Russian schooner Nikolai
Nikolai (Russian: Николай) was a schooner of the Russian-American Company (RAC) sent by Chief Manager Alexander Baranov to the Oregon Country in November 1808.
An American ship visited Neah Bay in the spring of 1810 and the RAC employees were freed and returned to Novo-Arkhangelsk.
[2] Baranov "ordered [the Nikolai] to explore the coast south of Vancouver Island, barter with the natives for sea otter pelts, and if possible discover a site for a permanent Russian post in the Oregon Country.
1 November], a gale with large waves stranded the ship on a beach north of the Quillayute River and James Island.
[3] As with other RAC shipwrecks of the period, a mixture of officer incompetence, poorly trained crew, challenging weather, and low quality ship construction likely converged to cause the accident.
The Hoh kept the four passengers on the other canoe, two Alaska Natives, one of the promyshlenniki, and Anna Bulygina, the 18-year-old wife of expedition commander Nikolai Bulygin, as hostages.
[10] Another small village was eventually located, though the locals were not receptive to offering the large amount of supplies needed by the party.
[10] A band of 70 natives during the next week delivered the provisions along with a canoe, with the Russians in return giving the noble several trinkets of clothing as a measure of goodwill.
The Russians were informed that a neighboring chieftain had purchased the four people, but relatives of the native hostages agreed to work for their return.
He honestly would set us free and send us to the two European ships cruising along the Straits of Juan de Fuca.
The Makah noble initially refused to return the Russians, but Tarakanov made their owners agree to better feed them.
6 May] 1810 an American maritime fur trade vessel, Lydia under Thomas Brown of Boston, visited Yutramakai's village on Neah Bay.
When Tarakanov and the remaining crew returned to Novo-Arkhangelsk, his report to Baranov was influential in determining future company operations.
The inhospitable picture given by Tarakanov led to future expansion efforts focused on Alta California, with Fort Ross founded in 1812.
