The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1881-07-29
DAILY INTELLIGENCER.
Friday, July %. 1881.
OLD PORT VANCOUVER.

ton Territory aide OF the Columbia river and
the formal delivery Of the old TO- : and its sur
roandings. up TO that time held by the company,
TO the United States. The Hudson Bay Con-.
pany had located one Of is chief depoIs there
al al early day and erected the fort and other
buildings withIG the sort Of stockade Enclosure
10 1896, from and after which time il had been
occupied a. the residence Of chief factor OF
the compan. his subordinate officers and at
tentants. the chaplains or priests appointed to
the wealthy corporation, and a. the rendezvous
for the employees, trappers, voyageurs, interior
traders and other attaches. IL was also held
a. the main warehouse aud store Of the eompa-
ny Tor the immense region which nOw csnsti-
tltes the State Of Oregon. the Columbia river
portion Of Washington Territory, and ali of
Idaho and Q portion OF Montana, until the esfab-
iishmeni OF the later depot at the falls OF the
Willamette river, where Oregon City Is now
when the willamette and Umpqua portions Of
Oregon were appostioned to that chief rendez-
vons, with ChAmpOeg, farther up the river, and
two or three other smaller depots subordinate 10
Il. Among the distinguished men who had al
ofse time and another occupied Fort Vancouver
as chief factors Of the company were SirGenrge
simpson. Sir James Douglas, DR.. John Nc
Laughlin. Dugald McTavish and Mr.. Grahame.
all OF whom except the latter have long since
passed over 70 the silent great majority. and
each has leit 10 commemorate him an honored
men. Two Of them were great aud good, and
Of these two the memory Of DR.. Mclaughlin
will endure among the pioneers Of Oregon and
be perpetazted by their descendants in grateful
and graceful tribute 20 his exalted worth and
countless noble deeds in giving aid and sending
timely succor to the struggling and destitute
emigrants who peopled that wild region be-
tween the FIRST overland emigration and the pc
nod of the gold discovery 10 California.
General Harvey was then III command Of the
military department in Oregon and Washing
ton, which embraced all the territory west of
the Rocky Mountains and north OF California
and Utah. he had become famous as an In
dian fighter. and his name alone inspired awe
among the hostile tribes OF the Plains and the
Great Northwest. On coming TO this coast to
take the command assigned him, with his head
quarters at Fort Vancouver-the magnificent
United States military post on the Columbia
river. which embraced the Hudson Bay Com
panys fort OF the same name-he had secured
the company Of Father De Smet, the renowned
Jesuit Father 40 beloved by the various Indian
tribes as the Good Black Gown and who had
Travelled alone and fearlessy through the wild
regions OF the hostile sioux, the thieving Crows
the dangerous Blackfeet, and dwelt and held
his sacred missions unmoested and revered
among even the murdereus Apaches and Co
manches.
General Harvey had been appointed to sue
coed General Norman Clark, who was in COM
mand OF that department at the time Of the In
dian war Of 1855 50. and who was considered
somewhat unsuited for the position. A thor
ough Indian fighter was required. and the Sec
rotary OF War had well selected the man for the
place. Colonel George w Wright had per-
formed the great share OF the active service in
the war, and had been constantly in the field at
the head OF the troops. while General Clark re-
manned at headquarters at Fort Vancouver.
The victory over the regular troops under
Colonel Steptoe, at tie outset Of hOstilities,
when Captain Walker was killed, greatly in
spired the confederated Indian tribes who &C
knowedged the powerful chief Ksmiakin, and
they felt confident OF overcoming the soldiers
and driving the whites from the Upper Colum.
bia river country.
But the subsequent speedy and important
victories Of Colonel Wright, his destruction OF
their stores OF pro visions his capture aud shoot
ing OF 800 OF their horses, his summary han ing
OF 0cho and Qualchien, and his arrest and i'm
prisonment OF Smokehalla the Indian dreamer
and prophet, together with his mastery ex-
PLOTS against the warlike tribes which occu-
pied or roamed over that broad expanse OF
country on both sides of the Columbia and OF
the Snake rivers, finally struck into their hearts
aud compelled them 10 submission and 10 sue
for peace upon any terms that should be i'm.
posed. Some Of the Indians taken prisoner in
the war had Hudson Bay muskets, as they were
caled-good English guns of recent make and
apparently new, and il was inferred that the
company had, through its agents, supplied
these arms TO the tribes, who still preserved
great regard and friendly feeling for the King
George whites, as the Hudson Bay Company's
mea were called, and who held the Bos,ons :
or Americans, in corresponding dislike and de-
testation. This incident Of the war caused
much incensed feeling toward the company on
the part Of the officers and soldiers, although il
afterwards appeared that it was groundless
suspicion and an unjust resentment.
The Indians had been vanquished so effec-
lively by Colonel Wright that they sued for
peace. IL was granted. General Clark died
suddenly and the command temporarily de.
VOWED upon Colonel Wright, who maintaine d
IL until the arrival Of General Harvey. On
reaching Fort Vancouver, and learning what
had happened. the latter promptly ratified all
that Colonel Wright had done.
Bat there were yet q number of rebellious
spirits among the Indians, and the most for
midabie and by Tar the most Important OF these
was kamiakin. the greatest warrior and leader
OF them all. Accordingly, TO gain him over TO
the side Of peace was the first consideration.
and. rs the very fttest for this very difficult
mission. General Harvey selected Father De
Smet, who AZ once proceeded upon his accepted
duty. He found kamiakin, was cordially vel
coined and Hospitality treated by the naughty
and reticent great chief, and in a few DAYS had
succeeded in peIsuading the chief 20 bear him
company 70 Fort Vancouver, there TO arrange
terms with General Harvey. The Indian sta:t.
ed. under q solemn promise OF safety, on the
journey. and OF liberty Of person while at Fort
Vancouver, with freedom to depart at his ogn
option after the conference for his native
hauDts. But on the journey 70 The Dalles. AT
one halting place for the night some peryersely
meddesome and gabbling whites amused them
selves BY relating how General Harvey intend
cd 70 hang haniiakin at sight, A. Colonel
Wright had hanged Ocho and Qualchieu. The
latter had ridden andaciously into Colonel
Wrghts camp aud halted bis Indian pony di
rectiy Ia front OF Colonel Wright's tent. as he
boisterously and with reckless dash Of manner
demanded 10 see that officer, and at the same
time proclaimed his own identity. He was sc-
companied by has fsyorite sqaaw. In ten min
utes more his writhing body was dangling from
tree near by. Also were related the stories OF
General Harney's similarly decisive manner OF
dealing With hostile Indians on the Plains. y,
his wars against the sayages, and the tntiu,a-
ton was giesfuliy gwen that in like spirit he
would deal with every hostile Indian who might
fall into his hands. BY fair or foul means.
These Idle stories reached the ear OF Kamiakln
IS he was wrapped in his blankets for The
nights sleep. Tue next morning be was miss
Ing. he had lied during the night, and neI-
ther persuasion nor pledges ever again weighed
with him 70 eEtice or bring him among the
whites, whom he 80 distrusted and hated. But
other chiefs were afterwards brought to meet
General Harvey BY Father De Smet, and last.
ing peace vilh ali those Tribes vas the conse-
queace.
These stirring events had occurred Just before
tae formal delivery Of old Fort Vancouver by
The d0dsoa Bay Company 10 the United States
- the Orgnp treaty required Mr. Grahame
vas the ecmpany's chief factor appointed for
the performance % the soFroSful duty on thai
side. and 20 General Harvey was committed he