Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1916-02-20

IlueIlCe Ol IHc anu vi bhOuA
rivers. A large number of bright |
sparkling streams. fed by countless
number of pure cold springs, traverses
the valley at intervals of about three
miles. all of which teemed with trout
and beaver. II had been a favorite
feeding ground during the winter sea-
sons for deer, elk and buffalo. The
country properly belonged to the Sho-
shones or Snake Indians, but the
dreaded Blackfeet were wont to sWoop
down upon these bountiful game fields
and the ubiquitous wanderings of this
powerful tribe is evidenced by their
name being given to one OF the prin
cipal streams Of the locality.
A great Indian trail from the south
which crossed the divide near Malad
city and followed down Bannock
creek and up the Snake river on its
way to the headwaters of the Missouri,
intersected another of even greater
Importance near where the fort was
located. 1t was the last mentioned
trail that Mr.. Wyeth and his party had
followed for some 1900 miles and
which afterwards became known as the
Oregon trail. From a commercial
standpoint the country was claimed by
the Hudsons Bay company, first un
der the command of Alexander Ross,
then Peter Skene ogden, Donald Nc
Kenzie and others. AT first their trad
Ing expeditions were fitted out at Spo-
kane House. located nine miles north
west of the present city of Spokane,
Wash, thence by way of Flathead Post
and the Bitter Root valley. but Nc
Of al
Fort Walla Walla and reached the ter
ritory by way Of the trail that after
wards constituted the Columbia river
section Of the Overland route. and still
later followed by the o. S. L. and o. r.
& N. railways.
Wyeth had been west as far as Fort
Vancouver two years before and had
attempted to establish himself 'in such
branches of business as may be eXpedi-
emit" but the loss OF his vessel. the
Sultana, at the Society islands, which
he had engaged to bring out his goods
by way of Cape Horn, caused the ex-
petition to end in disaster. Accepting
the hospitality of the Hudson's Bay
company, he set out for the east by
way OF the Spokane House, Flathead,
Bitter Root and the Portneuf, thence
by way of the Yellowstone and Mis-
souri, rivers While engaged in maxi
ing q bull boat on the Bighorn river,
near where the Burlington" now
crosses that stream north of Sheridan
Wyo., he contracted with Milton Sub
lette, on the part OF the Rocky Noun
tain Fur company to bring out for that
company the following year $4,000
worth of merchandise. After passing
Fort Union at the mouth of the yell
lowstone he made the remaining part
of the journey to Independence in the
company Of only two Indian lads, one
a Nez Perez and the other, Baptiste, a
boy of 10, son of FRANCIS Payette and
his F1athead wife. At that time, 1888,
this may be considered to have been
a journey hazardous in the extreme,
the entire route being through coun-
try infested with hostile tribes.
Trading Company Organized.
Undaunted by a complete failure we
find Mr.. Wyeth, after his arrival al
Cambridge. actively engaged In the
formation Of what he termed THE Co
lumbia River Fishing & Trading com
pany," organized for the purpose OF es-
tablishing salmon fishery at the
mouth of the Willamette, which was
to be operated in connection with q
general fur business through the in
terror. His voluminous correspondence
. while at Cambridge, published by
Sources Of the History of Oregon,
volume l, parts 3 to 6. Os99) afford.
an interesting study OF the man who
brought the American flag and thu
= Protestant religion to the state o
Idaho. His pack train on this coca
sion carried about 1900 pounds o
! merchandise, some OF which was pur
chased in the eastern markets ant
: shipped down the Ohio, the balanc
e being purchased at ST. Louis and sen
! by boat to independence, Mo, iron
which place the expedition started
e His pack animals were purchase
d across the river at Liberty, and tn
9 expedition set out on its long journe
= on the morning Of April 2sth, 1884.
9 In addition TO the land caravan, MI
e Wyeth chartered another ship, tn
c May Dacre, to go round by sea an
II meet him at the mouth Of the william
t cite with cargo of goods and ma
s terial for the salmon fishery. The ad
e venturous spirit OF this enterprisin
e Yankee seems to have been thorough
: sustained by the alluring prospects Of
Il great success beyond the mountain
- He made great haste in order to reac
IL the Green river rendezvous ahead c
y William l.. Sublette, a veteran of tn
- fur trade, but in this he failed, a fac
~ which caused some disquietude in tn
T. mind of Mr. Wyeth, for fear this
. worthy competitor might disturb h
"a profitable contract with the Rock
II Mountain Fur company.
- Safe Conduct for Mi ssion aries.
l. The following letter appertains I
I. the engagement to furnish safe cor
d duct to the Methodist missionaries:
l. New York Feb. Is, 1894.
J. Rev. Jason Lee, Baltimore
ID Dear Sir: ] have received yol
lie favor of the 18th inst, in answer
III which say that / leave this city t
" morrow morning and proceed direct
y, west and remain but five or six da,