The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-10-25
CAPTAIN BOLLES
OF THE COLUMBIA
Makes His Last Trip on the san
Prancisco-AstOria Port
land Route.
NEW POSITION WON by MERIT
Never Lost "A Life In Twenty-Nlnc
Years serN lee-TruStcd by Employ
ers and the Public-lIia Early
Service on the Coast

Tuesday last Captain +, BolleH, OF the
steamship Columbia. crossed out over
the bar for the last time as master OF
the Columbia. He win leave the ship
upon her arrival at San Francisco 10
assume his duties as Inspector of hulis
at that port Captain Bolles has PROV
en- himself "a skipper true and n mar
liner bold" and never lost passenger
or was he deferred by wind or sea from
making his regular trip. While In the
Columbia he carried In the neighbor-
hood Of 100000 passengers and 100000
tons OF freight
The coming and going Of the colum-
bia has been depended upon with the
regularity Of a passenger train since
| Captain Bolles assumed command or
her In 1850 since when he has made $50
trips. Captain Bolles began running
~ master to the Columbia river in 1861.
making hls first trip In the steamer
Continental. and has had charge OF
every vessel on the San Francisco As
toria- Portland run. Among the list OF
vessels commanded by him are the Com
tincntal Ajax. orinamme, Pacific. Mo
ses Taylor Montana. California, Idaho,
John f, Stephens. City OF Chester, Geo.
W. Elder and Columbia. The total
number OF voyages made In the vessels
was 600
Captain Bolles was universally sue
cessful In his command of the different
craft. both side and stern whcelers. To
an Astorian reporter Captain Bolles
stated that when hc first began 10 run
TO Astoria Eve tons of freight was con-
sIdered a good cargo Ten tons was
something unusual. and n perchance a
cargo reached twenty-five tons the
whole town turned out to take In the
extraordinary sight. There were no
express wagons In Astoria in those days
and the principal store keepers at that
time We're VanDusen and Brown. and
/ MIR NanDuscn frequently came down
10 the steamer with wheelbarrow 10
transfer his goods TO the store.
The old Continental was a propeller,
and when Bolles first took charge. hav-
Ing been accustomed TO a side-wheeler,
one day In making his landing at AS
toril, he ran into Captain Flavel's
wharf. damaging some OF the piles. Az
ter inqulring for some one TO make the
necessary repairs. he found that Cap
tain Flavel not only owned the wharf,
but all the spare piles and pile driver
with which to make good the damage.
Captain Flavcl at the time was in Port
land. and upon his arrival there Cap
tain Bolles called upon him and advised
him OF the damage he had done TO his
property, stating that It was his desire
10 have the wharf repaired and pay the
expenses. Captain Flavel looked at
him In establishment and said: so you
have broken my wharf. young man"
Bolles replied that he had, but was
ready to repair the damage. After
Captain Flavel got his breath he said:
Young man. Captain Connor and sew
erRl others have knocked my dock down
at various times during the past twen-
ty-slx years, and you are the first man
who ever came up and said he wanted
to pay for such damage. Now l am
going to tell you what / am going to
do am going to repair the damage
you have done, and l am not going to
charge you a cent; but quitting on a
severe look see that 1t don't happen
again" The last time Captain Flavel
went down to San Francisco before he
died. Captain Bolles told him of the
little incident, and both had a hearty
laugh over It,
Captain Bolles' many friends are sor-
ry to see him leave the Columbia, as
both passengers and officers of the o,
r. and N. had implicit confidence in
him, but all wish his success In his
new field.
Captain Bolles appointment to the
position Of inspectors Of hulls Of the
San Francisco district was secured
without influence and after passing a
severe competitive examination.