Page:Oregon, her history, her great men, her literature.djvu/36

Rh There he proceeded to fill his casks with fresh water from the river, this being possible because the freshets were then on. A day or so later he sailed twelve or fifteen miles further up the river, following a narrow channel along the north side, until the ship grounded.

"On the 20th he sailed out of the river, having meantime dropped down to an anchorage near Chinook Point (Fort Columbia), and his log gives more details: 'Gentle breezes and pleasant weather. At 1 P. M. (being full sea) took up the anchor and made sail, standing down river. At two the wind left us, we being on the bar with a very strong tide which set on the breakers; it was now not possible to get out without a breeze to shoot her across the tide; so we were obliged to bring up in three and a half fathoms, the tide running five knots. At three-quarters past two a fresh wind came in from seaward; we immediately came to sail and beat over the bar, having from five to seven fathoms of water in the channel. At five P. M. we were out, clear of all the bars, and in twenty fathoms of water. A breeze came from the southward; we bore away to the northward; set sail to the best advantage. At eight Cape Hancock bore southeast distant three leagues'."

The English Explore the Columbia. The Spanish, the English and the Russians had expressed doubt as to the possibility of entering the Columbia with a ship. But when it was announced that Captain Gray had sailed on its waters, Lieutenant Wm. R. Broughton under orders from Captain George Vancouver, of the British Royal Navy, set sail in the armed tender "Chatham" from Puget Sound for the Columbia, and sailed into the river. "Lieutenant Broughton left the 'Chatham' at anchor off what is now the Quarantine