The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1926-07-16
'TR END
(Continued from Feature Page)

NGOnLLmWGU LEQm 4GleuLG LakGys
goods. The ships then sailed to Canton,
where the furE were exchanged for Valu-
lble silks, which were marketed in England
1t a handsome profit.
Luckless John LedyaFd
Il this famous cruise Of Cook and his
successors was a petty officer named John
Ledyard, a New Englander Of some educa-
ton. He was in England when the eXpe-
ditiOn was being organized and went along
wholly in the spirit Of adventure. The
potential fur trade wealth Of the Pacific
coast impressed him very much. During the
he kept an accurate diary, but this,
being the best record OF the memorable
voyage, was taken from him by British
officers on his discharge in Eng
land.
Ledyard then returned to Boston. Still
with enthusiasm over the pOssibil-
tiles Of the coast trade, he endeavOred to
raise money to equip q ship to engage in
this Oregon fur traffic. He wrote a PAM
phlet from memory and canvassed the fl
nancial men Of his home city. While the
financiers were interested in his story Of
easy wealth to be made, they declined to
embark on his adventure, The narrative
he told did, however, make an impression
and it bore fruits some few years later.
Development Of the Chinese silk trade,
in which many Boston merchants were in
terested, coupled with stories told by sea-
men coming to Boston port, eventually
stimulated interest in these Oregon posi-
biilties, and in I1S1 a company composed
Of Boston merchants, headed by j. Bar
rell ,One Of the men to whom Ledyard had
told his story, resolved to enter the fur
trade. They equipped two ships, the Col
umbia and the Lad Washington, Cap
tanned respectively by Robert Gray and
John Kendrick. Stocked with goods, the
vessels started on their way to Oregon. II
was ordered tina they take cargOes of furs
from Oregon to China and exchange then
for six and other Oriental merchandise
These goods were in turn to be marketed
in America, the plan involving a POSSIBLE
ity for three profits.
Gray Carries Flag Around World
These two ships left Boston harbOr Dc
tOber /, 1887, arriving on the Oregon cOas
in the following SCI TENDER. CThe tern
Oregon in those days comprised all tn,
territory lying north of California am
west Of the Continental Divide). The crews
Wintered at NOOtka, and trade was in
augurated the following spring, 1873. TIL,
choicest Of furs were secured for the mer
est trifles. Late in the summer, CAPTAIN
Gray sailed for China, sold his furs ant
took on his cargo Of Oriental goods, anC
returned to Boston, arriving at his HON
port in August, 1890 In this voyage
| Captain Gray was the first American sail
or to carry the Stars and Stripes arOunt
the world.
A month later saw Gray on his return
trip to the North Pacific, where he ar
| rived in the summer of 1871. Succeedin;
months of good weather were spent il
trading with the Indians, with whom h
is said to have had numerous skirmishes
He did some exploring, as time and con
venience would permit, and wintered a
ClayOquOt where he built the slOOp, AID
venture. The spring months fOund hin
again in search of trade, but sailing in
sOutherly direction.
Discovery Of the Columbia
On May z, he entered a harbOr in lati
tude 46 degrees, So minutes, which wa
! christened in his name. Four days latel
he steered his ship ACROSS a bar where
mighty river met the sea. On each side Q
the stream were towering cliffs. Believin
that he had found the Great River G
the Vest Of nautical legend, he took hi
observations and found that he was in lat
tude 46 degrees, 10 minutes. He sailed u
the river for 10 miles, anchored and
great multitude Of Indians visited the shi
to trade. He remained at his anchOrae
for 10 days, and then sailed about ]
miles farther up the river, went ashore an
took possession Of the land in the name
the United States of America, most Apr
priately christening the stream, "COlun
bia."
Jefferson Interested in Oregon
Returning to the lucklesS Ledyard, Y
find that after American financiers hl
failed him.. he went to London Here
had no better success. Then he jOurne
ed to Paris where he met Captain Pa
Jones, the famous American naval COZ
mander. Ledyard'S proposed adventu
appealed to Captain Jones, who Introduce
/ jLedyard to Thomas Jefferson, then Uni
ed States ambassador to France. JeffersO
a student Of conditions in the nOrthwe'