Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 14.djvu/389



REMINISCENCES OF CAPT. W. P. GRAY 349

Rapids a matter requiring care, skill and making the rapids dan- gerous unless the navigator thoroughly understands his work. After working nearly all day to lay lines to get the boat safely around Hawksbill Point, night overtook them. The line was put ashore and the boat was tied where it was so that it would not lose what way it had already made. The turbulent currents and eddies dashed and pounded the boat all night. It bobbed around as if it were a cork in rough water. The officials of the railroad as well as the military officials didn't get much sleep. Next morning one of the head officials came to the captain of the boat and said: 'Let go your lines and get out of this hell-hole as quickly as you can.' The trip was aban- doned and Rock Island Rapids was reported unnavigable.

The steamer John Gates was named after John Gates, the chief engineer of the Oregon Steam Navigation Company. He succeeded Jacob Kamm in that position. He was born in Maine and came to California in 1849. In 1853 he came to Oregon. He is the inventor of the Gates hydraulic steering gear as well as many other valuable inventions. He supervised the build- ing of both the Almota and the John Gates as well as the Harvest Queen, the Henry Villard, the Occident, the Orient, the Hassalo, and many other boats. He started his career in Portland as engineer of a sawmill at the foot of Jefferson street. He died 35 years later while mayor of Portland.

"The Almota was launched at Celilo, September 27, 1876! Captain E. W. Baughman was her first master. Captain Sam- son was her next commander and he was followed by myself, George Gore and John F. Stump and a number of other well known river captains. The Almota was one of the greatest money makers that ever plied the Columbia. She cleared over $14,000 on one trip upon one occasion, the bulk of the freight being government supplies to be used by the soldiers under General O. O. Howard, who were engaged in the pursuit of Chief Joseph and his horde of Nez Perces.

"A number of friends of mine from Ellensburg were inter- ested in the development of a mine in the Okanogan district some years ago. They conceived the idea of establishing a