Arriving from Boston aboard their sailing ship, Albatross, the brothers and a crew of thirty men entered the Columbia May 26th and after deciding on a suitable location, began building a fortress and planting gardens.

On June 7th it began to rain...and rain. Soon the gardens and new log structure were both flooded. With no letup in the flooding by June 12, the discouraged Winships and crew re-boarded their vessel, loaded the goats and pigs that had earlier been put ashore and sailed back down the river never to return.

Their settlement lasted eight days.