The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-02-28
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dian was engaged as interpreter. Abou,
the middle of June the TonquiTr entered
Noorka Sound. an ocean estuary be-
tween Nootka and Vancouver islands,
about midway of the western shore OF
the latter. There she anchored before
q large Nootka Indian village called
Newly
The place Was even then not. uaknown
10 history. The NOotkas were a fierce
and savage race. A few years before
the advent of the Tonquin. the Aneri-
can ship Boston, Captain Salter. was
trading in Nootka Sound The cap
tain had grievously insulted a native
ehieftain. The ship had been surpris-
ed. every member OF her crew exceot
two murdered. and the ship burned.
These two had been wounded and can
tured, but when il was learned that
one was a gun-smith and arnorer their
lives We're preserved. and they had
been made slaves. escaping long after
Every ship which entered the Sound
thereafter did so with the fun know
ledge of the savage and treacherous
nature of the Indians. and the trading
was carried on with the utmost cir
cunspection. There had been no vio-
lent catastrophes for several years, I'M
til another ship Boston made further
trouble. Her captain had shipped
twelve Indian hunters, promising to re-
turn. them to their people on Nootka
Sound when he was finished with them.
Instead of bringing them back he ma
rooned them on a barren coast hun
dreds of miles away from their destina-.
ton. When they heard of his cruel ac-
ton, the Nootkas swore to be revenged
he
sound. The next ship happened to be
the Inflated Tonduin.
Now no Indians that ever lived could
seize ship like the Tonquin if proper
precautions were taken by her crew.
Mr.. Astor, knowing the record of the
bleak northwestern shores. had espe-
cially cautioned Thorn that constant
watchfulness should be exercised in
trading. Thorn felt the serenest con-
tempt for the Indians. and took no pre-
cautions of any sort. indeed, the de-
of the savages lulled even the
suspicious of Mckay, who had had
wide experience with the aborigines.
Mckay even Went ashore at the invita-
ton of one of the chiefs and spent the
first night after his arrival in his
lodge.
The next day the Indians came
aboard to trade. They asked exorbitant
prices for their skins and conducted
themselves in a very obnoxious way
Thorn was not a trader; he was sail
or. He offered them what he consider
ed fair price. and if that We're not
satisfactory. why, the vender could so
hang, for all he cared. one old chief
was especially persistent and offensive
in his bargaining for high price. He
Thorn back and 4orth on the
deck, thrusting q roll of skins in front
of him, until the irascible captain at
last lost the little control of his tent
per that ne ordinarily retained. He
grabbed the skins and showed
theml-not TO say rubbed them-in the
face of the indignant and astonished
Indian. Then he took the Indian by
the back of the neck and summarily
rushed him along the deck to the gang
way. Tt is more than likely that he as
sisted HIM in his progress BY kicking
him overheard.
Tie other Indians left the ship imme-
diately. The interpreter warned Nc
Kay that they would never forgive
such an insult, and Mckay remon-
strated with the captain. His remon-
strances We're laughed to scorlf, as
usual. Not a precaution was taken.
Ships trading in those ATTITUDES usually
triced UP boarding-nettings fore and
aft to prevent savages swarming over
the bulwarks without warning. Thorn
to order these nettings put in
position. Mckay did not think it pru-
dent to go on shore that night.
Early the next morning large canoe
some twenty Indians, all
Chi
Indian held up a bundle of furs and
his desire to trade, Thorn in
great triumph admitted them to the
ship, the furs were brought on deck,
and bargaining began. There was no
evidence of resentment about any OF
them. Their demeanor was entirely
from what it had been the
night before. On this occasion the IN
dams were willing TO let the white men
put any value they pleased on their
furs.
While they We're busily buying and
selling, another party of unarmed IN
Iians made their appearance alongside.
They We're succeeded by second, a
third, a fourth, and others, all of whom
were welcomed to the ship. Soon the
deck was crowded with Indians lager
10 barter. Most them wanted hunting
Or butcher knives in exchanges. and by
this means, no one suspecting any
hing, nearly every one of the savages
became possessed of formidable
weapon for close-d Garter fighting. Nc
Kay and Thorn appear to have gone
below temporarily. perhaps to break
,ut more goods to exchange for furs,
ghen the Indian interpreter became
convinced that treachery was intended.
was in charge at the time
,erhaps Lewis-at the interpreters in
tance, sent word to the captain, and
ie and Mckay came on deck at once.
The ship was filed with a mob of In
ians, whose gentle and pleasant aspect
ad given way to one of Sowing dis
,Ieasure and menace. The situation
yas serious. Mckay suggested that the
hip be got under way at once. The
aptain for the first time agreed with
i'm. orders were given to man the
apstan, and five of the seanen We're