The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-07-05

To Nisquslly
Beginning OF Americsnism
In Oregon Country
Tide Turned by July An
Celebration Century Ago
EARLY in the evening Of May
l. Il. 1s4i. the men Of the Hud
sons Bay company staff at Fort
Sisqaally and the crew Of the
company steamer. Beaver. an
ehored offshore undergoing re-
pairs were astonished TO see two
vessels slowly coming Up the
sound. They were the United
states sloops Yincinnes and Por-
poise. part Of the exploring
squadron under command Of
Capt. Charles Wilkes. He had
been assigned BY presidential
order to explore and survey the
Pacific coast nj the United
states and make such land IN
vestigations as might be neces-
sary To obtain information on
the character of the northwest
territory then known as the
Oregon country"
The two boats anchored about
eight o'clock that evening. A
few minutes later from the
crowd that watched from the
shore. Alexander Anderson. tenn
porarilv in charge of the Hud-
sons BAY post at Fort MIS-
qually. and William Mcneil,
captain of the Beaver. put out
in a small boat to call on the
visitors. They had learned of
the purpose of the expedition
and DR.. John Mclaughlin. in
charge of Hudson's Bay oper-
atoms al Vancouver. had urged
that the Nisqually staff give the
party every possible assistance.
In the following four days the
Hudson's BAY people helped
Capt. Wilkes establish a head
quarters on shore and assisted
In building an observatory on top
of the hill near the fort. Here
the instruments used in taking
meteorological observations were
set up. Plans also were COM
pleted during the four days for
an expedition east of the Cas-
eade mountains via Naches pass.
While preparations were being
made at Nisqually for a COM
prehensive study of the country,
two visitors arrived. They We're
DR.. John Richmond. in charge of
the Jason Lee Methodist mis-
sion. and Henry Wilson. his
assistant. The record is not
clear on all that took place AT
the meeting of Capt Wilkes and
Or. Richmond but We do know
that the latter expressed the
opinion that Notwithstanding the
frlendliness of the Hudson's Bay
people, they resented what they
characterized as intrusion into
British territory by Americans.
DR.. Richmond is reported to
have said to Capt. Wilkes SUBJ
stantially this:
I'VE must do something to
counterfeit the British influ-
ence. This Is American terri
tory but the British are claim
ing IT. Settlement by Ameri-
cans is discouraged and the
British are gradually getting
possession of the land
Out of tins conversation grew
plans for celebration of In
dependence day on July 1, 1911.
hundred years ago today. The
celebration. however. was held
July 5. The men of that day
observed the Injunction TO re-
member the sabbath day and
keep IL holy. and they would not
profane 1t with 40 worthy an
enterprise = celebration of indie
pendence day =.
The place chosen for the eel
ebration was spot on the
prairie near what we know now
as Lake sequalitchew and
short distance from the mission.
An OK purchased from the Hud-
sons Bay company was slaugh-
tered for barbecue. A pit had
been dug between two trees for
the fire and the carcass Of the
OK. spitted on a sapling. vas
suspended between the trees