The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1883-11-21
A HISTORIC VESSEL.
The Oldest Steam Vessel on the Pacific.

Some time since the older officers of
the United States coast survey were com
pairing notes concerning the Bearer, the
first steam vessel on the Pacific, or, at
least, on that part of the Pacific washing
the northwest coast Of America. To set
the question OF dates ct rest they natur-
ally determined TO seek them from the
old Hudson Bay c0mpany's officers at
Victoria, and from the genial ex-chief
factor of the company, William Fraser
Tolmie, the following facts are gathered:
''Our good friend, Martin, has asked
me TO reply for him to your inquiries re-
garding the steamer BedUer. the pioneer
vessel of this coast, now nearly fifty
vePrs old. In 1896, while an Indian
trader and surgeon at Fort Vancouver, on
the Columbia river, witnessed the arri-
val of the Bearer, rigged as a sailing ves-
sci, and bringing, of course, cargo for the
Hudson Bay company. On the trip out
she had been accompanied by q consort,
which carried amongst other cargo the
boiler and engines intended for the Bed-
rer. Early in the summer of 1886 the
trial trip OF the Bearer around Sauye's
Island, at the delta of the Willamette
river. was the occasion of a holiday for
several of the company's officers. ID
MacLoughlin, with the ladies and school
children, was on the Bearer. With other
Juniors mac more enjoyment IN gallOp-
ing around the then open plains of Skup-
pOOs, on the Willamette slough above ST.
Helens; but | Wei remember our giving
the BedUer three rousing cheers as she
sped along the Willamette. since rippled
by many noble steamer. Soon after
this the Bearer rOceeced 10 the north
west coast 80 engage IN the fur trade. In
1887, or about that time, in consequence
OF an arrangement between the Brit
ish and Russian Fur companies,
The BedUer'S range extended from MIS-
qually in Puget Sound 10 Lynn Canal at
the head of Chatham Strait. In the
autumn OF 1886, having had 20 visit one
of the steamers passengers from the
north. l saw the BegCer IN full working
order at Nisqually. In 1875 the Bearer
came TO Nisquaily for the renewal of her
boilers. ] had been IL charge of that
post since June. 1913. The breaking mp
of the old boilers furnished Opportune
employment TO an American named Nc
Allister, who. with few Others. had set
tied near Olympia, in lS45.
In the sixties the Bearer WAS leased Tor
some years TO the British government,
and under command of LieUtant Pender.
Royal Navy, was employed IN complet-
ing the surveys of the northern interior
passages, so well begun by Vancouver
seventy years ago. Sometime III the sew
enties, after my retirement, the Hudson
Bay Company sold the Bearer, and she is
now owned in Victoria, and employed as
tug about the harbor and along the
coast. She has had many hard knock,
but after some recent repairs this sum-
mer was reported as sound as ever. Out
of the old boiler plate of the Bearer l
had made, in 1876, large griddle, still In
use in my dwelling. and should the pro-
fessOr DayidsOn) ever visit me again, /
hope to serve him with a toothsome oat-
meal hammock, baked on this relic of the
first steamer ON the Pacific coast of the
United States.''-S. z. Bulletin.