65-546: Fort Ebey State Park is a public recreation area occupying the site of former Fort Ebey on the west side of Whidbey Island , five miles (8.0 km) west of Coupeville in Island County , Washington , United States . The state park covers 651 acres (263 ha) overlooking the Strait of Juan de Fuca and lies within the Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve . It is managed by
130-458: A Spanish force under Francisco de Eliza was sent to reoccupy Nootka Sound. The fleet included the captured Princesa Real , under the command of Manuel Quimper . Eliza arrived at Nootka on 4 April 1790, and found no ships present. Under the terms of the first Nootka Convention, Princess Royal was to be returned to the British at Nootka Sound, but as the port was deserted Eliza decided to make use of
195-460: A bay he named it Ensenada de Caamaño, after Jacinto Caamaño . Haro Strait (Canal de López de Haro) and Rosario Strait (Boca de Fidalgo), both of which lead to the Strait of Georgia, were also sighted during the voyage, in addition to Deception Pass (Boca de Flon), Mount Baker (La Gran Montana Carmelo), Port Discovery (Puerto de Quadra), Sooke Basin (Puerta de Revilla Gigedo), Dungeness Spit ,
260-537: A few days trading with the Heiltsuk . Near Nootka Sound he encountered John Meares , from whom he learned that Colnett and Prince of Wales had not arrived at Nootka. Therefore, Duncan did not stop at Nootka Sound but instead took Princess Royal south, trading in the vicinity of Clayoquot Sound and near the entrance of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. On 17 August 1788, Duncan left the Northwest, sailing Princess Royal back to
325-564: A retreat center near Coupeville , which was once the barracks for the adjacent Fort Casey . The only bridge that reaches Whidbey Island is the Deception Pass Bridge , State Route 20 , which connects the north end of Whidbey to the mainland via Fidalgo Island . Prior to the completion of the bridge in 1935, Whidbey Island was linked to Fidalgo Island by the Deception Pass ferry , which ran from 1924 to 1935. Modern ferry service
390-709: A sloop of 60 tons ( bm ), surveyed in Leith , Scotland in 1778 and resurveyed in 1786; Class A1, Copper sheathed, single deck with beams; draft of 8 feet (2.4 m) when laden; owned by Etches & Co. From 1786 to 1788 Princess Royal , under Charles Duncan , accompanied the much larger Prince of Wales , under James Colnett , on an expedition to acquire sea otter furs in the Pacific Northwest and sell them in China . The ships were owned by Richard Cadman Etches and Company, also known as King George's Sound Company . The company
455-467: Is Oak Harbor's largest employer; thus, Oak Harbor has a predominantly service-based economy and several national chain stores have been attracted to the Oak Harbor area. The economy of Whidbey Island south of Oak Harbor relies heavily on tourism, small-scale agriculture, and the arts. Tourism is especially important for both Whidbey and Camano Islands. On Whidbey, tourists find a wide range of amenities in
520-505: Is a two-runway airport located at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station north of Oak Harbor . In addition, the Navy also operates a flight training facility named Naval Outlying Landing Field Coupeville (Coupeville OLF) located just southeast of Coupeville . The Navy named USS Whidbey Island (LSD-41) in honor of the island. Princess Royal (1778 sloop) Princess Royal was a British merchant ship that sailed on fur trading ventures in
585-684: Is also a series of county operated parks throughout the Island including: Earth Sanctuary is a nature reserve, sculpture garden and retreat center on Whidbey Island. The ponds and bog fen complex have been designated as a "habitat of local importance" by the Whidbey Audubon Society and Island County Critical Areas program. The Price Sculpture Forest opened in October 2020 in Coupeville. Whidbey Island hosts many festivals and celebrations throughout
650-531: Is available via State Route 20 on the Coupeville to Port Townsend ferry, and via State Route 525 on the Clinton to Mukilteo ferry service on the southern east coast. Travel on the island involves use of an extensive county road system, or city infrastructure depending on location, all of which act as feeders to the two state highways State Route 525 and State Route 20 . Whidbey Island's State Routes 525 / 20
715-439: Is found more in the northern part of Whidbey Island along with Sitka spruce and shore pine . There are three open prairie areas on Whidbey Island – Smith Prairie, Crockett Prairie and Ebey Prairie. Some patches of prickly pear cactus are found along the slopes near Partridge Point. Gray whales migrate between Whidbey and Camano Islands during March and April and can be seen from both ship and shore. Orca also make use of
