Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 21.djvu/36



26 HERBERT INGRAM PRIESTLEY

into port, where it was anchored, against Colnett's wishes, by chains between the two Spanish ships, and under the guns of the fort. Permission to anchor at Cook's old anchorage was refused to Colnett "seeing that this was merely a pretext to get away from us so that, secure from harm, he could leave with less risk to continue his way, or proceed to some place where he could act to better advantage."

Events of July 3rd, the day of the quarrel between Colnett and Martinez, not chronicled by Dr. Manning, and included in the log, state that the boatswain reported after daybreak that Colnett had "taken his boat before sunrise and had gone outside the port and around the hill on which the fort of San Miguel is situated. He was apparently reconnoitering the fortifications. . . . Soon after he came inside, he made to- ward the beach, along which he coasted . . . and ex- amined the cooper shop and the forge, . . . [Colnett's account of this investigation is that he did these things in company with Martinez.] Colnett failed to hoist his colors at sunrise, until ordered so to do by Martinez, when he displayed "a blue English flag at bow and stern, and at the mainmast, instead of a streamer, a broad pennant of the same color with a white square in the center. He thus gave me to understand . . . that he was an officer of high rank."

Shortly afterward, Martinez demanded Colnett's passport, instructions, and invoice of cargo. Colnett excused himself from producing them, on the plea that his chests were in great disorder. He was then allowed to drop his anchor, and take his time in finding his papers. Martinez accompanied him to his vessel. Here it was noted that the cargo of the Argonaut contained supplies for expected vessels and material for build- ing others. Colnett stated that he came as governor of a colony, and gave some account of his plans.

Having heard these, Martinez told him that he could not allow him to carry them out; then, refusing an invitation to supper, he returned to the Princesa. In the afternoon, Colnett