An Excursion to the San Juan Islands

In my last letter I said we had turned back at New Westminster after our trip up the Fraser River. While lying opposite New Westminster, Mr. John Leary proposed three cheers for the city and the western terminus of the Canadian Pacific Railroad, which were lustily given. Passing through the Douglas channel, between the northern extremity of Orcas and Waldron Islands, we came to anchor in Cowlitz Bay. On the following day, we entered Roche Harbor on the northern coast of the celebrated San Juan Island. This is a port of entry, and in the immediate vicinity is the lime quarry and kilns of Messrs. Scurr & Co. The lime quarry is but 200 yards distant from the landing, and consists of an enormous deposit of lime rock. The annual capacity is 30,000 barrels. Having secured the services of Mr. Laette as pilot, we determined to visit the celebrated British camp which was occupied during the boundary dispute between 1859 and 1871. The long, low buildings of the quartermaster's department and the guard-house still occupy a level piece of ground containing about ten acres. These were later taken up by one William Crook under the homestead law. After a very pleasant trip of eight days, we arrived in Seattle.