X
VOL. XVIII.
OREGON PIONEER HISTORY.
SKETOnEB OF EARLY DAYS. ---MEN AND
TIMES IH TUE FORTIES.
DY B. A CLARKE.
Cop-rljlit applied for. All right) rtMrr-d.
. NUMDF.lt XVI.
FUR COMPANY METHOD.
Tho cnrly history of tho fur companies
ir a record of bad management nud
bloody acta. Sometimes tho whites in
cited snvago vengonnco by reckless acts
oti their part, but the lima tlnnlly came,
undor Dr. McLoughlin's ndministrntion,
when a politic courso wns established
and tho influence, of tho Hudson's Hay
Company was supremo over tho wholo
region. In tho sprint; tho business of
trapping was given over. Tho furs wcro
best in tho winter season. Then nuturo
hrul clothed its myrind ot wild-wood
wards with their warmest covering, nnd
tho furs that human comfort and fashion
made n market for by coveting, had thoir
longest, ilnost nnd strongost fi!cr.
Spring is tho time when all fur bearing
creatures shed off their winter garments
anil tako on a lighter growth, suited to
tho soason. That, too, was tho timo
when tho employes of tho fur company
gathered their year's stock of poltry nnd
carried thorn to headquarters. Thoro
was art and skill in tho management of
this business, nnd advancement in tho
servico depended on tho nbility shown to"
conduct business wisoly. Judging of tho
valuo of furs was a lino art, nnd caring
for them, bailing nud packing thorn and
getting them safely to Vancouver was
important. So whon wiii'or wn over,
tho distant hunter nud trappers brought
in thoir stock to tho chiof nf their dis
tricts, who carefully examined nnd baled
thorn in convention packages for trans
portation. Wo can suppose that over
tho wido territory that tho trapper or
hunter roamed a universal movomont
was mndo towards tho local contors.
Each man whon ho mndo his report to
his support, also gavo astntcmentof tho
goods nnd supplies ho would individti
ally rcouiro for tho year to como. Tho
ngont in charge then sent down n run
ncr to carry word to hoadqunrtcrs of his
doings in general, and sent also, tho re
quisitions of all tho employes in his dis
trict for tho cmning yoar. Ho alto for
wnrded his personal requisition for indi
vidual requhoments, and an oidor for
such supplies nslio expected to make
moof in trading for furs during tho
coming yonr. It was u enso of giving to
them that have, and taking away from
thoso that havo nothing, for the chief
factor nt Vancouver mndo tho supplios
sonl correspond to tho business done,
nnd not to tho wishes or viows of tho
agent. Success was tho criterion. Tho
successful agent received a full supply
of goods, nnd vico vorsn.
At Vancouver thoy wcro busy for
months putting up tho various requisi
tions that enmo from u region a thous
and miles square. Thero was an nccount
kept with every man employod, and no
supplios wore sent at any other tiuio
than whon tho summer brigades went
homo. Each man's order was carefully
put up nnd sowed in a wrapcr ready to
go buck when tho timo came. All tup
plies for diflerent posts wore packed and
invoiced to them, By this timo tho
brigades enmo down tho river and their
was pleuty of other work to bo done.
Such perfect Bystcm provailed that no
mistakes could happon.
Colvillo was an important post and
was tho upper station on tho Columbia.
At that point tho battcaux wero built.
Skilled workmen wero employed building
these boats. They wero "clinker built,"
so as to mount a wave instead of diving
into it. This mndo it possible to descend
a rapid nnd not bo sucked into its vor
tex. Theso baits wero sawed out by
band just in the desired shape. They
wore made of excellent yellow pino and
SALEM, OREGON, FRIDAY,
wero very serviceable. Thceo men built
ten or twclvo battcaux every year, and
thoy wero ulways ready when tho sum
mer brigado wanted to start. It was
usual to timo this expedition to suit tho
early rising ot tho Columbia. l)y Juno
tho great river would bo booming. Then
tho pack-loads of vnluablo furs would
arrlvo from tho northern posts. There
wero several districts far nwny on tho
Frnser, in Now Caledonia and nt
Thompson's river. Whon all tho goods
wcro packed and ready nt Colville tho
fleet of battoaux started down stream.
