The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1899-09-09
THE PUGET SOUND COUNTRY.
A Voyage 10 Vancouver 1siand-
Landing on = Foreign shore.

~ Voyage 10 Vancouver ASl6uu--
Landing ON = Foreign shore.
NUMBER 8.
A trip to the Pacific Northwest or TO
Oregon OF Washington is far from COM
plete withouta a voyage through Puget
sound. The sound is by far the most In
teresting feature Of the far Northwest.
The sound is a crack in the earth's sur
fnce, and having occurred at and below
sea leavel, is of unknown depth. The
shores are bold, as a rule, often steep
and treeless, with narrow beach lead
ing to deep water. 1t is filled with
countless islands OF all shapes and area,
most OF which are clothed with the
greenest of verdure the year round.
Most Of 1t is heavily land-locked, giving
always smooth surface Of water. and
whether the trip be made by the largest
ocean steamer or tiny yacht, is one of
the most delightful afforded by any body
OF water in the world. The entrance to
| the sound is the Strait Of Juan de Fuca,
averaging eight or ten miles in width
and without obstruction in its entrance
from the open sea-, There is room in the
sound and safe anchorage for all the
vessels aflGat. Betweed the Strait of
Juan de Fuca and the mainland lie
heavy groups of islands. Between Van
couver island and the mainland, tegin-
ming some miles below the international
boundary line, is the Strait OF Georgia
running north by west. While the ac-
tual shore line Of the sound-not includ-
ing the shore line OF the hundreds Of is
lands within the sounds 1000 miles,
the sounds extent ron north to south
does not exceed lao miles; its arms and
broadest expanse covering about fifty
miles.
From Seattle the excursionists took
the Pacific coast steamship, Puebla to
Victoria, leaving Seattle by way OF Ad-
miralty inlet and crossing the strait Of
Juan de Fuca. Victoria lies upon the
southern extremity OF Vancouver island.
We were due TO leave Seattle at 5 p. m.,
sign to that effect having been posted
conspicuously upon the office Of the
steamship company for twenty-four
hours. The Puebla was regular boat
and would wait for no man. But we
noticed in our travels about the coast
that steamships did not depart and arri, 9
with the regularity Of railroad trains
and the Puebla was no exception. 1t
was delayed by the loading of good
deal Of freight for one thing, and then
another steamer, tho Queen, which had
brought us to the dock from the Port
Orchard trip an hour before, got ono OF
her lines foul of the Puebla's propeller
and caused more downright cussiD' on
the part of the under officers OF the Pueb-
la than had heard in manya day. All
in all, it was seven o'clock before the
| gang plank was pulled in and the lines
cast off and we steamed away from
Seattle.
| But the whole performance Of loading
passengers and freight and assigning
of regular passengers to the stater0oms
bV the purser, was interesting in the ex
treme. 1t was particularly so 10 lant
lubbers who had never been on All ocean
steamer, and even those who had were
given opportunities and courtesles about
! the boat never granted on any ocear
steamer except to privileged guests
simply because they represented thu
press of the United States. The cap
taih's cabin was the only sacred spot OF
, the boat, but even that was not denied ,
, few OF US, while the bridge--always {
forbidden spot-was easily gained by
J little diplomacy. A quartermaster al
ways stands at each entrance to th
bridge, on steamers carrying passenger
: not familiar with the rules aboard shiI
to warn away needless ones. Th
r bridge" as even most landsman know
. is that part Of the ship forward at til
8 pilot house frem which the ship is nav
] gated and handled-a narrow bridg
. running across ship. Upon the bridg
d are either the captain or first officer an
the navigating officer; near them tf
pilot. the latter boxed in where no on
u nor Lothing can disturb or distract hi
G attention. In the dead Of night, Wit
$ nothing outwardly to be seen buta va
G expanse OF water and the blue HEAVIER
g thicklY dotted with twinkliag stars. az
y no sound but the slight jar Of the POI
d deIous machinery below and the reguli
It swish Of the waters rushing about Il
ID bow, it is most interesting experien
L to stand on the bridge and watch Il
lie officers, wrapped in great coats, tai
their bearing and reckoning and nay
gate the ship. People dread the wat
y by instinct; there is always present tn
et feeling Of accident lot felt when tray'
10 ing by land. But, as matter OF fu
W there is less danger Of accident by s
~ than by any mode Of conveyance on la1
" whether by steam cars, trolley lines,
~ even vehicles drawn by quadrupe'
vi Statistics prove this. l would take /
he chances times over against trip oN
~ tho hair,:aisiDg Canadian Pacific
through the Rockies on the the mou
!, tain-climbipg roads Of Colorado.
.ts There were many regular passeng
Te on the Puebla in addition to our lal
III party, which overcrowded the boat. A
10 as tho night was decidedly cool and W
en stiff breeze, comfort was not to
IL fund outside the cabins and they W
VI crowded to completion. AS soon as
lse left Seattle, the steward began servin
! very fine course dinner, compliments
and good feature OF it was that
ladies were all served first and In n
ah style. 1t was very much appreclal
'on big undertaking ,nat it was for the
'eh commodalions Of the boat. As nj
oe drew on and the air grew chilly. the
ere cursionists sought soft, warm quart
'he and tired completely out as they W