The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1926-09-16

dent Budd Of the Great Northern, whose mem
bers made their pilgrimage in July, dedicated
three monuments and held memorial celebrations
In honor of several pathinders, missionaries and
traders at different places route
The final celebration was at Astoria, Ore,
where tall shaft, the gift of Vincent Aston of
New York, unveiled. This monument was
erected principally to honor John Jacob Astor,
the man who looms largest in the history of the
American fur trade. But upon the column, which
towers 126 feet in the air from its position on
hill 626 feet above the river, is a ribbon-ike
frieze, depicting in fresco the historical events
connected with the name of Astoria The pic
tured story of John Jacob Aston and the fur trade
is there, Is the story of Capt Robert Gray, who
discovered and named the Columbia river in
1892. 1t also bears the names of Lewis and
Clark, who first saw the Pacific and realized that
they had come to the end of their quest, near
Astoria. -Four miles away and easily in sight of
the new Astoria monument, they built winter
camp Fort Clatsop, and stayed there until March
%, 1906, when they set out for st. Louis. But
Montana and Oregon are not the only states that
hive thus remembered Meriwether Lewis.
Tennessee, where he is buried, also has done
honor to his name. And thereby hangs the tale.
of the tragedy of the brave young leaders UNI
timely death and one of the mysteries of Amer
lean history. In September, 1900, Governor Lewis.
left st. Louis for Washington. Unattended he made
his way through the Chickasaw country of Ten
tavern of Robert Grinder, a half breed, the old
Natchez Trace. Lewis engaged a room at the
tavern. During the night a shot was heard and
he was found dying with pistol beside him.
Historians disagree as to who fred the shot.
There is theory that in q fit of melancholy he
committed suicide. President Jefferson is said to
have accepted that belief and it persisted for
many years. But later research supports the be-
lief Of the settlers on the Natchez Trace that
Lewis was murdered for his money, and the
name of "Old Grinder" is linked with the crime.
Lewis was buried near the tavern and it was
not until 40 years later that the Tennessee legis
lature honored his memory by naming a county
after him and erecting over his grave a monu-
ment at cost of $500. The ravages of time have
seriously defaced the monument. however, and
now citizens of Tennessee are planning to build
over 1t dome-shaped shrine, supported by Gre
clan columns, each representing one Of the states
of the Louisiana Purchase, to shield the old mon
ument Several years ago the federal government
authorized the purchase of the tract of land upon
which the monument stands and it's maintenance
as memorial park. Plans for the new memorial
call for statues of Lewis and his companion
Captain Clark, and of Sacajawea, the Indian
girl who was their guide and who did so much
to insure the success of the expedition.
Mention of the name of Sacajawea recalls one
Of the most romantic aspects Of the Lewis and
Clark expedition, that Of sixteen-yearold Indian
mother with tiny babe strapped on her back
who, as the journals Of the expedition record
guided us unerringly through mountain passes
she inspired us an.' In view of the value Of her