The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-12-05
Astor's Faithful Employ ce.
LIEUTENANT LEWIS, WHO BLEW UP HIS SHIP
AND Persisted WITH THE sAyAGEs.
ISt. Louis Republican,

TSt. Louis Republican,
The venerable David NJ. Hitchcock. who
has been resident OF st. Louis since 1887,
in conversation yesterday, adyerted to II
statement published short time ago in the
Republican regarding the remarkable per-
Torrance OF Russell Farnum, who crossed
Behring Strait and went through Siberia TO
ST. Petersburg in the service OF John Jacob
Aston.
Mr.. Hitchcock said the account called to
mind another person named James Lewis,
whom he knew while boy in New Haven,
Conn, and who, in the service OF Mr..
Astor, voluntarily met death in singular
manner. Mr.. Hitchcock retains particu-
lar remembrance OF Lewis from the fact
that before he left New York he gave bin
silver whistle, which he retained as keep
sake Of a hero. He said:
"Mr. Aston, In prosecuting his scheme
OF commerce and colonization on the Pa
cific, determined on sending out two eXpe-
dltions-one by sea and the other by land
the former to carry out The people aud
stores, ammunition, and merchandise ne
cessary for trading post at the mouth OF
the Columbia river. As is we'll known,
the land expedition was entrusted TO Mr.
Wilson p. Hunt, Of st. Louis. A ship, the
Tonquin, commanded by Captain iona
than Thorn, lieutenant In the United
States navy, mounting ten guns, with a
crew of twenty men, sailed from New
York in September, 1910. on this expedi-
ton. My friend James Lewis was the ships
clerk. After getting to sea the Tonquin
was Joined by the frigate Constitution and
conveyed beyond danger. After various
vicissltudes the ship eventually arrived at
Vancouyer's island and anchored in the
harbor OF Newetee, where great numbers
OF the Indians came off In their canoes to
trade. Some alterations occurred between
the captain and the savages, but the day
passed away without any signs OF hos
tility, and at night the captain re-
tired to his cabin, taking no more than
the usual precaution. This consisted
OF extending a rope network around
the ship to keep of the Indians. On the
following morning, at daybreak, canoe
came along with twenty Indians. la a
short time other Indians came up. and.
breaking through the rope network, they
clambered up the sides OF the ship. The
main articles sought by the sayages were
knives, and the boat was about to sail, when
the captain ordered the ship to be cleared.
In an instant a signal yell was given, and
the savages, rushing on their victims, kill
ed every one on board except Mr.. Lewis,
who, however, received deadly stab in
the back and fell down the companion.
way. The Indians then left the ship, and
some four or five Of the ships crew, who
had put out in boat and returned, found
Mr.. Lewis, and were requested by him to
take whatever they could carry away with
them and effect their escape. They had
gone but few miles when the next morn
Ing they saw the savages crowding the
decks OF the ship. The sides were also
covered with the savsges intent on plum
der. In the midst OF their exultation MIR.
Lewis applied match 10 the magazine con-
tanning the powder, and the ship blew up
with tremendous explosion, Mr..
Lewis being inundated with his vic
tins. Arms and legs were blown into
the air, and the canoes were destroyed
with the inmates. Upward Of a hundred
savages were killed by the explosion.
Washington Irving, who describes the
scene In his Astoria" fails TO furnish the
full name Of the heroic James Lewis, who
thus became the victim OF bis terrible re-
venge. James had two brothers whom l
knew. One, the youngest, John Lewis, Is
still living In New Haven, or was three or
four years ago, when was there. Another