238 T. C Elliott

LOG* OF CAPTAIN OF H. M. S. "CHATHAM:'

Saturday, October 20th [1792]— At 4 (p. m.) shortened sail and sent a boat on board the "Discovery." Bore up and made sail to lead into the Columbia river (or river of La Roque). At 6 made the signal for having 4 fathoms, with a gun (which was answered), with an apparent chain of break- ers across the entrance occasioned by a strong tide crossing the bar. At 7 (p. m.) the tide running with great rapidity and not getting ahead, came to^ with a small bower in 4 fathoms, and veered to J4 cable. A heavy sea stove in the jolly boat ; found the tide to run 4 knots. Found here the "Jenny"* of Bristol.*

I Entries made durins the abccnce of the captain indicate that this lox was Ken br Mr; Thomas Manby, the liCaster of the vesseL The bearings are r« ' ings of tne compass and do not indicate true north and south. A discrepancy

written br Mr; Thomas Manby, the Master of the vesseL The bearings are read- ings of tne compass and do not indicate true north and south. A discrepancy of one day in dates will be observed in the records as given by Broughton anJ by

Vancouver.

2 The Chatham seems to have crossed the bar through what pilots of later years knew as the North ChanneL This anchorage seems to have been on the

edge of Peacock Spit, west of the end of t^' ^^ --•- ' — ' ihich place a view

could be had into Baker's Bay» where the

3 The Jennv, a schooner of lighter to he Chatham, from

■tol, Englana, Tames Baker, Captain. in the slave trade

but n-owing legislation and sentiment af ed the owners to

send oer on this, her first trip in the fur \ coast of America.

She had arrived at Nootka on October 6th there transferred

to Captain Vancouver two maidetis who v to their homes at

the Sandwich Islands, and their case is d t>l. ii, pp. aad-ajt.

It was Captain Baker's declared intentio igland, but he is

now founa in the Columbia river; and e "in the earlier

part of the year'* (vol. ii, p. 73), but loubtful. He left

Nootka one day in advance ot Captain Vai .. . js again at Nootka

in September, 1794* under a different captain. For more as to the career of the Jenny in 1792 consult "A New Vancouver Journal" in the Washington Hittoricai Quarterly, vol. vi, pp. 57-8 and p. 88.

4 Vancouver'x Voyagg/' vol. i, pp. 419-20, recites:

Friday, Octo. loth, 179J. With a |>lcasant gale and fine weather we coasted along this delightful and apparently fertile part of New Georgia, at a distance of about a lea^e from the shoals, havin|( soundings from ten to sixteen fathoms, until four m the afternoon, when having nearly reached Cape Disapf>ointment, which forms the north point of entrance into Columbia river, so named by Mr. Gray, I directed the Chatham to lead into it, and on her arrival at the bar should no more than 4 fathoms of water be found, the si|;nal for danger was to be made; but if the channel appeared to be further navigable, then to proceed. As we followed the Chatham the depth of water decreased to 4 fathoms, in which we sailed some little time without being able to distinguish the entrance into the river, the sea breaking in a greater or le» degree from shore to shore; bat as the Chatnam continued to pursue her course, I concluded she was iu a fair channel. We, however, soon arrived in 3 fathoms, and as the water was becoming less deep, and breaking in all directions around us, I hauled to the westward m order to escape the threatened danfl^r. In doin^ this we were assisted by a verv strong ebb tide that sat out of the nver, and which opposing a very heavy swell that rolled from the westward directly on the shore, caused an irregular and dangerous sea. By seven, our depth of water had increased to 10 fathoms, where conceiving our- selves in safety, we anchored for the night, which passed very uncomfortably, owing to the violent motion of the vessel, and anxiety for the safety of the Chatham, from which a signal was made at the moment we hauled out of the breakers, which we were fearful might have been for assistance, as the closing in of the day prevented our accurately distinsulshing the color of the flags; but as she appeared to be perfectly under command, and as the rapidity of the tide and the heavy aea rendered any assistance from us impracticable, I was willing to hope the ncnal might have been for the ber, which, at daylight the next morning, was proved to be the cast bv her being seen riding in perfect safety, about two miles within tbe