The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-06-14
OLD TINES or PUGET SOUND.
BscoIsscfsous % Mrs. Isabella Edens, .
Daughter az Edward FSdridge-

Isabella Edens the writer Of the follow
lng account OF old times or Puget Eoan1.
II daughter of the late Edw1rG Fiar16ge.
Ter many years on3 Of the most pronsns1t
men IL washington tsrvstoxy. In o pub
ilc capacity Mr.. Essrsdxs ssrve1 almost
continuously In county and territorial Of
neeH Tor thirty-HTe years. He was speak
- o. TIE house In the legislature OF lsss-s-.
ana presided over the conventions that
nominated Denny. flanders and GArneics
for congress
a cezsrs was Impressed 20 have tire
sub5cined reminder Of Old times read at
the last pioneer reunion. but IL was crowd
81 out by other matters 20 the dsssppo4nt-
nsent OF Old frsends Of father and daughter.
LIS appearance IA the columns OF the
Post-inteiligencer win doubtless please
them az well as the public reading would
have done. II appeared originally in the
Whatcozn Reyei1ie Of May %.
Ny earliest ree0liecs1ons are OF TIE
shores Of Beiiingham bay, its surround
ings aad events connected fherswifh.
forfy years ago the waters Of this beam
ufui bay were seldom disturbed IA their
placid Gn-etress by the arrival OF an or1I-
nary steamboat much less the SWIFT PROV
- ocean steamer or stately ship. When
u FORMER did occasionally appear IL was
Pa event OF mach interest 10 use TO axcer-
tain who were the passengers. Row long
they INTENDED TO remain and what WAS
their object IN coming. There being no
wharses 20 accommodate passengers or
freight canoes and rovboats were used
20 convey passengers back and forth from
snore 70 steamer. which was usually an
caored mile or 50 from land
The mode or travel was mostly by row.
boats and Indian canoes. Even a visit
TO Port Townsend or Olympia had TO be
made In canoe. IL financial conditions
would admit the charter OF an Indian ca
noe and two natives to paddle or san u.
We deemed II q luxury. and started on our
voyage bright and Joyous. When night
came camp would be established at some
suitable place on the beach, aad supper
prepared and relfshe6 with the keeness
appetite. after which blankets we're spread
cvsr the clean gravel and shells. A nights
repose. an early breakfast. then another
days journey would bring repetition Of
ths preceding nights programme. and
so on until the end OF our journey. which
sometimes consumed weeks time We
considered this kind OF travel pleasant
and enjoyed t.
There was one small school house on
the bay. II stood where the r. y. ma
chine shops are now located. and was
built OF rough lumber. The first school
taught was a night school. and was at
tended by coal miners who were employ
ed In the mine then being developed AT
Sehome. After this school term Of
three months q year was usually taught
with eight or ten pupils In attendance
We walked 10 school two miles over
narrow trail, the branches OF the forest
trees meeting over our heads. One day VIC
were greatly frightened by meeting n
panther about where Collins museum now
stands. Another time while crossing the
foot bridge at Squaiicum creek we met q
large black bear coming 20 drink. We
surveyed his bearship for a moment. then
bridge. scamp~red away. left the trail and
reached school by way Of thu beach. Re-
turning from school on winter evenings.
We often skated on q frozen pond near
where the Roth block now stands. The
same one-story school remained as a land
mark Of pioneer days until recently 10 was
torn down.
Then. the old wa,er-power saw NH was
the only manufacturing plant on the en-
tire bay,
There were no trails or roads leading
from the bay 10 the interior. consequently
the entire country north OF tn. British
isne was practically an unexplored will
derness. The government had as yet es-
tahifshef 10 mall route here, hence no
scheduled time for the arrival and Depart
ure OF mails. but our mail was brought
here by private corvey1-ces. IN sIoops or
boats. at Irregular intervals OF two weeks
or q month. ard IN addition 70 postage
the cost was from Is cents to 81 for each
letter received.
on the Fraser river whafron being the
nearest and best point az base OF sup
plies for the new mines. the San Francisco
steamers brought thousands OF pros
pecfors ard miners. whstcorr became
city of tents. ard was called Tire Waite
CITY" MAS characterized by All IRE ex-
effement. energy ara rustic incident 20
asss4s4 az 90 - a&x-
ration. The transportation company
changed their base 90 Victoria. Is. G.. and
whatcom suddenly became rs quiet as
ever.
There were no churches or Sunday
schools or societies OF any kind. therefore
very little IN those early tavs 70 break
the 8uii rsonotnny % everyday lie. except
sone trouble Or scare caused BY the In
dams OF British Columbia. who visited
as frequently. On ore occasion D&vy
Crockett fchssf Of the Inmru-s. who was
always friendly 10 the whsfss1 Informed rs
that the Northern hostile tribe were on
their WAY 20 attack Tire settlers here. He
volsnteerrt 70 defend sn1 protest Is
with his braves Near where TIRE Bel
snxhsm mil now stants they were pre-
nartrx their are ARR. IN readiness for an
attack Two white rnsn we're placed OF
shore IN boat as sszttneis. Dick
Williams had been trying 10 discharge an
old EkEttNES w5NekEf 81 AFTERNOON. NHt not
succeeding. ne tired red hot wire--aa6
succeeded. All that was ever seen or
heard OF that nsuxket wss the renort
whscA was evidently heard by the hos
tiles - 70 WAS Immediately answered by
a sArfli war whoop and = volley % shots
fro-a two Northera canoes. vhers0Tson
Dick Williams srf the settlers took 70
their heels and eed 20 the wc0ss navy
Crockett and hts brother. yellow CAsl>.
by shelr fncessaSt nrsnw all riEht pre-
vemtea TIRE enemy from faHesrx and uas-
Sarrsar the settlers whsn morning 3swr-
"a the enar1ay had gone. nus IN. two white
sentfusfs had been killed IN their boats.
Another Incident occurred which szs-
dressed rse greatly. Ar Indian girl came
20 cur aouse greatly excited ard h@r<e.
p-rfecfson from tae Northern tribe. WHO
were closely pursuing hsf. NY mother.
hst.sx alona that CAV with two x-1ai csil-
srsn. was lcath 20 take her n. but finally
consented The gtrt secrsse9 herself IN
Der nest Soon the nonse was surround
~ wtsh rnasars. demanding sh- girl Or
n4snttsaace. Thlx being refused. trey
ferxse an ens-aaee ~ the hack door. an.
sssa .sn recrs was suu 90 angry fa1iaas
snsr.strx every roek sra ce-Eer anti
,Nsx found nsr Setxs=s se~ ~ TIE hair.
ts.~v arzrrs9 TIE peer girl eat % the
house and embarked = sAetT canoes sa1
disappeared
IN CONTRAST 70 Nfle T%AsA-i% -" - 49,"
aa; ca our n@zutfrai bay az 2ry tfrzr ard
49, ->aw~fs~sns steamers. shtrs o. pleas
sra yarAtS sailing n al afrecssa1@ Jp01
80 ~~-sxssl az stear-erS or trains. cr1rt-
ss1@ - carriage - psgtirg % ccnvsy PAS
~s-~~-x 70 hotel o. rs<ttsr>sA
n yea desire ta take = t11rHsy, yea
.,r,s-sF~,. = ticket pr aEy part et me Czste9
states or Canada. ec arg part 81 tne
~sarss sor that matter yea eecafr a iisx~
t,~ss.ss berth 81 ~tasrasT. ship o. Fa2ace car.
"a ss.aNs awar 90 yoar sse.EEsNy wlth coEs-