The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1905-05-28
Special pispatrh to N, c.Il

The very nrSt, 10 traverse tne country
or make any stay within its bounds.
Others had sailed along its coasts and
left their names on various headlands.
points and bays-Ferrilo in 1543; Sir Fran
els Drake, some years later; De Fuca,
IL 1882; Fonte in 1870; Perez. in IVA; He
cata, in 1875. from whose report map
was published in Rome in 1882 which
showed the basin Of the Columbia to be
great inland sea. near whose eastern
border rose the biIssou-- River and the
celebrated Captain Cook, with whom was
John Ledyard, a young New EnglandeT
in 1777. but none of these displace
Lewis and Clark as the discoveries and
explorers of The Oregon Country
The story of Cooks voyages, published
in London soon after his return, attract
ed The attention Of Americans, and from
BUstcn Two ships. the Columbia, Captain
Robert Gray. and the Lady Washington.
Captain Kendrick. were sent to the
North Pacific Coast. Their primary OBJ
ject was to get sea otter furs and other
valUables 70 be had from the Indians.
but American curiosity and enterprise led
TO larger findings On a second voyage
% these ships after nine days vainly try
ing 10 cross the breakers. Captain Gray
caught favoTing wind and drove his
good ship across the bar into the wide
eXpanse Of the great river. which he
caued the Columbia. after his vessel; the
river Of which Fonte had spoken and
which Cook and Vancouver and others
maintained did not exist.
Gray's discovery and naming Of the CO.
lUrnbia-~TEe oregon" of Carver and
Bryant-was an important factor In the
n.ial determination Of the northwestern
boundary line between the United States
and the British possessions in North
America by the Observation-Disclosures
treaty of 1876, but il was the incontro-
Nertible logic of the exploration and oc-
cupation by Lewis and Clark in 1866,
backed by the cession OF the French title
in lSe5; OF the Spanish titles. real and
imaginary. north of the forty-second
parallel. in 1873: the settlement Of As
Joria in 1911. its capture in 1913 and res
Iteration TO United States jurisdiction by
Great Britain in 1918, that gave ground
ter liking the boundary at the forty-ninth
pa8 allel instead OF the forty-second and
securing The oregon Country TO the
United States.
THOMAS JEFFERsoN'S PART.
II is 10 Thomas Jefferson that the peo-
pie oi the United States are indebted for
the two greatest and most important &C
questions CT territory TO their original
limits. He conceived the idea and con-
summated the purchase from Napoleon OF
the titles and holdings Of France in
North America, and le. too. conceived
and planned the expedition TO the Oregon
country
From John Ledyard. Cooks compan-
ion whom he met IN Paris about the
time OF the publication Of Cook s voy-
ages, he had learned mach OF the prom
Use Of The E'acihc Coast Grays dis
covery Of the mouth of the Columbia
in 1872 ed him 10 believe that the
ncadwaters Of tAat river and those OF
tie Missouri were not far apart. The
Louisiana purchase contaminated, the
Ions nurtured plan OF exploration Of
the great unknown country was put
into effect.
PLANS FOR JOURNEY.
Though from Jefferson came the
idca OF the general plan and authority
for the great exploration that has
been SO fruitful OF benefits TO the
American people. to Meriwether Lewis
and William Clark must be accorded the
credit Cor its successful accomplish
luent
President Jefferson. on January IS,
1903, 81 days tefore Napoleon decided
20 offer Louisiana TO the American
ENJOYS and l02 days before the sign
ing OF the treaty by which France
transferred Louisiana TO the United
States. submitted to Congress a special
message. in Waich lie urged that an Of
iicial expedition be dispatched TO ex-
plore the western country Congress
approved the plan. Captain Lewis was
appointed to command the expedition,
and upon the estimates which he him
sell prepared the modest sum Of $500
ives appropriated for the expedition
she sum was considered ADEQUATE to
defray the expenses OF . company OF
forty-flve men journeying nearly sO0a
miles through . country actually IN
known.
START FROM CAMP DUBOIS.
At this time Meriwether Lewis was
Is years old. Reared on a farm in Vfr-
einia, at 20 he engaged as bodyguard
TO General Washington during The
whisky rebellion, subsequently, being
removed TO the regular service as a
Lieutenant in the line. He was pro-
rloted 10 q captaincy at % Captain
Lewis selected as his associate VIII
liam Clark. who also received can
taiH's commission Clark was four
years older than his superior He had
joined the ranks as an ensign when "a
years old, subsequently becoming a
captain Of militia and a lieutenant of
infantry under Wayne He afterward
served as adjutant ana quartermaster
Captain Lewis. with a generosity sell
dom shown IN commanders insisted
from the FIRST IL sharing the honors of
command with his inferior, and Clark
was always his stanch friend and adj
wiser. The friendship of these two in
trepid adventuTers finds few parallels
IN history
President Jefferson issued hts final
Instructors TO Captain Lewis on .Tulv
4, 1903, and Lewis left Washington on
the following daT, being joined by
Captain Clark at Louisville. Havinr
selected the men TO compose the party.
they went into camp at Camp Dubois.
near St Louis, remaining there until
the 18th day or May, 1904, when the
final start was made. The party con-
sisted OF Captain Meriwether Lewis.
Captain Williams Clark, nine young men
from Kentucky, fourteen soldiers. two
French Canadians. an interpreter and
hunter and q negro servant of Captain
Clark The expedition proceeded IN
the Missouri River in boats. forty
three days being consumed in crossing
what is now the State of Missouri. and
L. October the party went into camp
for the winter among the Mandan In
dams. IN what is now North Dakota
learning much from the Mapdans OF
the geography OF the surrounding
country.
~BiRD WOMAN GUIDE.
Winter quarters we're abandoned on
10 n fsa7-7- p -.