Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-08-04
Oregon in 1899.
As Seen by "a British Naval officer.
HE DESCRIBE> THE COLUMBIA.

HE DESCRIBES. THE COLUMBIA.
In the Summer # 1899, the little
handfull of Americans in the Oregon
territory, then .niy settlement lex
cei: TIE in'cll,r Nj, s;ons) being in
"aIlamet valley, experienced ex-
trelne so'ici;ude, upon the appear
ancu in the Columbia river Of the
British >'.ry, wing expedition, COM
manded by Captain Sir Edward Bel
cher, II. y. 1t consisted of her
Mniesty's ship S"iph"', three humid
red and eighty tons, with Il compile
ment OF 100 men, attended by Her
Majcsty's schooEe, !>iaritng, of one
hundred and nile tons, Lieut.. II.
keilett, r. y. commanding.
This expedition for the survey of
the Pacific Coast tiom Valparaiso TO
GO deg. 81 min. north, aud original
ly under command of Captain I.
n. Beachev, r. n, sailed from
Plymouth, En- land, December 2,;h,
1880. On reaching Valparaiso,
Captain BeeI hey, in consequence of
ill-healih, WAS compelled to return
t. England. Lieut.. Keilett com
manded until January, 1897, at
which time Captain Belcner succeed
ing Captain Beechey, joined the Sul
pIiur at Panama. Nor We're the
Jealous fears of these American set
tiers without occasion. Among the
Instructions by the British Admiral
ty, dated Dec 19.h, 1895, were the
following:
" Political circumstances have i'll
vested the Columbia river with so
much Importance that it will be well
to devote some time TO lis bar and
channels Of approach, as well as to
its unchoraoes and shores.
From the narrative of the voyage
by Sir Edward Belcher, we make
the following interesting extracts:
con the 2S;h July, 1889, ii. E.
N. ship .Suiphur reached the mouth
of the Columbia river, when Lieut..
KelIett, having deserted us, weighed
and stood with the Starting to con-
duct Us in. Fortunately the wealth
er admitted of our entering, other
wise the very imperfect sailing direc-
tons might have led us into danger.
The shoals in the entrance of this
river have most materially changed
their features within tue las: two
years. Just at our last tack, which
would have taken us safely to our
anchorage, the ship tailed and the
flood forced her instantly on the
bank, where it continued TO press
her awards. Before any assistance
could be rendered, the tide fell, and
our anchors being down, we had to
await the night tide, when less sea
prevails. She tlca,ed of on the
flood, a bleeZe eff shore having
helped her, and anchored in security
until the morning when we weighed
and ran up to our berth in Bakers
Bay. Not SO the Starting. In
weighing lin ten fathoms) she tailed
and instantly lost her rudder. had
not then decided upon taking her up
to Fort Vancouver, bat this now be-
came necessary, and having seen the
ship securely moored and construct
ed temporary rudder for the disa-
bled vessel. we started on the morn
ing of the 3lst for Fort George.
" On the Stdrin'g'> arrival, Lieut..
Kellett communicated with Mr..
Douglas, the chief Of the Hudson S
Bay Company at Fort Vancouver,
who very promptly sent us a guide,
pilot and interpreter; and Messrs.
McLoad and Burnie come down to
call on him. The latter is the clerk
in charge of Fort George. Off this
fort, the we'll known "Fo1t Astoria
of Washington Irving, we anchored
for the night. 1t has dwindled con-
siderably since the Hudson's Bay
Company took charge, who removed
their chief establishment to Fort Van
couver, nd allowed it to run to utter
ruin. Not a vestige remains. A
mall house for Mr.. Brine, two or
three sheds for the Canadians, about
five or eight lii number, and a pine
stick with red ensign, now repre-
seuted Fort George. Not a gun or
warlike appearance of any kiud re-
remains; one would rather take it
for the commencement of q village
than any noted fort. The scenery
is similar to that of all the northern
coast. Wooded 10 the waters edge,
and differing little accepting in the
v rieties OF pine. TIL outline is
pleasing, but no field for the painter,
there being no contrast of tints, and
too stiff an outline.
The navigation is rather cramped
and it is really surprising that with
so much capital at stake in shipping,
etc, the company have not brought
up set of pilots, by which many
thousands might have been saved,
independent of the creation of such
an useful body of men. On the
morning following, we proceeded on
our voyage through the intrlcacies of
Tongue Point channel, and after
grounding occasionally, which l take
to he according TO practice, managed
by sunset to find soft berth for the
night on can unknown spot where
no bank ought to have been," ac-
cording to our pilots.
"On the 9th Of August, after be-
ing nearly devoured by mosquitoes,
we reached Fort Vancouver, where
we were very kindly received by Mr..
Douglas and apartments allotted to
us.
" Fort Vancouver is situated in
| latitude IL dor SE u,;p 20