Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1861-03-02
From our Port Townsend Correspondent.
Captain Robert Gray.

for us. who arc enjoying tie results of
the discoveries Of the old navigator,
to pay Il passing tribute to the memory
of the mcrchant-captain whose bold and
adventurous voyages on the northwest
coast resulted in the discovery Of the
Columbia river and Gray's Harbor, and
gave the American nation the priority
of right to the country we now occupy.
and which had else been claimed and
owned by Great Britain.
Heroes who have fought for their
country, and men who have added
bv their wisdom to thcircountry' great
ness, are remembered among all ma
tions bv statues. monuments, and the
historians pen. But while it is but
right and proper to hold in remem-
brance the deeds of great men, we
should not forget those unostcntatious
individuals, who, while in the quiet
pursuit of their duties, work out great
benefits to their country in the peace
fnl paths of commercial enterprise. In
1887, company of Boston merchants,
consisting of Mcssrs. Barrell. Bultnch,
Pintar and Darby, fitted out the ship
toiumtio.-a iittic vessel measuring
only two hundred and twenty tons bur
t+cr;-anrt -tlrs--sloop lVashi"gton of
ninety tons. The CShUt5i" WAS placed
under command of john \Fcndrick, and
the Wuxhington un1c: command of
Robert Gray. The two vessels sailed
from Boston on the 30th of September,
1887. bound to the northwest coast of
North America, to trade with the ma
tivcs for flrS. This was the first cxpc-
dition ever fitted out by Americans tor
the northwest coast.
They did not reach the coast till Au-
gust of the following year, when Gray
discovered the opening to the Colum-
bia river, and in attempting to enter it
the sloop struck on the bar. and came
near being lost. lie arrived ut Nootka
on the 18th of September, where he re-
maiMcd all winter, making occasional
short trading voyages, until enough
furs had been collected to load the Co.
lunhn, when Captain Gray was placed
in command of her and proceeded to
Canton, Captain Hcndricl< remaining
on the coast in charge of the slooP
Washington.
The Col,mbu proceeded to the Sand
wich Islands, where Captain Gray was
received with respect, and most hospita-
bly, treated. Such was the confidence
of both king and people in Captain
Gray, that he was permitted to take as
passenger the crown prince on a visit
10 Boston, full reliance being placed on
Gray's promise to return him home
again.
The ship arrived in Canton on the
9th of December. 1889, and having cX-
changed her cargo of furs for one of
teas, sailed for Boston, where she ar
rived on the 10th of August. 1890, h0r-
ing carried the tug ofhe United States.tor
the first time r0und the r0rid.
Some twenty years ago, an eye wit
ness of the return of the Columbia to
Boston 1Iarbor, relates the scene, which
was published in the Cincinnati Post at
the time. He writes:
"Thc ship was absent upwards of
three years, and had not been heard
from for large portion of the time,
when, in the summer of 1890, on a fine
afternoon, strange ship, bearing the
stars and stripes of our country, arrived
abreast of the castle and fired nation
al salute, which was promptly returned
by the fortress. The firing was dis
tinctly seen and heard from Boston,
but no one could imagine what ship it
was bearing our country's flag, and do
| so,~ ANIL I, ho,,n, FN1,n -,
habitants were all in motion, crow.ling
Long Wharf by thousands. When it
was known that the Columbia had re-
turned, the artillery were ordered out.
and when the ship came to anchor, off
the end of the wharf. the deli GIFTED null
titudc rent the mir with joyful acclaim
ations, while salvos Of artillery shook
the neighboring hills, and the aston
islcd people hurried into the city to
join the general joy.
"Thc ship having returned the sa-
lutte of the city, the Custom House
barge was manned and the venerable
General Lincoln, Collectorot the Port,
with the owners of the C1lumbia, re-
paired on board, and after bidding a
hearty welcome to Capt. Gray and his
princcly passenger, they returned to
the wharf together, when the air rung
with loud acclamations, and the artll-
lcry again poured forth its thunder.
The prince was dressed In splcn-
did costume, covered with feathers of
the most beautiful plumage, andin this
magnificent attire he took the arm Of
C,ntoiu GRAY. and PROCESSION bcjro |