CHAPTER XLII
Comprehensive Views.- To Supply the Russian Fur Establishment.- An Agent
Sent to Russia.- Project of an Annual Ship.- The Beaver Fitted Out.- Her
Equipment and Crew.- Instructions to the Captain.- The Sandwich Islands.Rumors of the Fate of the Tonquin.- Precautions on Reaching the Mouth of
the Columbia.
HAVING traced the fortunes of the two expeditions by sea and land to the
mouth of the Columbia, and presented a view of affairs at Astoria, we will
return for a moment to the master spirit of the enterprise, who regulated
the springs of Astoria, at his residence in New York.
It will be remembered, that a part of the plan of Mr. Astor was to furnish
the Russian fur establishment on the northwest coast with regular supplies,
so as to render it independent of those casual vessels which cut up the
trade and supplied the natives with arms. This plan had been countenanced
by our own government, and likewise by Count Pahlen, the Russian minister
at Washington. As its views, however, were important and extensive, and
might eventually affect a wide course of commerce, Mr Astor was desirous
of establishing a complete arrangement on the subject with the Russian
American Fur Company, under the sanction of the Russian government. For
this purpose, in March 1811, he despatched a confidential agent to St.
Petersburg, full empowered to enter into the requisite negotiations. A
passage was given to this gentleman by the government of the United
States in the John Adams, an armed vessel, bound for Europe.
The next step of Mr. Astor was, to despatch the annual ship contemplated
on his general plan. He had as yet heard nothing of the success of the
previous expeditions, and had to proceed upon the presumption that
everything had been effected according to his instructions. He accordingly
fitted out a fine ship of four hundred and ninety tons, called the Beaver, and
freighted her with a valuable cargo destined for the factory at the mouth of
the Columbia, the trade along the coast, and the supply of the Russian
establishment. In this ship embarked a reinforcement, consisting of a
partner, five clerks, fifteen American laborers, and six Canadian voyageurs.
In choosing his agents for his first expedition, Mr. Astor had been obliged to
have recourse to British subjects experienced in the Canadian fur trade;
henceforth it was his intention, as much as possible, to select Americans, so
as to secure an ascendency of American influence in the management of the
company, and to make it decidedly national.
Accordingly, Mr. John Clarke, the partner who took the lead in the present
expedition, was a native of the United States, though he had passed much
of his life in the northwest, having been employed in the trade since the
age of sixteen. Most of the clerks were young gentlemen of good
connections in the American cities, some of whom embarked in the hope of
gain, others through the mere spirit of adventure incident to youth.
The instructions given by Mr. Astor to Captain Sowle, the commander of the
Beaver, were, in some respects, hypothetical, in consequence of the
uncertainty resting upon the previous steps of the enterprise.
He was to touch at the Sandwich Islands, inquire about the fortunes of the
Tonquin, and whether an establishment had been formed at the mouth of
the Columbia. If so, he was to take as many Sandwich Islanders as his ship
could accommodate, and proceed thither. On arriving at the river, he was to
observe great caution, for even if an establishment should have been
formed, it might have fallen into hostile hands. He was, therefore, to put in
as if by casualty or distress, to give himself out as a coasting trader, and to
say nothing about his ship being owned by Mr. Astor, until he had
ascertained that everything was right. In that case, he was to land such
part of his cargo as was intended for the establishment, and to proceed to
New Archangel with the supplies intended for the Russian post at that place,
where he could receive peltries in payment. With these he was to return to
Astoria; take in the furs collected there, and, having completed his cargo by
trading along the coast, was to proceed to Canton. The captain received the
same injunctions that had been given to Captain Thorn of the Tonquin, of
great caution and circumspection in his intercourse with the natives, and
that he should not permit more than one or two to be on board at a time.
The Beaver sailed from New York on the 10th of October, 1811, and reached
the Sandwich Islands without any occurrence of moment. Here a rumor was
heard of the disastrous fate of the Tonquin. Deep solicitude was felt by
every one on board for the fate of both expeditions, by sea and land.
Doubts were entertained whether any establishment had been formed at
the mouth of the Columbia, or whether any of the company would be found
there. After much deliberation, the Captain took twelve Sandwich Islanders
on board, for the service of the factory, should there be one in existence,
and proceeded on his voyage.
On the 6th of May, he arrived off the mouth of the Columbia and running as
near as possible, fired two signal guns. No answer was returned, nor was
there any signal to be descried. Nigh coming on, the ship stood out to sea,
and every heart drooped as the land faded away. On the following morning
they again ran in within four miles of shore, and fired other signal guns, but
still without reply. A boat was then despatched, to sound the channel, and
attempt an entrance; but returned without success there being a
tremendous swell, and breakers. Signal guns were fired again in the
evening, but equally in vain, and once more the ship stood off to sea for the
night. The captain now gave up all hope of finding any establishment at the
place, and indulged in the most gloomy apprehensions. He feared his
predecessor had been massacred before they had reached their place of
destination; or if they should have erected a factory, that it had been
surprised and destroyed by the natives.
In this moment of doubt and uncertainty, Mr. Clarke announced his
determination, in case of the worst, to found an establishment with the
present party, and all hands bravely engaged to stand by him in the
undertaking. The next morning the ship stood in for the third time, and
fired three signal guns, but with little hope of reply. To the great joy of the
crew, three distinct guns were heard in answer. The apprehensions of all
but Captain Sowle were now at rest. That cautious commander recollected
the instructions given him by Mr. Astor, and determined to proceed with
great circumspection. He was well aware of Indian treachery and cunning. It
was not impossible, he observed, that these cannon might have been fired
by the savages themselves. They might have surprised the fort, massacred
its inmates; and these signal guns might only be decoys to lure him across
the bar, that they might have a chance of cutting him off, and seizing his
vessel.
At length a white flag was descried hoisted as a signal on Cape
Disappointment. The passengers pointed to it in triumph, but the captain
did not yet dismiss his doubts. A beacon fire blazed through the night on
the same place, but the captain observed that all these signals might be
treacherous.
On the following morning, May 9th, the vessel came to anchor off Cape
Disappointment, outside of the bar. Towards noon an Indian canoe was seen
making for the ship and all hands were ordered to be on the alert. A few
moments afterwards, a barge was perceived following the canoe. The hopes
and fears of those on board of the ship were in tumultuous agitation, as the
boat drew nigh that was to let them know the fortunes of the enterprise,
and the fate of their predecessors. The captain, who was haunted with the
idea of possible treachery, did not suffer his curiosity to get the better of his
caution, but ordered a party of his men under arms, to receive the visitors.
The canoe came first alongside, in which were Comcomly and six Indians; in
the barge were M'Dougal, M'Lellan, and eight Canadians. A little
conversation with these gentlemen dispelled all the captain's fears, and the
Beaver crossing the bar under their pilotage, anchored safely in Baker's
Bay.