselves we should find the
inlet take an extremely eastwardly course.
This con lecture was supported by the APP
pearance of very abrupt division IN the
snowy range of mountains Imme-
diatey to the south of Mount
Rainier, which was very conspicuous
from the ship, and the main arm OF the
inlet appearing TO stretch in that direction
from the point we We're then upon. We
here dined. and although our rcpast was
soon concluded the delay was iIkSOme, as
we were excessively anxious 70 ascertain
the truth, of which we were not long held
in suspense: for. having passed round the
nOint We found the Inlet To terminate here
N an extensive circular compact bay,
whose waters washed the base OF Mount
Rainier, though its elevated summit was
vet at a very considerable distance from
the shore. with which it was connected
by several ridges of hills rising toward
1t with gradual ascent and much
regularity. The forest trees and tue several
shades of verdure that covered the hills
gradually decreased in point OF beauty
until they became invisible, when the per-
petual clothing of snow commenced,
which seemed to form horizon
tai line from north to south
along this range of rugged mountains,
from whose summit Mount Rainier rose
conspicuousy and seemed as much ele-
waited above them as they were above the
level of the sea: the whole producing a
most grand. picturesque effect. The
lower mountains as they descended
to the right and left became gradu-
ally relieved of their frigid garment,
and rs they aDnroachei the fertile wood