VOL. XVIII.
OREGON PIONEER HISTORY.
8KBTCHES OF EARLY DAYS. MEM AN
TIMES IN THE FORTIES.
HY 8. A CLAHKE.
Copjrlyht applied tor. All right! rciervM.
NUMDKIt XXIII.
John Dunu, who was apprenticed to
the Hudson Day Company, ami was
eight years with that company in Ore
gon, wroto a volnmrion Oregon in 1811,
detailing the methods of thnt company,
nnd intended to establish its claim to
territory. This book is as radically
British as sonic others written about tho
sanio timo woro American, and possesses
interest nOw ns showing how tho violont
partisans on that sido looked at matters.
Ho detail! some incidonts worth porpot
uating, for inatanco, a vessel undor n
Captain Thompson, was in tho river
trading for furs nnd salmon nnd got
aground. Tho Indians mustered from
various quarters to attempt, its capture.
Tho Amoricans, thoy said, had given
thom cause nnd thoy wanted rovongo by
taking a ship of thnt nntion. Thoy sup
posed thnt tho Hudson's Day Company
would not objoct to having a rival in
trado removed, but Dr. McLoughlin
heard of their intontiou and dispatchod
n party to their camp to inform them
that to injuro an American would bo tho
samo to him as if thoy injured his
people. "This stunned thom and thoy
relinquished tholr purpose" Tho inci
dent shows Dr. McLoughlin in his trtto
light.
Dunn also tells thnt n party of Amori
cans was murdered on tho way to Cali
fornia, near tho lino no doubt meaning
tho Koguo Itivors. Thoy clnimod that
Americans had killed somo of their
people, and thus took rovcugc. This
may rclato to tho story Huwkshurst told,
given in a former paper, to account for
tho implacablo hatred of that tribe to
ward tho whitos. They trucked this
party for days, und finally ambushed
thom in n mountain tmil, whoro thoy
could not cscnpo or mako n defense.
Thoy killed horses nnd men, and thoy
woro slain unrosistingly. Two mou
survived of ull tho company. As ho tells
it, this party was going to California
from tho Willamette settlements to pur
chase cnttlo there. Ah it was told by
Lafrnmboific, who was in chnrgo of
Hudson's Bay Company trapping parties
in Southern Oregon ut that time, it was
probably truo. But it would seem that
if ouch n massacre happoncd it would
havo bocu given in accounts of tho
early settlors. Tho Indians loarned some
way that this party consisted of Ameri
cans only. It is possible thoy may have
gotten this information from Laframboiso
or somo of his men. How else? Thoy
might havo given that information with
out knowing tho uso to bo inado of it,
though it must havo bocu known to them
that all Americans lay undor tho ban of
Koguo River hostility.
Tho only dato wo find in Dunn's book
is on tho titlo page. It was printed in
1811, butho doos not tell what tho years
were when ho sorved tho Hudson Bay
Company. Ho gives n description of
Wapato island (Sauvio's) and of tho
Willametto settlement. It would seem
that ho was thcro from 1835 to 1813.
Ho describes tho falls of tho Willametto
and soys the company was preparing to
orect n mill there. Tho Willamette
settlements were about fifty miles up
from tho Columbia. Dunn's prejudice
is amusingly diplayod in tho following
description: "The Americans mako a
great boast of this ecttlomont as an
American establishment, and .speak of
it in their public papers and speeches as
if it wero a settlement exclusively Ameri
can, and founded by Americans, capable
of being made tho nuclous of a great
community ; that it is a most thriving
colony ; that it continues the right of
possession to tho government of tho
States; that it owes no favor to and is
independent of tho Hudson Bay Com
SALEM, OREGON, FRIDAY,
pany; and thoro it stands, nnd will
stand a memorial of American right;
that it is tho duty of tho American
govornmont to protect it whilo it holds
out every inccntlvo to industrious and
ontcrprising citizens to "join it," All
this nnd much moro has been said nnd
written by gSBCondndlng traders on tho
passion nnd weakness of the populaco
about this vaunted establishment, nnd
hns been bolioved.
Ho spoaks bitterly of American pro
judico ngninst "Britishers" nnd says.
"Much of this misrepresentation nnd
exaggerating nonsenso hns ben believed,
too, in Kngland, simply because tho
public could not imagine that statements
so pertinaciously roitcrntod could bo
without at least some foundation." Mr.
Dunn announces in his profneo thnt he
proposes "to convoy a fairer nnd moro
concentrated impression than nil the
American factious books chat havo bcon
published on tho subject."
