Page:The Pacific Monthly, volumes 5 and 6.djvu/443

 counties of the Columbia, is in this city. Mr. Gillette is here to endeavor to induce our Legislature to enact a law regulating pilotage on the Columbia River Bar so as to give the exclusive right of pilotage to one or more steam tugs, instead of the uncertain sailboats. His bill has passed both branches of the Legislature and is now the law of the land. This is right; the interest of life and commerce demand that the bar at the mouth of the Columbia River — the worst and most dangerous on the continent — should be guarded by steam power. The traveling public may and will be grateful to Mr. Gillette for his sagacity in originating, and his energy in getting so necessary a measure through the Legislature of Oregon, and then coming here through storm and snow to secure its adoption by our legislature."

In less than four months after the passage of my bill through the Oregon Legislature Captain Paul Carno put the powerful steam tug Rabone on the bar as pilot-boat, and she came to stay. Steam tugs have been there ever since and will always be there as long as sailing vessels continue to arrive and depart from the Columbia River.

Captain Flavel's first pilots were J. G. Hustler, Moses Rogers, A. Crosby and A. C. Farnsworth, while Mr. Edwards and Captain Wass came a few years later.

Captains George Flavel, J. G. Hustler and Moses Rogers all married into prominent Astoria families. A. Cole Farnsworth, who died a bachelor, was usually spoken of as Captain "Cole," and was a great society man, a favorite with the ladies, was very polite, companionable and obliging, and always dressed well in garments that were scrupulously clean.

In reviewing this most interesting subject, the discovery of the Columbia, one can but wonder why Heceta, Meares and Vancouver could not but have known that the "opening," as Vancouver called it, was the mouth of some vast river, extending far inland. All of them were there at a time of year when the weather is almost certain to be clear. In clear weather, when opposite the river's mouth, Mount St. Helens may always be seen plainly. The river valley divides the Coast range of mountains, forming, as it were, a broad avenue, with St. Helens in full view at the head of it. To move a mile or two either north or south cuts off the view of St. Helens, the grand old landmark which one can almost imagine had been placed there by nature to mark the position of the river. If any of those navigators saw St. Helens it must have been when they were opposite the mouth of the river, because it is visible from no other point. Heceta was there in August, Meares in July, and Vancouver the last of April, such times as the weather is almost always clear of both clouds and fog. It must have been clear when Vancouver was there, because he saw and named St. Helens, saw the "cluster of hummocks" on Cape Disappointment, saw the breakers on Clatsop beach, extending south 12 leagues, and he said; "There was the appearance of an inlet or some small river, the land not indicating it to be of any great extent."

But time has wrapped her dusky veil about them, leaving us nothing to judge them by, save the brief mention in their journals. So little was then known of this far-off land or of the vast ocean, whose billows lashed its lonely shores, that none can but admire those brave old navigators for their courage, skill and daring perseverance.

The following verses come to us from Washington, D. C. They are the production of one who is totally blind:

Once more the night is here, and one by one, The soft stars glimmer in yon sapphire sky; Once more the day, in sunset hue passed on, Once more the hours of calm and rest draw nigh.

Once more my spirit speeds on wings of song. To fairer lands, where blooms a tender rose; Once more the tired heart seeks converse strong. And yearns for clearer vision and repose.

Ah, how I long for rest, 'mid toil add strife, Ah, just to linger near my Master's side; To know amid the sad unrest of life The holy peace that ever shall abide.

— Helen Marr Campbell