The New York herald., 1870-12-19

others did the wintry North; Dut Mr.. Astor dnding
| the operations OF the latter company somewhat In
hrs he bought II Out ana In 1911 added lts terri.
toria, resources those Of the American Fur Com
pany and styled the new body corporate the South
! Mr. Astor now saw himself at the head OF al the
| fur trade OF the south, and his intention was to
penetrate through the barriers OF the Northern COM
pany, eventually to come into possession OF all
the fur trade east OF the Rocky Mountains. With
on the coast or the Pacific In this quarter the Rus
slams alone had regular trading posts, and
uronpds were ""s contlned to u the sea coast
and the islands adjacent TO their establishments.
and conveyed furs TO emma, which, with the return
cargoes yielded an average clear gain OF one thou
sand per cent annually. me comprehenslye intel.
desultory traic produced such profits, well regu-
lated trade, supported by capital might yield fapu
new branch OF the fur trade on the Pacific. under
the appelation OF the Pacific Fur Company the
grand central depot Of which was TO be at the
mouth OF the Columbia river. BY this means he
conempated CARVING of the iurs OF all the countries
,WSe.t o. me Rocky Mountains; and at the same
Time forming chain OF trading posts across the
Continent, rom the Atlantic to the Pacific. along
the Missouri. THIS grand commercial scheme gave
much satisfaction 10 the American people. who saw
that All the rcn cargoes OF urs and peltres thus to
be collected annually over the vast expanse were to
be shipped in American vessels 10 China then TO be
exchanged for teas, silks and other goods, and the
enterrrise became snbecb OF national interest and
pany was formally established with capt.
tai furnished alone by Mr.. Astor OF s2oo,Ooo,
and with power to increase the capital to 100000
Nearly all OF the gentlemen associated with Mr..
Northwest Company and were men OF great exper-
ence In the fur business. The only noteworthy ex-
eepton was thai OF Mr. Wilson Price Hunt, OF New
IN character, and VINO was made Mr.. Astor's repre-
sentative ana chief manager in the business. The
association was formed for period OF twenty
dissolved d vs proved %%npToabls after
Mr.. Astor was TO bear ali expenses and losses the
otner partners giving only their time and labor OF
the other partners who 10 carry on the trade
with the Indians had four shares each; leaving quite
q number to be subdlvlded among clerks and other
employees, VINO might join the company as adven-
turers to take their remuneration out OF the gains at
ane expiration Of the i've Years THIS plan prevented
Astor as he might appoint proxies to represent him
in Sufficient number 70 exceed the partners, votes
The expedition was planned to proceed In two
divisions, one across the continent and the otherby
vessel around Clpe Horn, The former party, under
and proceeding In canoes by the way or the great
lakes to the western extremity OF Lake Superior,
to st. Louis, thence up the Missouri to the Rocky
Mountains. across these and down the Columbia
they reached in January, 1872. The party expert
enced terrible hardships on the trip one OF Its num-
Der becoming deranged and drowning himself from
hunger. and several Others perlshlng by the way
The ship party left Montreal for New YORK about the
time OF the departure OF the land expedition and
consisted OF i've partners, five clerks, 1--we mechanics
and fourteen canoe men. OF this number eight OF
the most expert voyaReurs proceeded in bark
canoe through the States. The appearance or this
unusual craft In Eastern American waters, with the
chantings OF its crew their feathered caps and pic
canoe sped down the rivers, and pro-
duced grand sensation on its arrival at the
the voyageurs to the New York boatmen to race with
them, but was not accepted, and In September the
il-iated Tonguin, Of 500 tons and CARRYING twelve
guns, set sail for the mouth OF the Columbia river
with twenty-five persons belonging to the ship and
thirty officers, and employees OF the new
Dantffo Eur Thn Tntf MI fnf fri rIT1f
Constitution conveyed the Tonquln clear Of the
coast leaving her at sea, and after touching at Cape
Islands, the ship reached her destination In March.
1911, making cruise Of q, 1852 miles in about six
qnIn at the mouth OF the Columbia portion Of the
expedition was landed, the site OF Astoria selected,
ana large building erected, and In June the ship
started a cruise up the coast with the aten-
lion OF returning and landing the cargo.
She never returned. Several months passed after
the period set for her to come back and discharge
her cargo, and at last an Indian brought In word
that twenty-fonr days after The Ionquin left
Astoria she was destroyed with all o. board. The
Indians had crowded upon her decks In great num-
bers, and, after stealing consderal amount. at
tackled the officers and crew. one OF whom applied q
torch TO the magazine and blew up every soul on
board. The concluding portion OF the Indians uar-
rattye Is graphic and interesting. The Indians mad
comtnenced trading ON board with one of the ON
GERS or The company named Mckay, and the nara
tor says:--
me Indians threw the goods canoes which
g concen their knives about persons which
wa, e y qBs bs e s.ps s Of e na S
treated the saggestons with smile Of contempt and no no
captain BEGAN 70 suspect something hmse and was in the
as Of o.T M M vs a s wnen N ene IN Ss ss m
pushed on md the massacre commcnoed The savaaes
the ship, and ID i've
was Instantly Killed and thrown ovcrboard and SO sudden
was the surprise that the had time draw
wounded Several wRea fell crowd The last
midst Of The ie.ped oSeroosrd several other
Indians and we were taken up by the women In @ ,as
80 many fiends about the snip. Beore go; gun.
pioson ning the whole place with broEen fragments and
hs Ss m TVS fs
spread deselaton lameniaon AMI terror throush the
tefas when ships
20 noar ssra new that he Tonqun belonged % tho
the Columbia eighteen days bosrd Of her,
was prevented from reaching here sooner
six men VINO had been sent Oh shore by the cap
tain were seized by the surviving Indians alter the
explosion and were tortured TO death IN the most
nendish manner. Thus closed the history Of the
Tonquin leaving the little settlement at Astoria In
Beaver arrived with supplies, ana the company
penetrated the interior some distance; but after
countering terrible hardshlps and hostile Indians,
anu wasting away to u small number OF men, the
whole concern vas sold TO the Northwest Company
In 1913 Tor $50 500 This left the entire fur business
In the hands OF the two great rvals-tne Hudson
Bay Company which occupied all the country ada
operating IN all the territory west OF Canada and
/ northwest OF Lake Superior. The traders and cm-
! ployes of the two companies constantly en-
Vaged in hostlities, which caused The loss OF great
many lives and the destruction Of considerable pro-
perry until 1921, when The Hudson Bay Company
| bought out its competitor and assumed control or
| the whole OF British America.
During all this period every attempt to settle the
agricultural districts Of the Northwest Territory
! opposed and defeated by the fur companies VINO
feared injury to their trade by the Introduction Of
| civilization into their country. The little colony
| founded by Lord Selklrk at this place In
1872 was made the object OF persistent op-
| preston and attack. which three times ef-
| ccted the destruction Of the settlement and
/ after killing many OF the col0nists, drove the re-
ainder in exile the inhOspltable asylum OF Nor
| way House, where they were compelled In self-pre.
| seryatOn to engage In the fur trade. Finally Lord
Selkirk arrived with about 100 dsbanded soldiers
colonsrs re-establshed the settlement, and laid the
foundation OF the present nourishing population Of
| Red river.