Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1892-03-04
A PIONEER VESSEL.
The Steamer Beaver Came to this
Coast in 1885.

the wreck OF the hrSt steamer that evel
churned the waters OF the Pacific ocean
says the Sedbodrd.
As the magnificent steamships oil
the Canadian Pacific pass in and out in
plain sight of this old and abandoned
hulk one cannot help contrasting the
different class of craft and wondering
if the old Beaver, as she lies there, does
not take to heart her neglect and re-
sent the proud air of scorn with which
her numerous successors pass her by
without glance OF recognition.
The Beaver was built in England in
1888 for the Hudson Bay Company,
and arrived at Astoria, at the mouth
Of the Columbia river, in 1896.
She was an object of deep and en-
crossing interest from the day her
keel was laid until she passed down
the River Thames and out to sea, on
a bright August morning in 1885,
amid the ringing cheers and encourag-
ing words of the thousands gathered
to wish her every good fortune on her
long trip to then almost unknown
seas.
Her engines and boilers, built by
Bolton & Wattwell, were placed in
position aboard her, but were not
used until after her arrival at her des-
tination, for want of the necessary
fuel for her long trip.
She was rugged as brig, and a bark
was sent with her to convey her
around Cape Horn, but she outsailed
her eonsort and arrived at the mouth
OF the Columbia in 165 days from
London, being twenty-five days ahead
of the bark sent to see that no harm
befell her. Captain Horne WAS her
first commander, and one can well
imagine his pride as he announced his
arrival at the station of the Hudson
Bay Company with Il broadside dis
charge of the battery of his brave
little ship-six 9pounders.
Soon after her arrival steam was
gotten up, and the first steamer that
any of those connected with the grand
old company OF pioneers had ever seen
made an experimental trip up the
river to show her ability to breast the
current without oars or paddles, which
ut that time were the only means OF
propulsion in use among the traders
ON the river.
Captain Horne was lost in 1887
while acting as agent of one OF the
company's stations, by the upsetting
of a boat, and was succeeded by Cap
tain McNeal, under whose command
the little craft made frequent trips
up and down the coast, carrying men
and supplies to the various stations Of
the company, and collecting the gold
and furs for the principal station at
Nisqually, on the Columbia.
AT the expiration OF the Hudson
Bays Company's charter, in 1859, the
Beaver passed into the hands of the
imperial photographic Office, and for
many years was in that service, ex.
ploring rivers, surveying coasts, sound.
ing harbors, and preparing charts Of
the ports of the Pacific coast, OF
British Columbia, and making the
first trips over waters now dotted in
every direction with her noble success.
sors.
After abler boats, with more COM
modious quarters, were secured, the
old Beaver degenerated into noting
better than the modern tramp; carry
ing ore here and there, bringing gen.
eral freight up or down the coast, or
towing logs in booms to the various
sawmills located on the many inlets
and rivers emptying into the Sound,
until unfortunately after fifty-two
years Of active service in developing
the traffic of the Pacific coast she
went on the rocks, in fog and storm,
in August, 1889, where she still lies,
with each swaying rag or rigging
stretching out to passing steamers as
a mute appeal for assistance and ap-
parently begging for the aid she needs
to help her off the rocks to again
take her place among the steam-craft
OF the Sound. Poor thing, it appears
that she still thinks she could again
do her duty and be entitled to the
homage she formerly had as Queen of
the Pacific. Like many of the old
commanders, her days of usefulness
are passed, and as they stand about
the docks and wharves looking at the
younger men and more modern ways
OF doing business, she appears to lie
there on the rocks and lament her
fate at being discarded to give more
modern vessels the work she formerly
did on the same waters.
Several offers have been made for
the old hulk by parties who wish to
tit her up rs she was when she first ar
rived ON this coast, but none have as
yet been able to purchase her. Some
action should be taken to preserve
what remains OF her old hull and en-.
gines, as they are now quite curl
Osity to marine men and will be more
so as years so on, and from this old
Beaver to the Empress of India the
development of the art of steamer
navigation would make a study well
worth the expense of again placing
her in repair for exhibition purposes.
CONGRESSMAN Scott, OF Illinois, has
introduced resolution calling for q
bill to repeal the sugar bounty is @
bare-faced robbery OF the taxpayers