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#1733094161392780-543: Is listed as a 3-A school. Coupeville School District operates in Coupeville, Washington and Greenbank, Washington . Within the district, there is one high school, one middle school, and one elementary school. Within the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association , Coupeville High is listed as a 1-A school. South Whidbey School District serves the southern end of the island, including Freeland , Langley , and Clinton . Within
845-517: Is located 2 miles (3.2 km) southwest of Langley with a 2,470 feet (750 m) long runway. A.J. Eisenberg Airport is located 3 miles (4.8 km) southwest of Oak Harbor with a 3,265 ft (995 m) long runway. In addition, there are approximately half dozen private dirt strips on the island . Kenmore Air Express ran a scheduled airline service to Whidbey Island serving the Oak Harbor airport from 2006 to 2009. The United States Navy operates two airports on Whidbey Island. The largest
910-561: Is the only nationally designated Scenic Byway on an island. It is appropriately named the "Whidbey Island Scenic Isle Way." It is also a part of the Cascade Loop . Public transportation is provided by Island Transit , which provides a zero-fare bus service paid for by a 6/10th of 1% sales tax within the county. There are currently 11 bus routes serving Whidbey Island. No service is available on Sundays or major holidays. Two public airports provide service to Whidbey Island. Whidbey Air Park
975-550: The 2010 census . Whidbey Island is approximately 37 miles (60 km) from north to south, and 1.5 to 10 miles (2.4 to 16.1 km) wide, with a total land area of 168.67 square miles (436.9 km ), making it the 40th largest island in the United States . It is ranked as the fourth longest and fourth largest island in the contiguous United States, behind Long Island , New York ; Padre Island , Texas (the world's longest barrier island); and Isle Royale , Michigan . In
1040-627: The Boeing Everett Factory is located, and Seattle . Commuters to and from those areas use the Washington State Ferries system's run between Clinton and Mukilteo . Whidbey Island is often claimed to be the longest island in the continental United States (or another similar claim), but according to the Seattle Times it cannot be correctly considered so. The island has several bays, including on its east side Oak Harbor with
1105-546: The Olympic Peninsula and the I-5 corridor of western Washington. The island forms the northern boundary of Puget Sound . It is home to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island . The state parks and natural forests are home to numerous old growth trees. According to the 2000 census , Whidbey Island was home to 67,000 residents with an estimated 29,000 of those living in rural locations. This increased slightly to 69,480 residents as of
1170-676: The Pacific Northwest and the Hawaiian Islands . In 1790, while under Spanish control, Princesa Real carried out the first detailed examination of the Strait of Juan de Fuca by non-indigenous peoples, finding, among other places, the San Juan Islands , Haro Strait (the entrance to the Strait of Georgia ), Esquimalt Harbour near present-day Victoria, British Columbia , and Admiralty Inlet (the entrance to Puget Sound ). Lloyd's Register listed Princess Royal in 1789 as being
1235-598: The Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail crosses the park. Park activities include picnicking, camping, fishing, beachcombing, and paragliding . Whidbey Island Whidbey Island (historical spellings Whidby , Whitbey , or Whitby ) is the largest of the islands composing Island County , Washington , in the United States, and the largest island in Washington state. Whidbey is about 30 miles (48 km) north of Seattle , and lies between
1300-637: The Town of Coupeville , the City of Langley , the Village of Freeland , the Community of Greenbank , the Village of Clinton and the Community of Bayview . Only Oak Harbor, Coupeville and Langley are incorporated, the others (with the exception of Greenbank and Bayview) are all census-designated places , and all but Bayview have their own post offices and ZIP codes. Whidbey Island is divided economically into two different regions:
1365-603: The United States Exploring Expedition of 1838–1842, sailed the USS Vincennes into Penn Cove in 1841. By that time, the log church was already being built by the Native Americans beside a huge wooden cross (24 feet long) that they had erected. Wilkes ordered his men to use no force except in self-defense when dealing with the "savage and treacherous inhabitants". In fact, he encountered few problems with
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#17330941613921430-481: The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission . Fort Ebey was built on Partridge Point in 1942 as a World War II coastal defense near the mouth of Puget Sound . The fort was named for Isaac Neff Ebey , a pioneering homesteader on Whidbey Island. The fort included a battery of two 6-inch guns that were later cut up for scrap. The state first acquired the land through the purchase of 204 acres from
