16.07.2014 Views

TOLD by the PIONEERS - Washington Secretary of State

TOLD by the PIONEERS - Washington Secretary of State

TOLD by the PIONEERS - Washington Secretary of State

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

Told <strong>by</strong> <strong>the</strong> Pioneers<br />

small sacrifices for reading matter; books, papers, and magazines.<br />

The winters would have been impossible without <strong>the</strong>m. Mail came <strong>by</strong><br />

stage, coming in and going "out was a 10 cent charge for letters and<br />

5 cents for papers, besides <strong>the</strong> stamps.<br />

LOREN BINGHAM HASTINGS<br />

Jefferson County<br />

In 1881 I made my first bold stroke in business. The carrying <strong>of</strong><br />

mail between Puget Sound points and Neah Bay was a very pr<strong>of</strong>itable<br />

business. I had 110. way <strong>of</strong> carr}ying <strong>the</strong> mail I owned no boat but<br />

put in a bid for <strong>the</strong> contract. My bid was slightly under that <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

former contractor and <strong>the</strong> job was awarded to me <strong>by</strong> <strong>the</strong> government.<br />

I <strong>the</strong>n <strong>of</strong>fered to buy <strong>the</strong> loser's schooner for $5,000, and <strong>the</strong> <strong>of</strong>fer<br />

was accepted. I scraped toge<strong>the</strong>r $2,500, gave my notes for <strong>the</strong> remainder<br />

and within a few months had, through <strong>the</strong> boat's earnings,<br />

paid <strong>of</strong>f this debt.<br />

EfYERETT GETCHELL<br />

Mail fOl' Early Residents Left at Post Office at Mukilteo<br />

Snohomish County<br />

Wherever <strong>the</strong> hardy pioneer has pushed through <strong>the</strong> wilderness and<br />

been followed <strong>by</strong> civilization, <strong>the</strong> United <strong>State</strong>s postal system has<br />

been close behind. The same that has been true <strong>of</strong> every frontier held<br />

• •<br />

true in Snohorpish county, even as early as 1870 when <strong>the</strong>re were only<br />

a handful <strong>of</strong> ~ettl€rs scattered along <strong>the</strong> waterfront, and up <strong>the</strong> rivers.<br />

,Perhaps <strong>the</strong> mail didn't arrive on schedule, in fact, at times it might<br />

be a week late, even after a route had been established, but <strong>the</strong> people<br />

were too busy to care. If <strong>the</strong> boat came and brought letters from <strong>the</strong><br />

folks back home, <strong>the</strong>re was joy in <strong>the</strong> settlement. If not, life went on<br />

and <strong>the</strong> business <strong>of</strong> makilig a home in <strong>the</strong> wilderness progressed.<br />

I am a Lowell pioneer, who came to Snohomish county when but a<br />

lad <strong>of</strong> five years. I remember <strong>the</strong> first boat to navigate <strong>the</strong> Snohomish<br />

river on a regular run. O<strong>the</strong>r boats had gained Snohomish, head<br />

<strong>of</strong> navigation, but not regularly.<br />

It was in <strong>the</strong> spring <strong>of</strong> 1870 that tl1e steamer Chehalis, owned and<br />

operated <strong>by</strong> Captain Wright, began to ply <strong>the</strong> routes <strong>of</strong> Puget Sound<br />

and push its nose up <strong>the</strong> snag-infested and uncharted waters <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

Suohomish river. Although not intended to carry mail when first put<br />

on <strong>the</strong> run, <strong>the</strong> captain graciously consented to pick up <strong>the</strong> few letters<br />

145

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!