Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 24.djvu/93

 Diary of Rev. George Gary 77 pears so far off seems to be near it, but I am not able to form an opinion whether this volcano is near enough to melt the perpetual snows or not. On further inquiry I have learned that this volcano is in Mount Helen itself, and that either the snow is diminishing or the soot set- tling upon the white covering of the mountain presents the appearance of wasting snow. It is so cold near these snowy mountains and the snow is so deep I believe there has been no very thorough examination of them, and this volcano is so high up the mountain as that the tempera- ture at its base is but little, if any, affected by it. The falling ashes or soot have been seen and gathered from boards or anything of a smooth surface, say, fifty miles from the crater. 4: P. M. While we are coming up the river very pleasantly, a boat is seen coming down. We all gaze for a while, bye and bye Mr Roberts announces it is Mr Abernethy. 7 In a short time we meet and he comes on board and informs us he has heard we had entered the Columbia River and has come to meet us and take us to Williamette Falls, but as the day is far spent, we remain on board over night. By the papers overland through Mexico, by the way of Sandwich Islands the news of our appointment and of our sailing from New York had preceeded in advance of us. Both at the Islands and in Oregon more than a month. When we arrived at the Islands we learned that Messrs. Frost and D. Lee 8 sailed for the states in the year 1843, in the fall Rev. J. Lee had gone to the states by way of Mexico, Rev G. Hines and family had started from Oregon with J. Lee for the states, but after their arrival at Honolulu, finding no con- venient opportunity to proceed, and hearing of an op- 7 George Abernethy, Steward of the mission, afterward Governor under the Provisional Government. . s Dr Ira L. Babcock, Daniel Lee and J. H. Frost and their families went to the Islands by way of California on the bark Diamond, August 21 1843. Babcock and family returned. Jason Lee and Gustavus Hines and family left Oregon by the English bark Columbia, February 3, 1844, but Hines and family returned.