1495-518: The Colonel, was established in 1942 on the west side of the central part of the island, just northwest of Coupeville . Admiralty Head Lighthouse is located in this area, on the grounds of Fort Casey State Park . The area around Coupeville is the federally protected Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve , named in honor of Isaac Ebey. On September 25, 1959, a U.S. Navy P5M antisubmarine aircraft with an unarmed (it carried no nuclear material at
1560-526: The Hawaiian Islands where they spent the winter. While on the coast of present-day British Columbia they had a series of first contact encounters with some of the Kitkatla Tsimshian . In Hawaii Princess Royal and Prince of Wales were involved in several violent conflicts with the islanders; one conflict at Waimea Bay , resulted in the death of between five and fourteen Hawaiians . During
1625-551: The Hawaiian Islands, where Prince of Wales and Princess Royal were reunited. The two then sailed to China, arriving in late November, 1788. There they sold the fur skins acquired in the Pacific Northwest. Prince of Wales returned to England via the Cape of Good Hope while Princess Royal remained in the Pacific for another fur trading season. James Colnett also remained, and was given command of Argonaut for another year of fur trading in
1690-545: The Kitsap Peninsula, Hale Passage and Dana Passage. Thomas W. Glasgow filed the first land claim on Whidbey Island in 1848, attempting to become the first settler. He built a small cabin near Penn Cove, planted some crops and married a local lady, Julia Pat-Ke-Nim. Glasgow left in August of that year however, having been forced out by the local inhabitants. Colonel Isaac N. Ebey arrived from Columbus, Ohio, in 1850 and became
1755-596: The Pacific. Thomas Hudson was given command of Princess Royal . While Duncan and Colnett were not the first Europeans to meet the Haida , their 1787 and 1788 accounts provide the first significant written description of them. There were three main encounters, including two at Rose Harbour in Houston Stewart Channel and one at Juan Perez Sound. The British described "Coyah" (Xō'ya, head of the Qai'dju qē'gawa-i Raven lineage) as
1820-591: The San Juan Islands, Whidbey Island , Fidalgo Island , and others. Quimper realized that Haro Strait was a major channel worth exploring, but did not have the time. His orders were to return to Nootka by 15 August so that Princesa Real could be returned to the British. Quimper got the ship within sight of Nootka Sound by 10 August, but due to contrary winds and fog he could not enter, despite repeated attempts. Instead, he sailed Princesa Real south to Monterey, California , arriving on 1 September 1790. By November
1885-578: The Spanish and the Nuu-chah-nulth. In the summer of 1790, Quimper, Haro, and Carrasco explored the Strait of Juan de Fuca in Princesa Real , carefully charting harbors and performing acts of possession. Quimper made maps of Neah Bay (called Bahía de Núñez Gaona) and Esquimalt Harbour (Puerto de Córdova). On 5 July 1790, Carrasco sighted Admiralty Inlet, the entrance to Puget Sound. Thinking it likely to be
1950-522: The Strait of Juan de Fuca was the entrance of the legendary Northwest Passage and of extreme strategic importance. Therefore, he placed Gonzalo López de Haro and Narváez in command of San Carlos (el Filipino) and the captured Princess Royal , renamed Princesa Real , and sent them to the Spanish naval base at San Blas with news about the strait. In October, Martínez completely evacuated Nootka Sound and returned to San Blas himself, with his prisoners and captured ships. The events at Nootka Sound during
2015-456: The Strait of Juan de Fuca, including Puget Sound, under the name of New Georgia. The first known overnight stay by a non-Native American was made on May 26, 1840, by a Catholic missionary, Father François Norbert Blanchet , during travel across Puget Sound. He had been invited by Chief Tslalakum. Blanchet remained on the island for nearly a year and guided the inhabitants in building a new log church. Lieutenant Charles Wilkes , commander of
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2080-511: The Whidbey Audubon Society, Approximately 230 bird species are reported to take advantage of the diverse habitats on the island. Whidbey Island is served by three public school districts . Oak Harbor School District operates in Oak Harbor . Within the district, there is one high school , one alternative high school, two middle schools, and five elementary schools. Within the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association , Oak Harbor High
