The Great Boat Chase of Seattle Harbor

Last Saturday afternoon, a man named Jackson, formerly boatswain of the revenue cutter Wolcott, but at present employed on a vessel near Steilacoom, came down from the latter place in a sailboat, bringing a friend who had come down to visit his wife, who was lying sick at the hospital in this city. Jackson brought also a barrel of butter to sell, but having got gloriously drunk, he of course forgot all about the butter. While Jackson was absent, the other man stole his boat and was putting off with it, when he was fortunately discovered by the former, who jumped into another skiff and gave chase. Once outside the slip, the race commenced in dead earnest, and although Jackson was very drunk at the time, he at length succeeded in overtaking the thief near Freeport. As soon as he got within reaching distance, he commenced vigorously pummeling the fugitive with an oar, until the latter was only too willing to return to shore. In coming back Jackson hoisted sail, but a squall striking the boat she was capsized and the occupants thrown overboard. They would doubtless have been drowned had not the steamer Teaser come to their rescue. As soon as the steamer landed at the wharf, the thief jumped off and made his escape.