, 1878-01-05
PIONEER STEaNRoATs

siiP All -"1ach, ioo9. Ihis boat was built at
the Des Chutes during the fall and winter of
lSoS-j9, and was launched early in March.
Her original owners We're Col R. r. Thompson
and Capt Lawrence w. Coe These gentle
men had the contract for carrying Government
supplies to Fort Walla Walla and previous to
building the Col Wright had used batteaux for
freightins goods up the river. On account of
the rapids and other distractions, it was the
general opinion that it would be impossible for
steamboats, to ascend the river. This feeling
was So general, that Messrs THOMPSON and
Coe were laughed and jeered at, as investing
their money foolishly, and numerous were tie
predictions of their failure
Capt Jordan, at that time chief quarter
master for the department, was firm believer
iii the practicability of overcoming the rapids.
and 1t was owing very largely to his comte-
nance and support that the projectors of the
enterprise were enabled to overcome the diff
culties in their way The builders of the boat
were poor men, and when hard pressed for
means Capt. Jordan came to their assistance
and enabled them to tide over their financial
strait. Batteaux on the river had been getting
500 ton for carrying supplies from the Des
Chutes TO Wallula The owners of the COL
Wrigid put the rate down to $50 ton and at
this figure had all the freight they could carry.
During the summer of 1859 the steamer made
two and three trips week, and carrying an
average OF 100 tons to the trip it will be seen
that the earnings for her owners We're enor-
NOUS From poor men Messrs Thompson and
Coe a. once became wealthy, and took rank
among the solid men of the country
The spring of 1860 found them prepared
with a second boat, of much larger proportions,
named the Tenino. With these two boats they
done an immense business, and in the course of Il
single summer made two or three fortunes. At
that date the Bradfords and Capt. Ainsworth
were running a small line of boats from Port
land to the Dalles, and had a tram-way at the
portage of the Cascades. They occupied the
north side of the river On the Oregon side
Col. Ruekle and Harry Olmstead had line of
boats, rs also 4 wooden track railroad at the
Cascades These lines were running "opposi-
ton, ana it was common thing for Colonel
Ruckle to have his boats tied mp by attachments
Untiring energy however carried him through
and he managed to keep his line running down
to the spring of 1861, when a combination was
formed that has existed from that day to this
under the title of the .. S. \. Company.
During this year the o. S n. Company con
nected with Thompson 4 Goes line ON the up
per river but at tie end of 1861 overtures were
made for a consolidation, and accepted. The
line as then organized comprised the Tenino
and Cot. Wright On the upper river the Has
s,'oc and Nary between the Dalies and Cas-
Gales and the Carrie Lddd and Mountain Buck
from the Cascades to Portland.
At this time the Nez Perez mining excite
mcnt WAS :.t its height and the boats on their
up-trirs wcrt ioletd d5wniNith Passengers and
freight Previous to this time the BradfOrdS
kept Il small trading post at the Cascades, deal
ing principally in Indian supplies. Capt. Aims
worth had been in command OF small boats on
the lower Columbia, and Col. RGclile and his
partner, Harry Olinstcad, had a desperate Strug-
Gle to make ends meet We have already spoken
Of Mcssrs. Thompson 4 Coe, and their finan-
cial condition ut the time of engaging III steam
| boa.:ns.
Asrcyiyins thememory these early times, we
may state that several of the original employees
of the combination still remain at their pests.
Capt. John Wolfe, on the lower river; Captain
!. i1cNultv, between the D,lics and Cascades !;
Capt Eph Baaylman, on the upper river, and
genial George knagggs, the purser, were EN-
Iloyed on the line previous te the combination.
Trne and faithful men, now that they are IN
the evening of lie, ii is proper that their rare
p,crits should he recognized. We commenced
to write short paragraph, but the subject has
gown upon us and We have driited INTO an
article We love to dwell upon these remlnis-
cances Of early times, and when opportunity
offers will give further particulars of the plon-
e,.rs who ins,l:;urated steamboat navigation on
tie Columbia River