It was in the days before the telegraph came to the Pacific Northwest that Governor Isaac Stevens was appointed first governor of Washington Territory. The people of Olympia were informed that Stevens was setting out from the Nation's capitol with a party of 240 men, including army personnel, guides, teamsters, surveyors, and scientists. All Olympia then waited-- anxious for any bit of news. At last word arrived that the Stevens party was leaving Portland bound for Puget Sound.

On the expected day of arrival a considerable meal was prepared in Olympia's first and only hotel and the little town was decked out for a great reception. The day wore on and no Stevens party. In the afternoon an undersized journeyworn traveller tried to get a meal at the hotel but was told to pack off as "they were fixing for a great doin's."

He did however manage to wheedle a meal of scraps in the kitchen from the cook, and when he left the hotel he fell into conversation with a citizen watching anxiously down the road.

"Wish he'd come," said the citizen.

"Who?" said the traveller.

"The governor," cried the citizen. "Governor Stevens, or course."

"Why," cried the traveller, "That's me!"

Sure enough for some reason Stevens had pushed on ahead of his party, and here he was. That was enough for the citizen. He banged on a circular saw hung from a post and announced proudly, "The governor's come."

And with that the first governor's reception was on.

Adapted from George E. Blankenship Lights and Shades of Pioneer Life.