Astoria, where three houses were erected for the winter quarters of the crew, there being then no expectation of leaving the country for some time.[1] The United States flag was planted on shore, the place taking on quite an air of military life.[2] About the end of October the fur company's vessel Cadboro was chartered for the removal of the Shark's crew to San Francisco,[3] and the 16th of November they went on board, but the winter storms prevented the vessel from crossing the bar before the 18th of January.
On the breaking-up of the Shark's quarters at Astoria, Howison presented to the government of Oregon the colors of the wrecked schooner, and also as many of the vessel's guns as could be recovered. This was the first flag owned by the territory;[4] and the only gun they had hitherto was a twelve-pounder which had been presented to the corporation of Oregon City by Benjamin Stark, Jr., who arrived in Oregon as supercargo of the American bark Toulon in June previous.[5]
The loss of the Shark was especially regretted by the
- ↑ The houses were two log structures, 30 by 24 feet, 1½ stories, well floored and boarded, with kitchen and bake-oven, and a large, square, 2-story frame building, intended for officers' quarters, but which was never finished. The latter, long known as the Shark House, was left in charge of Colonel John McClure. It was afterward put to a variety of uses, and served at one time as a custom-house; but was finally taken as a residence by W. H. Gray; and later turned to account as a cheap tenement-house. Scammon, in Overland Monthly, Dec. 1809, 496; Crawford's Nar., MS., 136.
- ↑ Howison says the flag was hoisted on the 'very spot which was first settled by the white men on the banks of the Columbia;' seeming unaware of the settlement made by the Winship brothers at Oak Point.
- ↑ The price asked for the vessel's charter was £500, which Howison says in Ins opinion was an extravagant one. Coast and Country, 6. The company in this way, perhaps, reimbursed themselves for a part of their advances to American citizens; or considering the risk of crossing the bar at that season, the amount charged may not have been exorbitant.
- ↑ Or. Spectator, Dec. 24, 1846.
- ↑ Three of the Shark's carronades came ashore at Tillamook with apart of the hull, but only one of them could be dragged above high-water mark by the party sent by Howison to recover them. He notified Abernethy of the position, hoping that during the smooth seas of summer they might be taken on board a boat. But there is no account of their recovery. Howison remarks the singular fact that all the articles recovered were of metal, and heavy; and was evidently ignorant of the current setting into this Strait of Fuca, which would have carried northward all the lighter portions of the wreck.
