The Quarterly of the Oregon Historical Society Part 33

We yesterday noticed a postscript of a letter from the Oregon country. We have since seen letters from Lt. Fremont and other men of his party, written at Ft. Hall, and bearing date of 20th September, which do not confirm the report alluded to. The silence of these letters as to the surrender of Ft. Hall is full a.s.surance to us that the report is not correct. The letter before us, the statements of which are corroborated by Lt. Fremont, himself, says:--

"I arrived at this place (Ft. Hall) on the 13th inst., with my part of the caravan all safe and in tolerable order. * * *

(Unimportant part skipped). Lt. Fremont, whom I parted with on the South fork of the Platte, and expected to meet at this place, joined us yesterday after making a survey of the Salt Lake, which he has done much to his satisfaction.

The exploration and new routes which we have taken have made our trip tedious and very laborious, but, I hope it will be satisfactory to the Department. We leave tomorrow for the lower country, and find it necessary to let some of our men off on account of the scarcity of provisions, which are not to be had at this place. The full objects of the expedition, will, I hope, be completed ere we return. I shall leave the party in a few days for Walla Walla, or perhaps lower down, to provide necessary supplies for the completion of the business in that quarter. I can not say what time we will return to St. Louis; it is to be hoped before the adjournment of Congress. The emigrants pa.s.sed this place some short time since, pretty well worn down and scarce of food. The Indians on the Columbia are expected to become troublesome to these newcomers. It is supposed they are induced to acts of violence by some persons as yet unknown.

They have already burned Dr. Whitman's mill, and I fear it is not the last spark which will be kindled in the settlement and occupation of this country. The Hudson's Bay Company are improving and pushing their business, perhaps with greater energy than usual, Dr. McLoughlin is laying off towns on the Willamette, selling lots, etc. This is the report, and you can see that the Dr. is in advance of Dr.

Linn's bill."

The foregoing is the latest news from Oregon, and may be relied upon as correct. Not the least interesting part of it is that which relates to the disposition of the Indians towards the emigrants. We have always believed that the Indians, backed and incited as they will be by agents and emissaries of the Hudson's Bay Co., and furnished as they doubtless will be, with arms and means of warfare from some source, would oppose the emigrants in making their settlements. That the country must be conquered before it is attained, we hardly entertain a doubt, and if we did, the supineness of our Government would only strengthen the belief. Why is it that our Government is so indifferent to the claims of the nation upon this territory, its wealth and possessions?

St. Louis _Reveille_, Oct. 21, 1844.

The Platte _Argus_ contains a letter from "Multnomah City,"

Oregon, from which we make the following extracts. The killing of the Indian has been briefly mentioned heretofore.

"When I first came here, 19 months ago, there were but 4 or 5 houses, now there is upwards of 80 good buildings, nearly all of two stories, and 4 or 5 of three stories high. If there had been plenty of nails we should have had a number more up. If a supply of nails reaches us this spring, we shall have 200 houses before this reaches you, and some of these of brick, for a company from Baltimore are now building a brickyard. A tanyard is also being established.

The fact is, we have mechanics of all kinds here, though not a tenth of the number of each kind required. The winter is past, but it was no winter. It was rather a blooming spring, for we had but little rain and no snow, and gra.s.s green all the time. We have had but two days' rain in the last 45. I saw cattle yesterday which had run all winter, in finer condition than I ever saw any in your state. Uncle Sam had better be doing something for this country, for if not, within three years _it will be too late_. You laugh, but if you live you will see it. Therefore stir them up, Mac, for we do not want trouble here, and would all rejoice if the star-spangled banner embraced us within its ample folds. Our flag flying by authority would make a vast difference here.

An Indian committed some outrages lately, and our sheriff endeavored in vain to arrest him; then offered $100 reward for the Indian, and went to his own house, 30 miles from this place. On Monday the Indian came into Oregon City, close to Dr. McLoughlin's mill, where some 25 or 30 men were at work. Winslow and some white men went to take him, and got close to him. He saw Winslow, fired his gun, which missed its mark, the ball lodging in a tree on this side of the river within 2 feet of me, for I was at work at my garden at the time. The Indian then fired his pistol, 2 b.a.l.l.s from which lodged in the shoulder of G. W. LeBreton, clerk of the court, tearing his arm dreadfully. Mr. LeB.

seized the Indian with the other hand, and then threw him down. Winslow then ran up and knocked out his brains. In the meantime, 5 other Indians fired their guns, and then their arrows, and wounded two men."

_Reveille_, November 4, 1844.

NEWS FROM OREGON.

