HOQUIAM, WA. December 12, 1907---Peter J. Girard, aged 67 years, died at his home in Hoquiam this morning of heart disease. The funeral services will be conducted Sunday afternoon. The deceased leaves a widow and four children: Alexander C. Girard, Stephen A. Girard, Mrs. Eugene (Mina) Parker and John G. Girard, all of Hoquiam.
Mr. Girard was born in 1840 at St. Joseph, Mo., being one of a family of eight. In 1860 he joined the stream of Argonauts flowing Westward, landing in California. In company with a brother, he prospected among the hills of California and discovered what was later known as the famous "Moor's Kangaroo Mine". He worked there with his brother several years. Finally a roving disposition took hold again and he left. Shortly afterwards the murdered body of his brother was found in a sluice ditch and the mine which he had discovered was later sold for $5,000,000.
In 1863, Girard went to Portland and in 1866 went to Canada and prospected for some time along the Frazer River,. He took passage with 1,500 others on the steamer Pacific, with Captain Burns. Shortly after leaving Cape Flattery the vessel sprung a leak and was fifty-two hours off the cape while heroic efforts were made to stop the leak. Captain Burns finally taking the ship back to Victoria with nine feet of water in the hold. Girard gave up his trip to California, but took passage for Olympia on the steamer Eliza Anderson.
During his early life in the West he took part in many Indian campaigns and was known as an Indian scout. He took an active part in avenging the Oyee Canyon Massacre in Oregon and led the soldiers against the Indians. He was also with Major White at Boise and Silver City during the Indian troubles there and was for several years a partner of "Wild Goose Bill", a well-known character of the coast, who died recently. He also took part in the Indian battle of Steptoe Butte.
He came to the Sound again in 1880 and logged a portion of Vashon Island and also at other points on the Sound. He was married in 1884 to Emma Megler and came to the Harbor and settled in Hoquiam the same year. He was one of the pioneers of the Grays Harbor country and has always been prominently identified with city and county politics. In the early days he served a deputy United States marshal and in that capacity was a terror to evildoers. He was especially active in ferreting out smuggling operations on the harbor and made several large seizures of contraband opium. He was also the first Hoquiam city marshal.
The funeral obsequies over the remains of the later P.J. Girard held at the home in Hoquiam yesterday were largely attended by the friends and neighbors of the deceased. All of the old pioneers of Hoquiam and many from Aberdeen were in attendance. The dwelling was entirely too small to accommodate even a limited number of the many friends and for blocks in each direction from the house the sidewalks were lined with people who came to show their respect for the dead and good-will and friendship for the sorrowing relatives.
The services were under the auspices of the Hoquiam lodge of Odd Fellows of which the deceased was an honored member. Rev. J.A. Laurie of the First Presbyterian church, preached the sermon and took occasion in the course of it to pay a high tribute to the deceased referring to him as one of the fast disappearing number of brave men and true who unflinchingly met and surmounted the many obstacles in the path of the pioneer, and who have laid a foundation for a modern civilization in the Grays Harbor county second to none on the continent. Several musical selections were rendered by the male quartette; the floral offerings were numerous and elaborate. Internment took place in the Hoquiam cemetery.