St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-02-29
SOME uNwRITTEN HISTORY
Told by Cen. Mason in an Interest
ing Lecture.

night on the subject, How We Won
the San Juan Archipelago" The occa-
sion was one of the series Of enter
tainuents that is being given for the
benefit of the boys brigade This lee
ture contains some unwritten history
of military and international questions
leading up to the settlement of the dis
pute over the Sasl Juan islands, which
are located at the entrance to Puget
sound and the gulf of Georgia.
Gen. Mason began by saying that he
did not think war with Great Brit
ain at all probable, yet war was posi-
bic at any time. He wanted to show,
however, that serious complications
might be averted by prudent action
even after matters had progressed so
far as TO make bloodshed imminent.
This was illustrated in the trouble
over the islands referred to. Gen.
Mason then went into description
Of Puget sound and the islands laying
adjacent therto, which were claimed
by the Hudson Bay company under the
charter granted TO it by Great Britain,
as was also much Of what now consti-
tutes the North Pacific states. When
the boundary line was established on
the forty-ninth uarellel, however, the
claim Of the Hudson Bay company to
any part Of the mainland lying south
of that line ceased, though the owner
ship of the islands was still unsettled
Vancouver island, on WHICH the city
of Victoria stands. was inhabited by
the British, but San Juan and the
othe adjacent islands were in
habited by Americans, who claimed
the islands as part of the United
States. A pig was the means by which
war came near being brought on be-
tween the two governments in 1859. A
man named Cutler, living on San Juan
island. shot a pig belonging to the
Hudson Bay company because it was
trespassing on his property. He offered
to pay for the damage he had done,
but the company refused, and a war
vessel was sent in to arrest Cutler
and take him to Victoria to be tried
by British magistrate. But Cutler
succeeded in convincing the officers
who came to arrest him that some of
them would get shot if they persisted
IN taking him, so they concluded to
let him go.
The effrontery of the British govern
ment in sending a war vessel to ar
rest a citizen Of the United States on
what was claimed to be American soil
brought forth protest on the part
OF the inhabitants of the islands and
demand for protection at the hands
of their government. In those days
1T looks months to communicate with
the head Of the government at Wash
ing Of the communication and the re-
turn of an answer, Gen. Harvey, who
was in command at Fort Bellington,
situated near the line on the main
land, sent Capt. Pickett-he who aft
erWards became famous as an officer
in the Confederate arnly-to protect
the people on the islands. Pickett
transported his command in a fishing
schooner and landed on San Juan isl
and in a dense fog, so that his move
ments were not revealed to. the British
until they saw. the American flag float
ing over the island the next morning.
Gov. Douglas, Of the British territory,
then assembled a fleet of British war
vessels and threatened to drive Pickett
off, but sent him word that if he would
consent to a joint military occupation
of the island pending an adjustment of
the difficulty, hoStilities would not be
commenced. Pickett asked for time to
communicate with Gen. Harvey, his
superior officer, which was granted,
and Harvey sent word back not to
consent to joint occupancy, and he
would sent Lieut.. Casey to reinforce
him. The British fleet was suspicious
that reinforcement would be sent.
and kept sharp lookout to prevent
the landing Of any more United States
troops on the island, but notwithstand-
ing this, Casey, too, managed to land
under cover of fog, and had joined
Pickett before the British learned any,
thing about his movements
President Buchanan did not fully
approve of Gen. Harney's action in
the matter. however, and sent Cen.
Winfield Scott, then in command of the
army of the United States, to adjust
the difficulty. Scott arrived there in
November, 1859, and at once entered
into an agreement with Gen. Balm.
n hn D,.i+ ir1,
region, for the joint military occu-
pancy of the islands. Each side was to
maintain a garrison of 100 men on
San Juan island and these forces were
to cooperate in controlling the islands
The War of the Rebellion coming on
little later, the question of owner
snip OF the islands was pushed into
the background. and the islands con-
t1nued under military rule for a period
of thirteen years. During all that time
the public affairs were conducted in a
! very satisfactory manner and with
perfect harmony on the part of the two
forces.
But the question of ownership must
be settled some time, and the agitation
over 1t was reopened, with the result
! that Great Britain asserted that she
| would consider no basis of settlement
| that would deprive her Of the island of
San Juan. To this the United States
! secretary of state replied that that
! foreclosed further discussion of the
subject, as the United States would
| insist on its claim War seemed in
evitable, but the subject was finally
submitted to Emperor William of Ger
many for arbitration, who, contrary
to the expectation of British officers.
decided in favor of the United States
in 1872, expressing the conviction that
the line ran down the main channel be-
tween Vancouver island and San Juan
island. The British garrison vacated
the latter island, and the trouble was
| at an end.
Gen. Mason, who is very familiar
with all the facts on account of his
being stationed on the coast at the
time of the settlement of the trouble
says that war would certainly have
resulted bat for the good Judgment Of
one of the British officers on one occa.
sion neglecting to obey an order of his
superior to land troops and proceed
against the United States force in nos
session Of the island In conclusion
Gen. Mason said he did not desire r.
inspire too much Of the military spiri,
into the youth, but it was we'll to re-
member that war is not an unmixef
evil: that while it is a great waste n
wealth and sacrifice of human life
yet it tends to the evolution of a highe1
manhood.
CUT TO THE QUICK For TUT