The _Western Expositor_ of Sat.u.r.day last announces the arrival of Mr. Wm. Gilpin, formerly of this place, from Oregon. Mr. Gilpin pa.s.sed the winter among the American settlements of the Willamette and the adjacent sea coast, and he describes them as enjoying prosperity when he left them in April last. The emigrant party of '43, which he accompanied, arrived at their destination in November last, "after having braved and overcome unparalleled dangers and difficulties from savages, from hunger, from thirst, crossing parched treeless plains, fierce angry rivers, and forcing their wagons through 1000 miles of mountains, declared impa.s.sable by the most experienced guides and voyageurs."

This accession swelled the population of Oregon to upwards of 2000, and they had formed a government, elected officers, established courts, and a record of land t.i.tles. "Farms," he says, "freckle the magnificent plains, towns are springing up at convenient points upon the rivers, a dozen of excellent mills supply lumber and flour for home use and export; the fisheries are not neglected, and lands are surveyed. A college, numerous schools, and several churches are scattering education amongst the young. Money has been sent from New York for a printing press and steam engine, cattle and stock of all kinds are acc.u.mulating and rapidly increasing under a mild climate and unfailing pastures.

Provisions of all kinds are abundant, of most excellent quality and moderate prices."

Mr. Gilpin pa.s.sed the trading fort of Bridger and Vasquez on the 19th of August. This fort is 100 miles west of Green River, and exactly half way from Independence to the Willamette. The American trappers scattered among the mountains had there collected to meet the emigrants of last spring; an advanced party of 30 of whom, with their wagons and cattle, pa.s.sed on the 17th, two days later than the emigrants of the preceding year. Two larger companies behind, under the command of Gen. Gilliam and Col. Ford, pa.s.sed subsequently, and all in good time reached the settlements before the setting in of winter.

_Reveille_, January 20, 1845.

OREGON.

We learn from a letter published in the _Weston Journal_, dated at the Sandwich Islands, that the Oregon emigrants who went out during the past season, have made great changes in business, money now circulating, and everything begins to a.s.sume the appearance of the civilization, business, trade, and refinements this side of the mountains.

_Republican_, February 8, 1848.

OREGON.

We see it stated in up-country papers that the late arrivals from Oregon furnished information that two parties of emigrants, dissatisfied with their prospects in that country, attempted to return home last winter, but were prevented by the difficulties of road and weather. We have never entertained a doubt that this disposition was uppermost with all the best portions of the emigration to that region; but obstacles are presented of such a character as to deter many persons from attempting to return.

Emigrants from the states find the greatest difficulty in descending the mountain declivities into the valley of the Columbia River, but then their wagons have been relieved of a great part of the provisions and surplus weight, and they do get along. If they should attempt to return to the United States, however, a different prospect is presented. They must start amply provided with provisions and everything necessary for the journey, and thus loaded it has been deemed impossible to get wagons along over the mountains which they necessarily have to ascend in their progress.

This cause alone has deterred many persons from making the attempt, and they have been compelled to accommodate themselves to a country and a condition of things in no respect better than they originally left. No man, in our opinion, who has a comfortable home in any of the states can be justified in giving it up in the expectation of bettering himself in Oregon. If he has a family, he does a gross injustice to them in exposing them to the hardships of so long and perilous a journey with no prospect of returning to their friends, should they become discontented; and even if an emigrant has n.o.body to care for but himself, he had better stay at home and earn an honest living, than go to Oregon and run the risk of working out a precarious one. For this reason we have never countenanced any one for whom we had the least respect in a journey to Oregon or California with a view to a fixed residence there. Neither country presents half the inducements to be found in any one of the Western states, and an adventure of this kind is prima facie evidence of a restless and discontented spirit, not likely to be pleased anywhere.

_Republican_, May 19, 1848.

On the 20th of November the Governor appointed Columbia Lancaster to be Supreme Judge of Oregon Territory, in place of J. Quinn Thornton, resigned. From some proceedings of the legislature of a subsequent period, we infer that Judge Thornton had left Oregon on a visit to Washington City, as a sort of general agent, to attend to the distribution of offices in the new territory. Of his arrival we have not heard, and it is probable that Mr. Meek may reach Washington before him.

[Then follows proceedings of legislature, resolutions, etc., intended to keep J. Q. T. from leaving the territory, quoted in full. Also Governor's message, expressing the disappointment at the failure of Congress to extend jurisdiction over that country, etc.]

_Republican_, July 26, 1848.

ARRIVAL OF MR. KIT CARSON FROM CALIFORNIA.

Information has been received by Gov. Mason in California of the difficulties between the Oregon settlers and Indians, but it does not appear to come down to a later date than that which we have received from Oregon direct.

_Republican_, August 2, 1848.

LATE FROM OREGON.

[General account of defense of Oregon regiment against Indians; death of Col. Gilliam, etc.]

NOTE--A CORRECTION.

The name "L. H. Ponjade" occurring on pages 268 and 269 of the September number of THE QUARTERLY should be L. H.

Poujade.