The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1903-01-31

ing two war ssels to protect their as
sumed interests. The officer in COM
mand of the American troops was Cap
tain George Pickett The British COM
| mander took up a position broadside to
the American camp Soon boat was
lowered, and an officer glittering in
uniform of scarlet and gold was rowed
ashore. He bore a peremptory de-
| mand from the British commander that
the forces of the United States be with
drawn forthwith from the territory of
her Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria.
Captain Pickett answered that he had
not been ordered to surrender the is
lands, but to defend them; and that he
was prepared to carry out his instruc-
tons to the letter.
The war cloud grew darker when
General Harvey himself arrived with
reinforcements, and Briton and Yankee
| confronted one another in hostile array.
When news of the threatening situation
reached Washington city, President
Buchanan sent General Winfield Scott
to take command of the Department of
the Pacific, with instructions to avoid
hostilities If it were possible without a.
sacrifice of the national honor. Scott
went from San Francisco to Victoria,
where he met the British admiral. who,
fortunately, was man of good sense
as we'll as ability. A compromise on
the basis of joint occupation Of the
islands until the boundary question
should be definitely settled was agreed
upon. Just at this time, the strained
political situation between the north
and the south, to be followed all too
soon by civil war, gave our govern
ment enough business to attend to at
home, without counting hostilities
abroad. Unhappily, 1t also arrayed in
deadly strife against her many of this
brave little band of soldiers who were
then guarding her farthest outpost, and
who would willingly have laid down
their lives to defend her honor and her
soil from a foreign foe. Conspicuous
among these was Pickett, who later i'm
mortalized himself as one of the he
roes of the lost cause.
During the civil war, and for several
years afterward, the burning issue of
the boundary was held in allegiance,
and the two hostile forces, isolated
from all the rest Of the world, frater-
nized in the most cordial fashion.
English camp, as the spot where the
British garrison stood is called to this
day, was festive place, pleasant with
a gracious hospitality, and bright with
the presence of lovely women, who car
ried the refinement Of their English
homes into this rough frontier post.
Many friendly bout at tennis or cro-
quet was played on the wide lawns
stretching away In front Of the officers
quarters. Though no blood was shed in
these spirited engagements, they were
not without their spols of victory and
defeat, where wounds that left their
scars deep In the lives of the comba-
tants were given and received. Among
these, local tradition still holds the
memory of a fair young English girl
who lost her heart to a dashing lieu
tenant of Pickett's troops and nothing
but the vigilance Of stern parent, who
was commanding officer as well, pre-
vented romantic elopement.
It was not until 1872 that the govern
ment at Washington had time to turn
its attention once more towards the
northwest. BY mutual agreement both
nations submitted their rival claims to
William IL, Emperor of Germany, for
arbitration. He decided the question in
favor of the United States, much to the
discontinue of the British, who had
confidently expected a decision in their
favor. In 1873 the red standard of St.
Gearge was reluctantly hauled down.
The people of San Juan Island have
taken pains to preserve the buildings
and other appointments at English
camp in the order in which they were
left by their occupants, as sauvenir
of this interesting episode in our coun-
try's history. The officers quarters, al
most overgrown with the ivy carried
hither from England, the tennis court