Page:Centennial History of Oregon 1811-1912, Volume 1.djvu/109



iutt'iii'|iti'(l \>y n Hritish privateer, the secretary of the navy sent Captain Isaac Hull, with the United States frigate (Constitution, to eseort the Toncpiin licvdnd danuer. 'I'he Tonquin reached the ("ohunhia on the 24tli day of March, ISlI, and anchored in Haker's Bay. This first ship had sad luck in getting inlci llic river on this fii'st vo3'age to start the mighty current of coiumutcc, for cighl oT the crew were lost in examining the shores and bays of the river to mark oul its channel. On the 12t,h of April, the ship's launch, with sixteen men and sup- plies crossed over the river from Baker's Bay to Point George, and there and then commenced a settlement on the present site of the city of Astoria, and gave it the name it bears in honor of the projector of the enterprise. It was nine months after the arrival of the Tonquin before Hunt, with a remnant of his party, reached Astoria, having been harassed by the bitter opposition of the Canadian Fur Company, which had contrived to send a party ahead of him and arouse the opposition of the Indians to him, and which party under the lead of Thompson, reached Astoria in a canoe, flying the British flag just ninety days after the American flag had been hoisted on Point George.

The overland expedition of "Wilson Price Hunt is one of the most remarkable in the annals of pioneer adventure; and in its benefits to succeeding immigra- tions to Oregon was the most beneficial of all the fur traders' contributions to the settlement of this country. While Astor had but little difficulty in getting his ship off from New York, he was harassed by bitter opposition to every step of his effort to organize the overland party. While cruising the western towns of Canada and the United States for suitable material to make up a party he knew he would be beset with great trials. Hunt was harried by the bitter op- position of both the Northwest Company of Canada and the Missouri Fur Company of St. Louis. He finally gathered a party of sixty men together and went into camp where the city of St. Joseph, in Missouri, now stands, on <>r about the first of September. 1810. Here was completed all the details for the journey to be accomplished in 1811. In this assemblage of bold border men were four partners in Astor 's new company. Donald Mackenzie, who had been ten years in the service of the Northwest Company, accustomed to every phase of border danger and trial, familiar with all the tactics of Indian warfare, and a braAc man. There was also a young Scotchman. Ramsay Crooks, formerly with the Northwest Company, of great enterprise, and whose son. Colonel William Crooks was for years a citizen of Oregon and assistant to A. L. Mohler. president of the Oregon Railway and Navigation Company. Also Joseph Miller, a native of Baltimore, an army oiifieer and a trapper ; and the fourth man, Robert McLellan, a fearless man, of large experience in fighting Indians and the hero of many battles. There was also John Day, a powerful Virginia backwoodsman, a giant in stature, and for whom John Day river of Eastern Oregon and John Day in Clatsop county are named. Pien-e Dorion, the Frenchman whose father had accompanied Lewis and Clark as interpreter, was also in the party; together with two scientists, John Bradbury and Nuttall, the botanist, both Englishmen.

Having everything in readiness the party broke camp on the 20th of Ajjril, 1811. and commenced poling their boats iip the Missouri river ten years before any steamboats were seen in that region. They had got only a few days' advance up the river until the men commenced deserting on account of the fear of the Indians. Hunt had planned to follow the route of Lewis and Clark as far a.«