2145-480: The condition he proceed to China. Instead, he collected more furs from the region and returned to Nootka Sound, expecting Martínez would no longer be there. Hudson did not intend to enter the sound but Princess Royal was becalmed on an incoming tide. A Spanish longboat captured the ship and towed it in. During the capture of Princess Royal the Nuu-chah-nulth ("Nootka") Chief Callicum, the son of Chief Maquinna ,
2210-500: The district, there is one high school (grades 9–12), one alternative school (grades K–12), one middle school (grades 5–8) split between 2 campuses, and one elementary school (grades K–4). Within the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association, South Whidbey High is listed as a 1-A school. Skagit Valley College has one campus located in Oak Harbor. Seattle Pacific University owns Camp Casey,
2275-417: The farmers. Whidbey is home to numerous working artists, writers, and performers. These include many well-known painters, sculptors, glass artists, wood workers, metal workers, mixed media artists, photographers, authors, poets, actors, and musicians. In addition to being a haven for artists, the southern end of Whidbey Island also serves as a minor bedroom community for the nearby cities of Everett , where
2340-541: The federal government in 1965. Additional acquisitions were made between 1968 and 1974, adding nearly 24 acres to the site. The park was further increased through a purchase from the Department of Natural Resources and a land swap arrangement with a private owner in 1990 and 1997. The park opened in 1981. The park includes 3 miles (4.8 km) of saltwater shoreline, the 3.7-acre (1.5 ha) freshwater Lake Pondilla, and 25 miles of trails. A four-mile (6.4 km) stretch of
2405-634: The first national historic reserve in the US created by the National Park Service to preserve the rural history and culture of the island and to protect the area's rare and sensitive plants. Washington State Parks located on the island include Deception Pass State Park (the most visited state park in Washington), Joseph Whidbey State Park , Fort Ebey State Park , Fort Casey State Park , Possession Point State Park , and South Whidbey State Park . There
2470-529: The first permanent white settler, claiming a square mile (2.6 km ) of prairie with a southern shoreline on Admiralty Inlet . He took advantage of the 640 acres offered free of charge to each married couple, the first to do so, on October 15, 1850. In the fall of 1851, his children, his wife, three of her brothers and the Samuel Crockett family arrived to join Ebey. In addition to farming potatoes and wheat, Ebey
2535-440: The group The Order . A large shootout occurred between Mathews and FBI agents in which Mathews was killed during a house fire. Mathews' followers have since gathered on the island at the location where he was killed by FBI agents on the anniversary of his death to commemorate it. On June 10, 2022, the island dedicated one of its trash cans to late night talk show host Conan O'Brien in an elaborate ceremony in which O'Brien signed
2600-400: The indigenous people who had already been poorly treated by visitors and suffered from diseases they had introduced. Wilkes named the lower cove Holmes Harbor, after his assistant surgeon, Silas Holmes. During this time he charted Puget Sound. Other sites in the area that were given names by Wilkes included Maury Island (Vashon), Hammersley Inlet, Totten and Budd Inlets, Agate Passage between
2665-605: The island to the other. Vegetation in the south is more similar to that of mainland Washington. The principal trees are Douglas fir , red alder , bigleaf maple , western red cedar , western hemlock , and Pacific madrone . Compared to the rest of western Washington state, vine maple is notably absent, except where they have been planted. Other under-story plants include the evergreen huckleberry , lower longleaf Oregon grape , elderberry , salal , oceanspray , and varieties of nettle . Non-native introduced plants such as foxglove , ivy and holly are also evident. Farther up
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2730-404: The island, however, the shorter Oregon-Grape and the blue Evergreen Huckleberry is seen less, while tall Oregon-grape and Red Huckleberry predominate. The native Pacific rhododendron is much more visible. Amongst the deciduous varieties, Garry oak (from which Oak Harbor takes its name) are seen more frequently in the northern portion of the island. In the conifer classification, grand fir
2795-522: The late 1780s, and was captured at Nootka Sound by Esteban José Martínez of Spain during the Nootka Crisis of 1789. Called Princesa Real while under the Spanish Navy , the vessel was one of the important issues of negotiation during the first Nootka Convention and the difficulties in carrying out the agreements. The vessel also played an important role in both British and Spanish exploration of
2860-559: The name "Princess Royal" applies to a single island, Duncan called the entire archipelago the Princess Royal's Islands. It included what is today called Banks Island, Pitt Island , Gil Island , Campania Island , Gribbell Island, Hawkesbury Island , and the Estevan Group , among others. In late June, 1788, Duncan returned to Haida Gwaii, then proceeded south. He took Princess Royal into the uncharted waters of Milbanke Sound and spent
