Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 2.djvu/201



In my article, "Flotsam and Jetsam of the Pacific" (March, 1901), I gave Captain Lemont's statement to me personally. I should have added a note with the few following facts. Doctor McLoughlin, in the paper published in the Quarterly of June, 1900, says: "The first American vessel that entered the Columbia River to trade since 1814, was the Oahoo, Captain Dominus, in February, 1829. The Convoy, Captain Thompson, came awhile after. These two vessels belonged to the same party, a merchant in Boston. In summer they went up the coast. Returned in the fall. The Oahoo wintered in the Columbia River, but the Convoy proceeded to Oahoo. Returned spring of 1830, and in the summer both vessels left and never returned."

A note on page 503 of Bancroft's History of the Northwest Coast, says: "Mrs. Harvey (Doctor McLoughlin's daughter), 'Life of McLoughlin,' MS. 15, recollects the first American vessel entering the Columbia in her time as 'that of Captain Thomas, in 1829.'" This error may have been one of memory, and would justify my prejudice against remembered history; or, it may have been an error of hearing, for it is known to me that Mr. Bancroft's stenographer was "a little hard of hearing," and may have mistaken Dominus for Thomas, when the dictation was taken.

Again, on page 560 of the same volume, Mr. Bancroft mentions F. A. Lemont as "chief mate" of the Sultana, whereas Lemont himself tells us that George Sweetland