Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-08-03

resolved TO enter the fur trade. The
equipped two ships, the Columbia and
the Lady Washington, captained re.
spectively by Robert Gray and Johr
Kendrick. Stocked with goods, the YES
sells started on their way to Oregon
1t was ordered that they take cargoe:
Of furS from Oregon to China anc
exchange them for silk and other orien-
tai merchandise. These goods were IL
turn to be marketed in America, the
plan involving a possibility for three
profits.
Gray Carries Flag Around World
These two ships left Boston harboT
Oct. l, 1877, arriving on the Oregon
coast in the following September. cThe
term Oregon in those days comprised
all the territory lying north of Cali
fornia and west of the continental di-
! vide.) The crews wintered at Nootka,
| and trade was inaugurated the follow
ing spring, 1888. The choicest of furs
! were secured for the mereSt trifleS.
Late in the summer, Captain Gray
sailed for China, sold his furs and took
on his cargo of oriental goods, and re-
turned to Boston, arriving at his home
port in August, 1890 In this voyage,
Captain Gray was the first American
sailor to carry the Stars and Stripes
around the world
A month later saw Gray on his
return trip to the North Pacific, where
he arrived in the summer of 1871. Sue
ceeding months of good weather were
spent in trading with the Indians
with whom he Is said to have had
numerous skirmiShes He did some ex-
ploring. as time and convenience would
permit, and wintered at Clayoquot,
where he built the sloop, Adventure.
The spring months found him again
in cnaTcf nf trade HYrf Falling IN
Southerly direction.
On May 2, he entered a harbor In
latitude 46 degrees, So minutes, which
was christened in his name. -Four days
later, he steered his ship across a bar
where a mighty river met the sea.
On each side Of the stream were tow
ering cliffs. Believing that he had
found the Great River Of the West"
OF nautical legend, he took his obSer-
vations and found that he was in
latitude 46 degrees, 10 minutes. He
sailed up the river for 10 miles, an
chored and q great multitude Of In
dams visited the ship to trade. He re-
manned at his anchorage for 10 days
and then sailed a few miles farther up
the river, went ashore and took pos
session of the land In the name Of the
United States Of America, most appro-
pr1ately christening the stream Go
lumbia."
Jefferson Interested tn Oregon
Returning to the luckIess Iedyard,
we find that after American financiers
had failed him, he went to London.
Here he had no better success. Then
he journeyed to Paris where he met
Capt. Paul Jones, the famous American
naval commander. Ledyard's proposed
appealed to Captain Jones,
who introduced Ledyard to Thomas |
Jefferson, then United States ambas- |
sador to France. jefferson, a student !
him for days narrattng his stories of |
the fur wealth of the North Pacific |
coast, and the information that Jeffer- |
SON received from Ledyard Is said to |
have impressed this far sighted states
man with the idea that If the United |
States could establish a claim to the
great Oregon country, there was a pos
sibiltty Of developing the young re-
public into continental power Thus,
United States a few years later, he
brought about the organization Of the
Lewis and Clark expedition which made
he long overland journey across the
continent and established discovery
rights, which, together with Grayss
discovery. brought the Oregon country
Inder the sovereignty Of the young re-
public.
The End of the Trail
Turning now to face the Outbound
liver, the members Of the 1925 expe-
itttOn viewing the scene as 1t existed
81 years before, could see IN their
minds eye far upstream, an Indian
woman with papooSe on her shoulders
,iodding in the lead Of pack train.
'Iuckily this SAGA awea has guided the
wo white leaders who are close at
Ter side, from st. Louis, up the Mis-
Ourt, over the mountains, down Snake
liver and along the Columbia to Fort
Jlatsop. They are nearing the narrow
hOre strip that leads to Trails End"
nd the roaring breakers of a mighty
cean. Capts. William Clark and Mer1-
yether Lewis have fulfilled the dream
orn In the great mind Of Jefferson.
Then following close on the tran Of
hege celebrated American explorers,
he bar and John Jacob Aston, who Is
estined to garner control Of the north
lestern fur trade and reap for himself
nd his estate fabulous fortune, has :
1cceeded IN getting his first ennis !
aries of trade to Oregon. This IL
ated ship, which was doomed to de-
,ructiCn by treacherous hands shortly I
sterward, piloted by Captain Thorn,
cached the mouth of the Columbia.
nd. it was here, right at the spot
here the historians today stand, on q
le south bank Of the river, q splendid P
cation was found for the trading post !
al settlement. And, thus did Astoria !,
Drrle into being. There was established
hat was then the first American
,ttlement west Of the Mississippi river.
Activity ut ST. 1zogzAs
AT about this time, there was great
,tivfkv AZ old st. Louis, for khe Aston
,erlalad expedition was getting under
~ haad@d BY Wilson r. Hunt Great