LOSS OF THE PEACOCK. 



519 



succeeded in making an offing before tlie fog enveloped us. The.se 

 fogs are one of the greatest annoyances to vessels arriving on this 

 coast; for, in fine weather, they are experienced almost daily, coming 

 up with the sea-breeze, continuing throughout the night, and until the 

 sun has sufficient power the next day to dissipate them. 



In leaving De Fuca's Straits I anxiously watched for De Fuca's 

 Pillar, and soon obtained a sketch of it, which is represented in the 

 wood-cut at the end of this chapter. 



During the night of the '3d, we lost sight of the Porpoise, and the 

 return-signal to our guns soon became inaudible. The only guide 

 one has on this coast during the fogs, is the lead; and vessels drifting 

 into less water than fifteen fathoms, should anchor until they obtain 

 a wind to carry them off. 



The weather continued cold and chilly, with Ught rain ; and we 

 passed down the coast in eighty and ninety fathoms water. The 

 soundings varied from rock, gravel, and sand, to a soft unctuous mud, 

 of a deep-blue colour. 



The morning of the 5th August, the Porpoise was discovered 

 astern, which relieved me from any apprehension of detention. 



The soundings were somewhat peculiar ; for it was found that in 

 our progress down the coast, they increased almost regularly until 

 ninety fathoms was reached ; but a short distance beyond that depth, 

 and at about fifteen miles from the coast, the bank suddenly fell off, 

 and no bottom was to be obtained with a line of two hundred and 

 two hundred and fifty fathoms long. 



On the 6th, at daylight. Cape Disappointment was in sight; and 

 at ten o'clock we were near the cape. The whale-ship Orozimbo, 

 was off at the same time, the crew of which was much affected with 

 the scurvy : I therefore sent to her medical assistance. The Flying- 

 Fish joined us at noon ; when Captain Hudson came on board, and 

 from him I learned the particulars of the loss of the Peacock. 



It will be necessary in the first place to state, that at Oahu, Sand- 

 wich Islands, previous to the departure of the squadron on their 

 several cruises, I had furnished the Peacock, Porpoise, and tender 

 with directions for their passing the bar, which I obtained from 

 Captain Spalding, of the ship Lausanne, a vessel of five or six 

 hundred tons burden, which had just returned from the Columbia 

 river, whither she had taken a number of missionaries and their 

 stores. These appeared to be carefully drawn up, and Captain 

 Spalding informed me that they could be depended upon. The fact 



