Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1861-03-02

chusctts, who had sent his Adjutant-
General to bid them welcome. A splcn-
did banquet was prepared, Of which a
numerous company Of guests partook,
and after an interchange of courteous
hospitality, the prince with Captain
Gray retired. A few months after,
the ship having been retitted, again
sailed under the same commander, and
safely returned the prince to his colln-
try and friends. From this visit sprung
all the friendly intercourse between the
Islanders and the United States, to
whom they are indebted for civilization
and the useful art, and the benefits of
the Christian religion
The same incidents were related to
me by another eyewitness, whom
met in Boston three years ago.
1t was on this second voyage that
Capt. Gray entered the noble river,
(Which he had prcviousl v discovered, }
and gave it the name of his ship, the
Columbia.
On the 18th day of May. 1872, about
sunrise, the ship crossed the bar, pass
ing between the breakers with all sails
set. and at 10 0o'clock anchored ten miles
above the mouth of the river. near Che
nook Point, VIII re sh rem: incd three
days. Gray tief ~stiictl -oiiie tell OF
twelve miles further up the river, on
the northern shore, where he again an
chored. The ship remained in the
river till the Goth, when fresh breeze
springing up they beat the slip out
and went to sea.
1t was on the 7th day of May. four
days prior to the discovery of the Co.
lumbia river. that Gray discovered
and entered Gray's IIarbor, where he
remained three days, trading with the
natives. lie describes the place as ga
good harbor. we'll sheltered from the
sea by long sand bars and spits.'
Gray's Bay, on the Columbia river,
a few miles above Chcnook, is often
conlonndcd with Gray's Ilarbor, which
is on the coast. some 35 or 10 miles
north Of the Columbia.
The discovery of the Columbia river
by Captain Gray, or rathcrits rcdiscov-
cry, 0or the Spanish commander llccc-
ia had discovered the entrance to the
river on the 10Th OF August, 1915. al
though he did not enter it.) and the
subsequent settlement at Astoria by tie
Pacific Fur Company, with John Jacob
Astor at its head, were the grounds by
which our Government laid claim to
all that valuable region drained by the
Columbia river, and it was the acknowl-
cdymcnt of the priority of Gray's dis.
covcry by the British Government
which enabled the Commissioner of the
United States and Great Britain to
effect the treaty defining the present
boundary line. Captain Gray was the
first to carry the American flag around
the world. lie was the first man who
brought about friendly feeling, and
subsequent intercourse with the Sand
wich Islands. which has now ripcncd
into friendship Of lasting importance,
and Captain Gray, by his daring intrc-
pidity and brilliant discoveries, has Sc
cured both Oregon and Washington to
the possessions of the United States,
and thereby benefited our whole ma
ton. Captain Gray's achievements
were as much thought of at the time of
his return as were those of our more
recent explorer, DR.. Kane, and although
notaccompanicd with scientific research,
yet the real, lasting, practical benefit to
our country can be most favoably COM
pared with any utilitarian result that
has or will have cmanatcd from the
voyages of the great Arctic explorer.
The navigators and early discoveries
of every other country but ours, have
had their names pcrpctuatcd by some
public act, either statue, monument,
or tablet. Although neither Congress
nor the nation ut large have as yet seen
proper to place the name Of Robert
Gray in the niche OF fame, it seems to
me to be both right and appropriate
that the people of Oregon and Wash
ington Territory should contribute to-
wards erecting some suitable monu-
mcnt that will show the world that we
at least arc dcsirous to make such hon.
orablc mention of his name that the
memory of his gallant deeds perish not
from among us.
What could bemorc appropriate than
a tall shaft, erected on the summit of
the beautiful green hill at the mouth of
the Columbia river. known as Scarbor-
ongh head! The hill itself is one of
the most prominent and conspicuous
points the voyager looks upon in enter
Ing the river, and monument erected
on it's summit would serve as beacon
to thn mariner and M evidence that