History never ceases to amaze me. It’s not the history so much, as the fact that it just takes a little misunderstanding and anger and the whole….well, read on my friends.
On June 15, 1859, farmer Lyman Cutlar got up like he had every day. It was a beautiful morning and he had his work cut out for him. It wasn’t an easy life, but it is what he had dreamed about. He had immigrated to this little island of San Juan in the Juan de Fuca Strait earlier and had set up a farm. There were a few other Americans on this island as well as some British subjects, mostly those who worked for the Hudson Bay company raising sheep.
On the neighbouring island of Vancouver, the British had established Fort Victoria to the west. The boundaries were not exactly clear to anyone at the time and little had it mattered to most settlers. Lyman had claimed his land under the Donation Land Claim Act, which had given 160 acres to any single man or 320 acres (half in the name of the wife) in the Oregon territory to any married couple if they’d farm it for 4 years. This, incidentally was the first time that a married woman was allowed to own property in her name.
Now, it’s not clear exactly what happened. I think that old farmer Cutlar got up and did his morning chores. He then went to tend his garden. “Dangit,” he muttered under his breath. He looked at his garden and there was a big black bore rooting his potatoes. “Get out! Shoo,” he yelled, but the pig just kept on rooting.
“He’s a stubborn one, that’s for sure,” he heard someone say as they laughed.
Cutlar had heard that voice before. He knew it was that Irishman, Charles Griffin worked for the Hudson Bay company on their sheep farm. He was always letting his pigs run free of the island. He glared at Griffin who was still laughing. Cutlar turned and walked into the house and retrieved his gun. “Whoa, lad,” he heard Griffin say as he headed to the garden with the gun, sure that Cutlar was going to shoot him. “Laugh now Irishman,” Cutlar was sure to have said as he raised his gun and shot the pig dead.
Griffin then ran into the woods and then returned with British authorities. Legend has it that Cutlar said, “It was eating my potatoes." Griffin replied, "It is up to you to keep your potatoes out of my pig." It is said also that he offered to pay $10 for the pig but Griffin wanted $100. When British authorities threatened to arrest Cutlar, the Americans on the island sent away for military protection. The US initially sent 66 men to the island from the 9th infantry under the command of Captain George Picket . By August 10, 1859, 461 Americans with 14 cannons under Colonel Silas Casey were opposed by five British warships mounting 70 guns and carrying 2,140 men.
Now, one would think that this little matter could be settled between gentlemen. However, because of failed negotiations over the years about the border between the US and British North America, there never was a clear line. Thankfully, cooler heads prevailed and orders were given not to fire a shot except in self defence on both sides and no lives were lost. Finally after intervention involving an American president, numerous soldiers, a governor and a German prince, things were finally settled. The Americans and Canadians jointly occupied the island for years until it was finally ceded to the U.S.
Today there is a national park on the island and it is the only place where government employees raise the flag of another country with non diplomatic status.
If you want to read more, just Google “Pig War” and you will find lots of interesting things there. I prefer to call it the “Canadian Bacon War”.
…that is all….
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