OREGON FREE PRESS.
Geo. L. Curry, Editor and Proprietor.
OREGON CITY, SATURDAY AUGUST 26, 1848.
Appointment. The Governor lias appointed Colum
bus Wheeler, Esq., Justice of the Peace for Clackamas
Co., to fill the vacancy accasioned by the resignation of
Jacob M. Wair.
Oregon Exports, Etc. The Honolulu left Portland
last week with about 300 barrels of flour, and 200 of
salmon, and some 50 passengers who were allowed,
as we are informed, to take two barrels of flour each.
We confess that we are unable to conceive where all
this could have been stowed in so small a craft.
Who is the Incendiary? Wc have neglected to
speak of the burning of the Indian houses on the oppo
site side of the river, which occurred a few weeks
since. It was a shameful act, and deserves punishment.
We understand the Indians were all absent, at the
lime, assisting in harvesting above. All their winter
provision, and properly or considerable worth, to them
at least, was destroyed by the wanton act. We allude
to it now because we have been informed that there
are those ready to testify as to the person or persons
who perpetrated it, whenever the mailer shall be
properly investigated. Retaliation is as much a law
with the Indians as it is sometimes with the whiles,
and if the business is not properly settled, our houses,
our property are not secure.
Melancholy Occurrences. A young man by the
name of Aram was killed on Souvie's Island a few
days since, by a man named Leonard. The circumstan
ces that led to this melancholy result, as reported to us,
are these: Aram held a gun belonging to Leonard as
security for a debt due him by Leonard, who was ma
king preparations to go to California. He came to
Aram for the gun, and after some altercation, got pos
session of it, and, having discovered thai it was loaded,
told Aram not to advance or he would shoot him.
Notwithstanding the threat, Aram resolutely advanced
to re-possess himself of the gun, and when within a
few feet of it received its contents in his left breast
"which" occasioned his deatli in about six hours. Leon
ard succeeded in effecting his escape. Both came into
the country in the last Immigration and were together
in the difficulty with the Indians, at the Dalles, last
August.
On Tuesday afternoon last Thomas W. Berry was
.slabbed in the back, near the spine, by Samuel K.
Barlow,-who was arrested and examined before jus
lice Wheeler and bound over in a bond of 5000 dollars
to appear before the Clackamas Circuit Court, at its
next term, in October. It appears that Berry charged
Barlow that morning, with having cut two trail ropes
that secured a couple of horses to a fence; an alterca
tion again took place in the afternoon, which resulted
as above stated. Mr. Berry, it is expected, will recov
ery and as the trial or Mr. Barlow takes place in a tew
weeks, we abstain from any comments that may preju
dice the case.' ' '
We feel truly thankful that nuch occurrences as the
aboYe,:are not frequent in our Territory. The citizens
of Oregon are an order-loving, law-abiding, people,
and we should regret any circumstance that might
make them appear other wise. Should not some mea
sures be taken for the apprehension of Leonard, ere he
has an opportunity of leaving the country?
We have been requested to give the subjoined com
munication a place in to-day's paper, and we do so pre
suming it to be a statement of facts. In regard to this
business, we can state that the (Supcrintendanl of In
dian Affairs" sent orders, on Thursday, to Mr. Rogers,
commander at the Dalles, authorizing the detention of
these supplies until further directed:
Mn. Editor: With respect to a report lately put in
circulation, and regarding a certain quantity of ammu
nition sent by the Priests to the Cascades, we derive
the following information from an authentic source:
The public is aware that late last Spring the Flathead
Missionary came down to this Valley, according to his
yearly custom, to make the annual supply for his Mis
sion. Confident of the loyalty and attachment of the
Flathead Indians towards the Government, the Mission
ary addressed himself to the Governor, George Aber
nethy, and to Joel Palmer, Esqrs., to be permitted lo
procure arms and ammunition for them, as Ihey stand
much in need of it, both to provide for their subsis
tence and to defend themselves against their enemies,
the Black Feet. The Missionary's request was well
received by the Governor and Mr. Palmer; who prom
ised to exert their influence with the Legislature, lo
oblain for him Ibis permission, as soon as troops should
arrive from the Stales to preserve order among the In
dians. He relied on this promise; as also understand
ing Ihnl the law did not forbid the transportation of am- ,
munition to place it in depot, so as however, not (o
distribute il till the promised request would have been
granted. His reason for so acting is this: he could
bring up his provisions only once in the year, and by
neglecting lo bring (hem up at present, he could not
gel them till next summer consequently, his Indians
could nol enjoy, till about the end of nexl year, tin
permission which will undoubtedly be granted them
at the beginning of winter, on the earliest sillings P
the Legislature; which would cause a delay of nearly
a year to those Indians, most of whom depend upon
their ammunition lo provide for their subsistancc: f his
was deserving the attention of the Missionary. It is to
be observed, that the ammunition, which lias been
sent, is to be distributed among six Missions, viz: the
Flalheads, Ihe Kalispcls, the Cceurs d'Aleines, the
Okanagans, those of Colville and those of New Cale
donia, z.
MEDICAL SOCIETY.
At a meeting of the members of the medical profes
sion, held at Oregon City on the 19th insl., pursuant to
previous notice, Dr. P.Welsh was appointed chairman,
and Dr. F. Prigg, Secretary when the object of the
meeting being explained and sundry remarks made, it
was
Resolved, That it is deemed expedient to form a med
ical society in Oregon, wiose object shall be the pro
motion or the science of medicine, and Ihe individual
improvement of its members from the expressed expe
rience of each other thereby inculcating a feeling of
good will and fraternity among the profession ; and for
the purpose of advancing these desirable objects, the
members of the medical profession generally, through
out Oregon, are respectfully invited to co-operate, and
meet at Oregon City on the 3d Saturday, of September