The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1895-07-12
Correspondence and County Notes.
HOOD CANAL, July /, 1895.

HOOD CANAL, July l, 1898
Your account of the fire at Union
City last week was in the main cor
rect, except that the insurance car.
ried by E Simpson was about $500
instead of $500. There was about
$17OO, but $500 was on goods in the
store which he had moved out, so that
all the insurance which he considers
he had was $1,000. This was about
$500 less than the loss. His family
had been at his logging camp at the
old Petlatch, two miles above Hoods
port, but on the day of the fire had
returned to Union City. After the
fire they went back to the camp again.
The store formerly occupied by
Phillips and Green and owned by the
creditors of Mr.. Green. which was
also burned, had been offered for sale
with the land for S125. though it cost
several times that amount. The tide
was very high so that water could be
easily dipped up. There was no wind.
Had it not been for these two fayora-
BILE facts, it would have been impossi-
bic to have saved the MeReavy stores,
as one of them caught several times,
and also the old McReavy residence.
AS it was the goods, belonging to a. E..
Todd & Co. were moved out and goods
damaged to the amount of about $500.
Your correspondent was so far away
last week that he could not get an ac-
count of the fire to you in time for
publication.
Another destructive fire occurred on
the Reservation last Friday. An In
dian set fire to tree to burn it down,
on Kimball Sherwood's place. A very
strong wind blew that day, which car
-ried the sparks to some slashing, and
then the fire spread rapidly for near Il
mile. The house of Frank Allen was
burned to the ground, neat looking
white cottage. 1t was occupied by
MIR. Pharris. late of Union City.
Many of his things were saved, but
two stoves, SEINE furniture, with
books and papers were lost, the, total
loss of house and contents being two
or three hundred dollars. Several
other houses were in danger, but all
were saved. inest of the people in the
region being up all night. Ned
Waterman's barn and house both
caught fire but was put out. The
latter was occupied by j. B. Giacomi-
nj, late of Seattle, brother-in-law of
Mr.. Pharris. Henry Allen was two
miles from home at the time. but
seeing the smoke thought he had bet
ter go home and arrived in time to
see his roof on fire, but was able to
save the house. Considerable fencing
was burned.
The school closed on the reservation
last Friday for about two months
vacation. This has usually begun tn lie
latter part of August SO that the Ind
ians could take their children to the
hop fields, but this year it has changed
SO that the vacation shall include the
hot weather. Instead of the usual
exhibition at the close, a feast was
given for the school, the whites at the
agency, and the older Indians. About
one hundred and eighty persons were
present. The affair took place in the
orchard. 1t was followed by game
of base ball in the afternoon, and by
games and plays at the boarding
house in the evening: In the after
noon Photographer Baker came by
request, and took a number of pic
lures of groups and scenes.
At the recent school elections Hon.
]. McReavy was elected to succeed
himself as director in the Union City
district, and H. Brown as clerk to sue
coed DR.. G.. w. Kennicott, whe has
moved away. In District No. Mrs.
F. E. Hale was selected to succeed
Thomas Webb, resigned, Mrs. Allie S.
Webb to succeed J. Hauptly and S.
M. Eells to succeed M. Eel1s. At
Hoodsport no election was held as the
blank notices were received too late,
owing to delay in the mails
A Company of Hoodsport men has
been formed to put in quite fish trap
on the Skokomish river. near the old
school house on the lower part of Mr..
Webb's land. The company includes
Messrs Werinan, Davis, Marianhoff
and others. They have towed up
number of piles, and the pile driver.
and are waiting for Joseph Doyle to
finish using the donkey engine, in
order to use it in driving the piles.
Joseph Kane turned over the post
office at Union City to our new post
master J. Hauptly, yesterday. The
latter has also opened butcher shop
at the City.
The steamer Cyrus Walker was up
yesterday and took down a boom of
logs from the Waterman camp on the
reservation, and also one from E.
Simpsons. The latter camp was
closed last Saturday.
The demand for logs is quite brisk,
two or three mills asking for the same
booms. IF the price will only ad-
vance 1oggers would be happy, and
SHINE others aS well G
This correspondence was forward
ed by mistake to Olympia and failed
to reach this Office in time for last
issue--ED.l