In tho prcfaeo ho also says: "I was,
from my knowledge of those Amoricans
that trado on tho coast or had squatted
in tho southwestern part of Oregon, or
havo Intoly bcon employed by tho com
pany as trappors, prepared to hoar any
monstrous assumptions of right set forth
by tho American populace, through their
loco foco organs of tho pross," etc. No
ono can doubt that John Dunn ontored
on his work with an impartial spirit who
reads his preface, to say nothing of tho
book.
His own account of Willamette settle
ments is given thus : "About sqvcntoen
or eightoen years ago, whon tho settle
ment at Vancouvor, as tho western head
quarters of tho company, acquired a dis
tinguished ond very prominont position,
and bocamo tho rallying point for all
tho servants of tho company, far and
noar ; whon thosurroundingcountry bo
canio well explored ; whon from the long
and indisputed possession of it by tho
company it bognn to Ikj considered by
tho company's servants as British land
British, too, as to its cliniato and tho
capabilities of tho soil somo of tho
company's ecrvonts, whon thoy had de
termined to enjoy tho tranquility of
independent retirement nftor their long
and arduous services, fixed on tho
banks of the Willamette as thoir last
placo of residence, rather tuan return to
Canada, or Scotland, or England, from
which thoy wero weaned by long absence.
The company gavo every encourage
ment for tho formation of a fotllomont,
giving thom stock, etc., to 6tart with."
Ho goes on to specify that McKay
mado him a farm there, and a number
of othora oponcd farms without dissolv
ing thoir relations with tho company.
By aid of tho frco trappers word spread
to tho Stntos about this colony, and tho
company decidedly encouraged it.
Then ho resumes! "Tho Americans,
who had already mado many attempts
at a lodgomcnt in tho country, but on
overy occasion failed, cithor from thoir
want of skill, or of capital, or of integrity
in thoir dealings with tho natives
whether thoy attempted fur trading
companies or fishing companies having
never seen that n fair opportunity of
socuring a possession was opou to them
under tho company's shelter, bethought
thom of dispaothing missonnries, with
tho ostonsiblo and benevolent view of
giving religious culturo to tin rudo and
ill-educated eorvants of the company
and the denizens of this growing little
community."
"A few missionaries did arrive, and
they, as becoming their professed pur
pose, received every encouragement and
favor from tho governor of Fort Van
couver Dr. McLoughlin and, as becumo
their truo purpose, commenced resident
farmers, torching, it is true, the natives
tho great elements of Christianity and
forms of prayer, but using their gra
tuitous labor for the cultivation of their
fields. These missionaries did not hido
their lamp under a bushel; but on tho
contrary proclaimed thoir light before
nil men, nnd tout to tho States flattering
uccounts of thoir success. Tho conse
quence was that somo adventurors with a
litllo property woro induced to brave the
perils of tho long and formidable
journey leaving millions of moro fortilo
acres nt home, requiring less capital
nnd labor for cultivation to tho Orogon.
Somo of thesa Bottlers camo in their real
character ns farmers, but thoy were very
few. Others camo in tho guiso mission
aries its their predecessors. Men who
gave n littlo preaching as an equivalent
for much bodily labor pcrformod by tho
native converts. Some of thom havo
located themselves in other districts and
thoro are, by American writers, given tho
most pompous accounts accounts, to
thoso who aro ncquaintod with tho real
facts, sometimes laughable and some
times calculated to c.xcito indignation
nnd disgust of American sentiments."
When I was stationed at Vancouvor nnd
in tho detached forts and in tho trading
ships, tho excessively benovolcnt oncour-
ngoment granted by tho governor to tho
now importation of American rosidcntB,
undor tho designation of missionary
settlors, usod to ho freely discussed.
Thcro were two parties, tho "patriot"
ana tuo "liberal." i no arguments pro
and con, may bo summed up thus : The
British or patriots, maintained that tho
govornor was too chivalrously generous
thnt his generosity was thrown away
would bo badly requited that he was
nursing n race of men who would by
and by riso from their meek nndhumblo
position as tho grateful nckuowledgors
of his klndnoss into tho bold attitude of
questlonors of his own authority, and
tho British right to Vancouvor itolf.
