Office of the Historian

Affidavit of William N. Horton.

United States of America, Territory of Washington, ss:

I, William N. Horton, now of the City of Olympia, County of Thurston, and Territory aforesaid, do solemnly declare upon oath, that I am [Page 168] a native-born citizen of the United States, of the age of forty-two years, and am a Steamboat Engineer by profession. I came to Portland, Oregon, in June, 1850. I came to Puget Sound in May or June, 1854, since which time Olympia has been my residence when upon shore. Early after coming to the Sound, I made a trip in the Sloop Sarah Stone, Captain Thomas Slaten, to all of the Sound Ports, extending our voyage to Fort Victoria, and Nanaimo, upon Vancouver’s Island. We went and returned through the Canal de Haro; at that time it was the only channel used by all Coal Vessels going to and from Nanaimo, by the Hudson’s Bay Company’s Steamers Beaver and Otter in their trips North from Fort Victoria to the trading-posts on the Northern Coast. Indeed it is the only channel which can be profitably or safely used in going from the Straits of Fuca into the Gulf of Georgia, and the inland waters to the North. It was then used by those Steamers, for on that trip, or shortly after, I have seen both of those Steamers, either going from or returning to the then Fort Victoria, now the City of Victoria, on Vancouver’s Island.

From the spring of 1855 up to 1858, I was running a Steamer on the Sound, and made numerous trips to Victoria, and saw Steam and other vessels in the Canal de Haro. I never saw or heard of any vessel ever using the Rosario Straits to get into the Gulf of Georgia, in 1858 I was employed on various Steamers running to Fraser’s River, and continued in that business until 1861. The whole trade between Victoria and Fraser’s River, *in all classes of vessels, was entirely and exclusively done in the Canal de Haro.[89]

I know both channels, having run in both as pilot and Engineer. Haro Channel for all vessels is infinitely superior to Rosario Straits. It is broader, deeper, more direct, less sunken rocks, and the Canal de Haro is perfectly safe at night or in a fog, which I cannot say of Rosario Straits. The currents are strong in both, but in the Canal de Haro much the more regular.Affidavits on the canal de Haro.

I have very frequently seen the Northern Indians coming and going through Haro Channel, and from my information I believe that such Channel has always been used by them in their trading trips from the North to Fort Victoria. Indians follow customs tenaciously, and do not change their routes; and as this was their custom in 1854, I am positive it was previous thereto.

W. N. HORTON.
Territory of Washington, County of Thurston, ss:
Before me, Joseph H. Houghton, Clerk of the Supreme Court of said Territory, came William N. Horton, who, being first duly sworn, did depose and say, that he had carefully read the foregoing statement, and knew the contents thereof; that the same had been dictated by him; and that so much thereof as was stated from his own knowledge was true, and so much thereof as was stated upon information he verily believes to be true.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said Court this 30th day of March, A. D. 1872.

[SEAL.]
JOSEPH H. HOUGHTON, Clerk Supreme Court, Washington Territory.