The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-01-30
THE LATE ELWOOD EVANS.

me customs district OF Oregon was
formally opened to business in 1919 by
lien. John Adair as collector, with the
port OF entry at Astoria In January.
1900, ports of delivery were opened at
Portland and Nisqualiy. The district was
found TO be inconyenient. and on the 14th
or February, 1851, the district of Puget
sound was legally established. Simpson
+. Moses was appointed collector and
Elwood Evans deputy collector William
Winiock Miller (whose widow and sons
are now residents of Seattle) being an
pointed surveyor Of the port of Nisqually,
IL cost money and took time in those
days to come from the Atlantic to the
racine, as these gentlemen ascertained.
Moses and Evans came by water to San
francisco, where they arrived In the lat
ter part of August. There they were de-
layed for weeks. No vessel was leaving
Tor Puget sound, the only two engaged
IN the traffic being the schooner Demeris
Cove and brig George Emory. belonging
to Captain Lafayette Baich The schoon-
er was then on voyage TO Neah bay for
fish and oil, and the brig was on the
Sound for piles and hewn timbers. II
was October before the George Emory
arrived. discharged and again made ready
Tor sea. In the meantime, to expedite
matters. Evans assisted in unloading the
cargo; and the captain. the late E. 8.
Fowler. of Port Townsend. getting in
trouble with the cook. was materially
helped out of ii by Evans also,
They finally got off. and on the nth
or November arrived at Steilacoom, with
twenty passengers There was no Seat
tie then and no Tacoma. Olympia was
the only town on the Sound In Stella
COON was but one house but near by
was q United States military station.
and but little further the Hudson Bay
post of Fort Nisquaiy, while there We're
quite number of settlers In the country
about. Young Evans walked out to the
military post, but on his return lost his
way and spent the night in the woods.
surveyor Miller came overland and ar
rived at Olympia, which had been des-
ignated as the port OF entry. before
the collector and deputy. The GUS
toms office was opened at once, and on
the 10th of November transacted its frs.
business. On this day the brig George
Emory was given a coasting license, and
the schooner Exact. Capt. Folger, was
cleared for Queen Charlotte islands. The
Exact had come from Portland bring
ing large number OF passengers among
whom were A A. Denny. William N
Bell. {. {. Terry and c. ID. Boren. who
were landed at Alki point, and who later
became the founders of the city Of Sc
attic. II will be seen that nine months
the customs district and the beginning Of
business
In these days Of more rapid action and
more rapid transit a fortnight would suf-
fee for such journey and such an Of
fetal undertaking. and the personal cx-
pense would be one dollar where from
ten 20 fifty were then required There
wasn't much to do in the Office and Mr.
Evans took Up the practice OF law, also
engage in the public affairs Of the town
county and territory-then Oregon He
was az Seattle in 1854 attending the first
term OF the district court. February IL
TO IL Inclusive. presided over By Justice
Lander. with DR.. Maynard as clerk the
other attorneys present being ], s. Glen
denim. Frank Clark William II Wallace
Joseph Cushman and George y. NcCon-
abs. a.! sor4 long ago 70 "that bourne
whence no Traveller returns" Mr.. Evans
also attended ar the Oc,aber term on
which occasion he represented The Unit "a
States. by the drowning of MIR Ne
conaha in May. Seattle had lost It's only
attorney. and the lawyers then in attend
anc@ were all from other places.
Mr.. Evans was chief clerk or the frs.
legislative council and held a like position
in several subsequent, legislatures. Be-