This party groundod their arguments on
an appeal to the, conduct and character
of tho Americans whom thoy had been
ospccially tho frco trappers, and tho
romnnnts of American companies, which
still dodged nbont tho country. They
did, too, tako into account tho mission
aries who woro then iriod, and who, of
course, did everything in thoir power to
conciliate, nt thoir first appenranco on
such n new slnse, tho good opinion of
thoso whoso applause or condemnation
could rotain, or expel them from tho
scene of their labors nnd prosecls.
had a very lively feeling for tho improve
ment of the Indians in all tho arts of
civilization, and thought that if any at
tempts woro mado for tho eonvordon
of the. natives to Christianity and to
their adoption of moro humanized in
stitutions (which thoy limited to British
institutions) a solid and permanent
foundation should bo laid the Indians
should not bo instructed by halves a
thoroughly lasting system should bn
adopted towards them, which would
mako thom not moroly profescod but
practical Christians."
leaving oir considerable that Dunn
says in this same strain wo look for a
moment at his so-callod philosophic or
liberal party. Ah to tho American lynch
law, nnd othor usages which woro ropug
mint to justico and humanity, thoy wero
rather exceptions to tho American code
than examples of American principles of
legislation, which in commercial and
civil matters was, generally speaking,
just and humane, and from which even
British legislation derived tome useful
hints."
So it appears that Dr. MoLoughliu
wab Kiveroly criticised for kindness to
Americans, and disputos raged high
concerning his conduct. It is amusing
to sco how truly bigoted and British tho
subordinates could bo whilo their chief
was proring hirasolf to bo all that was
humano and big-hearted entirely above
reel or nationality in his conduct to
wards lib fellow mon. Whon wo look
at all the ciroumstances that surrounded
and attended him, how nohloa specimen
of manhood he presents, and how
necessary it appears that his memory
shall be handed down in tho annals of
timo exactly as ho wa. Wo have heard
our friend John Minto assert that ho felt
JUNE 25, 1886.
that his life was better worth tho living
becauso ho know Dr. McLoughlin, for
ho was ono of tho noblest men it had
ever been his fortune to meet. Minto
had many and familiar occasions to
know him without disguise ; he person
ally experienced his kindness, and was
tho inodium of its own bostownl upon
others.
Mr. Dunn says that Willametto farms
weic of nil sorts', roprcscntod by tho log
huts of somo nnd comfortable homes of
others. McKay hnd n farm there and
had .built n grist mill that cost $10,000.
Ho quotes Lieutenant- Wilkos of tho ex
ploring expedition. Ho found sixty
families thoro nnd was disappointed
not to find many more from reports
mado to him. Dunn rojoiccs over this
nnd figures upon it thus: "Ho says tho
number of families wore sixty not moro
Of these, many were British subjects,
So that tho number of subjects of the
I'nilcd States wero inconsiderable. Tho
American missionaries wero merely
speculntivo small farmers. All tiro not
thriving, but only tho industrious."
Dunn goos off thou into n rnpsody
based on his hopo that thoro aro not
Americans ouough to croato any permit
ncnt Bontimont. Poor Dunn I Thnt was
whon a few stragglers and somo mission
dries nnd lay members wero In that
vicinity. Evidently Whitman had not
piloted through tho emigration of '13.
How his virtuous soul must havo been
racked Moro this pnragon of ti book
hnd earned n titlo page, to know that
Americans hnd mado thom a wagon road
across tho continent nnd wero coming
to Oregon by thousands!
In- Farnham, who whirled through
Oregon in tho course of his journoy
round tho world in 1830, Mr. Dunn finds
"a rampant anti-Britisher." Ho likes
him for ono thing, because ho denies
that tho soil of Oregon Is equal to Call
fornianrtho Mississippi valley. Hois
jealous of any Amoricau who would my
a word to induco omigrnnts to come
hero from "tho States."
It seems' that n coitnin "Captain
Young" was not on good terms with tho
Hudson's Bay Company, and as thoy
would not sell him elothiutr hu had to
go naked or clnthoJiiiiiM-'f in skins,
This was prolui'lylldwin Young, who
camo overland front California and
afterwards biougbt cattle through from
that State to Oregon. Young said a false
report prevailed that ho had committed
dishonorable nets in California, and
alleged that as the ciuiso-of this peculiar
treatment, or they might object lx-causo
hu purchased a few beaver skins. Dunn
Bays j "Tho company, ho long us this
men conducted himsolf properly as a
frco trader, gavo him every assistance.
Of this allowed dishonorable conduct
(though report to his discredit wero
circulated confidently about him by his
own countrymen) tho company took no
cognizance. Thoy judged ns they had
oxporionoj. Tho company intordicted,
nil through thoir range pf oporations in
Oregon, the uso of spirituous liquors as
an article of trade among the natives,
from n knowledge of its injurious effects
upon them; or as an nrticlo of goneral
uso or luxury among their sorvants.
