, 1853-08-27

lie lreliug that they Wyrc abandoning their
Commander and thos, with him 20 their fate.
Those on boarl on the other hand. were re
leased from III 'ir anxisty for the boats, on
which a,one they could depend for being
relieved, if the wreck should remain tugvth-
er for a few hours. OF this, however, liie
prospect was far from promising, amid the
struggle between The waters Of the great
river and these of the mighty ocean, when
every surge seemed 10 forcbodo the utter
dissolution of the fabric Of the ship.
The light article were now removed to
the spar-deok, to give them a chance Of
reaching the shore by the action of the waves
and winds, should the ship go to pieces.
In the midst Of this trying scene, the or
dinary routine Of ships duty WAS carried
on, even TO the piping 10 dinner. 1t is need.
less for me TO say any thing in praise of the
conduct of Captain Hudson, and | have
simply 10 refer to the letters received from
the officers and naluralsis, in reply TO a call
| made upon them, for the aspect in which
the transactions presented themselves 10
those present; and more particularly TO those
Of the latter gentlemen, who, as spectators,
had an opportunity of witnessing the whole
proceedings.
By three O'Clock, Lieutenant Emmons,
with the boats, was again approaching the
ship but the sea was still too rough to ven,
ture near her, and it was not till five o'clock
that he succeeded in getting alongsidc,when
the remaining men were distributed among
the boats, and embarked in good order, Cap.
tain Hudson being the last to leave the ship.
Afler pull Of two miles, they landed in
Bakers Bay, when Captain Hudson was re-
ceivcd by the other officers and men with
three hearty cheers, the spontaneous ex-
preston Of their admiration and gratitude
for the courage and conduct he had exhibit
ed in his efforts for the preservation of the
ship, and in finally preserving the lives Of
all
The exertionS Of the officers and men
were not yet at an end; for some faint
hopes were entertained that portion of the
property might still be saved from the wreck,
as relief in their state Of utter desttution
and, in consequence, the boats were dps-
patched the next morning at day break to
the bar. But nothing was there TO be seen
Of the Peacock, except the cap Of her bow
spirit; for her upper deck had been srparat
cd, and the pieces scattered for many miles
along the coat.
Captain Hudson passed the highest enco-
MUM, on his officers and crew, for the faith
ful manner in which they coniinoed to per
form their duties and carry out his ordc.s 10
the very last.
am sati.fel that every thing that sea
manship could devise 10 save the vessel, was
resolttd to and am quite conf lent that
when the facts are all known and fully weigh
ed by the community, the conduct Of Cap
tain Hudson, and that of his officers and
crew, in this p,rious and trying scene, will
be considered as redOunding 10 the credit Of
the service.
Mr.. Birrie, the agent of the Hudson Bay
Company at Astoria, Messrs. Frost and Ko-
en-, the missionaries, with several residents,
came promptly TO the aid Of the shipwreck-
ed crew, with provisions, tents, cooking urn
sis, and clothing, all vyiug with each other
in aiFurding assistance.
When all hopes Of getting any thing from
the wreck were at an end, Captain Hudson
sent the crew TO Astoria, in the boats, with
orders to form an encampment there, where
they found an ample supply Of provisions in
the stores that had been senl from the Sand
wich Islands, in the Wave, and were sup
piled with clothing by the kindness Of Dr..
Mclaughlin and the officers Of the Hudson
Bay Company.
As soon as learned the exact state Of al-
fairs in the river, determined to make such
disposition of the squadron as would be most
advantageous, in the performance, under the
new circumstances, Of the duties which re-
manned to be accomplished.
With this intent, | resolved to shin my
pennant to the Porpoise, and with that YES.
sci, the Flying Fish, and the boats of the
Peacock, TO survey the Columbia river to
its extreme navigable point. This force
would be amply sufficient to perform this
survey in the shortest possible time, and yet
enable me to despatch party, as had be-
fore intended, through the southern section
of O.pgon Territory 10 San Francisco.-
The Vincrnnes, to which | ordered Lieut.
cnant ComnandanI Ringgold, resolved to
send to San Francisco, TO make a survey oil
the Sacramento river, while was engaged
upon that Of the Columbia.
In conformity with this plan, I directed
the Vincennrs to be Of and on at the mouth
Of the river, while proceeded in with the
PorPoise 10 make the necessary changes and
transfers. Taking Mr.. Knox, and Ramsey
the pilot, on board the latter vessel, we
passed the bar and stood towards Astoria,
but were compelled by the tide to anchor
before reaching that place. On the morn
ing OF the 9TH, we anchored in front Of As
toria, where all necessary arrangements
were completed; and Lieutenant Command
ant Rnggold, on the next day, proceeded in
The Flying Fish, with the transferred ofic-
ers, to Jun the VIncenncs. AS soon as this
! Nas anrrl,.l IhnI rn..nl l.r.. n.u.,. r..r Snr