The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-02-08
The Late Do.aId M,Kemxse.


10 do il justice. His life full of wild adven-
ture, romantic scenes and thrilling Incidents.
Washington Irving, in his Astoria, has in his owa
happy style, narrated Few of these, while in on.
of the most important transactions OF his life, re-
lative TO the betrayal OF Astoria, he has done him
great, but undoubtedly Undersigned injustice. To
him, and him alone, was Mr.. Astor indebted for
all that was saved from the ruin which treason
wrought.
( l7S3 In March, 1901, he left his paternal man
sion, to carve out for himself his own fortunes, re-
! ceivipg for his patrimony mothers prayers and q
meiheT's bltss.ng.
When only seventeen, thrown upon his own re-
sources, he soon showed himself eqaal to the task.
He came over into Canada and JoiHed himself TO
the North West Company, and continued with
them in the fur trade for elgh. years Within this
| period his health partially gave way under the
severe privaiions to which he was subjected, ana
he revisited his native land, with view to the re-
gaining OF his heath-and when 1t was regamed,
returned once more TO his hazardous but chosen
leld of duty.
About the year 1909, he became one OF the part
ners of John Jacob Astor, ia the establishment OF
the fur trade west Of the Rocky Mountains. In
company with Mr.. Hunt, of st. Louis, Mr.. Nc
Kenzie made the overland route to the mouth of
the Coumbia, thus raversing the Continent from
oce an to ocean, feat then seldom attempted, and
full Of penl.
He continued in this trade until the surrender Of
Astoria TO the British, by Mr. McDougal, during
the war with England As he could not avert that
catastrophe, he bent all his energies To the
utmost from the wreck, and converting ythlng
possible into available funds, he carried them safe
ly, upon his person. through mighty wilderness
and hostile country, and caused them to be de-
liveTed TO Mr.. Aston
After the restoration of peace, he exerted him
sell to secure for the United States the exclusive
trade OF Ore gon, but after long negotiation with
Mr.. Astor, and through him with Messrs. Madison,
GallalU, and others, the matter Was abandoned
and Mr.. Mckenzie, in M trch 1921 joined the Hud-
sou Bay Company, and was Immediately appoin'ei
by that company MEMBER OF its council, and chiet
factor.
In August, 1925, he was married to Adelegonde
Ilumber, who still survives. shortly af.er, ne
Was appointed Governor of the Hudson Bay Com
psny. AT that time he resided at Fort Gary, TED
River settlement, where he continued to reside
until 1882, in active and prosperous business, and
amassing d large fortune.
In August ct the following year, he came to
side in the town of Mayville, where the residue OF
his life was spent. He leaves thirteen childrea
surviving by his present wife, and oae by former
one.
He was a good citizen, an homes, man. a kind,
conhding husband, and aHscliolate aad iujul-
gent father. All mourn his departure and honor
his memory.
from the jamestown IN. W journal
The part taken by Mr.. Mckenzie. II the North
Western Expedition fltttd out by Mr.. Astor, Was
IN important one and in the history written BY
Mr. living, many instances given OF the peril3
he encountered, and OF his endurance and personal
prowess in meeting them. One IN particular was
so remarkable that we are induced to copy 1t, IN
connection with the above obituary from the Sen-
ttaa.
After long series Of disasters the abandoa-
ment OF all hope OF aid from the United States,
and the arrival of news Of declaration Of war,
MIR. McDougal and Mckenzie hsld a consultation,
aud finally decided To abandon Astoria. The lat
ter, accompanied by TWO clerks, John Reed and
Alfred Seton, Of New York, oil for his post at
the Shahaptan, to get his goods from the caches,
and buy horses with them for the caravan across
the mountains. He was charged with des2aiches
to Messrs. Stuart and Clark, apprising them of the
intended migration, that they might make prepa-
ration
They embarked in two casoes, manned by seven
teen rien unt they arrived IN the eventual neigh
bofhood of the rapids. They made the portage Of
the narrows and the falls early in the afternoon,
aud having partaken OF scaniy meal, had nov
long evening on their hands.
