The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1894-02-02
4 ,a.ctRAp 81. IIIsTo oRY1
An Event in Astoria's Early History
which was Almost Forgotten.

Editor Astorian:-
clatsop county recently executed the
arae. nalefactor who received the death
sentence within its limits, some fifty
years after the establishment Of law
bv American citizenship. 1t is a fact
which speaks well for the citizenship
within her present limits that It should
be so. The press generally noted the
event, and 30 far as the writer noted
the statement was that 1t was the first
execution that ever took place at As
toria.
That, however, is so far from being
the case, that the first execution that
ever took place under the white
mans law of life for life, took
place at astoria fifty-two years
ago, or two years before the for
nal ordination OF law, while the do
minion over Oregon was virtually exer-
cised by the Hudson Bay Company,
with DR.. John Mclaughlin as chief fac
tor, and its chief seat OF power at Fort
Vancouver.
In the early part OF the salmon sea-
son Of 1871, trader OF the Hudson Bay
Company was murdered while asleep in
his tent ON the beach at Skamokawa,
near Pillar Rock. Robbery was the mo-
tive, and the murderers were two In
dians belonging up the northwest coast.
Thence they tried to escape. but a
squad Of the Hudson Bay Company's
soldiers, directed by DR.. w. f. Tolmie,
overlook them and killed one and ar
rested the other, and brought him to
Fort George (Astoria). From there he
escaped, but was re-arrested, through
causing the death Of two women dis
glised as men who were assisting. him.
He was brought back to Fort George,
and as there was no question as TO his
guilt, DR.. Mclaughlin resolved to make
his execution as impressive upon the IN,
dians as possible. In order to do so,
he sent invitations to all classes OF the
white settlers. and also to the chief
Indians in this locality. But few OF
the names Of those who attended have
been preserved; but Dr. Babcock came
from the Willamette Methodist Mission,
and James O'Neil represented the Amer
ican settlers Of that locality. The grand
old white-headed chief Factor superin-
tended the arrangements, and had all
the white men in attendance take hold
OF the halyard that was to lift the muir
derer to eternity, except Mr.. Frost, Of
the Clatsop Mission, whose situation
exposed him to the revengeful feeling
OF the Indians. When all was ready,
Mclaughlin barred his head and in the
trade Chinook jargon, called on the
Indian to note that the Boston, the
King George man, and the Pysiux
ish with death In that way, whoever
committed such crimes as that man
had done. Thus took place the first eX-
ecution under Anglo Saxon rule on
the Pacific coast and at Astoria. II Is
very probable the event strengthened
the sentiment for the ordination Of law
1t Is still more probable that 1t greatly
contributed to the safety Of the first
settlers in clatsop county.
J. MINTO.
The writer OF the foregoing arrived at
Astoria In January. 1S45, with Captain
II. w. Morrison. but is in possession Of
letters Of DR.. w. f. Tolmie giving the
particulars Of the arrest and execution
Of the Indian as here narrated. Captain
Morrison was the first to arrest a law
breaker in the county under American
law. Acting as deputy sheriff under
Thomas Owens. he arrested - Eel
lows for selling liquor TO the Indians
for salmon at Woody Island, and took
him to Astoria for trial before w. II.
Gray This took place in 1896