The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1905-01-14
CHAPTER XVI.
After Twenty Years.

A steamboat was gliding down the
Columbia. 1t was crowded with pas
sengers, gaily dressed in summer attire
Children were running about the
deck playing AMI shouting. A band
dispersed music in the large dining
room. Lovers were talking silly, jus,
as they always do on steamboats,. Men
were playing cards and drawing at
their cigars in the smoking room.
Local passengers were pointing out the
important landmarks along the river
and relating the history of the same to
tourists from the East.
1t was just twenty years after the
war between the southside and north
side fishermen at the mouth of the
river. Time had wrought its great
changes here as at other points in thu
great Pacific Northwest. Popular sum-
mer resorts had been built up on thu
beach Of the can on the south and
north sides of the river. Great crowds
locked to these points every year. The
rivalry of the olden times still existed.
1t was not over tie fishing industry
now for that was established through
the process of hatcheries aided by the
two states, and had become one of tn.
stable institutions of the country.
The people now claimed supremacy
in advancement and superiority of sum-
mer resorts. SEASIDE" on the south
claimed it was the best on the coast.
"Long Beach" on the north claimed it
was the "Long Beach" of the Pacific. )
The boat was steaming for the north
side resort. 1t was the pride of it,
owners and the idol of its crew. It cnt
the water like a knife and rode the
waves with the stateliness of a queen
In beautiful golden letters it bore
the name "Sankala."
The boat had Just rounded the uppe,
point of Sand island. A middle aged
man and woman were seated side by
side on the upper deck locking out or
the water. They were casually con,
versing about the different landmarks
along the island and north shore.
"Do you remember that placer" in.
CURED the man as the boat glided BY
the ruins of an old fish trap.
I EYES," replied the woman. "thst
was about where was when the south
siders shot me-"
"You are right" replied the man
"We were off here to the left when ]
seized his gun. 1t was too late to save
you from the wound, but you know i,
is hobby of mine to claim that saw.
ed your life."
The couple went on discussing mat
tiers Familiarity as the boat steamed
across the river to the tn shore.
"Do you see that man and woman
inquired citizen to tourist whom he
had met on the boat. "Well, they
have a history in this portion of the
world. This boat is named for the
woman. Her maiden name was San
kala Saarela. Her present name il
Lapham. That is her husband sitting
by her side. They own large proper.
ties on the beach but make their home
In the city. They have a summer
home on the beach and come down
every year. This is their first trip this
season.
That town over there, together with
the waterwolks and electric light plan,
belongs to them. They also own the
beach railroad. There is small com
pany of them. But they are immensely
wealthy. Lapham ia the president Of
the company and a fellow by the nam,
OF Budlong is the secretary and treas
uler.
Mrs. Lapham was washed ashor,
from wreck at this very point when {
small baby. The story is very 70
mantle. An old man was also savee
from the wreck. It turned out that b,
was bringing the child's mother ant
father here from Russia to recover .
fortune from rich man by the nam,
OF Seadog who then owned this place
The mother and father were drowned
off that eand island out there and tn,