THERE was not a single phase of British Columbia history from 1835 to
1874 in which H.B.S.S. "Beaver" did not play a large part. She was
admired by all those old pioneers associated with the history of the
West Coast.
The foundation of Victoria City was laid by the "Beaver." Fort Rupert
and Nanaimo were built under her protection, and though Fort Simpson
was founded prior to her arrival on the coast, she was the main
protection of that establishment for many years afterwards.
_Ship Used to Keep Law and Order_
Operations of the Hudson's Bay Company in Russian America were entirely
under her control and many minor difficulties in that region were
effectively settled promptly on her arrival at the seat of trouble.
When, too, the reign of law and order was threatened closer home, in
every case the arrival of the "Beaver" was awaited before effective
steps could be taken to bring affairs back to a normal state.
On one occasion, two murderers escaped to Cowichan and the warship
"Thetis" sent a hundred and fifty of her men on the "Beaver" and
proceeded to Cowichan under command of James Douglas to administer the
law.
There were many other cases of this nature that demonstrated the
"Beaver's" usefulness in developing and colonizing British Columbia,
particularly the north coast.
_The "Beaver" Steamed Round the Horn_
It was, to many, a marvel that a small boat of this kind could steam
round Cape Horn and weather any storm that she encountered. These
men forget that, though small, she was built of stoutest oak and was
considered a more able and seaworthy craft than many of much larger
size operating today.
Her keel was of unusual size and in full keeping with the British oak
stem and stern post. The best greenheart and oak ribs were used, being
carefully dressed and of large size. The spaces between these frames
were filled in solidly to a level above the water line with curved
timbers of the same material as the ribs. Outside planking was oak and
African teak, fastened with copper bolts and tree nails, covered with a
layer of thick tar paper and then sheeted with fir fastened with spikes
of bronze composition. The hull was surfaced with a sheeting of copper.
_Launched Under Royal Patronage_
Her length was a hundred and one feet, breadth inside paddle boxes
twenty feet, outside thirty-three feet, depth eleven and one-half
feet, having one hundred and nine tons burden. She carried a crew of
twenty-six men and was armed with five nine-pounders. Her building, and
especially her launching, created a great interest, as she is reported
to have plunged into the mighty Thames under the patronage of royalty
and in the presence of a vast throng of spectators.
_H.B.C. Quality Shewn in Building_
The construction of the "Beaver" indicates that the Hudson's Bay
Company were up-to-date and were living up to their British traditions
by being always first in the field in any new enterprise that required
capital and far-sighted commercial methods. It must be remembered
that steam vessels were not at that time proven to be successful, but
were in the experimental stage. The spirit of adventure, as the term
was understood in those days, was much in evidence when the Company's
Governor and Committee ordered the "Beaver" in 1834 from Messrs. Green,
Wigham & Green, at Blackwall, London.
[Illustration: _The "Beaver" Riding at Anchor Near Victoria_]
Two new masts were made and installed at Port Simpson in 1858 by a
carpenter named Rudlin, and she was sent to Sitka, Alaska, to be
overhauled by the Russians the same winter (1858). Apart from this,
nothing seems to have been spent on her other than what her own crew
could do.
She had two engines 35 nominal horsepower, each of the long since
obsolete side-lever type, though much in favour during those early
times following the "Beaver's" construction.
It was an interesting day when the keel of this wonderful little black
steamer was laid, but how much more interesting must the 29th day of
August, 1835, have been when the "Beaver" glided down into the English
Channel and out on the trackless ocean on her voyage to the north
Pacific ocean to become famous in the annals of the west.
The "Beaver" arrived at Robinson Crusoe Island, via Cape Horn, December
17th, 1835, and Astoria (Columbia River) April 4th, 1836.
_H.B.C. Fur Headquarters on Columbia River_
The Hudson's Bay Company's fur trade up to this date had as its
headquarters on the Pacific Coast the Columbia River, but as the trade
was being developed it was soon apparent that Columbia River was not
the most suitable location from which to administer affairs. The ships
from London were taking great risks when crossing the Columbia River
bar, and as there were no steam tugs available, going up the Columbia
River with a sailing vessel for one hundred miles or more was not at
all to their liking. The coastwise boats, apart from the "Beaver," were
all small sailing-ships and the voyage to the Columbia from Puget Sound
was really a stupendous undertaking.
The Hudson's Bay Company's possessory rights in Oregon were the
stumbling blocks. If the Columbia River establishments were abandoned
the Company's claim might be jeopardized, and rather than do that a
route was opened through from Fort Vancouver to Nisqually on the Puget
Sound via the Cowlitz River, where trade goods could be transported by
boat and ox-cart and shipped north on the ships engaged in the trade,
thereby saving much time to the ships but wasting considerable of the
time of the land forces.
_The "Beaver's" Coast Route_
From Nisqually, the "Beaver" took a full cargo in January, proceeding
to Fort Simpson, calling en route at all Indian villages where she
would anchor, throw out her boarding nets and proceed to trade, so that
by the time she reached Fort Simpson a large part of her cargo would
have been traded.
At Fort Simpson the furs collected were taken ashore and stored and
the ship restocked with trade goods; then she proceeded, calling at
all villages en route to Taku. Returning to Fort Simpson, furs were
unloaded and more goods taken.
This procedure was kept up all summer, the "Beaver" making about four
trips north, and the same number south, leaving off in time to reach
Victoria before Christmas.
The "Beaver" was not subject to orders from any but Sir James Douglas,
but she had all Posts on the route she covered under her control. It
was estimated that she _had to cater to the wants of forty thousand
natives_.
_Monarch of Trade for Twenty Years_
For twenty years she was complete monarch of the coast. In all new
Indian trade countries and indeed in all new white settlements, the
wants of the population had gradually increased, until in 1852 the
"Beaver" was found to be totally inadequate for the trade. A new boat
was built for the Company in England and named the "Otter," arriving at
Victoria in April, 1853.
_Victoria to San Francisco in Four Days_
One of the "Otter's" first duties after arriving at Victoria from
England was to go to San Francisco. Sir James Douglas says, "In spite
of head winds, she went down in four days and returned in five days,
and she was much admired where her unexpected arrival created quite a
sensation."
She was the first steamer propelled by a screw to be brought out by the
Company, and was altogether just as successful as was the "Beaver" and
had the same fault--being too small. However, the "Beaver" and "Otter"
between them were able to take care of the work for a few years, until
the "Enterprise" was purchased in 1862, to help out on the Fraser River
run during the great Caribou gold excitement.
_"Beaver" Chartered to British Government_
It is easy to understand that by this time the "Beaver's" engines
were in need of attention, and it was under discussion as to whether
they should be taken out and sent home to be re-bored, or whether the
steamer should be sent herself to have repairs effected; but before a
decision was reached, the boat was chartered to the British Government
for the purpose of survey work.
Meanwhile, the Hudson's Bay Company had built in England another ship,
the "Labouchere." She was of the paddle-wheel type, but much larger and
more costly to operate than the "Beaver." The zeal of the Hudson's Bay
Company's officers to get an up-to-date boat caused them to overlook
the fact that money and business were not plentiful, and a steamer to
operate successfully on the coast must be carefully selected. When they
realized their mistake, other work was sought, with the result that she
was placed on the San Francisco-Victoria mail route in competition with
the California Steam Navigation Company's steamer "Active," and a rate
war, probably the first on the coast, was started. It ended suddenly,
however, when the "Labouchere" on her second trip was wrecked at Point
Ray.
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| LITTLE JOURNEYS TO |
| FUR TRADE POSTS OF |
| THE HUDSON'S BAY CO. |
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