Jr -- keoti Series II, no,9. OregonMarine History I OREGON ODDITIES AND ITEMS OF INTEREST OREGON MARINE HISTORY Number One For use by teachers,students, libraries, and publications Please give credit to the information service of The Federal Writers' andHistorical Records Survey Projects of the WORKS PROGRESSADMINISTRATION OF OREGON 409 Elks Building Portland, Oregon The items in this bulletin, selected from the riatria1 compiled by the Writers' Project and the Historical Records Survey of the Works Progress A±ninistratiOn, are representative of the significant collections being made by these nation-wide programs. The Historical Records Survey is inventorying all sources of early Oregon history, including county and state records3 town and church archives; historic cemeteries; old manuscripts and im- prints; old printing presses; monuments aid relics; private diaries, letters, and memoirsj historic buildings5 and Indian records and lore. The ohief undertaking of the Works Progress Aciministra- tion Writers' Project has been the American Guide Series of Books. In Oregon as in all other states the work includes the state Guide, designed to acquaint Americans with America and to present to the visitor the history, industry, recreational advantages and scenic attractions of the state. ThOregon Guide, now in the final stages of editing will soon be added to the list of those already published which includes Idaho A Guide in Word and Picture; Maine:A Guide "Dowii East"; Massachusetts: A Guide to its Places and People; New Hampshire: A Guide td the Granite State; Washington: City and Capital; Philadelphia: A Guide to the Birthplace of a Nation; Delaware: A Guide to the First State; Mississippi: A Guide to the Magnolia State; Rhode Island: A Guide to the Smallest State; South Dakota: A South Dakota Guide; North Dakota:A Guide to the Northern Prairie State; Vermont: A Guide to the Green Mountain State. In addition to all the state guides, interesting publica- tions now available include American Stuff; Cape Cod. Pilot; Hoosier Tall Stories; The Hopi Italians of New York; New Orleans City Guide; Whaling Masters; Who's Who in the Zoo; and Wisconsin Indian Lore. Publications now in preparation by the Oregon Writers' Prcjeot include the Oregon Guide, an Oregon Almanac for 1940, Old Towns of Oregon, and Fire Prevention in Rrtland. ** ** ** ** ** SPECIAL NOTICE Oregon Oddities Radio Series Beginning in January, 1939, on your local radio station. Further notice in forthcoming issues of Oregon Oddities and in your local newspaper. OREGON MARINE HIS0RY iong the other supplies brought by John acific ocean. She was built on the ob Astor's fur-trading company on the Themes in 1835 when steamboats were p Tonquin in 1811 for the establishment still a novelty and the launching of Asria, was the framework of the first one, intended to travel to a new and sel launched on the Columbia River. Ac- distant land, attracted considerable rding to the memoirs of Alexander Ross attention in Englend. Over 150,000, ..as soon as we had a spot cleared the including King William, witnessed the enters were set to work to fit her up launching. The bark Columbia sailed immediate service; but the smallness ofwith her but the Beaver was so speedy size, only thirty tons, rendered her that she reached the Columbia river less for any purpose but that of navi- inany days in advance of her consort, the ing the river." Further note of the passage taking only 165 days, which was ooner is found in Franchere's Narrative. considered to be a remarkable speed in e schooner, the construction of which 1835. essarily languished for want of adecuate Her log records: "May 31, 1836--At rce at the ship-yard, was finally launched9:30 a party of ladies end gentlemen the 2nd of October and named the Dolly, from the Fort came on board. At 9:45 ththe formalities usual on such occ weighed anchor and ran down the river ns..." The name was chosen in honor of under steam and eitered the upper branch ily Astor. However, the Dolly was not a of the Wi1hcmrnet ran under half power cess. Ross further descTb her as until vre cleared the lower branch at .unfit for tripping up and down the 3:30, and ran up towards Tor; and from her unwieldiness not so For a quarter of a century, many years e as either open boats or canoes after finer liners and freight steamers ing made two or three tripsup and down were traveling the same course, the e river she was condemned and laid aside sturdy old Beaver was still serenely Jtcgether as useless." steaming in and out of the Columbia and With the transfer of Astoria to the Eng-up and down the Pacific Coast. sh, the Dolly,as well as the trading On a foggy