2925-411: The northern end of the island (encompassing Oak Harbor and Whidbey Island Naval Air Station ), and the remainder of the island (encompassing Coupeville, Greenbank, Freeland, Langley, Clinton and the smaller communities in-between). The economy of the northern end of Whidbey Island is strongly influenced by the presence of Whidbey Island Naval Air Station near Oak Harbor (N.A.S. Whidbey). N.A.S. Whidbey
2990-609: The principal chief of Houston Stewart Channel and the adjacent waters. In July 1788 both British ships witnessed and became involved in a conflict between two groups of Haida at Juan Perez Sound — a group from the south led by Xō'ya and "Yuka", and a group from the north called "Sangaskilah" by the British. In the spring of 1789 Princess Royal , under Thomas Hudson, along with Iphigenia ( William Douglas ), Argonaut (James Colnett), and North West America (Robert Funter), all British fur trading vessels, arrived at Nootka Sound. Two American fur trading ships were already anchored in
3055-516: The ship), began to map and explore the areas of what would later be named Puget Sound . After Whidbey circumnavigated the island in June 1792, Vancouver named the island in his honor. By that time, Vancouver had claimed the area for Britain. On 4 June 1792, the King's Birthday, near Possession Point at the southern end of Whidbey Island, Vancouver took formal possession of all the coast and hinterland contiguous to
3120-446: The sound, one of which was Columbia Rediviva , and more arrived later, including Lady Washington , under Robert Gray . Esteban José Martínez, in command of the new Spanish post at Nootka, asserted Spanish sovereignty. After a complicated series of events, Martínez ended up with three captured ships and their crews, Princess Royal among them. Hudson had taken Princess Royal into Nootka Sound earlier and had been allowed to leave on
3185-460: The state of Washington, it is the largest island, followed by Orcas Island . Whidbey Island was inhabited by members of the Lower Skagit , Swinomish , Suquamish , Snohomish and other Native American tribes. The Salishan name for the island was Tscha-kole-chy. These were peaceful groups who lived off the sea and land, with fishing, harvesting nuts, berries and roots, which they preserved over
3250-404: The summer of 1788 the two returned to the Pacific Northwest to acquire more furs, this time operating separately. Charles Duncan sailed Princess Royal first to Nootka Sound, then to Haida Gwaii. He then took the ship across Hecate Strait to conduct fur trading among the islands and inlets north of Princess Royal Island , passing through Principe Channel and into Douglas Channel . Although today
3315-542: The summer of 1789 escalated into a major international crisis, called the Nootka Crisis, which brought Britain and Spain to the brink of war. Peace was maintained through a series of agreements called the Nootka Conventions. It took several years for the terms to be fully agreed upon and carried out. Among other things, Spain agreed to restore the captured ships to their owners and pay them an indemnity. In late 1789,
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#17330941613923380-532: The time) nuclear depth charge on board crash-landed into Puget Sound near Whidbey Island. The Mark 90 nuclear bomb casing was never recovered. On August 8, 1970, the infamous Penn Cove capture of several orcas along with the deaths of several orcas occurred in Penn Cove off the island's east coast. In December 1984, the island was the site of a violent encounter between law enforcement and white nationalist and organized crime leader Robert Jay Mathews of
3445-424: The top of the trash can with a black marker. O'Brien was visiting the island to attend the premiere of a play written by Liza O'Brien (his wife). Whidbey Island, along with Camano Island , Ben Ure Island and six uninhabited islands, comprises Island County, Washington . The county seat is located in the town of Coupeville on Whidbey Island. Population centers of Whidbey Island include the City of Oak Harbor ,
3510-411: The town of Oak Harbor at its base, and Penn Cove with the towns of Coupeville and San de Fuca on its south and north shores respectively. Whidbey Island has four lakes that are part of its interior hydrology: Cranberry Lake (inside Deception Pass State Park), Deer Lake, Goss Lake and Lone Lake (both near the town of Langley). Whidbey Island contains Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve ,
3575-452: The towns of Oak Harbor, Coupeville, Freeland and Langley. Coupeville's Penn Cove Mussel Farm exports large quantities of its highly renowned Penn Cove Mussels . This aquaculture facility, along with a number of small farms, reflects the rural agricultural nature of most of central Whidbey Island. Many of these small farms host farm stands onsite, where customers may buy produce, flowers, meat, eggs and other locally raised products directly from
