The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-01-03
DIR. WILLIAM c. M'KAY Is DEAD.
The Pioneer OF Pioneers-The Most
Famous Scalp Hunter In the West.

tHe
PEsDLETo., Or, Jan. DIR. W. C. Mckay.
coroner OF umstille county, and well known
throughout the Northwest. was found dead in
his stable this morning Death Is attributed 10
heart failure
William G. Mckay was born az Astoria. March
Is, l62L His grandfather, Alexander Mckay,
partner OF John jacob Astor. was made famous
founded T. trading post a; Astoria in lSl2, aad
subsequently went north on trading voyage in
the ship Tonquin, being massacred, with all his
crew, in Nootka sound, British Columbia, by
indians. Thomas Mckay, son OF Alexander,
married Chinook princess. and his tirs.born
enid, William B., was entitled 10 call himself
chief OF the Chinook Indians Young Mckay
was placed under the charge of his grandfather.
the famous DR.. John Mclaughlin, governor of
the Hudson Bay Company, az Vancouver,
wash W hen the boy was Ii years of age his
father decided TO send him 10 Scotland TO study
medicine: but DR.. Marcus Whitman, OF Wall
latpu (now Walia Wallal persuaded Williams
father TO send him TO Fairfield college. in Her
kimer county. y. T.. the only medical school
west of New York CITY at that time QS@S). Here
ne remained five years, returning to Vancouver
in lS43 with Hudson bay party. HIS grand
father, DIR. Mclaughlin, established him IN the
mercantile business at Oregon City, and there
he remained until the discovery OF gold in Cal
ifornia IL 1919, when he went to the Ell Dorado
vita party OF friends. Owing TO sickness.
they were unsuccessful, and returned to Oregon
IN 1885, Mckay locating again at Oregon City,
where he was when the Whitman massacre set
the frontier world afire. This bloody crime led
to the organization OF Oregon territory, the set
uers placing themselves under the United
states. and sending Joe Meek as delegate to
Washington City. One of Gov. Lanes first acts
was TO call the Indians together at The Dial es
70 enforce delivery OF the murderers of DIR.
whitman and party. The iends were surren-
dered and were hanged at Oregon City. Tho
chiefs OF these Indians, who were present al the
trial, invited Dr. Mckay to establish trading
post in their midst. He soon had a post estab-
Hshed, locating on Mckay creek, near the pres.
eut site OF Pendieton. He traded and prospered
until the Yakima Indian war of 1875, in which
he and many Others lost all their possessions
Dr. Mckay had taken n prominent part in the
negotiations resulting in the treaty Of walia
Wala of 1855. by which the red men coded all
their lands from the Missouri river to the Cas-
cades to the whites, and the indians were par
ticuarly bitter against him in the two
years war following the Yakima rising
Mckay took a prominent part, and his services
rs a scout were found valuable by the campaign
leaders, who were uuacquaintej with the
nethods OF Indian warfare. In the fail of ls56
Dr. Mckay acted as guide for the ex petitions of
s Sgas M.ght and s,epI1e ana Il was he VINO
being there established At his suggestion. At
the close OF the civil war the Indians again be-
came troublesome. The Snakes began bush
Whacking warfare on the miners and settlers.
The United states troops were powerless TO stop
the outrages. Finally petition was signed BY
the settlers OF Eastern Oregon and sent TO Gov.
Woods. asking, IN the name of GOD, that voiun-
teers De organized a means of protection
against the Snakes. bill was introduced in
the legislature Tor the organization OF three
companies OF volunteers; but an amendment
was moved that company of Warm Spring To-
dlan scouts be raised, and that Dr.. ". g. Mckay
be placed at their head. The amendment was
carried with rush, and the scouts were raised
and mustered into the United States service.
The scouts were inspected in the dead OF winter
At The Dalles by Gen. Steele. and Dr. Mckay
was asked when il was advisable 10 begin the
campaign. Now" was his emphatic answer,
and he forthwith took the field with his com
mand. lie Was eminenty successful, and re-
turned with thirty-tve scaIps, more than the
entire regular army OF the United states
in that section had captured in i've
years. Next June they again took the
field, being then used rs the eyes and ears of
the command OF Gen. Crook, who was in com
mand OF the district Crook spent much OF his
time liz schooling himself in Indian warfare,
using the Indian scouts as his tutors He was
an apt pupil, and gained knowledge that after
ward served him well in fighting the Apaches.
IN one year OF fighting, Mckay compelled the
snakes and fIutes 10 sue for peace During the
Modoc war GEN. Candy invited Mckay and his
warriors tn take the field, but the doctor did not
consider the outbreak of sufficient Importance
His brother Donald led the scouts in the lava
beds, and nnally conquered the outlaws.
DIR. Mckay. who outrankei every other pioneer
III the Northwest, was prominent IN the Oregon
f1oneer Society. aud was highly respected. He
was a man OF striking appearance and excellent
address,