The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-23
THE LOSS
of the
ROBERT BRUCE.
Story Of q Disaster Half
. Century Ago on
the Washington
Co a st.

SOUTH BEND. Wash. Dec 22,-The re-
cent unusually high tides on the Pacific
coast. washing lands that have not for
many years been overrun by the great
sweep OF the Western sea. have disclosed
number Of ancient burial grounds of the
aboriginal inhabitants OF Washington and
Northern Oregon and relic hunters have
reveled in their findings: some have be-
come rich In a wealth Of mementoe of
the Hudson Bay Trading Company's deal
ings with the Indians OF the early part
OF the present century. The custom among
the Chinook and other tribes of Wash
ington was to bury their dead, together
with all their belongings. In the favorite
canoe of the deceased, sinking the canoe.
preferably along the tide lands of some
peaceful bay or inlet, some six or eight
feet below the surface.
Many OF these canoes have been ex-
posed on the flooded beach bordering the
great timber lands of Pacific county, on
the north side Of the Columbia river. dis
closing the bare bones of some redskin
OF half century ago, with arms folded
peacefully across the broad breast and
covered with his earthly treasures-beads,
buttons. bullets. choice fragments of lace
guns, arrow heads and countless other
tokens telling the tale of his mortal de-
sire for the warren OF the crafty paleface
and the exchange of valuable furs there
for.
At BRIDGEPORT, at one fine prominent
clustering town OF Pacific county. now
. little Indian village inhabited only by
small number OF F1atheads employed
In gathering oysters for the syndicate
controlling this important industry of the
West coast. few charred plank, buried
deep In the mud. some rope ends and
other Debris. had lain for fifty years I'M
disturbed. until recently they met the
eye OF one OF the earliest residents OF
Southern Washington. who knew only
too well the sad story OF destruction
which was there recorded.
AT 3 o'clock one winter evening fifty
years ago, the schooner Robert Bruce
dropped anchor near this little town OF
Bruceport. As the sun went down In a
mass OF color behind the low Coast noun
tains Frank Garretson came out OF his
cabin for a final look at the little port
then entered for the first time in the
memory of the white man-before retir-
ing He leaned over the rail with in
tense feelings OF relief and a joyous
happiness that brought tears to his eyes
He felt strange affection for the little
schooner that had brought him safely
up the rough coast from San Francisco.
and he patted her carved rail- with his
hand.
The last twenty days, with their at
tending anxiety. had been wearing. and
now that he could look at the dangers
as behind him, hts exuberance knew no
bounds and as the light OF the receding
sun tinted the mountains and the deep
ening shadows picked out the twinkling
lights, ne fell to calculating. wondering
how really great stir he would be able
10 create when the Robert Bruce, laden
TO her decks with oysters. priceless pearls.
again sailed into that nesting Southern
city
That night Garretson and his fellows
were In good spirits; they spent the even
Ing lounging upon the deck, smoking nip
ping eating OF the winter fruits they had
brought from that sunny cline, DISCUSSING
the gathering. loading and return VIII
their precious cargo to San Francisco and
the prospects OF good proats-and then
blessing the dividing miles Of dark wa
ters that had seen them safely into this
Northern port. turned TO their quarters
and fell into deep and peaceful sleep The
nlght was stfl and the blue sea shown
beautiful beneath a sllvery moon In a re-
ceding tide. And all the crew were sleep
ing
But one pair OF eyes followed the gray
moon In it's course among the clouds but
one Get OF lungs hreathed ia the bracing
air OF that winters night--a xagahond of
the lower Americas his eye glazed ana
wntered, over his parchment skin point
ed yellow beard
The messroom overlooked the deck ana
the high black hills beyond--both were
deserted
Presently the moon stood behind a
cloud and darkness hid a miserable lsure
stealthiy making It's way across the deok
STOPPING and cautiously scanning the
great stretch OF beach. The tise was
now well out, and the vessel had gound-
ed In the mud. Seeing this, the vagabona
turned toward the cabin. where the crew
Law soundly sleeping He peared into
the berth OF each; FOR an instant an eytl
Joy lighted up the drink -diseoiorcd face
g" It's we'll the drug Is good he said.
and turned away,
Vengeance shone from his eyes 'arhey
would dump me overheard because \
wouldn't cook their way" he mutiered
Well | will cook them now1''
In his hand he held a flaming torch
Brandishing Il high above his head hts
cleaning eye following the direction in
dicated by It's movements, yfciouSly ha
cried: "Tnsre Is room far six graves
there"
The moon had sunk behind the low living
island 10 tho westward and the hariny
torch dlmly outlined the scene. A rnila
distant an Indian boy. sitting beside a
dying fire. saw a light moving, flicserinx
through the forest
over the head of the exile whirIea tns
blazing torch. one, two. three four. Ave
six timesi Brighter It burned and fuller
with every turn. Then for an instant ali
was dark again. With an impreeation TIA
nend sent the torch upon it's deadly mia
sion into pile of oil-soaked rags at tina
bottom Of the vessels hold
A tigure crouched in the stern Of small