The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-05-10
To-day at Astoria.

To-day will he great uhy LOT thc Si'y vi
Astoria, in Oregon. 1t is the opening day
OF the three DAYS celebration that Is to be
held there in commcmoratlon of geo.
graphical discovery OF immense Importance
TO the United States, the discovery OF tie
Columbia River by Capt. GRAY Of Boston
100 years ago Extensive preparations have
been made for tho celebration. In which
thousands OF tho people Of the States OF
Oregon. Washington. Idaho. California, and
Nevada will take part. There will be pic
turesque spectacles. professions. fcasts.
orations. and the strains Of music for the
next three days In the city OF Astoria. city
named after JOHN JACOB Aston OF New
York, and tho early history Of which was
sketchcd by his distinguished literary
friend, WASHINGTON Irving, also OF New
York.
In the month Of May. 1892. Capt ROBERT
GRAY. the commander Of the Boston snip
Columbia. nad MS brave navigator as ever
sailed the seas. was voyaging along the
American coast OF the North Pacific. and the
English Captain VANCOUVER was also cruis-
ing thereabout at the time. Capt. GRAY
was engaged In the China trade. and had
taken furs from western North America to
Canton. where he procured in exchange tea
for the Boston market. On one part
Of the Pacific coast which is now
under our flag. he lowered on the 10th OF
May. and on the morning Of May II he OBJ
served an opening in which the breakers
ran high over bold bluff. SO high that
Capt. VANCOUVER. who had previously
sailed near there. had pronounced them
impossible. GRAY. however. had the pluck
to try them. and. with all sails set. he
swept onward. passed the breakers. and
at the hour OF high noon. or soon after it.
cast anchor above the mouth OF the mighty
river that now bears the name Of his ship.
Columbia.
1t was a gallant exploit Of the Yankee
navigator. who had previously been in
the naval service Of the Continental Con-
gress during the war Of the Revolution.
and who had traded in the ports OF Africa.
Asia. and South America.
Capt. GRAY could not possibly have had
any knowledge Of theimportance OF his act
or of the vast value to his country OF the
discovery that he made. Had the Eng
fish Captain VANCOUVER swept through
those breakers as the Yankee Captain did.
he would have raised the English flag and
taken possession. in England's name. Of
the magnificent region lying between the
Pacific Ocean and the Bitter Root range OF
mountains. from which the States Of Ore
gon. Washington. and Idaho have since
been formed. 1t was GRAY who. by the
right Of priority OF discovery. gave to the
American Union that region. which is now
prosperous and populous. and which will
surely be the home Of millions Of American
citizens before the celebration Of the second
centennial Of his passage through the
breakers Of the Columbia.
Honor to Capt. ROBERT GRAY Of Boston.
through whose courage the boundaries Of
our country were carried to the Pacific long
before the period Of the conquest Of Cali
fornia. He it was who first gave US re-
public extending froIl ocean to ocean. He
1t was who. a number OF years before that
time. first carried the American NaS around
the world. His name Is worthy Of honor in
the States OF the Pacific and in the whole
country.
We trust that the commemorative cc!c-
brGton which is to be opened to-day in the
city Of Astoria. in the State Of Oregon. will
add to the renown which Capt. GRAY surely
merited.