, 1892-03-15
TO CELEBRATE the EVENT,


Washington not going to be behind Ore
gon in celebrating the centennial anniver-
sary of the state. Captain Gray, of the
ship Columbia, entered Gray's Harbor one
hundred years ago on the 7th Of the com
ing May and it was not until four DAYS
after, that he made the discovery Of the
Columbia river. That part of the United
States now known as the state of Washing
ton was the first land discovered on the
North Pacific coast by citizen of the
United States, and TIE TRIBUNE is glad to
see there is pride enough in the state to
hold iollifcation on Gray's Harbor
to celebrate the event. Here is an
extract from the log book of the ship Co
lumbia, Captain Robert Gray, 1892:
May Z, 1892, a. m.-Being within six
miles OF the land, saw an entrance into,
which had very good appearance of a
harbor; lowered away the Jolly boat and
went IN search OF an anchoring place, the
ship standing to and fro with a very strong
weather current; at p. nl. the boat re-
turned, having found no place where
the ship could anchor with safety; made
sail on the ship-stoOd in for the
shore; we soon saw, from our masthead a
passage IN between the sand bars; at 8 :30
bore away, and run in N. e. by e., having
from four to eight fathoms, sandy bottom:
and, as we drew in nearer between tie bars
had from ten to thirteen fathoms, having a
very strong tide of ebb to stem many ca
noes along side. Ats pm. came to in five
fathoms water, sandy bottom, in safe
harboT, well sheltered from the sea by long
sand bars and splits; our latitude observed
this day was 1888 N.
May 10-Fresh breezes and pleasant
weather. Many natives alongside; at
noon, all the canoes left us; at [ pm be-
gan to unmoor; took up the best bower
anchor, and hove short on the small do,
at BullHnch's harbor, now called Whitby3s
bay, (Gray's Harbor); 4:3 being high water,
hove up the anchor and came to sail and
a-beating down in nthe harbor.
May 11-At 1880 we were out clear of the
bars, and directed our course to the SOUTH
ward, along shore. At 8 p. M. the entrance
of Bullfnch's harbor (Gray's Harborl bore
north distance four miles; the southern
extremity OF the land bore S.S.E. % E.. and
the north do Nm. w. ;sent up the main
toPgallant yard and set all sail; at a. m.
saw the entrance of our desired port, bear
ing E.S.E., distance six leagues in steering
sails, and hauled our wind in shore: at
a. M, being little to WindWard of the
entrance OF the harbOr, bore aWay and in
EN-. 3. between the breakers, having from
five to seven fathoms Of water. When we
were over the bar we found this to he a
large river Of fresh water, columbia river)
up which we steeFed; many canoes came
alongside. At p. m. came to, with small
bower, in ten fathoms; black and white
sand; the entrance between the bars bore
W. >. W., distant ten miles; the north side
OF the river, half a mile distant from the
ship, the south side do two and half
miles distant; village on the north side
of the river, Why M, distant three-duar-
ters OF q mile. Vast numbers of natives
1T11n a al611c flns ,lor n
ing the salt Water out of our water-easks
IN order to fill with fresh, while the ship
Hoated in. So ends,
The ship remained in the river until the
10th, when favorable breeze allowed Cap
tain Gray to put to sea. He named the
river, Columbia, and the north side en-
trance, Cape Hancock and the south, Ad-
ans point. Bullhnch Harbor was Tie
first name Of Gray's Harbor. lit was named
after one of the owners of the Columbia.
It was afterward changed to Whitby Bay.
then to Gray's Harbor.
AT meeting Of the board Of curators of
the state historical society in Tacoma last
week the question of commemorating the
centennial of the discovery of Gray's Har-
Dor by Captain Robert Gray, May Il. 1892
at some point thereon, was presented bv
Curator Higgins, and she following reso-
lutions were. adopted:
Resolved, That the State Historical So
elety regards these early discoveries which
secured to us the grand domain within
our state, as historical events which should
be eommemorated by our people and the
incidents connected Herewith recorded
and preserved in its archives.
Resolved, Thas the State Historical soci-
ETY. take steps to secure an appropriate cen
tennial celebration of the discovery Of
Gray's harbor and the great country adj
laeent thereto at such point thereon as may
be deemed desirable, and that the people Of
the state be invited to join therein.
Resolved, That Curators Edward Hug
gins, Of Tacoma, G. M. Barton, of OLYMPIA.
and Captain w. ?. Gray, Of Pasco, de-
scendant OF the famous navigator and dis
coYerer, be and are hereby appointed
committee of arrangements On the part If
the State Historical society; and that the
secretary is directed to officially convey To |
the towns of Gray's harbor the action of
this society and request their cooperation:
and also under the direction Of the said
committee of arrangements, publish a call
tor such centennial celebration on the 7tbE
day, Of May, 1892, at such point on Gray's !
harbOr as the committee of ARRANGEMENTS /
may designate, and otherwise aid the com
mittee as it may direct
7sss.as-s-aaa.es.ass=@ 7sss.as-s-aaa.es.ass=@