The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-11-10


We had now started FOR Cane FIatterv.
and ran along with light breeze till We
were between Smith and Lopez islands.
when Il fell calm. and We drifted about
all dsy and night, making but nttle prog
ress. Thus far We had experienced most
delightful weather: the water was smooth
and every one enjoyed himself as ne deem
81 best. Some Of the party now attempt
81 gymnastics, and Bailey and Weed
made several vain attempts 10 stand on
s.lelr heads. l remarked - these perform
crs that we would soon be down among
the tide rips. where their agility would be
Pat 10 the test; nor Was / mistaken for
the wind coming from the northwest soon
freshened into A strong breeze, which,
operating against the ebb tide soon raised
a chopping sea. The little schooner danced
about in lively manner. and to get rid
OF the motion we ran in behind Pillar
point and came 70 anchor; but q heavy
surf commenced rolling in. so we had to
Up anchor and SNUFF into il with stormy
head and heavy sea. One after another
were taken with seasickness and had TO
retire. till al last every one of our party
but Capt. Fowler and | were sick and had
10 turn in. and We rolled and pitched and
tumbled about all night. Towards MORN
ing the wind abated and the sea became
smooth. and on the morning of the 9Th Of
June We found ourselves about twelve
miles from Cape Flattery with light
winds and frequent showers. accornpanled
with vivid lightning and heavy thunder, a
very unusual occurrence on Fuea strait
During the prevalence Of southeast storms
in winter and in early spring there are oc-
casional thunder showers. but none OF us
remember such thunder shower in the
month OF June.
At 9 a. m. We anchored in Neah bay. the
headquarters OF the Makah tribe of In
dians. They were, however. absent at
frsr acf1
terry. and a messenger having been dis
patched TO summon the chief, we prepared
ourselves Tor s0Journ of a couple Of
days. Near our anchorage was the fish
ing and trading station of my old friend,
Henry A Webster. WOO in 1859 was APP
pointed Indian agent Tor the NIakahs, and
later was appointed collector of customs
al Port Townsend.
some OF the gentlemen went ashore
ana during their absence Dick Bailey. one
or our Indians, commenced Using and
soon hooked fine halibut but failed TO
secure him, although Capt. Fowler tried
TO catch him with a boatgafI but he
thrashed about SO that he broke loose.
This incident, however. excited our fish
ing friends, and on their return they got
out their lines and went TO work with A
VIII. but they got no bites and finally all
went below in the cabin 10 get "A nap eX-
cept Col Rankin and Mr.. Ahern. who
Il
long time and Just as every one had fall
en- asleep We We're suddenly awakened by
an uproar on deck, and down came Col.
Rankin, shouting: Come on deck You
lazy fellows. Turn out quick and see what
/ have done. I've caught a halibut six
feet long and Weighing at least a thou
sand pounds. Where's my hooks2 Pass
Them out quick, and I'll soon hll the
schooner. Turn out, Here ] am catching
fish and you fellows sleeping away as if
time was Of no account The uproar of
the colonel walked up all the party who.
after growing at the disturbance OF their
repose, went on deck and there behold an
innocent little halihut Of infantile pro-
portions. See there. cried the colonel.
there's the first halihut / ever caught
Amt he rouser? This is the sort of
fishing for me, Dick. pass the bait"
Nv ell, remarked Col. Simmons, Ran
kin. you have done it this time. sure
Why, man, you have made more noise
about that founder than If you had
caught a whale, but as this Is your first
attempt ne VIII let YOU off easy. simply
remarking that the man who catches the
/ first fish treats the crowd" This the
colonel acceded 10 after having directed
Dick Bailey and John Fay to cut of the
tins and tail % he dried as q specimen
of his prowess for exhibition in the land
office an Olympia. We remained at an
Choir till the 9Th but the chief did not
come as we expected. They had gone
down the coast 10 the wreck of the bark
Palestine 10 render such assistance as
they could. They were induced 20 this
movement. not from any motive Of plum
! der. but from the fact that only few
weeks before. one of their chiefs named
swell" had received present from ,he
! Indian department for services performed
/ by him in rescuing the crew of the brig
Swiss Boy. wrecked in Nitunst sound,
/ Vancouver island.
This jud!cioUs movement on rho part
/ of the government officers has produced
/ good effects. and henceforth vessels or
persons in distress VIII not be liable 10
! te robbed hy tne Indians Of our Coast so
| long they may look for reward from
| the government for any services per-
| formed.
Al ~ a. ~. Ne heaved up our anchor
! and made sail and after exchanging sal
utes with our friends on shore We start
ca for CiHilam bay. having fn tow q large
canoe and another on deck purchased by
Agent Simmons from Nr Webster for tho
use 90 the Indian department. we Fn-
/ chorcd az p. m opposite me lodge Of
Capt Jack. 2 chief II the CIallam tribe
! residing al Clallam hay. Tbc Clailams are
/ the tribe who live next 20 the Makahs ON
Fuca strait Their nearest village IS nj
ClaMam Bav. where formerly capt. Jack
| ONE cf tnc'r war chiefs, had "a large num-
he~ az followers Now the white settlers
have taken the places If the natives who
have mostly died out A. the timc 0f our
visit thore was 0ue lodge ninety feet l1rE
oreuuca tv several families. and several
smaller houses IN one of which can't
Jack lived These have been torn down
long sEo.
We remained about one hour. during
which time Col- simmons made A sree
fo ,he chiefs ard gave -aem presents We
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