The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-29
MORNING SESSION.
Hhe History OF washington Receives
Much Attention.

Nhe History of WashimgtOn Receives
Much Attention.
The morning session at the church was
the most largely attended. The subject un-
der discussion was THE History of WASH
ington," which was dealt with In every
phase, from the advent Of the first navi-
gators on the Pacific coast to the present
time.
H. r. Cox, OF Tacoma, the first speaker,
had for his subject THE Voyages of Dis
covery Along the Coast" He began by
tracing the expeditions sent out from Eu-
rope to this country after its discovery,
first to the Atlantic. then to the Pacific
coast, and finally to Puget sound and the
Pacific Northwest. He said In jart:
'.From tho time that Columbus discov-
cred America and Diaz the Cape of Good
Hope, many of the early navigators were
tlrm in the belief that there was chan
mel existing between the two oceans. The
passage was supposed to run from New
Icundland to the East Indies. It was re-
ported to have been discovered by Por-
tuguese navigator. The importance OF the
supposed passage was readily seen and
time after time navigators returned to Eu-
rope with wonderful stories OF the passage,
ono Portuguese named Maladonado going
20 far as to mark 1t on q chart with q
schedule Of tides, currents and turnfngs,
even noting the vegetation on the shores
"Juan de Fuca next tried 1t, and after
the secret to the kings of Portugal and
Spain, and receiving no reward. died mis-
erably in Italy. His name sank into obliv-
ION for nearly 200 years, until the subject
OF the geography of the Northwest began
to attract attention. Then the straits at
present bearing his name were named az
ter him, as his description of the Western
END Of the pass resembled somewhat the
straits.
Gas the exaggerated stories of the wealth
Of Mexico resulted in Balboa's discovery OF
the Pacific, so did the search for the north
west passage, which should have ended IN
this vicinity, result in the discovery OF
Puget sound. Magellan was the first Pacific
navigator. He started from Spain In 1913
with FIVE ships to find western route to
India Five years later he passed through
the strait bearing his name and went as
far as the Philippines, where he was killed
by the natives. Cano, who commanded
after Magellan, took the ships home by
the Cape OF Good Hope and made another
voyage touching Southern California. Ca
briello first took possession some years
dater of the island of San Bernardino. At
ter his death his pilot, Ferreto. came as
far north as Cape Mendocino, or, accord
ing to other authorities. to Cape Bianco.
In 16r2-03 a Spanish officer named Viscaino
explored this coast as far north as what
Is now the Umpqua river In Southern Or
.sF'or more than 100 years after this the
Epanlards made no voyages on this coast
In January Juan Peres sailed from
San Bias and after touching at San d.
ego and Monterey, went into the open sea
and next landed at So deg. 50 min. north
latitude. He continued north to the north
ern end of Queen Charlotte island. Going
south he touched at the bay named four
years later by Capt. Cook Nootka sound,
on the west coast OF Vancouver island:
On his return south he Is supposed
which he named Santa Rosalia. His claim
to these discoveries were kept secret by
the Spanish government for four years,
until after Capt. Cook had been credited
with the discovery.
Another expedition under Capt. Hecata
sighted land in latitude As degrees n min
utes, this state. Near there seven Of the
crew were killed by natives on shore. This
point was called Martyrs point, afterward
changed to Point Chenille. They also
ton island. 1t Is the only island off the
west OF Washington and Is almost direct
ly west of Seattle. Hecata also noticed in
dications of the mouth of the Columbia
river. In 1880 Lieut. Qulmper explored
both shores of Juan Dc Fuca and gave
belween the islands. These names were
later changed by Vancouver.
."The Russians made several voyages in
the early part OF the eighteenth century,
his name, and in 1741 Mount st. Elias
Behring died the next winter on one of
the Aleutian islands. The immense fur
trade of the Western islands drew others
to the field resulting ultimately in a
dispute between the Russian and Ameri-
STA already had q post at San Francisco
and was spreading her forts. The dispute
was settled by the proclamation in 1898 of