CHAPTER IX.
Point George- Founding of Astoria- Indian Visitors.- Their Reception.- The Captain
Taboos the Ship.- Departure of the Tonquin. - Comments on the Conduct of Captain
Thorn.
FROM the report made by the two exploring partners, it was determined that Point
George should be the site of the trading house. These gentlemen, it is true, were not
perfectly satisfied with the place, and were desirous of continuing their search; but
Captain Thorn was impatient to land his cargo and continue his voyage, and protested
against any more of what he termed "sporting excursions."
Accordingly, on the 12th of April the launch was freighted with all things necessary for
the purpose, and sixteen persons departed in her to commence the establishment,
leaving the Tonquin to follow as soon as the harbor could be sounded.
Crossing the wide mouth of the river, the party landed, and encamped at the bottom of
a small bay within Point George. The situation chosen for the fortified post was on an
elevation facing to the north, with the wide estuary, its sand bars and tumultuous
breakers spread out before it, and the promontory of Cape Disappointment, fifteen
miles distant, closing the prospect to the left. The surrounding country was in all the
freshness of spring; the trees were in the young leaf, the weather was superb, and
everything looked delightful to men just emancipated from a long confinement on
shipboard. The Tonquin shortly afterwards made her way through the intricate channel,
an came to anchor in the little bay, and was saluted from the encampment with three
volleys of musketry and three cheers. She returned the salute with three cheers and
three guns.
All hands now set to work cutting down trees, clearing away thickets, and marking out
the place for the residence, storehouse, and powder magazine, which were to be built
of logs and covered with bark. Others landed the timbers intended for the frame of the
coasting vessel, and proceeded to put them together, while others prepared a garden
spot, and sowed the seeds of various vegetables.
The next thought was to give a name to the embryo metropolis: the one that naturally
presented itself was that of the projector and supporter of the whole enterprise. It was
accordingly named ASTORIA.
The neighboring Indians now swarmed about the place. Some brought a few land-otter
and sea-otter skins to barter, but in very scanty parcels; the greater number came
prying about to gratify their curiosity, for they are said to be impertinently inquisitive;
while not a few came with no other design than to pilfer; the laws of meum and tuum
being but slightly respected among them. Some of them beset the ship in their canoes,
among whom was the Chinook chief Comcomly, and his liege subjects. These were
well received by Mr. M'Dougal, who was delighted with an opportunity of entering upon
his functions, and acquiring importance in the eyes of his future neighbors. The
confusion thus produced on board, and the derangement of the cargo caused by this
petty trade, stirred the spleen of the captain, who had a sovereign contempt for the
one-eyed chieftain and all his crew. He complained loudly of having his ship lumbered
by a host of "Indian ragamuffins," who had not a skin to dispose of, and at length put
his positive interdict upon all trafficking on board. Upon this Mr. M'Dougal was fain to
land, and establish his quarters at the encampment, where he could exercise his rights
and enjoy his dignities without control.
The feud, however, between these rival powers still continued, but was chiefly carried
on by letter. Day after day and week after week elapsed, yet the store-house requisite
for the reception of the cargo was not completed, and the ship was detained in port;
while the captain was teased by frequent requisitions for various articles for the use of
the establishment, or the trade with the natives. An angry correspondence took place,
in which he complained bitterly of the time wasted in "smoking and sporting parties," as
he termed the reconnoitering expeditions, and in clearing and preparing meadow
ground and turnip patches, instead of despatching his ship. At length all these jarring
matters were adjusted, if not to the satisfaction, at least to the acquiescence of all
parties. The part of the cargo destined for the use of Astoria was landed, and the ship
left free to proceed on her voyage.
As the Tonquin was to coast to the north, to trade for peltries at the different harbors,
and to touch at Astoria on her return in the autumn, it was unanimously determined that
Mr. M'Kay should go in her as supercargo, taking with him Mr. Lewis as ship's clerk. On
the first of June the ship got under way, and dropped down to Baker's Bay, where she
was detained for a few days by a head wind; but early in the morning of the fifth stood
out to sea with a fine breeze and swelling canvas, and swept off gaily on her fatal
voyage, from which she was never to return!
On reviewing the conduct of Captain Thorn, and examining his peevish and somewhat
whimsical correspondence, the impression left upon our mind is, upon the whole,
decidedly in his favor. While we smile at the simplicity of his heart and the narrowness
of his views, which made him regard everything out of the direct path of his daily duty,
and the rigid exigencies of the service, as trivial and impertinent, which inspired him
with contempt for the swelling vanity of some of his coadjutors, and the literary
exercises and curious researches of others, we cannot but applaud that strict and
conscientious devotion to the interests of his employer, and to what he considered the
true objects of the enterprise in which he was engaged. He certainly was to blame
occasionally for the asperity of his manners, and the arbitrary nature of his measures,
yet much that is exceptionable in this part of his conduct may be traced to rigid notions
of duty acquired in that tyrannical school, a ship of war, and to the construction given
by his companions to the orders of Mr. Astor, so little in conformity with his own. His
mind, too, appears to have become almost diseased by the suspicions he had formed
as to the loyalty of his associates, and the nature of their ultimate designs; yet on this
point there were circumstances to, in some measure, justify him. The relations between
the United States and Great Britain were at that time in a critical state; in fact, the two
countries were on the eve of a war. Several of the partners were British subjects, and
might be ready to desert the flag under which they acted, should a war take place.
Their application to the British minister at New York shows the dubious feeling with
which they had embarked in the present enterprise. They had been in the employ of the
Northwest Company, and might be disposed to rally again under that association,
should events threaten the prosperity of this embryo establishment of Mr. Astor.
Besides, we have the fact, averred to us by one of the partners, that some of them, who
were young and heedless, took a mischievous and unwarrantable pleasure in playing
upon the jealous temper of the captain, and affecting mysterious consultations and
sinister movements.
These circumstances are cited in palliation of the doubts and surmises of Captain
Thorn, which might otherwise appear strange and unreasonable. That most of the
partners were perfectly upright and faithful in the discharge of the trust reposed in them
we are fully satisfied; still the honest captain was not invariably wrong in his suspicions;
and that he formed a pretty just opinion of the integrity of that aspiring personage, Mr.
M'Dougal, will be substantially proved in the sequel.