490 DE FUCA'S STRAITS AND 



ll h 50 m , they again tacked to stand in. The tender at this time was 

 several miles to leeward. 



At meridian, the wind came out from the southward and westward, 

 with the weather a little cloudy ; soon after which time the ship was 

 off the entrance, and all hands were called to work her into port. 

 Lieutenant Emmons was now sent aloft, on the foretopsail-yard, while 

 Captain Hudson attended personally to the piloting of the ship, agree- 

 ably to the directions before spoken of, which he held in his hand. 

 The ship was, according to Captain Hudson's report, running a north- 

 east-quarter-east course, heading for Cape Disappointment, until the 

 proper bearing of Chinook Point east-northeast was reached, when 

 they discovered the sea breaking ahead of them. He now believed 

 himself too far to the southward, wore ship, and ran off a short dis- 

 tance, until clear of the breakers, after which they again stood in, 

 where the passage appeared clear and smooth, both from below and 

 aloft. In less than five minutes, the ship touched. Lieutenant Emmons, 

 who was on the look-out aloft, together with Lieutenant Perry, who 

 also was similarly engaged, both state that they were of opinion that 

 the only place where the channel existed was where the water did not 

 break, and agreeing as it did so nearly with the sailing directions, 

 Captain Hudson did not hesitate to attempt to proceed through the 

 smoother part. 



I am well aware that many opinions have been, and probably still 

 are entertained, relative to the prudence of venturing with the ship 

 before the channel had been explored and examined by the tender and 

 boats. This is but natural to one unacquainted with the bar of the 

 Columbia river and its dangers. After having paid much attention to 

 this subject, and having been engaged there with the tender and boats 

 in the survey, I feel myself entitled to give an opinion as to the course 

 pursued by Captain Hudson, and think it altogether correct, on every 

 ground of expediency, as well as the only proper one for him to have 

 followed under these circumstances. It will be recollected that he 

 had been detained nearly three months beyond his appointed time, and 

 that he was well aware that this would occasion much inconvenience 

 to the progress of our duties ; his anxiety to prevent any farther delay, 

 even of a few hours, can readily be imagined. The time was, to all 

 appearance, propitious, and hesitation then might have rendered it 

 impossible to have entered for a week. The tender going in ahead 

 would have been little or no security, for she would, undoubtedly, have 

 pursued the same course, and have been, in all probability, lost ; and 

 thus the Peacock would have been obliged at last to trust to the know- 



