Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-24

also drew mainly on the men Of the North
west Company. These men he made part
ners. He gave to them 80 per cent of the
interest. retaining the other 80 per cent
responsibility. He put up 100000. In
his selection of men he exhibited excep-
tionally bad judgment. The plan was to
send two forces, one by ship around the
down the Mississippi. and then up the
Missouri, over the Rockies and down the
Columbia. The land force was to estab-
fish posts along the route and meet the
other force at the mouth Of the Column
bia.
A fine ship the Tonquin. was equipped
for the sea trip. She carried in her hold
the frame of a schooner. which was to be
employed In the Pacific coasting trade.
The Tonquin was commanded by Jona-
than Thorn, a lieutenant In the navy. on
leave of absence. Nearly all of the North
west Company men Mr.. Astor had taken
into partnership were British subjects.
and before the Tonquin sailed two of them
went to the British minister to the United
States and advised him of what Mr.. Aston
was doing. Hardly had the Tonquin .oAt
port than trouble began. Capt. Thorn
was a martinez, honest and punctilious,
but with an abiding contempt for lands
men. Duncan McDougal, the partner to
whom Mr.. Aston gave his proxy to act in
any disagreement. was peppery. nam
boyant creature. Thorn and McDougal
clashed at once. and there was a condition
approaching mutiny on the Tonquin from
start to finish
September 8, 1870 the Tonquin left New
York. The frigate Constitution conveyed
her to sea, there being a British warship
outside which, 1t was understood. intended
to stop and search her and take off such
British subjects as were aboard. The
Tonquin got away without molestation,
but there was turmoil aboard every day.
Many times the captain threatened to put
the partners. the clerks and all the voy-
ayers in irons. The ship stopped at the
Falkland Islands and two of the part
ners had a narrow escape from being
marooned there, the captain sailing away
without them. But the ship became be-
Gained and the men were able to get to
her in boat. Christmas day the Tonquin
doubled Cape Horn and February IL
reached the Sandwich Islands. There
some Hawaiians were recruited for serv-
ice in the Columbia river country and the
Tonquin resumed her journey. March
%, 1911, the Tonquin arrived off the
mouth of the Columbia. The weather
was tempestuous and the sea was nigh
For several days vain efforts were made
in the capsizing of small boats that the
captain sent out to find a way into the
river. At last. after much delay and trou-
BILE the Tonquin got inside. and April II
a site was selected on small bay for
the establishment of the station which
was to be the company's headquarters on
the Pacific. A fortified post was built.
the Stars and Stripes were raised and the
settlement was named Astoria. From
Astoria parties were sent up the river to
explore the stream establish stations at
advantageous points and open up trade
with the Indians.
After all the cargo destined for Astoria
had been taken out Of the ship the
Tonquin departed to proceed up the coast
to trade for pelts at the various harbors,
visit Alaska and begin business with the
Russians, Mr.. Aston having sent repre-