The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-09-06

Rw been with Capt
Meares IN former
voyage OF the ship Nootka, as first officer
The vessels were bound 10 Nootka. on the
west coast OF Vancouver island, B. {, 10
establish Il trading post.
The crew of the Felia was com posed Of
English sailors and Chinese carpenters
and smiths. as well as European artisans
and numbered fifty men. The Iphigenia
had a crew composed OF the same neces-
sary and useful classes OF people. and
numbered forty men. They had also as
passengers Tianna, prince OF Hawaii
and native OF Nootka, King Georges
sound. named Comekala. both of whom
had been taken to China by other vessels.
aud Capt. Meares was now returning them
10 their native lands.
The head carpenter OF the F'elia was a
young man of much professional skill
Who had served his time in London. by
direction of Capt Meares he made the
model ana got out the Inoulds all com
pleJe for vessel OF fifty tons 10 be built
Immediately on the arrival of the Fe.ia
at Nootka. to be used as a tender TO col
lect furs and to trade on the coast. The
Chinese carpenters had not the least idea
OF our mode OF naval architecture. but
they were skillful workmen and wllirs
to do as they were directed.
The ship had a long and tempestuous
passage from China, and finally arrived
in Friendly cove, on the west coast of
Vancouver island on Tuesday. May 1S
IT'S Much to the JOY of Conekala. who
was brother OF MaQuilla, the chief Of
King Georges sound. and his relative
Calcium. who stood next in rank. vi
oananish was a powerful prince of a tribe
10 the southwark. and resided AT Clyo-
quot.
The carpenters were sent into the woods
to cut timber for the frame of the new
keel was laid, and all hands eviuced the
greatest interest. The vessel was finished
and launched on Saturday. the 10Th Of
September. 17Ss. and the event is thus de-
scrihed by Meares in the following
graphic manner:
"On the 10th at noon an event 10 which
We had SO long looked with anxious ex-
pectation and had been the fruit Of so
much care aud labor. was ripe for accom-
plishment The vessel was then waiting
10 quit the stocks. and to give all due
honor Ia such an important scene. We
adopted as far as was in our power the
CEREMONY Of other dockyards. AS soon as
the tide was at its proper height the Eng
hsh ensign was displayed on shore at the
house and on board the new vessel which
at the proper moment was named the
North West America as being the first
bottom ever built and launched on this
part Of the globe
1t was a moment of much expectation.
The circumstances of our situa ton made
Us look TO IL with more than common
hope. Maqnilla. Calhoun and a large
body OF their people. who had received in
formation OF the launch. were come 20 be-
hold IL. The Chinese carpenters did not
very well conceive the last operation OF
business In which they themselves had
been so much and 50 materially concern
ed. Nor shall we forget to mention the
Of n
every power was absorbed in the business
that approached and who had determined
20 be on board the vessel when she gIded
into the water. The presence Of the IN
dams ought also 10 be considered when
we are describing tho attendant cere-
monies ~ this important event. which
from the labor that produced II, the scene
that surrounded It. the spectators that be-
held Il and the commercial advantages as
we'll as civiliz!ng ideas connected with X.
will attach seine little consequences to its
proceeding in the mind OF the philosopher.
as well as in the views of the politician
but our suspense was not OF long dura-
ton. on the firing OF a gun. the vessel
started from the ways Ike a shot. In
deed, she went OF with so much velocity
that she had nearly made her way out or
the harhor. for the fact was. not being
very much accustomed 20 this business.
we had forgotten TO place an anchor and
The usual practice on these occasions
Tho boats. however. soon towed her 10
her intended station. and In short time
the N0r.N west America was anchored
close 70 the Fela and Iph.genia.
"Tlanua. who was on board the vessel
at tho timc OF her Icing launched. not
only saw. but may he said 10 have felt.
.hN operation ss II Il had been the work OF
eachantrnent. and could only express his
astonlshment by caDcrjng about. clapping
his hands ard exclaiminE 'NaikaN MAJ
kai" good handsome. beautiful. a word
the most expressive In the language OF
the Sandwich islands. 20 convey wonder.
appreciation AMI delight. The Chinese car
pen-e~s were also n an almost equal de-
gree Of astonlshment. as they had never
before been witnesses % such a spectacle
Nor we're the natives Of tho sound who
were present at this ceremony less I'M
| pressed by a series Of operations. the
simplest % which vas far above their
ror7prehensIon. IN short. this business
/ d.a not fail % raise Us stin higher ~ their
good opinion and 20 AFFORD them better
ard more correct notions than they
( hitherto possessed OF the superiority Of
civilized over savage l.fe'
The North West America went % Qucsn
7 Charlotte sound and collected a iargs
oaantity Of sea otter skins and suisse
/ Qrenfiy went - canton capt. Neares
;sen SAYS VIVA. oar own naval officers
VII indc~se.
81 tru@t e. W., not - considered az an
/ sr1uertlnenf depression = 7 express nv
gratitude ~ thst example % profess!o ral
+ VISOR ana t,erseyeren>e. which tn my early
, s.ss were set before no. on th@ opposite
slfe - tNss continent. where ability and
COURAGE sfeVia-et. in some measure the
+ sfer~in ~ uu~uerf~sfui VAT T1e ssnl-
-ttxrz tu Csra{s owe ras.~ only honor "a
tr. naval warfare on thv sk~a ~ shat