Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1893-08-12
LOSSOF THE TONQUIN,


was on that date that the ship Ton
ouin, Captain Jonathan Thorn, (whC
was Lieutenant in the [. S. Navy on
leave OF absence granted for the pur-
pose OF taking charge Of the vessel on
its present vOyage) set sail from the
port of New York bound round the
Horn, to establish a trading post at
the mouth Of the Columbia River, on
the Pacific coast
As the TonQuin spread her snowy
sails and stood out to sea under the
convoy Of the frigate Constitution,
which was detailed to see her safe on
her way beyond the danger Of moles-
tation from British vessels, the
wharveS Of the city were lined with
spectators, but none were more inter
ested than the protector Of the
scheme, John Jacob Astor, the
founder Of the wealthy family Of that
name.
Although an adopted citizen of the
United States, Mr.. Aston 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 jeal-
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 interchangeable 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
tains.
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
Associated with Mr.. Astor, how
ever, were four gentlemen, practically
experienced in traffic with the In
dians and having knowledge of the
fur business
They were Mr.. Alexander Mckay,
who had accompanied Sir Alexander
Mackenzie on both his expeditions to
the northwest coast of America, In
1889 and 1888, and Messrs. Duncan
Macdongal and Donald M'Kenzie.
These former, as their names imply,
were Scotchmen, and the fourth
member was Mr.. William Price
Hunt Of New Jersey.
To this Quartette, Mr.. Astor
awarded ~one-half the stock of the
company; they to contribute their
SS.roportionate share toward the run
ming expenses Of the enterprise after
the business had become established.
Previous to the departure Of the
TouQuin, Nh. Astor despatched a
land force to the mouth Of the Co.
lumbia River in charge of Mr.. Hunt,
a gigantic undertaking for those
days, but with this expedition we
have nothing to do, although it was
repIete with startling incident which
would be of great interest followers Of
adventure.
The foregoing introduction is
necessary in order that the reader
may understand why so much inter-
est was centered 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 a 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.
Some of the sailors had launched
away in 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 adj
yenturers were swept away to meet
their doom.
Captain Thorn was a courageous
and persistent man and he boldly
stood in towards the land AS the
ship neared the shore his practised
eye revealed to him the place where
was the deepest water on the bar, and
he unhesitatingly pushed onward,
and was soon safe within the bay,
riding quietly quarter of mile or so
from land.
Several days were occupied in select
ing a site for the establishment OF a
trading-post and the erection Of a
fort and when the place was decided
upon the founding Of Astoria, now
one of the imost important seaports
on the Pacific coast, was begun.
The newcomers were kindly re-
ceived by the Indians, and their So
journ in the wilderness seemed to
promise both pleasure and profit