Page:The West Shore vol. 1 no. 6.djvu/4

 CAPT, HOYT'S LAST TRIP.

THE FROZEN COLUMBIA OF 1862—A PERILOUS TRIP TO ASTORIA-REMINISCENCES OF AN OLD STEAMBOAT PILOT.

As a seasonable treat to the numerous

memory freh route, and of these the Multnomah was bet for men to persist in and cling to; yet trozen fast all about, and from shore to little steamer and he gainst the brave here to remark that the winter of 1861-2 A few miles down the steamboat was al- all-important to reach Oak Point-not only bree times of being encompasseu with snow-which was fully four feet deep January,

Gov. George Abernethy of this city, who was on her way home from a holiday visit here and at Oregon City. On that eventful and perilous trip the young lady proved

The steamer's headway was very slow.

nel of the river, and Capt. Hoyt resolved

Snow commenced to fall thick and fast so to make an effort to cut the steamboat as to obstruct the vision and make it difficult to distinguish the customary land

clear of the pack just about her, then to

force her through into the open channel feasible landing place where wood coul herself to be as courageous as slhe was fair, marks-the ebb tide bearing down the way, and from that to push for the most could

and as patient as she was amiable and moving ice with a velocity threatening

good. The Multnomah encountered no the vessel's safety and rendering it next to be got. The passengers, together with the 1o the work, and readers of the WEST SHORE, we present difficulty until after she had passed Wil- impossible to keep her to her course, dis- crew-fourteen persons in all-willingly below the narrative of an old River Pilot, lamette Slough and got into the Columbia, abled as she was at the helm ; and, to add and with alacrity went to a well known and estimable citizen, who where floating ice covered pretty nearly to the discomfort and perils of the situ- after considerable exertion they cut was a participant in the scenes and inci- the whole surface of the river. In some ation, the afternoon was fading away into steamer loose in an hour or two. Steam dents related. It will not be out of place places it was frozen solid and stationary, the uncertain gloom of evening. It was was up, and the channel was successfully two or great danger not without made, but not to reach Abernethy, but also there to or three was the severest in the intensity and dura- most blockaded by the floating masses and to land Mliss tion of the cold weather of any ever ex- perienced in Oregon since its settlement by trouble. In backing her to make space visions the whites. At that time the strong and for good headway through the ice right show tokens that it would not be finished ice which rushed down with the rapid- staunch little side-wheel steamer Mult- ahead the rudder was badly disabled, and for davs to come; and moreover, it was flowing tide. But it was almost dark nomah, owned and commanded by Capt. Richard Hoyt, one of the pioneer steamboatmen on Oregon waters, was employed upon the route between this city and Astoria. For the information of those who were not re- sidents here during Capt. Hoyt's lifetime we will briefly sketch that sturdy, sterling or wrecked by the was extricated only after a good deal of wood up and to procure good store of pro-nd drusied he ie for the trip, which already began to large floes of thick this accident caused much difficulty sub- Capt. Hoyt's intention to run his vessel in when this much had been accmplished, and sequently, as it deprived Capt. Hoyt of that perfect command of his vessel which was the effort to proceed down the river the to sink at the dismal and threatening pros- so verv essential. slip there for the night, and to resume and the hopes of nearly all on board began honored memory next morning in the full light of the day. pects before them. Capt. Hoyt, however, But Oak Point could not be reached, and showed neither lack of confidence in his A PROPOSITION TO TURN BACK Was at that time made by several of the 15 the next best, or, indeed, the only ability to battle his safe haven at way to t-then the only place it seemed possible the steamer could reach,-nor anything beyond that proper anxiety which a commander ought to have for those under his care and protection, With buoyant spirits and stout heart, and by words of cheer and comfort to his inspiriting commands to his crew, he main- and thorough Cathlamet- and noble-souled old commander. nander under CAPT, RICHARD HOVT bis Was in stature hardly up to standard medium height, but he was powerfully moulded and had Tongh as heart of live-oak, hardy as iron, and possessed of a vigor of body and an un- common elasticity of step and action, he united with these robust physical qualities the best characteristics and attributes which a giant's strength. inspiriting feeling pline on board. Good fortune attended his good borouch disci- tained unceasing efforts and just the last stick of fire wood fed to the boiler and the dimishing steam at lows Multnomah made a landing, not at Cath- with the attest while they adorn gauge, nature. Of an indomitable will and lamet, but at a point eight miles above, the highest order of true bravery, and an unswerving integrity in his dealings with anen, he was equally noted and beloved for bis THE THIRD DAY-WOOD UP-OFF AGAIN. innate chivalry and great-hearted gen- erosity. No terror could daunt, no hard- ship deter him, in the performance of what At the earliest light of day next morn- ing, all, passengers and crew alike, started get a supply of wood. An old scow upon the beach was seized on and speedily chopped into fuel, and yielded about two cords. In an abandoned cabin covered he felt to be his duty; and yet, such was the