Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1900-08-24

were no machines invented for max
ing doors, sash, ETC., at that early date.
| The old house, built in the old Hud-
sons Bay style, was about 40x20 feet,
and was erected on the site of the old
fort in 1888 or 1884, which stood on a
pretty clear plateau, about one-quar-
ter of a mile from the Sound, and in
! lS4l, or thereabonts, was moved to the
new fort, on the edge OF the large
plain or prairie, which bears the name
of American Plain" or Boston H.
i-hee," so called by the Indians be.
cause the American or United States
troops were located ut the northeast
end of the plain. The Hudson's Bay
COmpany's servants were called" King
George tillacum" (King George people
or Englishmen).
The old "Tyee House" was, in those
days, considered to be quite palatial
residence, although to the man just
out from one of the worlds leading
cities, it appeared to be what it really
was, a wretchedly uncomfortable
house. 1t contained only two rooms.
The din;ng-room was about Is or IL
feet long and IL feet wide, and there
was one smaller room, used as bed
room. A still smaller room was built
on the south end. The large room
has been the scene of many stirring
events and several men, principally
United States Army officers, who af-
terwards rose to eminence, have sat at
its board. President Grant, Generals
Mcclellan, Casey, Pickett, Kautz, I. 1.
Stevens, and several others, the names
of whom I have forgotten, have been
entertaind in that shabby.looking old
house.
Theodore Winthrop, the author of
"Canoe and Saddle" made two visits
to the fort. He made, in 1858, ca.
noe trip to Victoria along with DIR.
Tolmie and his wife, and the latter's
sister, Miss Work. The return trip he
made alone, and the adventures he
met with, and the trouble he had with
his Indian crew, at the head OF which
was the Duke of York, the eldest son
OF King George, the chief of the Clal.
lams, and the Dukes wife, "Jin Lin,"
(Jennie Lind), is most amus:ngly told
in his book.
Up till 1854 the only means Of COM
munication the people of Fort MIS-
qually had with the colonists of Van
couver Island was by canoe. The
company owned large Northern In
dian war canoe about so feet long,
and six or seven feet wide, which
would carry at least 40 people, and
this canoe made almost semi.monthly
trips to Victoria with the mail, which
was brought across the country from
Fort Vancouver by express messenger.
The wife of E. Higgins, now residing
at the old place (Fort Nisqually). has
made six trips by canoe to Victoria.
During all this time of canoe travelling
not single life was lost, although
some of the trips were exceedingly
dangerous. The canoe was always
manned by crew of skilled hands,
thorough masters OF canoe-sailing.
This mode of travelling remained in
vogue until September, 1854, when the
steamer Major Tompkins arrived from
San Francisco at Steilacoom, en- route
for Olympia. She was in command OF
Captain Hunt. and was owned by Cap
tain John Scranton, who had obtained
a contract for carrying the mail week.
ly between Olympia and Victoria, call
ing at all intermediate ports. This
made the trip very long, and the old
rattletrap of steamer occupied near
ly week in making the voyage. Her
charges were high. passage to Victoria,
$40 going and the same returning.
Freight, $40 per ton; cattle, $40 a
head. and she charged 5000 for towing
q ship from Nisqually Landing to Port
Townsend.
She was an ugly-looking craft, very
slow, and always unreliable, and re.
mained on the route but few years.
She was wrecked one dark, stormy
night, trying to enter Victoria Harbor,
and was total loss. No lives were
lost. Another boat, propeller,
named the Constitution, Captain A.
B. Cove, took her place. She was a
boat much superior in every respect to
the old Tompkins, and the Sound soon
had steamboats, enough, and few to
spare.
Resuming my story: The old
house stood until few years ago.
when, on account of its dilapidated
state, it was pulled down, and its old
timbers used for firewood. Several
people have expressed regret that the
old building was not carefully taken
down, removed to and re-erected in
Wright Park, Tacoma, and, perhaps,
it is q pity it was not done. 1t could
have been moved and put up again for
about $50, and am quite sure that
its owner would have cheerfully do
mated and assisted in its re.erection.
There was no doubt about its being
the first house constructed north of
Fort Vancouver.
In 1856 there were quite number
of Indians employed about the fort,