Tho occasion was ono ot lifo and jolity.
Tho crows wcro voyngoui's from Canada.
Desidos Canadians and half-breeds thorn
would bo stalwart Iroquois Indians from
Canada also, strong follows who woro
thoroughly at homo in swift rapids.
Theso men wero used as bowsracn. They
stood in tho bow, paddlo in hand, to
wnrd ofT from dangerous objects and by
signals given thoy mndo tho steersman
know how to guide tho boat. It was a
striking sight to see this fleet of boats
with its outro navigators nt helm and
bow, starting down somo swift rapid.
Tho tawny-skinned bowsman an Iro
quois stripped to tho waist and bare
headed, with long back hair streaming
behind, built like an athlcto and evory
musclo strained, dashes his oar in on this
sido or tho other to givo tho boat olear
headway through tho boiling floods.
At tho mouth of tho Okanogan river
thoy laid in n groat part of their etirgo.
Hero tho pack train camo in from tho
northern districts, which wcro rich in fur
bearing animals. At tho mouth of
Wnlln Wnlln river was Fort Wnlln
Wnlln, to whioh enmo heavy shipmontH
from Snnko river, as well as from tho
Snako Indian country far south. Dy
this timo their loads woro nearly com
plete, nnd from thoir down it was n homo
stretch. Tho boldest Iroquois bowemen
would not daro to pns tho Bwift and
narrow Dalles. Thero thoy mndo port
ages to insuro safety. Also for a sort dis
tance nt tho Cascades thoy mailo a port
ngo ; but many of tho swift rapids they
shot with arrowy spocd, their adroit
bow8incn nnd steersmen being nerved to
tho work. Onco below tho Cascades it
was but a few hours run to Vnncouver.
Tho wholo brigado was nlivo to tho fact
that tho prima momont of tho wholo
year was upon thorn. Everything was
put in ordor, nnd whon headquarters
finally enmo in sight they plumed them
reives for tho supremo ovent of thoir nr
rival. Forming ono broad front they
kept in perfect lino, and bonding to their
onrs, scut thoir Canadian loat eong
chorus over tho watory way to nnnounco
their coming. They firod guns and
shouted wild huzzas nnd tho chorus of
their 60ug grow to n wilder harmony.
On shore, when they suw tho flout of
battcaux coming, tho shout went up,
"T.io Summer Brigndo! Tho Summer
Urigado!" From tho flog-staff tho gor
geous ensign of St. Gcorgo soon floated,
and tho great guns in tho ba-tious roar
ed out their noisiest welcome. If thero
was any vessel in thorivornt that time,
it joined in tho general jubileo; flags
wero hoisted nnd cannons roared when
ever possible. All recognized that this
was tho greatost ovont of all tho year;
thu fruition of many hopes, for this con
voy brought homo tho total product of
tho yeur gono by. Over nil tho wido in
terior mountain rango.-, and nil tho
beaver-haunted streams mountain mou
and Indians had braved fato and tho
oloments to gather tbess spoils for
fashion's use. That was all tho use
civilization then had for a region that
has sinco proved very rich in precious
ores ; that is furnishing bread for tho old
world millions; whero flocks nnd herds,
worth uncounted millions, replaco tho
buffalo and oik nnd deer, and homes of
a million people will toon mako tho
wilderness forgotten unil leavo no traco
of tho dusky tribes that tlion possessed
it.
A half century lias scarce gono, and
now wo nro trying to savo n record of tho
bravo nnd hnrdy men nud tho uoblo wo
men who first occupied nnd laid tho
foundntion for American rule Already
tho past has grown historic nnd tho pio
neer must bo rescued from oblivion.