unaffected simplicity of his nature, it never bccurred in any perilous emergency or desperate undertaking done worthy of notice or of praise. Ardent in his demonstrations of kindness and charity toward any he deemed worth, he had nothing the object him.elf that he had was fully with sacks of, damaged especially -were found several flour, and, underneath the floor were two anything starved, thin as pigs could reduce them, but still alive, and it was ascertained, as lively and vigorous of foot in trying to escape as wild rabbits. But their pursuers were in the predicament of the boy who was desperately hunting the woodchuck-it was not a question whether they could catch the animals; it was simply imperative that they had to capture them; and they did; though not without a long hunt and tough chase, for the little porkers would dive into the deep snow and emerge small nearly that base alloy which persecutes its dislike and adds to hatred vengeance. The Little of the evil quality were especially proud of him, and when as passengers on his boats with their parents or guardians they were always sure of Folk a glorions mad romp with gallant "Captain known to them. His kindly, honest face was ever welcome, and his hearty grip of fel- lowship was heartily responded to, among his hosts of friends wherever be war known;-and they all still preserve his Dick." as he was affectionately in a direction opposite to that they had headed, quite as porpoises dive and was put on board and the prizes for the larder safely stowed, the day had gone, and there remained nothing to do but to tie up again for the night, and await whatever Fate or Fortune should the next day compel or cheer them to do. and green, and mingle the joys of pleasant reminiscences with sorrow for his death though sadly linger over the recollections which cluster about his name. And now ao resume the thread of the narrative this last trip on the waters of the Columbia and the Willamette, which he had so long, passengers to the Captain, but th: stunly thing to do under the circumstances, a portents, yet all on board felt a better de- so successfully navigated. they recall and fondly as IETS. THE FOURTH DAY-NO CATHLAMET YET. The morning broke with discouraging old commander responded :-that he had landing place was found a few miles further gree of confidence than had possessed them left Portland to make the trip to Astoria: down at the foot of a small island on the the morning of the preceding day. The TiHE STANT FOR ASTORIA, The hieh water of the "Flood" of that he still felt convinced he could get Oregon side, where the river was free of snow-fall continued without abatement, ecember, 186t, was succeeded by unpre- the steamer there; and that he should not moving ice and the only thing to fear was and the frosty surface of the river, with the cedented deep snow in the middle of the abandon the trial nor turn her head on the to be frozen in during the night. month, and by ice in the rivers., Naviga- return trip until he found he could not ac- tion had been suspended on the Columbia, complish his purpose. His resolute, firm, and for more than two weeks no steam- yet quiet manner, dispelled the doubts and cold was intense and the snow storm raged through the floating ice to Cathlamet. i ship from California had ascended the river, fears of all and inspiredl them with full inor kad any of the river boats made the confidence in his ability to do what he ith increased violence. As the fast fall- The effort proved fruitless. All that day trip to Astoria. Cape. Hoyt then owned proposed and with hope for the best. Bat, with the rapidly forming ice, and when persistently, desperately maintained, with the line of steamboats which plied upon that as it proved, determination and hope were morning dawned the Multnomah was all the odds so much day. The fosy striace of snow became so offered hickly crusted that it serious obstruction to the steamer's FROZEN IN-ANOTHER DAY OF TOILS, It was a fearfully inclement night. The headway, as Capt. Hoyt labored to get her ing flakes felb upon the water they froze the battle with the elements was stoutly, of best the brave adauted for making headway in or against Nature could interpose olstructions im- shore, a mile across, the icebridge stretched flinching commander; but at last he had linle er strong-willed, un- the ice. He resolved to reopen commu- possible to overcomeor, if at all, only with only the small openings knoWn as air to succumb, and, disappointed and regret- her br means of the invincible resolution holes here and there. to surmount every obstacle, and by the skill and patience and perseverance commen- alarming. The wood was nearly all con- landing-place of the night before, from nication with the mouth of the river, if it were possible. Accordingly, on the morn- ful, but not disheartened nor dismayed, The situation was critical and somewhat again he had to seek the inhospitable January 4, ing of bet of rassengers on board and provis- sturate to the daring and difficult adven- sumel, the stock of provisions would serve which he had started that morning; and 1862, with a small num- sions enough for three days, he started for ture. the trial in the stout little steamer. Among the passengers was the daughter of Mr. for ony two days longer, and the weather again it was made with not another stick of signs were anything except favorable. Dur- wood left unburned for steam. TROURI ES AND DANGERS BEFALL. After battling for hours with the floes of ing the morning the strong ebb tide Ales, Abernethvr of Oak Point, brother of thick ice, at last Coffin Rock was passed. caused the ice to break away in the chan- A DREARY EIGHTH OF JANUARY. Once more at early daybreak all