Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1893-08-14
LOSS or THE TONQUIN.

history OF TIE Unltcu states, lot III
WAS on tina, date that the ship Ton
quin. Captain jonathan Tho n. (who
was Lieutenant in the u. S. Navy un
leave OF absence granted for the pur-
pose Of taking charge OF the vessel on
its present vOyage) set sail from the
port 1T New York bound round the
Horn, to establish trading post at
the mouth Of the Columbia River, on
the Poc.fic coast
As the Tonpuin spread her snowy
sails an; stood out to sea under the
convoy OF the frigate Constitution,
which was detailed to sec her safe on
her wav beyond the danger OF NOES
tation from British war.vessels the
wharvcs OF the city were lined with
spectators. but none were more inter-
esled than the protector Of the
scheme, John Jacob Aston, the
founder OF the wealthy family of that
name.
Although an adopted citizen of the
United States, Mr.. AstOr had done
more to develop TIE resources of the
country than perhaps any other man
in America.
He. in company with some of our
statesmen, had long looked with jcal-
Gus eyes upon the Hudson Bay Fur
Company, as that gigantic monopoly
yearly encroached more and more on
our territory in the great northwest,
until the indefatigable merchant de-
termined to put rival corporation in
the field and demanded that share
of peltry which by right belonged to
citizen of the United States; con-
sequently he applied for, and received
a charter from the National Govern.
men, under the name of the Pacific
Fur Company, which granted per-
mission to said sOmpany and its rep
resentatives to trade with the Indians
and capture fur bearing animals any
where within the limits OF the United
States and west of the Rocky Noun
talnS
Although the enterprise was sup
posed to be a stock company. yet
every dollar advanced came from the
Golfers of Mr.. Aston, who had, it
must be known, accumulated his for
tune in the fur trade, buying the
skins through agents from individual
trappers and Canadian hunters and
selling the same in the Chinese
market at an enormous profit
ever, were four gentlemen, practically
experienced in traffic with the In
dams and having knowledge of the
fur business.
They were Mr.. Alexander Mckay,
who had accompan cd Sir Alexander
Mackenzie on both his expeditions to
the northwea, It coast of America, IN
1889 and 1888, and Messrs Duncan
Macdongal and Donald MKenzie.
These former. a. their names imply,
were Scotchmen, and the fourth
member was Mr.. William Pr.ce
Hunt, of New Jersey.
To this quartette. Mr.. Astor
awarded one-half the stock Of the
company: they to contribute their
proportonate share toward the run
n ng expenses Of the enterprise after
the business had become established.
prevou, to the departure Of the
TouQu;n, Mr. Aston despatched a
land force to the mouth of the Co.
lumba River in charge Of Mr.. Hunt
gigantic undertaking for tho q
days, but with this expedition w
have nothing To do, although it wa
repiete with startling incident which
would be of great interest blowers OF
adventure.
The foregoing introduction is
necessary in order that the reader
may understand why so much inter
est was centercd in the departure of
the first ship belonging to the Pacific
Fur Company.
A beautiful morning in March.
1911, the Tonquin entered the Co.
lumbia River, but the spirits Of her
crew were dampened, and feeling OF
sadness permeated the whole ship,
for several lives had been sacrificed in
attempting to discover the intricate
channel that pierces the bar which
guards the mouth Of the stream.
Seine of the sailors had launched
away in Il small boat to precede the
vessel and pilot her in to, an anchor
age. but the rushing torrent capsized
the little craft and the hardy ad
venturers were swept away to meet
their doom.
Captain Thorn was a courageous
and persistent man and he boldly
stood in towards the land. AS thu
ship neared the shore his practiset
eye revealed to him the place wher'
was the deepest water on the bar, ant
he unhesitatingly pushed onward
and was soon safe within the bay
riding quietly quarter of mile or 81
from land
Several days were occupied in select
ing a site for the establishment OF
trading-post and the erection of
fort, and when the place was decide
upon the founding Of Astoria. nov
one of the most important seaport
On the Pacific coast, was begun.
The newcomers were kindly n
ceiyed by the indians, aud their 81
3Oarn in the wilderness seemed
pHOmiaA h6,Ah x,loaa,asn "A