The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-06-06
NUMEROUS DESCENDANTS.


peeialiy in California-there are mum.
Der of adventurers who claim to be
either his legal wife or his common law
wife. A legal wife is defined to be
from a legal marriage by regular
ordained minister of the gospel, or
some official authorized to perform the
marriage ceremony. A common law
wife exists principally in California and
is what is denominated polygamy in
Utah. Most of the wealthy men in
California had legal wife and mum.
Der of common law wives on the side
This is evidenced by the number of
beautiful young widows who have ap.
pealed to the courts for a slice of their
quasi husbands property. Sometimes
they get slice, and sometimes they
don't.
But the latest thing in numerical
descendants, is the large number that
made application to the Lewis and
Clark fair committee to sell relics af
Meriwether Lewis, claiming that they
are descendants of Mr.. Lewis and there
fore entitled to recognition. The
claimants of the Lewis toga are almost
without exception mercenary, and
their wants as explained by letter are
many and varied. A resident of Hick.
ley, Utah, wants to exhibit a cane
which he says was made by Captain
Lewis after his return to Virginia
The Hickey man says he is a great
grandson of the explorer. Another man
also grandson, says he has the identi-
cal sword with which Lewis slew an
Indian chieftain, and he wsuld like to
sell the sword. A third grandson
claims to own the hat which Meriweth-
er Lewis wore on the memorable Jour.
ney across the mountains in 1904. .O5.
and he too would realize revenue from
the sale of the heirloom.
When it is considered that Meriweth.
er Lewis lived and died a bachelor. IL ia
passing strange where all of these
grandsons came from. There is no ey.
idence that Lewis was ever in Califor.
MA, and it is well known thaat he was
never married. Perhaps some Chicago
college professor can explain the sci.
entlfic principles of how a bachelor can
have grandsons, but it is too difficult
problem for the average editor to com.
bat, even more intricate than "How old
was Ann" Had Mr.. Lewis ever lived
in California. there might be some ex.
cnse for these extraordinary heirlooms.
and the only reasonable deduction to
be made from the claims of these mer.
elnary individuals and grand-sons, is
that they had better be more thorough.
ly informed on the early history of ex-
plorers, before they make any such
rash breaks.
A few years ago. there were over
thirty one thousand of the famous
hatcbets that George Washington cut
down the cherry tree with, although in
justice to the people of Astoria it may
be stated, that none of them were ever
found here. They were owned only by
truthful men. 1t was afterwards dis.
covered, that there was a manufactorv
in New Jersey that was turning out
original George Washington hatchets
Astoria has afforded a good field for
disposing of stock in Washington trout I
farms and southern Oregon gold mines. ]
and California oil wells, and cashing {
night bank checks, but it t
cannot plead not guilty to ever purchas- {
ing any of the original Geo. Washington 5
hatchets, and there are no grandsons of G
Lewis living here, and for b
.hese small blessings we should be tru, t
" thankful