The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1883-09-22
SCRAPS OF OREGON HISTORY.
NAME.

NAME.
It is generally believed that the name Ore
gon is Indian, and was first applied by the ma
tlves to our great river. But writer who
processes to know says that the name is Span
ish His theory is that the first discovery of
Oregon having been made by the Spanish navi-
gators, they gave it the name from the quanti-
ties Of the wild marjoram (origanum) 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-
ton was by John Carver, an adven turous New
Englander, who made journey to the Missis-
sippi river previous to the war OF the reyolu-
tion. On his return home he stated that he
had heard the Indians along the Mississippi
talk of 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 suggested
that the natives, first hearing the Castillians
use the title, may have handed it down from
one generation of Indians to another. We in
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 as far north as the straits
that bear his name.
In IT'S, Bruno Heceta, celebrated Spanish
navigator, fitted out 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 Fuca, 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 1t June, l700, anC
called it after the adventure Greek who haC
the honor of being its first discoverer. Hi
then sailed in q southerly course, discovered
and named Shoalwater bay, and coming off the
latitude of the as yet undiscovered great river
the exis tence 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 an.
river at that point The state Of his feelings q
that time made him give the name to Cap
Disappointment
Capt. Vancouver, the celebrated Englisl
navigator and explorer, sought the river il
April, 1793 but meeting the inevitable break
ers of the bar, di not dare to enter.
On the 11th of May of the same year, tn
ship Columbia, commanded by Capt. Rob
ert Gray, one Of two vessels sent out to the Pa
cifc coast by firm in Boston to trade In furs
after laying off the bar for nine days, ran II
between the breakers, and coming into smooth
4fo hat ntpro
: the great river that has since borne the nam
given it by Capt. Gray in honor of his vessel
He remained in the river nine days, made
rude sketch of its shores for distance OF SIX
teen miles, and afterwards resumed his voyag
north, aud thence to China.
While coasting along Nootka Sound, Capt
Gray met Commandant Quadra, OF the Spanis
schooner Sonora, the companion OF Heceta, an
gave him chart specifying the location OF th
Columbia river and the date OF its discovery
and this was the arbter that decided the fate c
Oregon in the subsequent disputes between tn
United States and Great Britain as to the righ
OF ownership. How little it takes to decid
the fate Of states and nations, as well as of in
dividuals! Only few days before this, Van
cOuver had entered in his log with reference
this same rivers entrance: "If any river or in
let should be found it must be very lntrlcat
one, and inaccessible to vessels OF burden, oW
ing to reefs and broken water" Vancouye
having heard afterwards of the success Of Capt
Gray, attempted on the 18th of October Of tn
same year to enter the river in order to CLAIM
it for his flag, but was again prevented b
breakers. Three days after, Lieut.. Broughtol
: entered and surveyed the channel as far up a
the present site Of Vancouver.
In 1906, the exploring expedition under tn
command of Captains Lewis and Clarke, sen
out overland by the U. S. Government, reaches
Cape Disappointment-now called Cape Han
cock-on the 10Th of November, having trace
the Columbia river from its source to tn
ocean.
FIRST SETTLEMENT.
Meanwhile, vessels from Boston trading il
fur and other products OF the natives, wer
frequently visiting Oregon. The quantity o
furs brought home by these vessels induced
John Jacob Astor to fit out an expedition ON
large scale for the purpose Of residing perma
nently among the natives and engaging in th'
fur business. He chartered the ship Tonquir
and sent four of his partners, eleven clerks, ant
thirteen Canadian voyageurs, with full com
plement of cannon, small arms and stores
The ship reached the Columbia March "a, 1911
and landed her passengers fifteen miles up tht
river and commenced the first permanent set
Element of the United States west Of the Rock.
mountains. 1t was called Astoria after th
founder Of the expedition.
The unfortunate Tonquin, after dischargint
her freight, sailed north on q trading voyag
on the west coast Of Vancouver Island, wher
she was captured by the Indians, who muir
dered all on board except the Indian inter
prefer. Many Of these savages were rewarde'
for their crime by the explosion Of the maya
zine while they were rifling the cabin.
In 1880 the first farming in Oregon was com
menoed by party of Canadians, who settlet
near what is now Oregon City.
In 1884 Rev. Jason Lee and Rev. Daniel Lee
OF the Methodist church. In company wit
Captain Wyeth, arrived at Vancouver, and 500
after established an Indian mission at Oregon
Oity.
The same year DIR. Marcus Whitman an
Rev. II. II. Spaulding, with their wives, cam
overland, these ladies being the first whit
women to cross the Rocky mountains. Rev
Samuel Parker and W. H. Gray were also @
this party, who were sent out by the American
board Of commissioners for foreign missions
Several other missionaries followed at inter
walls, generally accompanied by Immigrant
seeking homes in this far, ''far west" So tina
the rich vsllies of Oregon were said to be fill
ing up rapidly with a thrifty, hardy popula
tion.
The growing importance of Mr.. Astor's en-
terprise aroused the jealousy of the Northwes
Fur Company of Canada, and they Oppose
his schemes most violently. One of thei
plans was to send an expedition overland unde
command of David Thompson, with orders t
reach the Columbia before the Tonquin coul
arrive there. But the heavy SHOWS in tn
Rocky mountains SO retarded this expedition
that il had only reached the Spokane rive
when Astoria had been established. Thompson
took possession of all the country by distribui
ing British flags to the Indians along hi
route.