Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1904-03-25
IN THE PIONEER DAYS
MEMORIES OF FOLDEN TIMES, BY
CAPT. ]. G. PARKER.

MEMORIES OF OLDEN TIMES. BY
CAPT. J. G. PARKER.
The Steamer Major Tompkins The Steamer
Traveler-The Hudson Bay Co.'S Post al
Victoria-Bslinsham Bay Settlers-The In
dian War-Other Steamers - Exciting Con
test for the Sound Trade Between the North
Pacific and the Olympia-The Puget Sound
Transportion Co.. Local Corporation.
PART Iu.--CoNCLUsIoN.
The down Sound United States
mails were first carried in 1854 by the
American steam propeller Maj. Tomp-
kins, Captain James Hunt and part.
ner, John H. Scranton. The latter
was considered to be the best single
handed talker in the Territory. The
Major Tompkins was shortly after
wrecked while going into Victoria har-
Dor, and was succeeded for the two
years following. 1855 and 1856. by the
iron steam propeller Traveller, J. G.
Parker, master; William N. Horton,
engineer. The Traveller was built in
Philadelphia and brought around
Cape Horn aboard ship in sections,
put together again in San Francisco,
and there purchased from Charles
Peters by Edward H. Parker. In 1856
]. G. Parker had her machinery taken
out, and with the hull placed on board
the sailing vessel J. B. Brown, Captain
Mayhem and shipped to Port Gamble,
where she was launched, rebuilt and
went into service on the Sound. This
was the first steamer that navigated
the Duwamish, White, Snohomish and
NoOtsac rivera. At the close of the
Indian war in 1857 ]. G. Parker sold
the Traveller to w. N. Horton of Olym-
pia. He chartered her to the Indian
department, which used her for carry.
ing officers and merchandise to the
various Indian reservations. She was
lost in March, 1858, off Foul Weather
bluff. together with five persons, con.
sisting OF Captain Thomas Slater, T.
H. Fuller, Special Indian agent,
George Halfway, John Stevens and a
deckhand, name unknown. Two In.
dian deckhands succeeded in reaching
the beach by swimming.
On my first trip up the Sound with
the steamer, l landed the boat at the
first wharf ever built in Seattle. All
of my means having been invested in
the boat and her fittings. was about
broke. Every man and boy in town
came to the wharf to see the boat, and
OF course the community was greatly
elated to learn that they would again
have the United States mails regularly,
and could travel by steam instead OF
canoe or sail-boat. l met Henry L.
Yesler and told him of my circum.
stances and that wanted some wood.
-" Well" he said, as he commenced
whiting big stick very fast with a
big jack knife. that is easily arranged.
Go to the mill and tell George Frye to
have the Indians wood you right up.
Take all you want. Help yourself,
captain. and pay for it when you feel
like it," Yesler's was tho first steam
sawmill on Puget Sound, his machin.
cry having come from Mass;lon, o.
On our way up to Steilacoom and
Olympia that first trip, we steamed
into Puyallup bay, as it was then
called Cater named Commencement
bay). anchored off Swan & &'Rileys fish.
cry, the present site Of the Pacific mill,
Tacoma, and there discharged lot ol
salt. barrel heads. stores, cooper's
tools and provisions.
In 1855 Indians were more numer.
Gus on the beach and waters OF Puget
Sound than ducks are now.
The steamer Traveller carried the
United States mails between Olympia,
Steilacoom and Seattle, and when ur.
gent necessity demanded went to Vic.
toria. Port Townsend and Bellingham
Bay. Victoria then consisted of the
Hudson Bay Company's station, ir
charge of Governor ]. r. Douglas,
Chief Factor, inclosed by high stock
ade built in the shape of large square
surrounding the company's log ware.
house, store and dwellings. The stock
ade, or fort, was guarded at the uppel
four corners with q turret Offset, il
each of which was loaded cannon
There was one entrance, consisting o
a very narrow gate, at which one o
the company's armed servants was in
variably on duty. Not more than si,
Indians were allowed within the en-
closure at one time. and they had t,
leave their blankets and arms outsid
the gate, which was near and facinl
the bay. Outside the stockade was
line OF small one story log dwelling
that were occupied by the company
servants. The company also had al
armed brig that frequently anchord il
the bay under the range of the gun
of the fort. Inside the fort were sew
eral cisterns and fresh water was oh
tanned and distributed by filling bar
rels at spring outside and the bal
rels then rolled over the ground I
their destination. The store counter
we're so high and wide that all th
merchandise was kept out OF reach q
Indian purchasers. Eternal vigilanc
was the absolute price of safety an
security.
I At Bellingham Bay were Captai