The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1904-09-03


year they hoisted the firss American
flag on the island, A few days after
ward Gen. Harley, passing along
the coast in the old U. S. steamer
Massachusetts, saw the flag flying
and went ashore and interviewed the
settlers, who reported to him the
threats 'of representatives OF the
Hudson Bay Company and asked for
projections against theni and the In
dians. He responded promptly by
ordering Capt. Georee E. Pickett, of
the Ninth Infantry, then stationed at
Fort, Bellingham, "to establish his
company on Bellevue. orr San Juan
island, on some suitable position near
the harbor at the southeastern ex
tremity" In his annual message to.
congress under date of December 10,
1852 President Buchanan says.
''This order was promptly obeyed
and a military post was established
at the place designated The force
was afterwards Increased so that by
the last return the whole number of
troops on the island amounted in the
aggregate to 691 men" Gen. Har-
ney's visit was made on the 9th of
July In his report he stated that
he found upon the island twenty
five American residents with their
families, and also an establishment of
the Hudson Bay Company for the
purpose of raising sheep"
Mr. Mckay knew all about the cir
cumstences Of the shooting of d pig
belonging to the Hudson Bay Com
pany by settler named Cutler, who
then lived on what is now and has
been for many years the Frazer
place. This was one of the Incidents,
mentioned in President Buchanan's
message, which led TO TIE applica-
tion of the settlers, through Paul X.
Hubbs, then acting as an Inspector
of customs, for military protection.
In 1862 Mr.. Mckay went to the
Carriboo mines, in British Columbia,
to work for friend who had secured
rich claim there, which fer some
time yielded sixty-five pounds Of gold
a day. His wages were $l6 day
and it cost him 1926 q day to live,
doing his own cooking. In the fall of
that year he returned to San Juan
and was shortly afterwards married
at Victoria. He first located on what
is now the. Wold farm in the valley
but later filed upon and secured a
patent to the Douglas place, where
he lived for many years. His title
was disputed by Mr.. Douglas, who
finally SECURED possession after years
of litigation. In 1864 Mr.. Mckay
went back to the Carriboo district
for a few months to work a canyon
claim for a friend of his, but he re-
turned in the fan and has resided
here ever since:
When the county was organized in
1873, few months after the ter
minatica of the joint military occu
pancy, ne was appointed by the gov
ernor as one of the first commission
ers of the county and WIS Afterwards
elected for two terms, serving as
chairman. of the board during the
entire period of his incumbency. He
was one of the founders of and for
years an active worker in the first
church and Sunday school organized
in the county, but forf some years
past he has been a strong Christian
Scientist. Though his years are now
three more than. three score and ten
he is still a strSng and active man,
working daily at his trade as black
smith, strong I'm his beliefs, tenac-
ious in argument, kindly and cheerful
and always looking on the bright SIDE
of things. 4.
ISLAND Lime property fold =