morning, July, 1888, the was taken over by the Northwest Fur Beaver was wrecked as she steamed out of any. The new owners renamed the schoon-Vancouver, B. C. Having light steam,she inhonor of the adventurous English bar- as caught in a treacherous eddy and d, Jane Barnes, reputedto have been the thrown on the rocks where she soon filled. at whitewoman to visit the Pacific North e However, renaming the shaky little The long spit which lies at the north- Oozier did not add to her usefulness. ern entrance of the Columbia river was enthe charms of Jane Barnes had been named for the Peacock, the United States ewhatforgotten the vessel was renamed government sloop-ofiar,wrecked there in this time she was called the Colum- the fall of 1841. Later the schooner was sent to Cali- aand what happened to her after that-- The California was the first American ther wreckedor finally rotted away in steamship to round the Horn. She was in- elessness_...does notseem to be a matter tended to carry passengers and mail be- record. tween the Isthmus of Panama and the Col- umbia river, in service of the newlyor- The ouver, the first vessel construc-ganized Pacific Mail Steamship Company. Oilthe Columbia river,was much more San Francisco was at that time an almost Ceasful than the Dolly. She was a two- $ted unknown factor in the Pacific Coast marine Schooner built in 1826 at Vancouver business. 1'ihile the California was being carpenters broughtfrom Orkney Island, built her owners realized that theywere Q1ned in honor of that port. The Van- financially unable to compic-be thecon- er made severalsuccessful trading voy- struction. Congress was asked for aid. ro the Columbia river to the north. The request was granted on the condition '!Was Wrecked in 1832, on the north shorethat the vessel might be used forwar pur- ee Charlotte's Island. poses should an emergency arise, with this understanding alterations The were made Beaver__possibly natned for the wealthand the vessel was strengthcned throughout. cargoes she was expected to 27, Gold was discovered in the State of W83the first steamer to navigate theCalifornia;rhj10the st-cmer was on her -2- around the Horn.News of wonderful Getting over the rapids below Oregon City yikes reachod New York City,sending was a tedious but exciting partof our rds of adventurers to Panamato wait journey, the Indians wading and towing è arrival of theCalifornia. 1en the through the swift current, patient and amer reachedthe Isthmus passengers enduring, good natured and willing, as ugh to fill several vessels her size long as they received.." their dollar a day e waiting.They paid fabulous prices and plenty of beef. So wrote Dan r afew feet of deck space.'ith a fullOtNeil, of the Lounted Regiment brought rgo of gcld-sookcrsthe California en- to Oregon and stationed at Fort Vancouver ed San Francisco Bay oniT1, in 1849, in describing early Oregon river 9.Sho ran but little on the route transportation. ginally intended for hor, but for nearly hty years, continued the run from San The New World, built in New York in ncisco to Panama, with an occasional 1849, was seized by the sheriff for debt north. before she had seen service.Her captain, Edgar 'Vakeman, immediately laid plans for he brig Sequin was among the 1848 ad- the steamer s release without benefit of ons to the coasting fleet.Difficul- cash considerations.Securing permission s of river navigation at the time wereto run the engines in order to prevent serious that she was fifty-four days rust from collecting in the machinery, route from Astoria to Portland. he made arrangements with the engineer The Sequin, in 1849, had the distinc- for full speed ahead.The hawsers snapped of delivering to Portland the first and the New World went flying down the that arrived in Oregon in United bay with the siff and his three dep- les postal sacks. uties aboard.Vhen he reached the nar- rows the Captain ran the vessel close to e first American stecmship to cross the shore and stopped the engines. bar into the Columbia river was the As he emerged from the pilot-house the line. In Juno, 1850, she brought the angry sheriff covered him with a gun say- st United States mail destined for Ore-ing:"I cm the sheriff of New York City 'by the way of the Isthmus of Panama. and New York County.This vessel is in my charge, and she must be taken back to the e General Lane was built at Oregon dock." , in r849, by John McCellen for the "And I am the master of the good ship Francisco run.She wont directly to Neworid, afloat on the high seas.This ramento with a. cargo of lumber from vessel is in my charge, and let vho ques- on City.She also had several tons tions it anm-rered Captain Wakoman.