The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-06-11
AFTER twenty-five YEARS.
J.. w. H0DGSoN TALKS OF OLD
TIMES IN SEATTLE.
Crossed the Continent to Find u
Saw Min Ytiiage-Nevv lie steps

Twenty-eight years ago J. W. Hodsson,
a civl engineer OF Philadelphia. crossed
the continent 10 San Francisco and thence
by steamer came 10 Seattle 20 make his
home IN the eoundiess forests OF the Puget
sound country. Seattle was then village
OF perhaps 2oao souls. ard tall frs and
ceiars crowned the hill above The water
front. where now stands stately residences
surrounded by green. well-kept lawns.
After a two years residence here Hodg-
son left Seattle and finally settled in Lima.
Peru. where he resided for over twenty
years.
The current OF klondike travel. which
has swept like the trade winds OF com
merce over the uttermoss parts OF the
globe. has caught Hodgson. and today,
after an absence from this city OF practi-
caily quarter OF century. he Is In Seat
lie on his way to the gold fields OF the
Yukon.
Three days ago Mr.. Hodgson. who was
man filled with the fire and vigor Of
youth when he left here. but who now
wears a patriarchial beard well streaked
with gray. walked into the office OF w.
III. White, in the Starr-Boyd building, He
remembered Judge White as having been
ono OF his acqUaintances when he lived in
the village OF Seattle twenty eight years
agone. There was no little pleasure in
the reunion or old friends after the lapse
or twenty-five years. After seeing Judge
White, in his search for old landmarks in
thai at his office on First avenue. and
later called upon John Collins. Mrs. Plum
mer and other old residents OF Seattle
i was little prepared 10 see the mag
nificent city which has grown up on the
shores of Elliott bay since 1 was here
last" said Mr.. Hodgson yesterday to a
observation-disclosures reporter. The changes
that have been wrought since / came to
Seattle in 1870 are almost past believing,
and only the sense OF seeing convinces me
OF the reality of the transformation that
has been worked In the lapse of a quarter
OF a century.
When | left Philadelphia to seek my
fortune IN the far West. Seattle was a
small Sawmill town, reached by steamer
from San Francisco. There was seine talk
then OF Jay Cooke and his Northern Pa
citic railroad scheme, but the line had
not been surveyed. Bordering the edges
OF the Sound was thick forest OF tall
and stately frs and cedars, which were
only broken at far intervals by human
habitations. There was little commerce
on the Sound, and about the only indus
tries were fishing and numbering.
You may perhaps imagine my feelings
when l stepped off the train here and
saw magnificent buildings of brick and
stone erected where little frame dwellings
had stood before. I well remember Henry
l.. Yesler's story-ani~a-half frame resi-
dence where now stands the handsome
Pioneer building. Mrs. Yesiers garden
extended back 10 where the Butler hotel
Is now located. John Collins was running
the Occidental hotel. then a two-story
frame hosiery, and where the Collins
building is situated were his stables. You
could almost step from in front OF the
stables on TO the roof OF the hotel.
Capt. John Hill and his wife lived in a
small cottage where the Butler now stands.
Above them and on the hin there stood
scattering trees, while underbrush and
stumps covered the ground. To the south
and east was what We called in those days
the sawdust plaza
How many OF the early settlers OF this
country have gone 10 their reward since
Them continued Mr.. Hodgson 1.-THE
names of many people whom l knew well
are not now in the directory. The people
OF that day were a whole-soule3. prosper
Gus. energetic lot of men and women.
many of them coming from the old fam
lilies OF New England. They were sturdy.
self-reliant and confident OF the future
OF the land in which they had cast their
lot. How well their hopes have been full
filed"'
Mr.. Hodgson's home 81 AZ Lima Peru
III the midst of an immense sugar-growing
country, built on the ruins OF the cities
OF the ancient Incas. He declares that
there Is no country like the coast OF Peru
for health. THE thermometer never
varies from IS to s. degrees above zero the
year round" fse said. There no rain
ever falls. but torrents OF pure cold water
g1Lsf from the Andes range back OF Lima.
flowing through the bitches built by the
ancient Incas. The streams water coun-
try wonderfully fertile. II takes three
years 20 grow n crop OF sugar. but the
yield "a enormous. and the work never
stops except for a short season once a
year FOR repaiTs After ] have taken a
look az the kIoudke. I expect 20 return
to Peru 20 pass The remainder OF my days.
Mr.. Hodgson had charge Of division Of
construction on ore of the Peruvian rail-
ways for ugx0ber OF years He married
Peruvian lady and reared = family.
Three of hts children are now IN the Eas;
attending school.