Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 13.djvu/79



This year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eleven is commemorative in the basin of the Columbia River. Eighteen hundred and ninety-two marked our first centenary, when Prof. John Fiske crossed the continent from Cambridge to deliver before the Oregon Pioneer Association at Astoria an address in honor of the discovery of the Columbia River by Capt. Robt. Gray. In 1905 the Lewis and Clark Exposition (really suggested by the Oregon Historical Society) at Portland most fittingly commemorated the transcontinental explorations of that wonderful expedition. During this present year of 1911 there have already been held exercises at Astoria to celebrate the coming of the Tonquin by sea with its division of the Astorians, and at Kettle Falls in honor of the arrival there of that great pathfinder David Thompson from Canada; and now during these closing days of the year in this beautiful valley of the mountains is gathered this company to recall the presence here in December, 1811, of the land division of the Astorians under the leadership of Wilson Price Hunt. And what a passing was that one hundred years ago in contrast with the luxurious train service that brought your visitors to this city today! Traveling on foot, reduced to dog and horse flesh for food, and even that very difficult to obtain; weary, faint and anxious, their leader "pushed on from day to day, with no other alternative to be sure but still courageously inquiring for the Columbia River which he knew must be ahead of them could they survive to reach it. Those were the first white men yet known to have passed through Eastern Oregon: all honor to their passing!

It is not the purpose, of this address to retell the story of that journey in its detail; others will have done that and it is being religiously brought to your attention by the press.