The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1881-07-23
DAILY INTELLIGENCER.
Saturday, July %. 1881.
"REMINISCENCES OF OREGON SET
ELEMENTS.
No. 2.
By d. s.

gon Territory except officials and at,
taches of the Hudson Bay Company,
or its discharged servants. Previous
to the coalition. in 1921. of the North
west and Hudson Bay Companies. the
headquarters of the fur trade west of
the Rocky Mountains had been Fort
George (the Astoria of the Pacific Fur
| Company.
In 1924 DR. John Mclaughlin, Chief
Factor in charge, established the
headquarters at Fort Vancouver. From
| 1921, as head of the fur trade west of
the Rocky Mountains. he had really
been the Governor of the entire Pacific
slope between California and Russian
America.
One of the earliest and most notable
of the American pioneer settlers thus
graphically paints the portrait of the
Governor Of the primitive Oregon:
When / first saw DR. Mclaughlin
(ls43) he was about sixty years of age.
| His head covered with locks white as
snow, taken in connection with his
large and commanding stature and
usually black dress, made his Indian
name Of Bald Eagle quite appro-
pirate. While his presence was digni-
fed. his open benevolent countenance
banished awe, and his cordial manner
invited confidence. Those under his
command seemed to obey more to please
revered father than through fear of
master whose power was absolute. l
once attended, IN his company, the
Catholic Mission Church near Cham
poeg. A large number of the dis.
charged Canadian servants of the com.
pany were in attendance. DR. Nc
Laughlin took his place near the door.
he had hearty greeting for each fa
Their and son, cordial kiss for each
wife and daughter as they passed into
church. After mass the people flocked
to him, some to consult him about their
private affairs, others sought his sd-
vice about public measures, or i'm
provements, others to recount their
losses aud affections. For each of
the former he had word Of ad-
vice; for the latter he manifested a
warm sympathy. Though this scene
seemed 20 belong to another age, or at
least another country, and might be
regarded at variance with republican
equality. yet was it pie SAINT to see
those who had stood towards each other
in the relation of master and servant
fer most of their lives. meet as parent
and child after such relation had been
dissolved. Strong evidence that the
master had been just and lenient; the
servant faithful and true. But his
kindness was not confined to his old
servants; he was philanthropist in
the strongest sense of the term. He
did not stop to inquire to what race,
country or religion the sufferer be-
longed; the needy were supplied, not
with osten.ation or prodigality, but
with such judgment and prudence as to
make the aims Dot merely temporary
relief but lasting benefit.
To each immigrant. British or Amer
lean, Catholic or Protestant. who re-
quired assistance land few did not) be
gave q helping hand, and in such q
way as to be least wounding to the feel.
ing of Independence and self>respect.
Those desiring to cultivate the earth
were supplied with seed-a loan to be
returned when they were able from
their own crops. Mechanics were fur,
nished with tools, and they as we'll
as common laborers, were frequently
employed by him in works that made
but small returns for the wages given.
Families could obtain provisions and
necessaries to be paid for at the end OF
the year. The seeds loaned though not
in all cases gifts to the borrowers were
never retarped (nor expected to be) to
the company's granaries. but from year
to year "a destitute immigrants arrived
they were given orders upon some
neighbor for seeds that had been Dor,
rowed from the company. And thus
the wheat, oats, potatoes, etc, which
had assisted the first settler in par
ticular location were made to do O
like service to the lately arrived neigh-
Dor. Nor was the company much bet
ter paid for other advances. Before
DR. Mclaughlin retired from the COM
pany's service. uncollectable debts OF
this character had accumulated to the
amount Of fifty THOUSAND dollars. As
giving these credits was in violation OF
the rules of the company. this large
sum was charged upon the books of the
company to DIR Mclaughlin. Subse-
quentlY, however. the Board of Man
agement ct London made an order
That in consideration of the eminent
services DIR Mclaughlin had rendered
the company. this charge against him
was rescinded.'
For those eminent services DR. Nc.
Laughlin deserves very high place
in the history of Oregon. They not
only directly advanced the interests of
the company for whose benefit they
wers rendered. but they benefited the
Indians and contributed in an eminent
degree 10 the safety and prosperity Of
Oregon In its hrst settlements. That
service consisted in his entire success az
. pioneer in an unknown region. inhab-
tied by savages. . race who. though re-
duced 10 less than half their strength
while der his control. have, under q
different policy cost the q s Govern
ment much blood and treasure, aud
still continue . great annoyAn to
frontier settlements.
Under his judicions management and
humane treatment Of the natives. with
out war and almost without bloodshed.
the Hudson Bay Company in compare.
lively but few years. spread q network
Of its posts. and monopolized the trade
OF the vast region comprehended be-
tween the Rocky Mountains and the Pa,
ciic Ocean. and ~ deg. and 81 deg. 40