The Coolidge examiner., 1934-08-10

Eventually wycih and the remnants ~ his marty
reached the Columbia Ia destitute condition
But they were kindly received by Dr John Mc.
Loughllu, chief factor of the Columbia river ais.
triet FOR the Hudson's Bay company AZ Fort
Vancouver. and there began lasting friendship
between McLoughln and Wyeih. even though
The Yankee adventurer was a potential business
rival of the II. b. G. factor
At Vancouver came the crowulng blow 20
wyeih's mlsfortunes He learned that the ship
which was bringing his supplies around Cape
Horn had been shipwrecked and al of his goods
lost Nothing remained Tor him 10 do but 20
release his men from their contract aud return
home TO recoup his lost fortunes Some OF his
men remained In the Oregon country and these
remnants OF Wyeih's FIRST expedition became
part OF the nucleus around which later Oregon
immigrants clustered" So from the historical
point OF view the expedition was not an utter
loss
Accompanied by two men wyeih set out for
the East tn the spring OF lSsl3 and b. November
OF that year he home again after an
absence of 10 months having made the first
continuous land journey on record from Boston
TO the mouth OF the Columbia" II Is a tribute
10 both the integrity OF the man and the force
of his personality that despite his failure he was
able 20 Interest his friends In a second expedl-
ton. Within u days after bis return to Massa.
chusetts he had organized the Columbia River
Fishing and Trading Company" had secured
money from New York and Boston business men
and chartered another ship for the Journey
around Cape Horn.
on his return trip east he had again come into
contact with representatives OF the Rocky Noun
tain Fur company. this time In the persons OF
Milton Sublette and Thomas Fitzpatrick, and
had obtained from them the contract for supply.
ng the merchandise 10 be used In their trading
operations. So he purchased about 1900 pounds
OF goods 10 ll this contract, part OF II In east
ern markets and. shipping II down the Ohio.
secured the remainder In ST. Louis Again he
prepared TO start from Independence There he
was Joined by the two young scientists. Nuttall
and Townsend, who were also oregonbound.
But more important contingent OF his party
was a group OF FIVE men. whose presence is
accounted for by Mrs. Brown as follows: When
wyeth had returned TO Boston the preceding
year. he was accompanied by two Indian lads
one about eighteen years OF age kind OF serv-
ant OF all work and a half-breed boy OF thirteen,
the OF a HudsOn's bay trader and a Flathead
beauty. Their presence in the East and also the
visit OF party Of Indians TO St Louis In search
OF "A Book. the Guide 10 Heaven, had aroused
great zeal in missionary circles. Partly as a
result OF these visits, a small party OF Methodist
missionaries was in wyeths company for safe
conduct on their way to the Oregon Indians.
Their leader was Jason Lee, described by Town
send as a tall, powerful man, capable OF han
ding men in a wild country With him was his
nephew. Daniel Lee, and three lay brethren.
p L. Edwards. Cyrus Sheppard and C. II. Walk
er, all OF whom proved - be good travellers and
excellent companions a long tedious trip"
The journey across the plains was compara-
lively uneyentful His desunatioP was a place
on the Snake river In the country claimed by
the Shoshoni or Snake Indians. En- route there
his party was Joined by Thomas Mckay a Hud-
sons Bay man. who hunting in that region
with a band OF Canadians and Indians and who
travelled along with him until he reached the site
which he picked out for his fort.
1t was a natural meadow OF rich bottom land,
enclosed by sharp bend OF the Snake river on