The Beaver
A Journal of Progress

Little Miss Ouikpigak, a future Eskimo belle of Great Whale River, whose father is a famous hunter for H.B.C. The fat of the seal is Ouikpigak’s only candy–more sweet to her than any all-day sucker.

H.B.C. Pioneer Steamer Ruled West Coast Trade 20 Years

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.

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.