Vashon Island news-record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1919-1954, 1925-05-22
CAPT. GEORGE VANCOUVER

Sound is a lesson to the youth of
this fair land. George Vancouver
had circumnavigated the globe
with Captain Cook, served with
distinction on ships Of the navy,
sailed around the world with or.
dcrs from the King, explored the
North Pacific Coast, written his
book on his Voyage of Discov-
cry" and laid down his life at
forty. No more inspiring career
can be read in all history. He was
but 30 at the time he discovered
Vashon Island. This young Cap
tain was then in command Of the
"Discoverer" and the Chatham"
a sloop and tender, in which he
and his men left England in 1871
and returned after a cruise of
three years to receive honors
from his government and give to
the world knowledge of peoples
and places before unknown.
Youth and courage seemed char
acteristic of this enterprise for no
one in the company was over forty
years old and a number Of them
as young as sixteen; merely boys,
but listed as seamen. Vancouver
himself sailed before the mast at
IS and followed the sea and his
country's flag until he died. With
Captain Cook he sailed the North
Pacific on his first trip around the
world and also accompanied him
on his second voyage when Cap
tain Cook was killed in the Sand
wich Islands.
From his famous narrative which
Professor Meany of the Univer-
sity of Washington has so ably
edited, we find that Of Vancouver
more is known from his works
than his words. His acts bespeak
courage, force OF character, a love
Of duty and the satisfaction Of
success, while his writings show
u talent for expression in English,
besides knowledge of so many
subjects that it is hard to under
stand just when he acquired his
education, having gone to sea as
a child. He was a strict discipli-
marian, but always willing to ac-
knowledge the efforts of those un-
der him as well as to do honor to
his superiors in exploring these
waters. He gave names to Is
places, most Of them being names
Of officers in the navy or men Of
his expedition. In 1893 Vancou-
yer published his Voyage of Dis
covery" and with it map of all
the country hereabopts, showing
Vancouver Island, Bellingham Bay
Vashon's Island, Puget's Sound,
Mount Rainier, Gray's Harbol
Mount st. Helens, Hoods, Canal
and other places known to all Of
us, but he died before the book
could be put into print Thorough
ness and care mark his work
throughout and We're probably the
secrets Of his success. His friend
and companion Lieutenant Peter
Puget lived to become an admiral
in the British Navy and was Van
aouver's most dependable aid on
this famous voyage. Vancouver
never married and little is known
Of his family. He was buried in
Petersham church yard, England,
where a simple stone marks his
grave, although tablet has been
erected in recent years at that
place to commemorate his achieve
ments.
Would it not be we'll for Wash
on Island to claim George Van
couver and Peter Puget as our
own and to erect monument in
their honor? The celebration Of
Discovery Day on May 3oth by the
Vashon Island folk, under the
auspices Of the Commercial Club
would not be a bad time to initiate
a movement to commemorate the
deeds of these heroes of our own
history.
| Hans Brevick and family Of Sc
attle after spending a short visit
Sunday with Grandma Abraham
son took their lunch baskets and
| ,nn4nnaJ IN Ola, A oroc for q ,,in