On The opposite side OF tae river lay the vii
lage of Wisk-rdm, OF frsebooang renown. Here
lived the savsges who had robbed aud m ttreated
Reed, when bearing his TN box OF dispatches. IL
wus known thai the riiie of which he was desposl-
ed was retained as trophy al the yilage. Nc
kenze offered TO cross The liver, and demand the
rifle, If any one would accompany him. IL was
harbrainr Ell project, for these villages were noted
for the rufiian character OF their Inhabitants; yet
two volunteers promptly STEPPED iorward-Affed
; eton, the c. Ik and Joe de la Pierre, the cook.
The trio sool reached the opposite SIDE OF the
river. On landing, they freshly PINNED their rifles
and pistols. path winding for about hunarrf
yards among the rocks and crags, led Ia ta- VIII
lage. No notice seemed 10 be taken OF their az
preach, Not a solitary man, woman, or chtlt,
greeted them The very dogs, those noisy pests 81
an Indian town, kept silence Ca entering the VIII
lage, boy made his appearance, and poin,ed to a
house of larger dimensions than the rest. They
he'd 10 sioop to enter II. As soon as they had
passed the threshold, the narrow passage behind
them was filled by sudden rush OF lniiaus, wac
had before kept out OF sight.
Mckenzie aGd his com paninns found themselves
IN a rude chamber of abost twenty. i've feet long,
and twenty wide. brish, fire was blazing at oae
ond, near which sat the ebisl, about siNty years
old. A large number Of Indians, wrapped in buff
talo robes squetted - rows, three deep, form
ing semcirc!e round three SIDES OF the room. A
angle glance suihced to show them the grim an !
dangerous assembly into which they had int'uded,
End that al retreat was ca; OF by the mass Which
blocked up the entrance.
The ohlet POINTED to the yacan; side OF the room,
and motioned them to be seated. They compiled.
A dead pause ensued. Iae gum warriors SAT
around like statues-each mQ.iied in his ro6s,
with his fierce eyes bent on The in,rui,rs the
later iel that they were IN psrlous rredicament.
Keep your eyes on the cblet while | ann AZ
dressing him. said Mckenzie to his comp inioos.
should he give any .ign TO hiS band, shoot him,
ind make for tbe door"
Mckenzie advanced and offered the pipe Of pc ice
10 the chief; but IL was refused. he then made 4
regular speech explaining the object OF their visit.
and proposing TO give IN exchange tor the nile two
binnhets, an axe, come beads, aad tohacco.
WIN b" had done, the chief rose, began 20 al
dres him In low voice, but soon load dad violent.
aud ended by working himself inio furious pas
sion. lie ulbraldCd the white men for their sordid
conduct in passing and re.pdss,ng through their
n.igbborhooi, without giving thu olaaket or
any other article VI goods, merely because they
had no iurs 20 barter IN exchanges god he alluded,
with menaces Of vengeance, 10 the dsath OF the
lndiln kiiled ~ the whites, IN ths skifnsh al the
falls
Matters were verging Cgits. Il wa evidea.
the surrounding ssvdgts were Oniy waiting sls-
al from the chef, 9 spring upon the prey. Me-
herzie aad his comp 4Ht0ns had gr-ilsilY risca
on their feet duung the speech, aud brought taear
iles to = horizontal posisoa, the barrels resting
In their left hands, the muzze 81 bic cnzie' piece
was within three feet 81 THE speakers heart.
They cooked their rifles; The clics OF the locks for
a eioment suiu 80 the dark cheek OF ths savage,
aEd there was r. Alse. They cody, but promptly,
advanced to the Gaur; the Indians tell back IN awe.
sEd suffered them to pass. Toe sun was just set
iirg "a they emerged from this dangerous den
They took the precauiioa TO keep along the tops
Of the rocks as much "a possibe, On Their way
back 10 the canoe. and reached their camp in safe
W, cougratualing themselves on their escape, and
iccng 40 desire TO make second ylsit % the grn