Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 22.djvu/325

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

LOG OF THE COLUMBIA 313

AT ANCHOR IN COLUMBIA'S COVE

28. N. Latt. 50* 30*; W. Long. 128' 3ff O . Weigh'd and came to sail, and left this harbour, which we named St Patrick's. 140 * The Indians were much the same as the Nootka tribes. Standing towards Woody point, which was in sight. Towards evening, anchor'd in Columbia's Cove, in our former berth, past many natives along side, and seem'd much pleased at our visiting them again.

29. N. Latt. 50 6'; W. Long. 128 12'. Vast concourse of Indians coming off, among whom was Necklar chief of the sound. They brought many more furs than they did the last season we visited them. Found these Natives so chearful and oblidging, that we did not apprehend any danger in send- ing parties on shore after Wood and Water. However, they soon discover'd our Crew was diminish'd, and was very in- quisitive for to know what had become of the rest of us. We thought prudent for to tell them that they was asleep below. I mistrust that the Indians did not believe us, but probably supposed our Shipmates had been kill'd. At 10 in the evening, a number of large canoes full of People, came into the Cove. They halted near some rocks about Pistol shot from the Ship, and there waited about ten minutes, during which time all hands was brought to arms, upon deck in readiness to receive them. Soon after a large War Canoe, with about 25 Indians, paddled off for the Ship. We hail'd them, but they still per- sisted, and other canoes was seen following, upon which Capt. Gray order'd us to fire, which we did so effectually as to kill or wound every soul in the canoe. She drifted along side, but we push'd her clear, and she drove to the North side of the Cove, under the shade of the trees. T was bright moon light and the woods echoed with the dying groans of these unfortunate Savages. We observ'd many canoes passing and repassing the Cove, at a small distance, in all probability they was after the poor dead Indians. They soon after ceas'd

140 J4 Captain Hanna had named St. Patrick's Bay in this vicinity. It it San Josef Bay on our maps of todty. In it Hanna gives 15 fathoms, but it is not a snug cove, being three miles in length and two miles in breadth at its entrance and open to all winds except from the north. There is no contemporary account to assist us here; for Moslems' Narrative ends with the departure from Clayoquot and Haswell was at this time on the Advtnturt.