Vikings of the Pacific | Page 2

The better-known
coast southward has equally voluminous records. Nor is such a list
necessary. Nine-tenths of it are made up of either descriptive works or
purely scientific pamphlets; and of the remaining tenth, the contents are
obtained in undiluted condition by going directly to the first sources. A
few of these first sources are indicated in each section.
It is somewhat remarkable that Gray--as true a naval hero as ever trod
the quarter-deck, who did the same for the West as Carrier for the St.
Lawrence, and Hudson for the river named after him--is the one man of
the Pacific coast discoverers of whom there are scantiest records.
Authentic histories are still written, that cast doubt on his achievement.
Certainly a century ago Gray was lionized in Boston; but it may be his
feat was overshadowed by the world-history of the new American
republic and the Napoleonic wars at the opening of the nineteenth
century; or the world may have taken him at his own valuation; and
Gray was a hero of the non-shouting sort. The data on {x} Gray's
discovery have been obtained from the descendants of the Boston men
who outfitted him, and from his own great-grandchildren. Though he
died a poor man, the red blood of his courage and ability seems to have
come down to his descendants; for their names are among the best
known in contemporary American life. To them my thanks are tendered.

Since the contents of this volume appeared serially in Leslie's Monthly,
Outing, and Harper's Magazine, fresh data have been sent to me on
minor points from descendants of the explorers and from collectors. I
take this opportunity to thank these contributors. Among many others,
special thanks are due Dr. George Davidson, President of San
Francisco Geographical Society, for facts relating to the topography of
the coast, and to Dr. Leo Stejneger of the Smithsonian, Washington, for
facts gathered on the very spot where Bering perished.
WASSAIC, New York,
July 15, 1905.

CONTENTS

PART I
DEALING WITH THE RUSSIANS ON THE PACIFIC COAST OF
AMERICA--BERING, THE DANE, THE SEA-OTTER HUNTERS,
THE OUTLAWS, AND BENYOWSKY, THE POLISH PIRATE
CHAPTER I
1700-1743
VITUS BERING, THE DANE
Peter the Great sends Bering on Two Voyages: First, to discover
whether America and Asia are united; Second, to find what lies north of
New Spain--Terrible Hardships of Caravans crossing Siberia for Seven
Thousand Miles--Ships lost in the Mist--Bering's Crew cast away on a
Barren Isle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

CHAPTER II
1741-1743
CONTINUATION OF BERING, THE DANE
Frightful Sufferings of the Castaways on the Commander Islands--The
Vessel smashed in a Winter Gale, the Sick are dragged for Refuge into
Pits of Sand--Here, Bering perishes, and the Crew Winter--The Consort
Ship under Chirikoff Ambushed--How the Castaways reach
Home . . . . . 37
CHAPTER III
1741-1760
THE SEA-OTTER HUNTERS
How the Sea-otter Pelts brought back by Bering's Crew led to the
Exploitation of the Northwest Coast of America--Difference of
Sea-otter from Other Fur-bearing Animals of the West--Perils of the
Hunt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
CHAPTER IV
1760-1770
THE OUTLAW HUNTERS
The American Coast becomes the Great Rendezvous for Siberian
Criminals and Political Exiles--Beyond Reach of Law, Cossacks and
Criminals perpetrate Outrages on the Indians--The Indians' Revenge
wipes out Russian Forts in America--The Pursuit of Four Refugee
Russians from Cave to Cave over the Sea at Night--How they escape
after a Year's Chase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
CHAPTER V

1768-1772
COUNT MAURITIUS BENYOWSKY, THE POLISH PIRATE
Siberian Exiles under Polish Soldier of Fortune plot to overthrow
Garrison of Kamchatka and escape to West Coast of America as Fur
Traders--A Bloody Melodrama enacted at Bolcheresk--The Count and
his Criminal Crew sail to America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106


PART II
AMERICAN AND ENGLISH ADVENTURERS ON THE WEST
COAST
OF AMERICA--FRANCIS DRAKE IN CALIFORNIA--COOK,
FROM BRITISH COLUMBIA TO ALASKA--LEDYARD, THE
FORERUNNER OF LEWIS AND CLARK--GRAY, THE
DISCOVERER OF THE COLUMBIA--VANCOUVER, THE LAST
OF THE WEST COAST NAVIGATORS
CHAPTER VI
1562-1595
FRANCIS DRAKE IN CALIFORNIA
How the Sea Rover was attacked and ruined as a Boy on the Spanish
Main off Mexico--His Revenge in sacking Spanish Treasure Houses
and crossing Panama--The Richest Man in England, he sails to the
Forbidden Sea, scuttles all the Spanish Ports up the West Coast of
South America and takes Possession of New Albion (California) for
England . . . . .