Tho Juno nrrivnl of tho stimmor bri
gado brought together nil tho chief
agents of tho Hudson's Day Company,
Thoy camo down with their goods and
wcro on board tho battcaux ns nil tho
throng from tho port enmo down to wel
come them It was in n certain sonso n
holiday, but no senso of jollity over
enmo between Dr. McLoughlin and
business. Tho wclcomo was full and
hcariy, but as friend mot friend and
hand grasped hand and greetings wcro
interchanged, tho balos wcro rapidly
put nshoro nud carriod to tho storohouso
not far nwny. It was only whon this
work wns dono nnd every puckngo was
accounted for as invoiced nud safoly
stored, that tho pint of liquor was pour
ed out at tho "depot" to tho bravo voyo
gcurs, nnd thoy boenmo "as jolly ns
lords." There wns no chnnco tnkon that
should become so besoro tho work wns
all done.
And now commenced tho pleasant
hours that still leavo such cheerful
associations in tho minds of nil thoso who
survivo of Hint rcmnrkublo sot of men
who composed tho officials of tho Hud
son's Bay Company. Thoy wero usually
highly oducntcd nnd nccomplishod, and
often as brilliant us well. Somo of thoso
gentlemen wero remnrkablo ns conver
sationalists, nnd very fow of thorn could
bo called mcroly plain nnd ordinnry
businoss men. It is said that J. Q.
Campbell and Hiram Clark brought
letters of introduction from Captain
Fremont to Dr. McLoughlin, nnd woro
entertained very ploasantly at Fort
Vancouver in conscquonco. Thoy camo
as far ns Whitman's with Fremont, and
ns they wero coming down to Western
Oregon ho gavo thorn nn introduction to
Dr. McLoughlin, who showed them nil
kindness nnd hospitality, and sont thorn
to tho falls of tho Willnmctto in n
battcaux. Both Cnmpbell nud Clnrk wcro
accomplished gentlemen, nnd thoy havo
often oxpressod surprise that mon of
such flno education and trim breeding
could bo found to livoin such n wildor
no. What a joyous timo thero must havo
been when thnt cotcrio of wit nnd earn
ostness enmo togothor for thoso weoks
nt Vancouver. How ns ono nnolhcr
told tho story of his ycer' expciicnees,
nnd at times humor gavo way to p.ithos
n tho recital win of somo tragic ur pa
thetic deed, of which tho oarly epoch
know so ninny. Let in take n brief
glauco nt tho principal ones in n short
roviow, only wishing that somo writer
with u hotter btoro of facts could bo
found to do justico to tho theme.
Dr. McLaughlin had groat system in
nil business mutton1, but outside of bus
iness, whero his great qualities earned
such suro succosh, McLaughlin wns n
ino-t cnjoyahlo num. All things went
Inittor for his being noar mid his pres
ence insured cheerfulness nnd humor.
Ho wns finely educated nnd that in
creased his capacity for conferring
plonsure. All who woro in his society
wcro charmed with tho gonial flow uf
wit and humor, his pleasant inn n nor,
and his kind interest in their fortunes.
Ho becined to identify himsolf with
them, nnd gavo all who enrno to him ox
collont nnd rcliablo information and
ndvico. Withal ho wns it very devout
Catholic, and no ono can question thu
sincerity of his belief. Ho had a rather
comical way of using mild profanity
and thou interrupting with self con
demnation, would beg God's forgiveness
boforo tho words woro cold, making tho
sign of tho cross on his bread-basket in
a laughable way, yet with nil possiblo
sincerity. With such ninan ns lender,
dullness could never thrive.
Evory year Governor Simpson used
to como over from London to attend a
APRIL 30, X88.
groat council nt Hod Ilivor, to which
woro gathorcd a congress of nil tho ofll
cial hoads of tho Hudson Day company.
It was n timo ot great fensting and jol
ity us woll ns of business importance
Dr. McLaughlin could not go, butusunl-
ly sent somo ono to represent him nnd
tho department ho ruled.
Up to tho timo our Bottlers organized
n provisional govornmont thoro was no
other rulo hero in tho Pacific far west
than tho arbitrary regulations of thnt
company. Dr. McLaughlin was tho
autocrat of all tho Pacific Northwest,
nnd thero was no law but his word.