Young, thinking a trado in spiiits would
bo a good speculation, set up a distillery
and liegan to induco uotonly tho natives
but also tho tenants of tho company, to
deal with him, Whon the company ox
prosed their disapproval of this and
other proceedings ho commenced an
agitating rourno among tho settlors nnd
defied the company,. Tho company thou
quietly left him to his own resources."
That was tho explanation of tho Young
difficulty, and nil right-thinking minds
will agrto that Dr. McLoughlin was
faiily cxcusablo when ho left Young "to
his own resources."
Mr. Dunn afterwards was stationed
on tho north coast, but ho carried there
tho great and abiding prejudico ho had
cultivated against Amoricuns. Thcro ho
often met American trading vessels, but
NO. 20.
ho declares that thoy lacked honor in
their dealings. It is actually nbsurd to
fee tho extreme to which his British
tendencies nrc carried. He was under
Mr. Mnnon, who afterwards becamo an
American citizen and sottlod in tho
abused (by Dunn) Willnmotto settle
ments. It wns while ho was trader for tho
company on tho northern waters thnt
Mr. Dunn ami Finlnyson, chlof factor
mndo a very important discovery of a
rich eonl mine. Tho natives saw coal
burning in the blacksmith's furunco that
camo from Kngland, and asked about
itB uses in a very especial manner.
When they heard that It was brought
oil tho way from Kngland thoy lost their
hlbitual gravity, laughod and capered
about. Sut prised at theso uncommon
antics, woro told in explanation thnt the
Indians had changed tholr opinion of
King (leorgo's men since they brought
such common looking stud' so far.
Thoy were told thnt it was tho best fuel
known, and especially for working iron.
Thnt mndo tho Indians cut up worao
than ever. Thoy lauglud immodoratoly,
and passed jokes from ono to nnother,
laughing meanwhile. So tho whites de
manded to know what tho fun was all
about, and ono of tholr chiefs, putting
on n solemn visago,sald: "Wo havo sup
posed that tho whites aro omlowod with
wisdom by tho great spirit as to all great
and useful objocts, but wo havo changed
our opinions sineo the great spirit per
mits him to bring that black soft stone
such a groat distance to a country whoro
it abounds." They then took thom to
where coal cropped out on tho surface,
requiring very littlo labor to dig it, and
of excellent quality. Thoy received
orders from Vancouvor to dig enough to
answer the company's tucs, and gavo tho
Indians a job to furnish it as wanted.
Thnt account describes tho way coal
was first discovered on Vancouver's
stand. Tho faith the savages lost in tho
.vhites becauso they didn't know hotter
than to "bring coals to Newcastle," was
howovor regained when they saw tho
littlo trading steamer Beaver imvi
gate tho sound and inlet waters, travel
ing on tho strength of tholr newly dis
covered coal. They s.iid tho groat spirit
must have told ihoui how to mako it he
oauso it could il-i i very thing but talk.
That occurred, very probably, in tho
y-.ir IHM3, and wo find that date in the
hu'ti-c ding chapter. '
n . - . i . i C-
Bonis Bo Notts.
Mii.waukii:, Juno '21, 188C.
K '' -r Willamette Farmer:
As a pruvoutlvo for good health among
bees never tako honey from tho brood
department at tho boo hive.
long life to tho apiarist; suit your
bees.
To prevent foul brood do not uso the
extractor in tho brood department, and
kcop tho hive chock full of boes.
To prevent swarming allow no drone
brood comb in tho hivo,
Tho winter problem of Orogon 1st
Don't rob your bees, but leave thom
plenty of honoy in tho homo. Itusx.
Pomona Grants.
Sai.km, Juno tiu, 1880.
Kditor Willamette Farmer:
Marion .County I'umoua Grange will
meet in tho Orange Hall in this city,
Thursday, July 1, 1880, at 11 o'clock a.
m. All membors of tho order aro in
vited. E. Stiio.no, Hco'y.
Appropos of tho sumtnor' sporting
season comes an illustrated paper on
"Salmon Fishing" in tho July Harper'.
Honry 1 Wells, tho writer, is nn ac
knowledged authority on fishing and
hunting, nnd his holnful advico is ac
companied with an account of his own
exploits with Canadian salmon.
Tho soothing and ro"torativo efi'octs of
Ayer's Cherry Pectoral aro realized in
ull canos of colds, coughs, throat or lung
troubles, whilo its powerful hoallng
qualities aro shown in tho mast sorioiii
pulmonary disordots.