I'd like to thank, Michael Phillips, for loaning me the use of this article. If you have a second, stop by and visithis wonderful website, "Maritime History and Navel Heritage", for an enlighteninglook into Naval history of the 18th and early 19th centuries, plus a variety of articles of misc. nautical interest.His website also acts as host to several other maritime associations.

Vol.XXX 1813 [page 306]

MASSACRE BY SAVAGES.
[From an American Paper]

The following is an account of the singular and melancholy fate of the American ship TONQUIN,the crew of which were destroyed by savages, while on a trading voyage on the coast north of theRiver Columbia, on Vancouver`s Island: A ship arrived from New York after a passage of nearseven months, with merchandise and provisions for the company.

It was here that we learnt with horror, that the story of the TONQUIN`s having been cut-off wasbut too true. The circumstances have been related in different ways by the natives but tat whichcarries the greatest appearance of truth is as follows:- That vessel, after landinf a cargo intended forAstoria, departed on a trading voyage to the coast of Columbia river, with a company, includingofficers of 23 men, and had proceeded about 400 miles along the sea-coast, when they stopped onVancouver`s island at a place called Woody Point, inhabited by a powerful nation calledWake-a-ninishes. These people came on board to barter their furs for merchandise, and conductedthemselves in a most friendly manner during the first day; but the same evening information wasbrought on board by by an Indian whom the officers had as an interpreter, that the tribe where theythen lay were ill-disposed and intended attacking the ship the next day.

Capt. Thorn affected to disbelieve this piece of news, and even when the Indians came next morningin great numbers, it was only at the pressing remonstrance of Mr M`Kay, that he ordered seven aloftto loosen the sails. In the mean time about 50 Indians were permitted to come on board whoexchanged a number of sea-otter skins for blankets and knives. The former they threw into theircanoes, but secreted the knives. Every one, when armed, moved from the quarter-deck to adifferent part of the vessel in such a way that three of them opposed every man of the crew. At agiven signal they rushed on their prey and, notwithstanding a brave resistance, they were allbutchered in a few minutes. The men aloft, in attempting to descend, lost two of their number, besideone mortally wounded, who, notwithstanding his weakened condition, made his way with the othersinto the cabin, where, finding a quantity of loaded arms, they fired on their assailants through thesky-lights and companion-way, which had the effect of clearing the ship, and long before night thesefive intrepid sons of America were again in full possession of her.

Whether from want of abilities or strength, supposing themselves unable to take the vessel back toColumbia, on the following morning, the four who were left unhurt left her in the long boat, in hopesof regaining the river, wishing to take along with them the wounded person, who refused their offer,saying he must die before long and was as well in the vessel as elsewhere.

Soon after sunrise she was surrounded by an immense number of Indians in canoes, come for theexpress purpose of unloading her; but who, from the warm reception they met with the day before,did not seem forward in boarding. The wounded man shewed himself over the railing, made signsthat he was alone and wanted their assistance; on which some embarked, who finding what he saidwas true, spoke to their people who were not any longer slow in getting on board, so that in a fewvsecondsthe deck was considerably thronged and they proceeded to undo the hatches without furtherceremony.

No sooner were they completely engaged in this, than the only survivor of the crew descended intothe cabin and set fire to the magazine containing nearly 9000 lbs of gunpowder, which in an instantblew the vessel and everyone on board to atoms. The nation acknowledge their having lost 100warriors, beside a vast number of wounded who were in canoes around the ship. The four men inthe long boat were, two or three days after, driven ashore in a gale and massacred by the natives.