Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1904-03-18
tleman then being chief clerk of the

company.
The Hudson Bay company had two
wooden steamers plying semi-occasion-
ally between Nisqually, Victoria and
British Columbia, the side-wheeler.
Beaver, Captain Swanson. and the
propeller Otter, Captain Lewis. The
Beaver was the first steamship that
turned a wheel on the Pacific ocean,
Columbia river or Puget Sound. She
left the river Thames rigged as brig
and came out under sail, arriving at
Astoria 10 l6o days. Soon after reach
ing Astoria Captain Horne, her first
commander, steamed her around to
Nisqually (then the Hudson Bay COM
pany's chief station on the Pacific
coasD to the great astonishment Of
the native residents. She now lies
hard aground, wreck on the 70 cks
in the narrows at Vancouver. B. C.
Not single person who came out on
her in 1885 is now alive, and nearly all
the company's officers, with few ex-
ceptions, who received her on her ar
rival at the Columbia river, have passed
away.
My first trip down the Sound, north,
was in May, 1853, on the schooner
Rover, loaded with lumber. Her crew
consisted OF two sailors, whose frequent
pulls on big brown jug resulted in
my being obliged to take command
after reaching the narrows. We fol.
lowed the west passage of Vashon
island until after dark. At the foot
of Vashon island the Sound widened
out to my view, the breeze was draw
ing free and headed the schooner for
the only light visible, distant about
four miles across the Sound in north
easterly direction. Crossing over l
rounded the point, on which was q
campfire, and hailed a man on the
beach, Hillory Butler. He informed
me that it was the New York of the
Pacific, now known as Alki point.
Dropping the anchor and srousing the
crew l accepted the invitation to 60
ashore in the strangers canoe. 1t was
then about 10 o'clock at night, and
several Of the residents turned out to
greet us. Among those who were re-.
siding and engaged in business there
were: Charles L. Terry, DR.. May
nard, S. w. Russell aud family, Rob.
ert and Thomas Russell, George Frye,
Hillory Butler and wife, the Holder
ness brothers and J. N. Low and fam.
lily. There learned that several par.
ties, among whom we're Arthur A.
Denny and family. c. d. Boren, w. N.
Bell and family and H. L. Yesler, had
taken claims and were living up Du-
vanish bay, on the present site of the
city Of Seattle.
From Alki point went to WILDLY
island, on the sloop Sarah Stone, Cap.
tain Thomas Slater, and after week e
sojourning there returned to Olympia.
Among the early settlers then at Port
Townsend were ]. G. Ginger, Captain
Bachelor, L. B. Hastings, Captain
Fowler. F. w. Pettygrove. Captain
Frank Tucker, J. II. Van Bokkelcn
and Albert Briggs. Around every set.
Element on the Sound were encamp.
ments Of Indians. Generally speak
ing, the most OF them were very inde-
pendent in their conduct toward the
whites.
At Skagit head. WILDLY Island,
Bobert Bailey was fshing. In the vi
cinity of Penn's cove were the Crock
etts, Samuel Hancock. Captain Rob.
ertson and family, Captain Coupe and
family, Captain Rarstow, Thomas
Craney, Major Snow, Samuel d. Howe,
Captain Edward Darlington. J. M.
Izett. the Ebeys and Robert and Nath.
Hill.
During the summer OF 1853 the resi-.
dents Of Olympia received word that
there was large party OF emigrsnts
with OK teams. prairie schooners and
horses near the confluence OF the
Snake and Columbia rivers, who, with
great difficulty we're endeavoring to
come to the Sound and willing to try
the mountain trails. The citizens OF
Olympia and vicinity were desirous OF
extending hearty welcome, and E. J.
Allen called on me with subscrip-
ton list to raise funds necessary to cut
q wagon road across the mountains by
improving the Hudson Bay company's
trail via the Natchez pass. The sub.
scription then comprised the sigma
lures OF G. A. Barnes, Joseph Cushman,
and Moses Bettman, pledging S25 each.
l persuaded Mr.. Allen (now Major AL
len Of Pittsburg, Pa.) to be guided by
my suggestions, to which he assented.
Destroying his subscription list, wrote
a new one, headed it with 500 and
sent him with it to Moses Bettman.
Moses pride was instantly aroused
and down went his name for $500.
George Barnes raised Bettman's 5000
by subscribing $500, and Judge Cush.
man, not to be outdone by Barnes,
subscribed $4O0. Captain Crosby also
subscribed literally. the amount l
have forgotten, and DR.. w. F. Tolmie,
then chief factor OF the Hudson BAY
Company, also, which was greatly ap.
preciated BY all of us. Other residents
In the vicinity donated provisions oil
various kinds and other necessary ma.