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Wintering
Though the horn passage had been relatively calm, it was on their first few weeks after
passing it that the worst of the storms hit. Lady Washington lost her jibstay and mainsail.
Gray pushed on and soon the weather became "temperate" (Scofield 85).
Gray was determined not to let Kendrick catch up with him so he pushed on past many islands.
Soon the lack of fresh provisions caused an epidemic of scurvy. During that time, the dreaded
disease often killed, "half or more of a ship's complement" (Scofield 86). Gray still pushed on
and soon the only water became what they were able to collect in castoff sails during rainstorms.
They passed most of California without landing, and occasionally Native Americans rowed alongside for
a while in curiosity. Finally, Gray stopped and began trading for sea otter pelts.
There were a few unpleasant incidents, one where a group of war canoes approached and Gray was
forced to fire some warning shots from the swivel guns on deck. Gray decided to go straight to
Nootka Sound, and when he arrived he found the Natives already well accomplished in the fur trade.
The British and "the Spanish were already at Nootka Sound" (Gough 104). Trading proved difficult
as the Nootkians expected to be well paid for the pelts. Washington's crew was down to a mere
ten, but she had made good time but soon Columbia arrived.
Kendrick had seen how well the sloop had handled herself and was determined to have the superior
Washington. He ordered Gray off the ship and took over. Gray took the Columbia to China, eager
to be rid of Kendrick. Washington, under her new captain, settled down for a long winter season
on the Northwest Coast.
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 Painting of sloop 'Union' by Gordon Miller
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