The Day the Sloop Fired on a Federal Cutter

It was back in the pioneer days—the summer of 1860—that the little schooner Potter set sail from Port Townsend, then the leading city of the Sound, bound for Olympia. She presented an inspiring appearance on the sound, her sails to the wind and bearing away for Harrowstone Point. On her deck was a polished brass howitzer, around about were several kegs of powder, and from her masts and rigging the flags of all nations were floating to the breeze.

The circumstances that led up to this trip of the Potter, and the exciting incidents connected with it, so familiar to the pioneers on the Sound, were these: Twenty-four leading citizens had been summoned to Olympia as witnesses in an important government land case. The old Eliza Anderson was at that time the only steamer plying on the Sound, and her fare from Port Townsend to Olympia was $12.50. Inasmuch as there were so many in the party, an application was made for a half-fare rate, which was refused.

This appeared so unjust to the couple of dozen who had to make the trip that the Potter was chartered at $10 per day and it was resolved to make the trip a memorable one. The party consisted of Capt. H. L. Tibbals (the best known captain on the Sound), Judge Briggs, J. F. Sheehan (at present well-known citizen of Port Townsend), J. F. Benton (then of the same place, but now of Seattle), and 8 others.

Capt. Tibbals was made commander and before leaving he made them all sign a set of ironclad shipping articles. The captain got the howitzer to salute his friends with in the up-Sound towns, borrowed the colors of the old revenue cutter Jefferson, which were at the custom house, and dressed the vessel with them from her trucks to the gaff end.

The Potter had scarcely got out of sight when the collector of customs, Victor Smith, was notified that she had left flying a revenue pennant, then as now a serious offense, and especially so regarded at that time, the war spirit being so strong. Orders were immediately given the cutter Shubrick, who opportunely came into port, to follow the Potter, seize the vessel and arrest all on board for violation of the revenue laws.

The meeting of the Shubrick and the Potter and other incidents of the voyage are told by one of the survivors of the party as follows: The Potter was running along at about four miles an hour off Foolweather Bluff, the weather being thick and hazy, when a light was observed on the starboard quarter, and it was surmised that it might be a step-chaser. Captain Tibbals on deck while the others were in the cabin mess amusing themselves at whist and other games. As the strange craft approached very close the captain ordered all hands on deck and the order was obeyed with alacrity, as under the articles only two seconds in good weather and five seconds in bad were allowed to obey this command.

Meantime the brass howitzer had been loaded and run up to the starboard waist. The captain was closely watching the approaching craft, and as she was about abreast on the starboard beam and very close, he said he considered her a piratical craft and gave the order to fire. It was promptly obeyed and was followed by the order to run in and reload.

Immediately after the gun was fired the other vessel slowed down and stopped, extinguished her lights and laid to, but by this time being so close that the conversation on her decks could be heard by the crew of the Potter. Just then Capt. E. S. Fowler, who was one of the party, grasped Captain Tibbals by the shoulder and said: 'Great heaven, captain, do you know what you have done? That is the revenue cutter Shubrick.'

The response came in thundering tones: 'I know it is the Shubrick; I have hove her to, and if we get any closer I will sink her alongside.' The warlike and clarion ring of the captain's voice evidently struck terror to the hearts of Uncle Sam's brave men on the Shubrick, as she quickly steamed away. They, of course, didn't know that there was none but blank cartridges aboard the Potter.

We saw no more of the Shubrick until the following day, when, as we approached Fort Steilacoom, we noticed her laying alongside of Hatch and Welder's wharf. The Potter was again dressed with the flags of all nations, the gun run over to the port side, and as we passed the Shubrick on that tack, the commander gave orders to stand by the stays; ready about, and as we ranged up saluted her with another gun from the port waist, and as we stood off on the port tack, Captain Waes, of the Shubrick, dipped his colors and saluted in return.

We arrived in Olympia.