Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 23.djvu/330

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280 F. W. How AY

days, and sailed therefrom direct for the American coast, arriving at Nootka on 20th September 1788.

It is unfortunate that Haswell, the only person who has left any account of this voyage, was bitterly opposed to Captain Kendrick. Their difficulties culminated near the Falkland Islands in an assault by the captain upon his second mate. As a result Haswell sought and ob- tained a transfer into the Washington. His views may therefore be tinged with a certain, or uncertain, amount of bias. According to him, Captain Kendrick and his officers could not agree and were constantly squabbling. However that may be, we know that Roberts, the surgeon, Woodruffe, the first mate, and Haswell, the second mate, all left the ship. 5

The expedition made a lengthy stay at the Cape Verd Islands some forty-one days which both Haswell and Gray unite in condemning; the latter claims that it was thirty-six days too long. 6 More time was wasted at the Falkland Islands, where, Haswell alleges, Captain Ken- drick wished to remain until the next season, but ulti- mately yielding to Gray's importunities, continued the voyage. 7 What the truth may be we can not now deter- mine, for none of Captain Kendrick's letters extant make any reference to, or attempt to explain, these changes or these delays. This much is clear: that the Columbia consumed a year (less eleven days) in this voy- age from Boston to Nootka, while on her second voyage, under Captain Gray, she covered the same distance at the same time of the year in eight months. 8 Perhaps some allowance should be made for the pioneer expedi- tion; but even granting that, the difference is so great


5 Haswell's manuscript Log of the first voyage of the Columbia.

6 Captain Gray's letter of 13th July, 1789, in Washington Historical Quarterly, Vol. XII, p. 255.

7 Haswell's first Log of the Columbia, MS.

8 The Barrell Letters in Washington Historical Quarterly, Vol. XII, p. 256.