The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-11-18

WITNESSED The SURVEY.
NO GAP WAS LEFT IN RUNNING
BOUNDARY LINE.
A survivor OF the Party, Accom-
panyinx the American Commits
sioner, Makes Statement of Facts
NJ They Occurred mt the Time.

Special Dispatch to the Post-Intelligencers
NEW WHATCOM. Nov. H.-George
Rehberger, of this city, who is one of the
pioneers of Puget sound and also one of
the few survivors of the American con-
tinent Of the boundary commission OF
'57-'5s, positively refutes the stony pub
lished in the evening paper of Seattle to
the effect that the boundary surveyors
never located the line through what is
now called the Mount Baker mining dis
trict, but placed the forty-ninth parallel
on the maps by guesswork.
In the early fifties Mr.. Rehberger was
hugler in Company f, Nineteenth infan-
try. then stationed at Semiahmoo. under
Capt Woodruff. This company Of infan-
try was sent as the escort of Chief Com
missioner Campbell and party and spent
three seasons in the heart of the Mount
Baker district. There were about 100 men
in the American party and an equal num-
Der in the English party
In 1857 camp was made in the heart of
the most mountainous country Of the dis
trict west of Chillinack lake. This camp
was called Camp Hell for the reason that
the precipitous mountains shut off sun
light from the camp for two months DUR
ing the summer and 1t was an intensely
gloomy and wild place.
Mr.. Rehberger informs the Post-Intelli-
gencer correspondent that the commits
sion erected the last iron post at Cultus
lake, and from there to ChilIinack chained
over every foot of the ground at intervals
on the boundary line, erected stone
pyramids. These pyramids were made
five feet high and six feet square at the
base. the corners corresponding with the
points OF the compass. over a large part
OF the distance the ground was SO precip--
itous that many times the full length of
the chain would measure only three links
In actual progress.
Work In 1858 and 1850.
In 1858 camp was moved to the southern
end of Lake Chillinack and the work
continued. The English party We're
1853 the American camp was moved along
side the English camp. The work was
prosecuted just as carefully through the
nsn bs Far eas 81 o. the aKe
escort and packers trail was built from
the camp around the base OF the noun
tain east of Chillinack and this trail in
miles east Of the lake.
AT the intersecting peint each commits
sion erected a stone pyramid and the two
were not more than thirty feet apart Mr..
Rehberger does not remember how many
monuments were erected between Gull
tus lake and this point. but Is sure there
were quite number.
Mr.. Rehberger says that any one who
stops to consider the question will readily
see how absurd Is the idea that the
boundary commission neglected to per-
form its work through this district. The
American party was paid according to the
time IT was at work The members were
receiving good pay and 1t is not likely
they would neglect any portion of the
work that would tend TO iengthen the Job.
Mr.. Rehberger says he knows the line
was surveyed through the disputed strip.
but not being an engineer he cannot tell
{ how accurately II was done.
In connection with this matter Mr. Reh-
berger insists that the maps which now
show Lake Chillinack to be all in British
Columbia are incorrect. The boundary
line crosses the southern extremity of the
lake. leaving that end on the American
side.
Mr.. Rehberger was one OF the youngest
members of the American party and he
believes he is one OF a few, If not the
only survivor thereof