EXTRACTS FROM THE EMMONS JOURNAL
Extracts from the Journal of Lieut. George Foster Emmons, U. S. Navy, attached to the U. S. Exploring Expedition,[1] who after the wreck of the sloop-of-war Peacock at the mouth of the Columbia river,[2] took charge of a party of scientists of the expedition, and others, and made his way overland through a comparatively unexplored country to San Francisco Bay, rejoining his squadron.
The following pages are descriptive of Fort Vancouver where the party outfitted and of the courtesy and kindly offices of Mr. Douglas (afterward Sir James Douglas) and Dr. John McLoughlin, Chief Factors of the Hudson's Bay Company in charge of that Post.
George Thornton Emmons,
February, 1925.
July 25, 1841—
About 3 P. M . boarded the American Brig "Thos. Perkins",[3] Capt. Varney, at anchor in the river abreast of Vancouver, for the purpose of ablution & changing our clothes prior to paying our respects to the H's. B . Co* Officials at the Fort. At the same time made arrangements with Capt. V. to receive and mess my men on board of his brig. As soon as church service was concluded visited the Fort where we were received by Dr. McLaughlin and Mr. Douglas (both Chief Factors of the Co.), and comfortably quartered in a large wooden building within the picketed enclosure. Upon making the object of my visit known to Dr. McLaughlin, I received an assurance from him that he would afford me every facility within his power to forward my plans. This being one of the most important stations of the Co., I will now add a few facts in connection with a Diagram[4] which will convey
- ↑ Charles Wilkes, Commander, whose five volume published report of the cruise is commonly known as Wilke's Narrative.
- ↑ A dangerous sand-bar off Cape Disappointment has ever since^ carried the name of Peacock Spit. For account of the wreck see WilkesNarrative, Vol. IV, pp. 485-496.
- ↑ Purchased by Commander Wilkes and renamed the Oregon. See Wilkes' Narrative, Vol. V, p. 115; also see Bancroft's Northwest Coast, Vol. II, p. 639 and 686; also Oregon Historical Quarterly, Vol. I, p. 198.
- ↑ For similar diagram by Lieut. Vavasour see Oregon Historical Quarterly, Vol. X, No. 1 . For description of the fort see Wilkes' Narrative, Vol. IV, pp. 328-36; also John Dunn's Oregon Territory, pp. 101-04.
