The Night Seattle Danced Until Two: A Steamer Excursion from Steilacoom
In July 1859, the steamer Julia carried Olympia and Steilacoom society across the Sound to Seattle, where three supper tables and a hall full of dancers made territorial news.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
On Friday last, the 22d inst., according to previous announcement, the steamer Julia, Capt. Clark, made her appearance at our wharf about noon, with flags and streamers flying, stirring music, and a considerable number of ladies and gentlemen of Olympia, who had come to join with the people of Steilacoom in an excursion to Seattle.
Dinner being announced as ready at the Puget Sound Hotel, our Olympia friends landed and partook of it; and, after an hour or more passed in social intercourse with our people in town, the whistle of the steamer called the excursionists together, when, at about two o'clock, a start was made for Seattle. Some two hundred comprised the number of men, women and children on board.
Fortunately the weather was extremely pleasant. Shortly after starting, the saloon of the steamer was cleared for dancing, in which all who felt disposed engaged. With dancing, music, and the changing view, the time passed very agreeably until the steamer came in sight of Seattle. A salute was fired from Mr. Plummer's wharf as the steamer approached, and the people of the town assembled in force to greet their visitors and bid them welcome.
On landing, the company repaired to the large hall in Mr. Plummer's building to engage in the amusement of the evening—dancing. We found the hall indeed a fine one, but not too large for the company present. Perhaps so large a company was never before assembled at a ball in the Territory. The music on the occasion was excellent, and the dancing was kept up with spirit until two o'clock, with a slight intermission for supper.
Supper was announced at about twelve o'clock, and, going to the supper room, we found three long tables literally groaning under the weight of good things prepared by our generous hosts. The dishes comprised an endless variety of luxuries, in all conceivable shapes, gotten up in style known only to those skilled in the culinary art, and the tables were tastefully decorated with bouquets. The most fastidious, without being very hungry, could here find something to gratify his palate. The provision was abundant as it was attractive; after all had eaten to repletion, there was enough remaining to feed an army of hungry people. The ladies of Seattle (God bless them) deserve much credit for this display, as we are assured they have the warmest thanks and best wishes of their numerous guests on the occasion. They were unremitting in their efforts to please, and spared neither pains nor expense to enhance the enjoyment of their visitors.
The occasion will long be gratefully remembered as one of unalloyed pleasure. Our only regret is that it was of so short duration. Soon after two o'clock A.M. the party was on board the steamer, and arrived at Steilacoom about six o'clock.
“Perhaps so large a company was never before assembled at a ball in the Territory.”
Puget Sound was a waterborne region before it was a highway region; a steamer excursion was both a social event and a civic boast. The article's pride in turnout and hospitality echoes the way modern Seattle still measures itself by the crowds it can draw and the visitors it can host.
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