History of Early Pioneer Families of Hood River, Oregon.
Compiled by Mrs. D.M. Coon

PIONEER STEAMBOATING ON THE COLUMBIA RIVER
By Captain H.C. Coe

From H.R. News Letter, 1906

     Pioneer steamboating on the Columbia was undeniably steamboating in the rough. Anything with steam in it that could stem the current was a steamboat, and a steamboat ride to the pioneer settlers was a rarity and a treat always enjoyed but not often indulged in. A trip to The Dalles from Hood River was a momentous occasion and was in contemplation for days and weeks ahead, and when the eventful day came the pioneer would hitch up old Buck and Berry and drive sometimes six or eight miles to the landing, taking his blind mare along to bring them home again.
     But steamboats were uncertain things, and if heavy loaded or late would not stop, and the irate farmer would have to plod his weary way homeward in the night to try again some other day.
     But the steamboat captain was a mighty man in those days, outranking either county or state officials. Any man might be elected to an office, but who could be a steamboat captain, and steer the boat and with impunity damn anybody end every body, should the occasion demand.
     The first steamer to ply the waters of the Columbia was the Jas. P. Flint, a small side wheel steamer, that was hauled around the Cascades in 1853. Not proving a financial success was taken below the next spring. Then the "Allen" a small iron hull propeller, was brought up and placed on the run. She was commanded by Captain Thomas Gladwell. Capt. Gladwell afterwards lost his life in Young's river below Astoria, by the sinking of his boat the "Fire Fly". About this time the Bradford Brothers at the Cascades built a schooner called the "Mary". She was about 80 feet long and 16 foot beam. The Bradford's were engaged in the transportation business at the Cascades. Steamers from Portland would bring freight and passengers to the lower Cascades at the foot of the rapids; the boats not having power sufficient to stem the current. The freight was then loaded into sail boats, which with a strong west wind were able to reach the Midelee blockhouse, or what is now known as Sheridan's Point, when a transfer was made to a horse tramway that the Bradfords had constructed from the Upper Cascades to that point. The schooner "Mary" was unable to do the work and it was decided to turn her into a steamboat, which was done during the summer, and although a poor excuse for a steamboat, she answered the purpose. She was in charge of Captain Dan Baughman, well known to many of the older settlers. He was drowned on the lower Columbia some years ago. The "Mary" had a checkered career. In 1856 she came very near falling into the hands of the hostiles during the massacre at the Cascades, escaping only by a miracle and the poor marksmanship of the Indians. The following year she was sunk at Mitchell's Point, and a year later her boiler ex-ploded when leaving Mosier landing. No one was hurt, however. Another year finished her labors and she was relegated to the bone yard back of the machine shops at The Dalles where she rotted down.
     The "Hassalo" was fast completed and then placed in commission. She was a side wheel boat, some better than the "Mary" but a poor excuse; not up-to-date even then. About this time R.R. Thompson, a sheep man and Indian agent living at The Dalles, and L.W. Coe, then manager for the Bradfords, conceived the idea of placing a boat on the upper Columbia. This was considered a very hazardous undertaking as the river was very swift and filled with rapids, but the business outlook was very bright and they decided to take the risk, and a boat about 140 feet long was built at the Cascades and named the "Venture". She was to be taken through The Dalles and hauled around the falls at Cello, but never reached her destination. On the day she was to make her trial trip, and while landing just above the Cascades on the Washington side, through some misunderstanding with the engineer, her lines were cast off before sufficient steam was had to stem the current, and she drifted helplessly over the rapids, escaping destruction only by a miracle. She was afterward sold and the Col. Wright was built at Celilo the same year, the material being hauled front The Dalles by team 15 miles to the mouth of the Deschutes.
     The Col. Wright was a success from her very first trip and a golden stream was soon pouring into the pockets of her owners. About this time some Willamette River steamboat owners, among whom were Captain J.C. Ainsworth, S.G. Reed, and Jacob Kamm seeing the vast trade that would necessarily have to follow the Columbia river made a combination with the Bradfords of the Middle River, Thompson and Coe of the upper Columbia, and thus was the notable Oregon Steam Navigation Company formed. A corporation that in a few short years made its owners millionaires. The steamer Tenino made the record trip and record season of all their fleet. On one trip to Lewiston and return from Celilo she cleared over and above all expenses twenty-two thousand dollars, and for the season over one hundred thousand dollars. And no wonder, the passage between those points was twenty dollars, meals and berth, one dollar each; freight one hundred dollars a ton. A good story is told of a party at Lewiston protesting against a charge of 25 cents for a common sewing needle, but the son of Abraham replied "that it was not the first cost of the goods but the cash money for the freight".
     One boat I wish to mention was built in 1855 that played an important part in the relief of the Cascades at the time of the Indian war, and that was the "Wasco" built and owned by the McFarlands of The Dalles. She was about the size of the "Mary", but not so good a boat; but for lack of connection of the lower river and the difficulty of making the Oregon side portage (the Bradfords controlled the Washington side) was not a financial success and soon after fell into the hands of the other line. It cost something to travel in those days. From Hood River to The Dallas $5.00; The Dallas to Portland, $20.00; and freight was high enough so they did not lost money on transportation. It took two days to reach Portland, the steamer leaving The Dalles at 7 A.M., expected to reach the Cascades in time for the passengers to cross the portage, five miles, the same day, and to take the boat the next morning for Portland.

[HOME] ©  Jeffrey L. Elmer