The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1899-08-17
Explorer Cisrk's Grandson a
Guest In the City.
historic PLACES VISITED
Ne VIII Fulfill a Pledge Made BY His
Famous Ancestor TO Oae OF
CIatsop's Indians


came west as the gust OF both Pres
ident Hill. OF the Great Northern. and
President Mellen. Of the Northern Pa
clhe He has been visitor in Astoria
during the past two or three days and
VIII leave for his home In Washington.
D. c.. this morning.
Upon his arrival. the major was very
anxious to see and inspect the place
where his grandfather had wintered
on the Lewis and Clarke. There being
no facilities TO reach the point other
than by special boat however. and the
weather. as weli. being unpropltlous,
the trip OF necessity was abandoned.
Agent Lounsberry OF the o. r. & n.
company very generously volunteered
to entertain Major Clarke while here
and II was at Mr.. Lounsberry's sugges-
tlun that a journey was made into the
region known as the clatsop plains.
in the early days when the majors
grandfather was here, there were up
wards Of a thousand Indians in that
locality. Now. there is only one full
blooded survivor OF the old Clatsop
tribe left. She Is everywhere recog-
nized as '"old Jenny" and is wrinkled
In the face and bent with age. HIstor-
ians state that an Indian is incap-
able Of telling his age. Their only
manner Of measuring time is by TAX
ing cognizance OF the more consple-
uous events Of their career. Mr..
Lounsberry procured Tillamook wo-
man TO act as interpreter, and while
"Cld Jenny was unable to number the
miie-stones she had passed on life's
journey. the major found his eonver-
sation with her an interesting one.
She recalled the time when the fort
was there and remembered distinctly
the white men giving the Indians an
abundance Of elk meat.
4 rather marked coincidence occur
red as the train was whirling the party
towards the beach. In the car with
the major anj his party were the
grandehild OF Explorer Clarke. and also
the grandchild OF the Indian chief who
helped to guard and protect the ma
jor's grandfather from the malevolence
OF the ioung's River redmen.
It would seem that there were two
rival tribes OF Indians at that time,
and that the Young's river clan had
laid plans 10 utterly exterminate Capt.
Clarke's party. The Clatsop tribe.
learning OF the treaehery. duly warned
them and generously assisted them in
keeqing guard. "old Jenny" grand
father was one OF the Indians who
acted as sentinel. 1t was an interest
ing occurrence that the two grand
children shouli so singularly fall into
companionship.
The major was informed by "old
Jenny" that her mother. who long
since died, told her OF Captain Clarke's
travels in that vicinity. and had said
that the captain taught her grand
father how to handle and shoot a rife.
and had promised when he went away,
to forward them a gun as a memento.
As the gun never reached them how
ever, II was presumed to have been
lost or stolen while enroute. The ma
jor smiled when "old Jenny" naively
told him that the rife was as honestly
due now as then. She added that she
had boy. ana that It would simply
be In keeping with Indian integrity
that the rifle be given him to make
the promise good. The major. who
will fulfill the pledge, stated that he
has in his Washington home, the orig
lnal rifle carried by Captain Clarke in
the memorable expedition.
On their return to Astoria, Mr.. |
Lounsberry drove Major Clarke and |
party over the hills back Of the city, |
where view Of the Lewis and Clarke |
was Afforded. The old AStor fort was |
also visited. as well as other points OF |
historic interest, The major visited
the club in the evening, and afterward
boarded The Hassalo for run. up the
river He regards the scenery on the
Columbia wonderfully attractive.
Major Clarke very recently visited
the Yellowstone Park country, and
stopped for short period at Great
Falls, Mont, where his grandfather
was chased by grizzly bear, and
where the only man lost on the Clarke
expedition was buried. Major Clarke
S much pleased with his visit and en-
at Astoria.