What nn opportunity, thnt, for ono man
to bo a tyrant ; yol thero is no ovldonco
thnt in nil tho yonrs ho wns chief factor
that ho over oxeccdod rightful and leg
itimnto discipline.
As tho bends of tho department gath
orcd at ItctI IHvor, so thoso in charge of
districts camo togothor ovory summer
nt Vnncouvor. Tho mon wo hnvo
unmod nnd porhnps othors, wero as
sembled with their year's collection of
peltries nnd furs to sottlo for ono cam
paign nnd plan for nnothcr.
Wo hnvo shown whnt sort of meu
thoy wero, how accomplished nnd ca
pable, how full of kindnosa and humor,
nnd who can doubt thnt thoir annual
meetings wcro a delightful oxchnugo
from tho dull commonplace of duty on
tho fnr outskirts to companionship full
of lifo nnd spirit. As timo wont on,
thoso men bccanio moro united nud
friendly, for they remained here, receiv
ing desorved promotion for many n year.
Dr. McLaughlin wns nt tho bond of
affairs for twenty years, and nil thnt
timo his word wns supremo. Thero was
serious complaint mado against him
but not for ofllcial noglcct. It was that
ho was too friondly to American emi
gration. His great kindness to Amor
icans was urged against him as nn
orror, if not n crlm", nnd was tho final
causa of his resignation from tho Hud
son Bay service.
Bouthweitern Oreion an InvlUnc flsld'For
Immigration.
Wii.DEitvu.i.K, Or., April 21, 1880.
IMitor Willamette Farmer:
Knowing that you takn much interest
in tho wolfaro of tho immigrant nnd
dosiro to aid in locating in a pleasant
and desirable part of this great and iioblii
State. I would call your, and others
attention to Southwestern Oregon, in
Josephine eounty,asan inviting fluid in
which to secure cheap farms, and also
inducements for cottiers to locate govern
mont laud in this imtucdiuto vicinity.
Hoping to havu tho plcnsuio in assisting
strangers to locate among us, I will fiooly
givo my timo in to aiding them. '
M.S. Dean.
To IIoiuoyo Mcis from Treei, Etc.
Dexter, April 20, 188(5.
I'Mitor Willninitto Fanner:
In tho Farmer of April 0th, you ask
somo questions which I will try to ans
wer: I keep tho moss oft" tho fruit
trees by whitewashing with uwd.ickod
lime.
To piovent squirrels, mice and goph
ers from uatiug corn, I mjiiI; thu hiccJ,
nearly or quite to the Kpiouting point
in n solution of copperas. 1 havo plen
ty of scod corn which is well cultivated,
(white), and shall try n now early yellow
variety. Yours Truly,
S. M. 1
MARION COUflTY POMONA UKAHOC.
Marion County PomoniiGraiign meets
nt Jefferson, in Chehullpum Grange
hall, on Friday, May 7th, at 11 o'clock
a. M. All Uli degree members ot ttio
ordor nro cordially invited to attend,
and tho representatives of tho eubordi
nato Oranges aro earnestly solicited to
bo present. Secretary.
Thoso who havo used tho Do.ss Zino
and Leather Collar Pads and A.nicli:
Hoots say they nro tho best and cheap
est, bocnusQ most durable Thoy will
last n lifo time. Sold by Harness makers
on CO days' trial. Dexter Curtis, Mad
ison, Wi.
NO. 13.
SPRING OUTLOOK.
Under this head tho Springfield, Mass.
Boptibliean nt n recent dnto says :
Tho situation in regard to brendstuffs
has become somewhat interesting on ac
count of tho March statement of tho de
partment of agriculture. On last Thurs
day, for Instance, tho Now York Com
mercial Bulletin showed thnt ns wo had
exported but 10,080,000 bushols of whent,
including flour, In seven months, wo
should probably carry over nftor July 1,
over 80,000,000 bushols of tho Inst very
short crop. Tho ostimnto of tho govern
ment statistician wns mndo public tho
samo morning, namoly, that tho far
mers now hold HO per cont. of tho whoat
crop, th.U is, 107,000,000 bushols ; add to
this tho visibly supply in storo March 1,
52,000,000, nnd tho country hns 150,000,
000 bushels of wheat to livo on till noxt
Angust. The consumption of thocountry
is estimated nt 21,000,000 n month,
amounting in livo months to 120,000,000
bushols ; spring wheat seed will roquiro
nbout lG.OOO.OOO, loaving less than 25,
000,000 bushols for export nud for
margin.
