, 1863-03-07
Leaves of History.

About the time Mr.. Astor dispatched the ship
Tonquin from New York for the mouth of the
Columbia river, he also organized land expedi-
ton for the same place. and put it under the di-
rection of Mr.. W. P. Hunt, who was accompa-
MED by Mr.. Donald Mckenzie, Mr.. Mcclellan, a
Mr.. Brooks and Mr.. Muller. This expedition
left Montreal, Canada, in July 1910, and pro.
ceeding by the way of Mackinac and st. Louis,
1910 and 1911 at place called Nadoway. In
the Spring they assembled the river in boats to the
country of the Arickarees, or Rice Indaas.-
- - - A:z-~--A e ~ - h~~so I'D .,-oa...;ry
horses, turned southwardly, until they reached
the 10th parallel of latitude. They mede this
wide detour to avoid the Blackfeet Indians
Turning now northwest, and crossing the great
ridge separating the waters og the Atlantic from
those of the Pacific, they' at length arrived at an
old fort on the bapl of a small river flowing west.
Here they lefl a company of trappers, and con-
structins Canoes embarked with high expecta-
ton of soon reaching the termination of their
journey. But their trials had just begun. They
soon found the stream impracticable, and aban-
donng their canoes and cacheing their baggage,
resolved to proceed on foot. Dividing themsel-
yes into four companies for the greater expedition,
they proceeded along the course of the river, two
companies upon the right, and two companies
upon the left bank. For twenty days they fol-
lowed the stream, and those who have seen the
barren, dessolate region through which Snake
of great suffering. Though the river in sight,
yet water could not often be procured, so precipit
Gus and high were its walls of basalt. They suf-
fered ali the torments of Tantalus only they had
water beneath their feet yet often inaccessible
as if it had been in the sky Food there was
none. They ate a beaver skin, and at last their
moccasins, roaste before the fire.
At one point the companies CHANGED to arrive
the same time on opposite sides of the river, and
efforts were made to convey the companies on the
north to the south side, by means of skif made
of horses hide, but the efforts we're unsuccess-
ful, and they continued their rout as before.
On the north bank they encountered young
white man who gave his name as Archibald Pei
ton, from Connecticut and stated that all the peo
pie of the post with which he was connected were
killed by the Blackfeet, himself alone escaping,
and that for three years he had been wandering
among the Snake Indians. He joined his coun-
trymen, glad to escape from his dreary exile.
The party on the south bank found some friend
ly Indians on large and beautiful plain -un-
doubtedly the Grand Ronde-and remained
among them some tea days to recruit their
strength.
At last, the greater part of these adventurers
reached Astoria in two parties, one on the 18th
of December 1911, and the other on the 18th of
February following.
War was soon declared between the U. S. and
Great Britain. Representations were made to
the Lords of the Admiralty that important
colony had been founded by the Americans at the
mouth of the Columbia river, and an expedition
was fitted out for its reduction. The Isaac Todd
and the frigate Phoebe were dispatched on that
enterprise. While on their way, complete
change was made in the relations of the
stations of Astoria The partners of the North
west Company, being advised of the sailing of the
expedition referred to, dispatched Mr. ]. 6. Nc
lavish and Mr.. Angus Bethune with about
seventy-five men, to Astoria, where they arrived
in September, 1918, and encamped near the fac
tory of the Pacific Company. Preparations had
already been made by the agents of that COM
pany to abandon the country, and expresses had
been sent to the posts in the interior with cores
ponding instructions. Negotiations we're made