Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-10
ENc|RcL[D THE WORLD
First Time the National Flag
Was Carried.
THE STARS AND STRIPES
Borne by the Columbia From Boston
in 1887.
AGAIN THE FOLLOWING YEAR
During This Voyage Capt Gray Dis
covered the Columbia River, In
Washington.

Not by one of the ever-famous vessels
that made up our infant navy, but by
merchantmen on peaceful trading voyage
was the American flag first borne around
thu world. and 1t was the fortune of the
oldest of empires to accord early welcome
to the emblem of the youngest and great
est of republics.
The mariner who first circumnavigated
the globe under the stars and stripes was
Capt. Robert Gray. born in Tiverton. R. l..
in 1755. At the close OF the revolution. in
which he had made highly honorable rec
ord as soldier, he determined to follow
tho sea. and had already shown himself an
admirable sailor when opportunity knocked
at his door
The mission on which Capt Gray made
two memorable voyages around the world
was. chiefly. the expectation of one OF the
choicest and rarest Of our early oommo-
dities. According to Thomas Bulfnch.
author of Oregon and Eldorado the en-
terprise had its inception in a dwelling
which stood in Bowdoin square. opposite
the Revere House, In Boston. Not until
many years later was the tlme-honored
residence removed to make room for the
granite structure known as the Coolidge
building. In its drawing room, one evening
In 1887. were assembled DR.. Thomas Bull
finch. the master OF the mansion. his son
Charles and one OF their neighbors, Joseph
BarreH. an eminent merchant of the city.
Their conversation was upon the discov-
cries of the then recently deceased Capt.
Cook, who had recorded his estimate of the
value of the soft, fine fur of the sea otter.
specifying the regions in which 1t might be
found, and stating that these skins had
been sold to the Chinese at prices ranging
from &l6 to G20 each.
A Company Formed.
TWAS not difficult to interest other neigh
bors. for all believed with Mr. Darrell that
there was "a rich harvest to be reaped' by
those who should secure the monopoly of
this article Of trade. A partnership was
formed. with capital of $1,000, and two
vessels were equipped and manned for
extended cruise. The partners were Joseph
Darrell, Samuel Brown, Charles Bulfnch,
John Derby. Crowell Hatch and J. NJ
Pintard. So confident were they of the
success of the expedition that in advance
they caused to be struck medal, bearing
on one side a representation of the two YES
sells under sail, and on the other the names
of the parties to the enterprise. Numerous
copies of the medal. both In bronze and sill
ver were made and distributed to distin-
guished persons and public bodies. few
of these medals are extant.
During; the summer the adventures per-
fected their plans. The masters Of the
vessels were provided with passports from
the state of Massachusetts and sea-letters
issued by the federal government In agree
ment to resolution Of Congress. They
| received, also, from the Spanish minister
plenipotentiary to the United States, letters
recommending them to the attention of the
authorities of his nation on the Pacific
coast.
The ship Columbia of 212 tons. command
ed by Capt. John Kendrick. and the cotton
soop Lady Washington, Robert Gray, mas
ter. sailed September 80, 1857. from Boston
via Cape Verde In January. 17SS. after
doubling Cape Horn. they were separated
in a violent gale. The Columbia put in at
Juan Fernandez for repairs. and not until
late in September did the vessels meet In
Nootka sound, the point of union chosen in
case of separation. This sound. discovered
and named by Capt Cook in ITS, was on
the west coast of what now is known as
Vancouver Island There they spent the
winter trapping and trading with the ma
tiyeS for furs.
First Journey Around the World.
During the following summer it was
agreed that Capt. Gray, who in the Wash
ington had thoroughly explored the ada
cent waters, should take command of the
Columbia, and convey to China the furs
which had been collected by both vessels
Capt Gray arrived at Canton December @.
1885, and disposed of his furs, taking In
exchange cargo of tea. with which he en-
tered Boston harbor August TO- 1870 Thus
the first journey of the stars and stripes
around the world was of almost three
years duration.
The adventures who were concerned IN
this expedition lost fully one-half of their
capital. a heavy disappointemnt to them
but they bravely refitted the Columbia for a
similar cruise, and on September IS under
Capt. Gray she again set SAIL reaching the
Straits of Fuca June 5, 1871.
On his former voyage Capt Gray believed
that near latitude 46 degrees north he per-
ceiyed indications OF the mouth of a river
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