The First Papers Issued at the Puget Sound Custom House
Fall of 1851
Washington Standard
April 25, 1868

The brig George Emery is so intimately connected with the early settlement of Puget Sound, she having brought hither very many of the early settlers, that we may be justified in bringing to notice the voyage above referred to (to the new gold diggings on Queen Charlotte's island) to record an incident in the eventful life of her gallant master, the well- known present General Enoch S. Fowler of Port Townsend. 

As she was under coasting license, it may well be inquired why the occasion of the above entry? How came she to need "papers" from the new Custom House? The reason will now appear. The "George Emery" at this time belonged to Captain Lafayette Balch and Cyrus Palmer and hailed from Port Steilacoom, Puget Sound. On her previous voyage to San Francisco, where she arrived October 14th, the cook of the brig mistook his position and was very insolent to Captain Fowler, who promptly administered a just punishment. Arriving at San Francisco the cook put his cause into the hands of a "sailor lawyer" called Judge Smith, who at once notified Captain Fowler to "settle." The captain himself went up incog, had an interview with Judge Smith, tried to arrange matters for his "friend," Captain Fowler. but Smith was too exorbitant. 

Just as Fowler left the office, in I came the cook, whom he met at the threshold. Fowler had barely time to get down to his brig before a warrant was in the hands of an officer. The captain then sent Messrs. H. C. Wilson and Elwood Evans to see Judge Smith. The former offered Smith a slug (one of the old octagon $50 gold pieces of California coinage) which was indignantly refused and $250 demanded, whereupon, after a huge condemnation of this attempt of Smith to levy blackmail, Wilson and Evans retired.

A friend then employed in the sheriff's office kindly pointed out to Captain Fowler the officer who had the writ for service and whenever that functionary appeared on the wharf Captain Fowler would quietly retreat to one of the neighboring vessels on the dock. The brig was soon ready for sea. She had for passengers Colonel S. P. Moses and family, the Misses Relyea (now Mrs. John Bradley and Mrs. Frederick Myers of Pierce county), Captain A. Benton Moses, Henry C, Wilson, Theodore Dubosq and Elwood Evans for Olympia. and Captain J. M. Batchelder and family, including  his brother-in-law John Hamilton, who was drowned March 27, 1854, on the ill-fated expedition of Major Larned U. S. Army.

To avoid any delay the papers of the brig were in the name of Captain J. M. Batchelder as master and she sailed October 24th for Olympia, Captain Fowler Joining the brig at Fort Point in a Whitehall boat. The voyage terminated, Batchelder remained at Steilacoom and the Olympia Custom House again transferred masters, the voyage to San Francisco; being made in the name of John Wilson, then Captain Fowler's first officer, but afterwards master of the brig.

Laden with a cargo of piles she duly arrived at San Francisco and the name of Wilson chronicled as Fowler's successor quieted the whole matter, and Fowler thus forever escaped from the cook's action of damages and from paying tribute of "black mall" to a "sailor lawyer." (While the brig remained at Olympia an incident occurred which, from its connection with the Custom House, Is well worth stating. From the same diary we extract as follows): November 20th. Today was a great day in this section of the country. everybody being invited to the wedding of Joseph S. Brohears and Betty, daughter of Gabriel Jones, Esq The Olympians were out early and at about 10am Colonel Moses, Captain Fowler, Dr. J. M. Haden, U. S. army, from Fort Steilacoom, Colonel E. A. Starling, Indian agent, Surveyor W. W. Miller, A. M. Poe, Edmund Sylvester. 

Theodore Dubosq and Elwood Evans started for New Market in the Custom House boat. Stopped a few minutes at the residence of Colonel M. T. Simmons, who, together with Clanrick Crosby and Dr. R. H. Lansdale, joined our company and we all piled into a three-horse wagon and started for the residence of the bride's father, about four miles back on the prairie, where we found assembled some 100 Oregon neighbors from far and near, quite four-fifths of whom were males. Esquire Thomas M. Chambers from Steilacoom performed the marriage ceremony, after which we all sat down to a sumptuous and wholesome dinner. 

This over with, a party of us, to enable the rooms to be cleared that the dance might go on, started for a walk and paid a visit to George Bush, an old man who has been in the territory since 1824 but settled here since the fall of 1845. He is a very worthy and useful citizen, has acted as guide to several immigrations, and from his many services to the old settlers, the prairie hereabouts is known as Bush Prairie. His farm is said to be the best north of the Columbia river, and his improvements are worth at least $3,000.

When we returned to the company we learned that John M. Chapman, Esq., of Steilacoom, had been "buzzing" the company with the story that the Hudson's Bay Co. employed a secret trail from the mouth of the Puyallup to their fort at Nisqually over which they imported goods landed at Puyallup by large Indian canoes. Such important and reliable information determined the collector forthwith to organize an expedition.

So urgent was the duty that a party consisting of Surveyor Miller, Captain E. S. Fowler, H. C. Wilson, A. Benton Moses, Theodore Dubosq, A. M. Poe and Elwood Evans, took leave of the wedding about 6pm Together with four Indians they continued their voyage, setting out armed and equipped as the law directs, at about 10, to detect the Hon. Hudson Bay Co. smuggling goods by canoes over an underground trail. After a most unpleasant night, arrived at Port Steilacoom at 8am of the 21st. At about 2pm reached Puyallup Bay and camped the night at head of bay. 

Here the party divided, Miller, Evans and Moses took a canoe, ascended the river and finally found a well defined trail which, after pursuing some two miles, divided, one going to the barracks at Port Steilacoom, the other back of the prairie and leading to Fort Nisqually. The remainder returned to Port Steilacoom in the boat. All were of opinion that we might have more profitably remained at the wedding.

Some thought John M. Chapman could invent big stories and it is noticeable he did not care to accompany the expedition. Some openly ridiculed the collector for so easily allowing his credulity to be imposed upon. The expedition learned that smuggling might be carried on, but even the Indians, proverbial for telling all they knew, did not know as much about those "King George" canoes at Puyallup Bay as did the veritable John M. Chapman.