Thursday, July 3, 2014

Deception Pass

Fans of Mudhoney and The Ring movies might consider a camping trip to Deception Pass State Park near Seattle. The area sounds beautiful and has a rich, colorful history:

Ben Ure Island, just east of the Deception Pass Bridge, became infamous for being an area for smuggling in illegal Chinese immigrants. Ben Ure and his partner, Lawrence “Pirate” Kelly, would tie up the immigrants in burlap bags so that they could toss them overboard if U.S. customs agents came near. The currents would then carry the bodies to San Juan Island, in what is now known as Dead Man’s Bay. Between 1910 and 1924, a prison rock quarry was operated on Fidalgo Island. About 40 prisoners, including convicted murderers, worked at the quarry. The camp was taken apart in 1924, but remains of it can still be found.

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