The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-10-04
SCRAPS Or OREGON HISTORY.
NAME.

1t is generally believed that the name Ore
gon is Indian, and was first applied by the ma
tlves to our great river. Blu, a writer who
processes to know says that the name is Span
jsh. His theory is that the first discovery Of
Oregon having been made by the Spanish nsvi-
gators, they gave it the name from the quanti-
ties Of the wild marjoram (origanuml found
along the coast. This plant is quite abundant,
and offers plausible theory for the origin Of
the name. The first mention of the appella-
tion was by John Carver, an adventurous New
Englander, who made journey to the Missis-
sippi river previous to the war OF the revolu-
tion. On his return home he stated that be
had heard the Indians along the Mississippi
talk of q river to the far west called Oregon.
We do not find the mention of the name in any
of the Spanish maps, and that would throw
doubt on the theory of the Spanish origin Of
the name. On the other hand, it is sugges ted
that the natives, first hearing the Csstillians
use the title, may have handed it down from
enc generation of Indians to another. We in
cline to the theory that the name is Indian,
and was first applied to the great river, and
not to the territory.
DISCOVERIES.
The earliest European navigator Of note who
visited this coast was Juan de Fuca, Greek,
who in 1892 sailed a. far north as the straits
that bear his name.
In 1775, Bruno Heceta, celebrated Spanish
navigator. fitted out q party in Mexico and
sailed north on an exploring expedition. he
attempted to find the straits Of Fuca, but fail
ing, returned south, ran into what is supposed
TO be the mouth Of the Columbia, without dis
covering that river.
The next explorer who visited our
coast was Captain Cook. He passed
the Columbia without seeing it, and
also the Straits OF Fucs, the existence Of which
he attributed to the imaginative brain OF the
enterprising Greek whose name he bears.
lieutenant John Mears, then sailing under
the Portuguese flag, went in quest Of the much.
sought strait. He entered it June, 1888, and
called it after the adventurous Greek who had
the honor Of being its first discoverer. He
then sailed in . southerly course, discovered
and named Shoalwster bay, and coming of the
latitude OF the az yet undiscovered great river,
the existence Of which had been dimly fore.
shadowed, tried to anchor, but breakers pre-
venting him. he called the place Deception bay,
and in his chagrin denied the existence Of any
river at that point. The state Of his feelings at
that time made him give the name TO Cape
Disappointment.
Capt Vancouver, the celebrated English
navigator and explorer, sought the river in
April. 1893, but meeting the lneVitaoie oreAh'
srs of the bar, di not dare 70 enter.
On the llth OF May OF tne same year, tne
ship Columbia, commanded py Oapt; hoo-
srt Gray, one OF two vessels sent Out 70 tne "a
cihc coast by nrm IN Boston 10 trade IN iurs'
after laying OF the bar ior nine days. ran IN
between the breakers, and coming INTO smootn
waters, was the hrst vessel that ever entered
the great river that has since oorne the name
gwen IL py Cap'' urSy ~ nonoi VI us Vessel
He remained IN the rlver nine DAYS maze
tssn ";iss and afterwards resumed his voyage
north. and thence to China.
while coasting along Nootka Sound. Capt.
Qr,v met Commandaut Qusdrs, OF the Spanish
scbooner Sonora. the companion Of Heceta, and
gave him a chart specifying the location Of the
Golumbia river and the date of its discovery;
and this WAS the arbiter that decided the fate Of
Oregon IN the SUBSEQUENT disputes between the
limited States and Great Britain az 10 the right
~ ovnfrsbin. How little il takes to decide
ths f.te ~ sta,es and nations. Az we'll A Of in
iiv;dnsls, Onlv a few DAYS before this. Van.
scnvar I'D entered in his log with reference to
All. same rivers entrance: III sny river or in.
10. sbonld he fonnd Il must be 4 yery intricate
one. and in accessible to vessels Of burden, ow.
inc 10 reefs and broken water" Vancouver
having heard Afterwards OF the success Of Capt
NAV stt-mpted ON the 18th OF October OF the
same wear to epter the river in order to claim