The record-union., 1897-08-29
FORT VANCOUVER.
NOTED SOLDIERS WERE ONCE
CHARTERED THERE.
Rich In Legendary Lore and Hav'
ing Future Prospects That
Are Brilliant.
Especial Correspondence of Record-Union.o

PORTLAND Orr, Aug. 26.-In the
early part of the present century the
members of the Hudson Bay Company,
after driving from Astoria John Jacob
Astor's men, who had settled there some
time previously, came to the present
site of Vancouver and erected the first
fort. There is d story extant to the ef-
feet that in excavating for the founda-
ton of the deaf and dumb school, on
Harvey Hill, many evidences were
found to confirm the fact that this spot
was the site of the first fort; however,
no authenticity can be attached to the
tale, it is merely handed down as one
of the many legends with which the
early history of this great Northwest
territory abounds. DR.. Mclaughlin,
whose name is intimately connected
with the early history of this part of the
country, was the first Governor of the
fort
The fort was under semi-military or
ganization, and was the headquarters
for the Indian, IN his fantastic blankets,
who traded his furs and ponies for the
white mans beads and what other
Eaudy baubIe attracted his savage
fancy ;Sthe fur trappers, that race OF
hardy, fearless men, who are at the
present day nearly extinct, and VINO
broughtewith them the spoils of many a
daring adventure over the hills and
daIes ofsthe then unexplored country,
voyagers, explorers bearing with them
the latest-news of the movements of the
Indians, traders with valuable furs for
sale, here they all gathered, and under
the influence of the rich, red wine told
tales of their adventures and quaffed
many a bumper to their future sue
cesses.
It was the intention of the Hudson
Bay people to prevent the American
settlers, If possible, from holding any
land north of the Columbia River and
much i'll feeling existed amongst the
Americans against the autocratic Brit
1Sh. This land, it seems, was held by
ioint~treaty enacted in 1916 and was so
wor1fed that neither the English nor the
Americans could have military protec-
tion there. Already on the disputed land
besides the English, were French Cana
dams, Kanakas from the Hawaiian ISL
ands and many other aliens. Several
intrepid Americans had attempted to
settle there, but were always driven
away. Finally a man named Amos
Short, with his family, succeeded in
making a permanent settlement. The
Hudson Bay Company refused to sell
him goods or provisions and he was
therefore obliged to go as far away as
Oregon City to do his trading One day,
while absent on one of these trips the
men of the Hudson Bay Company en-
tered his house, and after destroying his
fence and other property set his wife
adrift in the middle of the river in
t'bafteau." With a broken oar which
she managed to pick up the brave wo-
man padded to shore after many hair
breadth escapes, and returned in safety
to her home. Her husband was shortly
after this arrested for numbering one
of the Hudson Bay Company's men, but
the case never came to trial, the unan-
imous verdict being that the deed was
justifable.
In June, 1916, the treaty of joint occu-
patton came to an end and England re-
cognized the right of the United States
TO the forty-ninth parallel, and the Hud-
son Bay Company We're given ten years
in which to evacuate before the stead
lily increasing hordes of hardy American
pioneers, who planted upon the spot,
where before had waved the red flag of
the English, the Glorious stars and
stripes.
In 1852. at the close of the Mexican
war. the first regiment was stationed
here and built up the present fort
Among the many prominent men whose
names. will ever be household words for
their valor, bravery and courage at
time when our country needed help
most, may be mentioned that of Grant,
who came here a raw Lieutenant in
1853. General Phil Sheridan, whose
name is so indissolubly engraved upon
the hearts of a patriotic nation, was
also stationed at old Fort Vancouver in
1855. The first fight in which the ia
NOUS General was ever under fire was
an outbrealxing of the Indians at the
Cascades, some forty or more miles
of Vancouver, for the possession of
a log house held by the whites. The
news of the uprising came down late at
night, or rather early in the morning,
and Sheridan, at the head of his COM
pany, started to the rescue at , a. m.
They made all possible speed up the
river in the dim gray light and as the
boat touched the shore the company
were greeted by a shower of Indian ar
rows and bullets. Sheridan ordered his
men to start for the block house at once
AS he stepped ashore a young Sergeant
in his company stood beside him; just at
that moment bullet, aimed by a
crafty redskin, grazed Sheridans
cheek, entering the Sergeant's head,
killing him instantly. Sheridan would
never have made that famous ride
s'from Winchester, twenty miles away"
which won for him the plaudits of a
nation, had that bullet struck him. and
the ride up the Columbia River to the
rescue of his people was only another
evidence of the indomitable courage he
displayed on the occasion Of that famous
ride. General Mcclellan, when a young
officer. was also stationed here, as was
also General o. 0. Howard, and host
of other brave men and true who fought
so nobly in the defense of their country
and flag.
An interesting relic Of these early
days still stands in the garrison
grounds. 1t is a large, square log
house, which was built by the first sol
tiieIs stationed there and now used by
the officers as a clubhouse. In its
day it was a fine building and was
the headquarters for the Commanding
General.
A few ancient apple trees. relics of
the time when the British held possess
ion of the country, still rear their hoary
heads aloft, and upon their withered
branches, which have withstood the
summer suns and winter SHOWS of over
half a century. rest the weight of their
gift to mankind-the same gifts they
give US to-day which they graciously