New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-08
A CENTENARY IN OREGON.
THE DISCOVERY OF THE COLUMBIA RIVER
ON NAY IL, 1892.

THE PACIFIC-EARLY PURCHASES OF LAND
FROM THE rNDIANs-THE LONG con-
TRovERsY WITH GREAT BRITAIN
FOR THE POSSESSION OF THE
OREGON TERRITORY
Astoria, Ore, May lon the tenth. eleventh
and twelfth of the present month, the enterprsing
inhabitants Of Astoria Oregon, will celebrate with
fitting ceremonies the Tooth anniversary of the
discovery of the Columbus River by Captain Rob.
ert Gray, of the ship Columbia, from Boston, May
IL, 1892 Owing to the peculiar history Of the
Northwest Coast of the Pacific in its settlement
or successive discovery by Spaniard. American and
Englishnlan, to the great importance attaching to
the discoveries of the Boston ships and the eX-
tensive tracts of land purchased by their COM
mandeS of Indians; in the international com
plications known the Oregon Question. and TO
the wonderful growth and settlement of
this Columbia River and Puget Sound
district during the last decade, the residents OF
the town Of Astoria. near the mouth of the Co.
lumbia, doing well to call the attention of the
United States and of the world to the centenary
Of this great historic and geographical discovery
Az president of the Columbia River Centennial
Celebration Society. Curtis c. Strong. NJ. D.. of
Portland Oregon, has arranged a complete rep
resentation of all the matters connected with the
discovery. The vice-presdents are j. II. d.
Gray, Astoria: w. c. Brown. Dallas the Hon.
John Whitaker. Eugene; Robert A. Miller. Jack
sonville G. w. Riddle. Roseburs; George +.
Chamberlain. Albany; John Mimic. Salem j. T.
Apperson, Oregon City; the Hon. J. G. Swan.
Fort Townsend. Wash. and the Hon. W. J.
Mcconnell, Moscow, Idaho; secretaries. John Adair
and f. c. Holden. of Astoria. and George II.
Hines, Of Portland. On the executive board are
j. H. D. Gray, John Hobson. John Adair. George
II. Hines, Thomas G., Hendricks. the Rev. NJ.
Ellis, H. Relling and A. F. Parker. The Finance
Commute are I. W. Case, F. F. Gordon, II. c.
Thompson, w. T. Ladd. Henry Falling D. +.
Sherman. all representative men of the Pacific
Northwest.
There lived in Boston in the years pre-
ceAng the Revolution two brothers named
Darrell. This family, of old English descent.
came 10 Massachusetts, and Maine soon
after the founding of Plymouth and settled both
AZ York. Me-. and Boston. Many descendants
now live at both places Walter Darrell, grand
father of Mary Motley, wife of the historian. re-
tired to England soon after the battle of Lexington
His brother JoseLh req aimed and took an active
interest in tbe struggle from the American side
In 1887 we find this Joseph Darrell, whose fine
residence at Pleasant Hill, WATERFOWL is now
portion u the insane asylum, turning his atten-
ton 10 voyages of discovery and adventure. Pos
eesscd of abundant means MIR. Harrell IN con-
junction with other Boston merchants, Messrs
g. Brown, c. Bulhnch, j. Darby. {. Hatch and
j. NJ Pintard. whose names are on the medal
struck at that date built in 17s7-'SS vessel OF
e20 tous, and a tender of ninety tons. The
name of the former was the Columbia Rediviva
of the latter the Lady Washington.
Captain Kendrick was placed in command of the
Columbia. with Howe as his clerk. and Joseph
Ineraham second mate. Robert as surgeon.
Treet as furrier, Nethin astronomer, and Robert
Taswell, to whose diary of the voyage are
greatly indebted OH the Columbia, but transferred
later to the Lady Washington. Captain Gray
commanded the Lady Washington, with Coolidge
and Haswell as mates. On Sunday evening the
friends of the owners and seamen made merry on
board, and sailed with the vessels to Naptaslet
Roads, where on October l, 1887, armed with
passports from the Federal and Massachusetts
Governments. and from the Minister of Spain in
the United States, the vessels set sail on what
proved to be the first trip of the flag of the
United States around the world. The Lady
Washington, separated from the Columbia by
storm. rounded Cape Horn in April, 1888. and
proceeded to Nootka. Vancouver Island,
where she arrived on August 2, and being greeted
by unfriendly natives at point named later
by Gray Murderer's Harbor, lost several men,
and awaited the arrival Of the Columbia,
which did not appear until September 90.
just in time to celebrate the anniversary of the
start from Boston ON October l. On her way
north the Columbia had stopped at Juan Fernan-
DEE for repairs. She was allowed by the Spanish
authorities to proceed; and for this offence the
Spanish commandment was Immediately removed
under severe rebuiss, on the ground that every
vessel found In seas beyond Cape Horn without
Spanish license to he treated enemy
since no nation had right 10 territory or trade
that would require the doubling of that cape
Such the extravaganza claim Of Spain to the
Pacific coast late as 1889. Bret Harte. in
amusing tale "1he Glass Eye Of the Commander, ="
refers to the of this reproved commander
sitting in his lonely fort, some fifty years after
this event. The Yankee trader who invades this
domain of Spanish punctilio with glass eyes for
sale is the first communication Of the fort with the
outside world since the order came to the fort
Of San Carlos stop the Columbia when she sailed
past for TIM second time on her voy-
age Of 1890 She had sailed past
end back, end had discovered the Columbia. and
had gone to China before this message from
Spanish headquarters was received at the little
Spanish fort-so slow was the method Of pro-
cedure in those days.
The party of descendants of these brave sailors
who will Leave Boston this week to attend this
celebration of their ancestors work are as close
TO the mouth Of the Columbia as Monday is to
Friday, and can only recall with wonder the
year-long voyage of tie Columbia Rediviva. This
vessel, being on a combined voyage Of discovery
and trade, gathered fars from the Indians of
immense value" sailed with them for China
with Captain Gray. transferred from the Lady
Washington, as commander, in July, reached Can
ton in December. loaded with tea. and was again
in Boston in August. 1890. There was no profit
from this voyage. although the furs obtained were
immensely valuable. Several Of the owners sold
out after this first voyage about the world and
Mr.. Darrell with undiminished energy was more