3640-724: The vessel was back at San Blas. In 1791 Quimper took Princesa Real on another attempt to return it to the British. He sailed the vessel from San Blas to the Philippines , stopping at Hawaii on the way. Another Spanish captain would take the ship from the Philippines to China, as the Spanish and British governments had agreed that the ship would be returned to its owners in Macau . It turned out that James Colnett arrived in Hawaii in March 1791, just as Quimper
3705-419: The vessel while waiting. He dispatched Princesa Real under Quimper, with López de Haro and Juan Carrasco as pilots, to explore the Strait of Juan de Fuca more fully. On the way Quimper stopped at Clayoquot Sound and met Wickaninnish and, a day later, Maquinna, whose son had been killed on board Princess Royal the previous year. Quimper and Maquinna were able to begin the process of reconciliation between
3770-655: The waters surrounding Whidbey Island, including the southern residents . Penn Cove was used as an orca-hunting area in the 1960s and 1970s by aquarium owner Ted Griffin , who captured several young southern resident orcas for sale to marine parks and killed others in the process. The southern residents did not return to Penn Cove until a sighting in 2024. Clams and oysters are abundant locally and may be harvested from some public beaches. The Washington State Department of Health provides an online guide to assist in identifying shellfish varieties as well as providing guidance about where to find specific varieties. According to
3835-518: The winter. The first known European sighting of Whidbey Island was during the 1790 Spanish expedition of Manuel Quimper and Gonzalo López de Haro on the Princesa Real . Captain George Vancouver fully explored the island in 1792. In May of that year, Royal Navy officers and members of Vancouver's expedition, Joseph Whidbey (master of HMS Discovery ) and Peter Puget (a lieutenant on
3900-656: The year. Whidbey Island lies partially in the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountain Range to the west, and has a variety of climate zones. This can be observed by rainfall amounts – wettest in the south with average rainfall of 36 inches (910 mm), driest in the central district of Coupeville with average rainfall of 20 to 22 inches (510 to 560 mm), and turning moister again farther north with average rainfall of 32 inches (810 mm). Microclimates abound, determined by proximity to water, elevation and prevailing winds. Vegetation varies greatly from one end of
3965-591: Was also the postmaster for Port Townsend, Washington and rowed a boat daily across the inlet in order to work at the post office there. Colonel Ebey also served as a representative in the Oregon Territory Legislative Assembly, as Island County's first Justice of the Peace, as a probate judge and as Collector of Customs for the Puget Sound District. On August 11, 1857, at age 39, Colonel Ebey
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#17330941613924030-419: Was arriving. The two met. Colnett demanded that Princess Royal be turned over at once, while Quimper explained his orders were to take it to the Philippines. Colnett prepared to seize the ship by force. John Kendrick Jr , a former fur trader who had entered Spanish service and was on board Princess Royal , calmed the quarrel. Quimper slipped away at a convenient time and sailed to Manila , arriving in June. By
4095-437: Was exploring the possibilities of taking furs collected in the Pacific Northwest to China, a venture shown to be potentially profitable by James Cook . The two ships left England on 23 September 1786, rounded Cape Horn , and reached the Pacific Northwest late in the summer of 1787. After trading for furs with the indigenous peoples in the vicinity of Haida Gwaii , Aristazabal Island , and Banks Island , both ships sailed to
4160-421: Was murdered and beheaded by Native Americans, said to be Haida who had traveled to this area from Haida Gwaii . Some sources however, refer to his killers as "Russian Indians called Kakes or Kikans, [from] Kufrinoff Island, near the head of Prince Frederick's Sound." Ebey was slain in proxy-retaliation for the killing of a Haida chief or Tyee and 27 other indigenous people at Port Gamble . Fort Ebey , named for
4225-418: Was shot and killed. On 21 June 1789, Martínez dispatched José María Narváez in the captured North West America , renamed Santa Gertrudis la Magna , to explore inlets to the south of Nootka Sound. By early July Narváez returned to Nootka, having sailed about 65 miles (105 km) into the Strait of Juan de Fuca, demonstrating that it was a very large inlet. After hearing Narváez's report, Martínez felt that
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