Rescue of the Crew and Passengers of the Sloop Georgianna
From their captivity on Queen Charlotte's Island 1851-2
Washington Standard May 23, 1868

In the previous article, the detail was given of the wreck of the Georgianna, on the eastern coast of Queen Charlotte's Island. The purpose of this article is to narrate the circumstances of the release of the crew and passengers by an expedition fitted out by Colonel Simpson P. Moses, the collector of the District of Puget Sound. Dec. 12th. Scarcely had the excitement in regard to the seizure of the two Hudson Bay vessels begun to allay, when tiding is this day brought that the sloop Georgianna, which left port on the 3rd of November, with 32 passengers and five of crew had been cast away and lost in the southwest gale on the east coast of Queen Charlotte's Island, whither she was bound in pursuit of gold; that her crew and passengers had been stripped of everything by the natives, and were now their slaves.

This being confirmed later in the day by a letter from Captain Lafayette Balch, master of the Damaris Cove, who had just returned from the Island at 8:30 p. m.. Collector Moses started to Steilacoom with a small party to consult with the officers of the army at Fort Steilacoom, desiring to fit out an expedition to relieve our captive countrymen, The result of Colonel Moses' first visit to Fort Steilacoom was the chartering of the Damaris Cove, fully provided, for $5,000 for the first month and thereafter for $100 per day until the voyage be completed by the return of the captives to Olympia. 

On the 17th inst Colonel Moses returned to Steilacoom to superintend the getting off of the schooner which was effected on the 19th inst. Among the relief party were Lieutenant John Dement, 1st artillery U. S. A., Benton Moses Theodore Dubosq. A. M. Poe, Edmund Sylvester and several others. The expedition was under the joint command of Captain Balch and Lieutenant Dement. A day or two afterwards Messrs Poe and Sylvester returned. January 31, 1852. The welcome tiding has just been received that the Damaris Cove has just ari rived at Steilacoom with the returned captives, all well. January 3rd. Arrival of several of the Georgianna party.

We now propose to allude to the public documents referring to that event so full of interest to the old settlers. How strikingly they exhibit the neglect at that time by the general government of this region of country and its readiness to rebuke the taking of a responsibility by a public officer who was ready and willing to do an act of humanity though out of the routine of official duty. 

Such acts as those we have yet to chronicle illustrate the history of this period and suggest to the handful of American settlers that their own relief was by a division of the Territory, the erection of a separate organization which would bring to our doors the presence of those influences which in reminding us we were a part of a great nation gave to us all the belief that in settling here the American citizen might expect to receive some little of the fostering care of his government.

Captain William Rowland, master of the Georgianna, thus narrates the disaster of his sloop, in a letter dated November 25th, 1851. "I have been, with 26 others, here among, the Indians and have had no opportunity to write to any white man whatever. I was east away in latitude 52 degrees 52 minutes on the east side of this island (Queen Charlotte's! on the 19th of this month in a heavy gale of wind from the southeast, with 22 passengers and five of crew from Olympia, November 3rd, and have succeeded in getting on shore.

"The Indians have robbed us of every necessity and some of the clothing off our bodies and we are left without one blanket or a shirt to shift. Consequently we are in a most wretched and deplorable condition: therefore we all of us do earnestly pray you if there is any possible means to render us any assistance to send it as quick as possible." Captain Lafayette Balch was at the same, time at Gold Harbor, on the west side of the island, unable to get to the sufferers, and actually compelled to leave the island, December 1st, by the hostile demonstrations of the natives. 

He thus writes to Colonel Moses under date of Fort Steilacoom. December 11, 1851: "I have the painful duty to announce to you and the citizens of Olympia that the party which left that place on the 3rd of November has been wrecked. I refer you to the enclosed letter of Captain Rowland for the particulars. I am in hopes that you will take some immediate steps for their relief. They will undoubtedly remain on the island until they are ransomed or taken by force, but I do not think that the Indians will further molest them or attempt their lives, their object being plunder.

"During my stay at Gold Harbor, (which is on the west side of the island), I had great difficulty in protecting my vessel and avoiding a conflict with the Indians without being able to negotiate a trade for the sufferers. they at that time being on the opposite side of the island about three days journey distant. As you are well aware. I had not a sufficient number of persons on board to deal with them successfully and having had my vessel previously injured in her sails and rigging and several attempts having been made to plunder us, I gladly availed myself of a favorable wind and left the inhospitable coast, sincerely hoping that I might not again be placed in a similar condition and exceedingly regretting that necessity compelled me to leave my fellow citizens in such a deplorable condition without having the power to assist them."

To those who knew the gallant and disinterested Balch in his lifetime nothing need be added to this letter of his to prove the desperate condition in which the Georgianna unfortunates were reduced. He never would have left while there was a gleam of hope that his staying would contribute to their relief and he wisely believed their chance of safety was in an appeal to their fellow countrymen on Puget Sound.

Appeal was at once made to Captain Hill, U. S. Army, commanding Fort Steilacoom, who at once em braced the opportunity to make inquiry of Governor John Work (the late venerable chief factor of the Hudson Bay Company, so long in charge of their Northern posts, then fortunately on a visit to Fort Nisqually as to the probability of relief coming from Fort Simpson. That door for hope was closed by Governor Work's letter of December 12. in which he says:

"Should the unfortunate passengers and crew be able to reach Fort Simpson, I have no doubt that Dr. Kennedy, the gentleman in charge, will render them every assistance in his power, but the difficulty will be for them, to get there. The shortest traverse from Queen Charlotte's Island east side near its north end to the islands bordering on the main land is about 30 miles and dangerous except in fine weather; besides along the east shore of the island from where I judge the unfortunate people are to where the traverse is taken is a considerable distance and from want of shelter and the heavy surf generally breaking on the shore, especially toward the north, the navigation is also dangerous, even for the skilful Indians with their canoes.

"Besides the danger of the navigation the Indians of Queen Charlotte's Island are at war with the Chimsyans who reside about Fort Simpson, and I fear will not be easily induced to go there, especially at this season, and probably no intelligence will reach Fort Simpson of the unfortunate occurrence and even should it he heard  of there I doubt whether the Chimsyans would be induced to venture among their enemies. Fort Simpson, when I left, was short handed and I doubt whether the safety of the fort would admit of Dr. Kennedy being able to send any adequate assistance of white men.

"The Haidas, Queen Charlotte's Island Indians, are reckoned the worst natives on the coast and have less intercourse with the whites than the others. They may probably have distributed the unfortunate people among them so that when assistance comes it may require some time to collect them and most likely high prices will be demanded before they be given up. I don't think they will harm them except they be induced; to do so to obtain their property.

They can't withstand any inducement to plunder even among themselves whenever an opportunity offers. "Allow me to suggest that the only plan I see for furnishing immediate relief to the sufferers would be to send some of the vessels now in the Sound well manned and armed, and if such vessel could be got some person acquainted with the coast on board."