Tliis would bo nn unprecedented
situation, for tho country novor carries
ovor from crop to crop less thnn 38,000,
bushols, which wns tho margin in 1882.
whon whoat was hold nt $1.-12 nt tho
close of tho season, nud in tho fnco of a
Inrgo crop. Tho exports from Atlantic
ports nlouo during 1-obruary woro 3,700,
000 bushels, or not quite n million n
week. Thoy hnvo boon only n million in
two weoks in March.
Tho bull etntomont of tho enso is that
tho county will bo bare of wheat to a
wholly unprecedented degreo boforo
August 1st, Thin viow socms to havo
impressed tho British markets, as Lon
don nud Liverpool hnvo responded to nn
ndvnnco on this sido tho past week, for
tho first timo sinco this crop wns liar
vostcd. Tho British nvcrngo prico for
tho week ending February 20, was 2!)
shillings four penco, tho lowest over
recorded. But oven with tho abundant
native supply, tho British requirement
from foroign sources has averaged 1,
000,000 bushels a wook, for 25 weeks.
Thoro is ouo fact which should moder
nto Amoricau exceptions, and that is,
that is, that a great country is difficult
to exhaust on tho home stretch. But
evon adding a liliernl percent to tho
ofllcial cstimrto of tho present total sup
ply of tho douutry, it would seem un
avoidable that wheat should rulo con
siderably higher in tho next fow months.
Foroign ndvicos nf tho Itussinn supply
aao thnt it is very short. Tho prosont
American visible supply is declining, and
docs not very much from that of a year
ago, when tho samo ports aro included.
At thu present timo according to tho
government rUiiMiuhm, wo hnvo just
about Mld and eaten tho entire last
yar's crop, and nro nowy read to attack
ilm xiirplus left ovor from tho crop of
1881.
Geo. Stnrrotl'd Walla Wnlln garden,
flower, giam, tree, and hedgo seeds aro
pre-eiuiuoutly tho best for this section.
A m it it t not often thought of, but which
is impoitaut to the planter, is that seeds
grown in a northern climate havo inoro
vigor, nud moro certain to prodticn iv
crop, and mature o.irlier tuaii those
raised further south ; this, only nn opin
ion nt firnt by somo leading agriculturist,
has of recent years been thoroughly es
tablished us a fact, nud acknowledged
now as tho rulo in all classes of reeds
Mr. Stnrrctt guarantees ilmt all vegeta
bio suds hold by him mo fresh nud true
to name, nnd grown from tho choicest
refaction of vegetables.
In Saloiu thoso mmhIh aro sold by
Sqiiiio Farmr fc Co., Keller it Sons, Jno.
Hughes, Wellor Jinn., Both it Hupp,
W. I. Wade, Al. Buckingham, Gilbert
A Patierxon, nud J. M. Mnitin & Co.
John G. Wright is tho goneral agont
for wt'nloiii Oiegnn and Washington
territory; and full doalers should ad
dress him for Mipplic. Ho retails (hem
at his pioneer grocery stoie, in Saloni.
Wo want 100,000 p-nunls of wool,
Win. Brown t Co., denlors in Boots nnd
Shoes and Leather. Tho highest wico
paid for hides, jxdls and furs, 231 Com
morcinl street, Salem, Oregon.
Wo Tell You Positively
that Simmons Liver Regulator will rid
you of dyspepsia, purify your system,
euabloyou to sleep well, provent malarial
dWouttu und givo you a brisk and vigorous
feeling. It acts directly on tho liver nnd
kidneys, demising, purifying, invigorat
ing nud fortifying thu system against
dieouvo. It will bruuk up chills and
fever nud prevent their return, nnd is a
complete antidote to all malarial poison
yet entirely free from calomel or
quinine.