Name/Title
LetterEntry/Object ID
2007.13.01Description
Handwritten note on lined paper, with the verbiage "A Short Sketch of the HBC Steamer "Beaver" by E. Huggins, 1903" on the back of the page.
Main text reads: "The Hudson Bay Company's steamer "Beaver", Captain "David Home", master. She was a low pressure, side wheel steamer of 110 tons register. Was built at Blackwall, London, England in 1834. She arrived at Fort Vancouver, Columbia river, in the spring of 1836. Her first visit to Victoria Vancouvers Island was in 1836. Mrs. "E. Huggins" was a passenger from Fort Nisqually - having arrived at the latter place with her mother, Mrs. "John Work", and sister "Margaret", from Fort Vancouver, Columbia river via the Cowlitz farm, across the portage, on horseback. The "Beaver" left the Columbia river in 1837, and never afterwards entered it. She carried a crew of 30 men, an armament of four 6 pounders, with a large supply of small arms. The decks were protected with boarding nettings, the natives being restricted to the gang way for access. Captain "Home" was drowned in the Columbia river. Mrs. John Work and party found the "Beaver" waiting their arrival at Nisqually and in that steamer they took passage to Fort Simpson."
At the time, "Mrs. E. Huggins" was young Letitia Work, only five years old.
Page measures approximately 7 1/2 by 10 inches.