Welcome New Baby Orca J~43

NEW BABY J-43!

photo: Gene and Merilyn Ohlson, Greenbank / via Orca Network

First spotted on Wednesday, J-pod's new orca calf J-43 is seen here swimming beside mother, Samish J-14 (right) and brother, Riptide J-30. J-43 joins brother Riptide and sisters Hy'Shqa J-37 (whose name means "blessing" in coast Salish language) and Suttles J-40. J-43's Great Grandmother, Granny J-2, is the grand matriarch of the Southern Resident Orca community. Granny and Great Uncle Ruffles J-1 were featured in the Free Willy movies.

link to: Raw: Orcas Near Alki King5 video

Chamber Music ~ Saturday

Saturday, November 10

SAN JUAN COMMUNITY THEATRE
Chamber Music San Juan Presents
THE FOUR SEASONS by Vavaldi

Antonio Vivaldi
link to: BAROQUE COMPOSERS AND MUSICIANS
link to: text of the Four Seasons Sonnets in English and Italian

Poetry Night ~ November 9th

SAN JUAN ISLAND LIBRAY

Friday, November 9th 7:00 PM
Poetry Reading

Poet Sappho and Phaon ~ Oil on Canvas ~ Jacques-Louis David 1809
The Hermitage, St. Petersburg, Russia

Featured Poets:
Ernest Pugh (actor/playwright)
Susan Wingate (published poet)
Wendy Wood (wildland firefighter, poet)
& Open Mic...

Hosted by Tom Odegard
Curious, Call 3213

- no devices please -
listen and speak your hearts, minds, & ephemera

An Exceedingly Annoying Affair

Circle KB INC

So far, cool heads have prevailed regarding the touchy issue of just what national jurisdiction San Juan Island and its herds of Hudson’s Bay sheep belonged to. A bit of grease gets thrown onto the fire when the brand new state of Washington decides that San Juan Island should fall under the purview of newly formed Whatcom County. Hudson’s Bay farm manager and Deputy of the Peace, Charles Griffin had just been told by his colonial office “I have to authorize you to continue to treat those Islands as part of the British Dominions” when he was paid a visit by Whatcom County’s Sheriff Barnes.

In October of 1854 Sheriff Barnes gave Griffin the choice of paying $80.33 in back taxes or facing a sheriff’s sale. Initially, Griffin paid him no heed. Barnes left only to show up again with a crew of armed “bidders” who, after having rowed to the Island in 3 rowboats proceeded to have a moonlight sheep auction on the beach purchasing 40 Hudson’s Bay sheep. After a considerable struggle to load the sheep (10 escaped) into the 2 boats and an Indian canoe they were just shoving off early in the morning when Griffin and a posse of Kanakas (some said with knives) attempted to stop them. The Kanakas and Griffin gave up the pursuit recognizing that with drawn pistols the Americans had a superior show of force. Or so it seemed, as the Americans fell to their oars they glimpsed the Beaver, a well-armed Hudson’s Bay steamer out of Victoria.

Governor Douglas appraised the incident: “an exceedingly annoying affair”.

reference: Vouri, The Pig War, pg 33-37

William Holman Hunt ~ Strayed Sheep ~ Oil on canvas ~ Tate Gallery, London.

Spring Forward Fall Back

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME
Turn Clocks Back One Hour Today

photo: nal from miami

VOTE! General Election Nov 6

Women's Suffrage Parade ~ Pennsylvania Avenue 1913
They fought for our right to vote.

DON'T FORGET TO VOTE THIS WEEK!

Meanwhile Back At The Ranch

Charles Griffin ~ Manager Belle Vue Farm

After the ill-fated Issac Ebey left his friend Henry Webber on San Juan Island as assistant collector of customs, Charles Griffin, manager of Hudson's Bay's Belle Vue Farm, issued a warrant for Webber's arrest. Webber, who was camped directly beside Belle View Farm in a tent ornamented with an American flag, resisted.

"This gentleman instantaneously presented a revolver at the breast of the constable, telling him if he touched him he would most certainly fire." Webber was armed with "two brace of pistols hung about his waist and breast, and a knife thrust in his boot at the knee."*

Griffin then ordered and was later advised by BC Governor Douglas to leave the American alone as long as he did not attempt to carry out customs duties. Webber, charged only with keeping tabs on Belle Vue farm and being paid $5 a day to do it was perfectly happy with the arrangment. He soon became best of friends with Charles Griffin.

quotes from: *p.31, Vouri's The Pig War