Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 15.djvu/36



28 JUDGE WILLIAM C. BROWN

Fort Okanogan was virtually and for all practical purposes abandoned when Francois and his men moved the property and furnishings away on or about June 18 or 19, 1860, and took the same to Keremeos, where a new post was erected.

We will not attempt a detailed narrative of the occur- rences at Fort Okanogan in the twenties, thirties and forties. Perhaps a few entries from such journals as those of Work, Anderson or Todd, might be profitably copied, for the same would give, to a certain degree, a very good idea of the gen- eral run of the happenings, and reflect a faithful picture as to what manner of place Fort Okanogan really was in those times, but those matters can be so much better obtained from the journals themselves that we will offer no second-hand recital of any fragments here. The reader of such journals as those above mentioned will find the names of about all the prominent figures in the fur trade, identified with the history of the place. One year Connolly comes down with the new Caledonia fur, always a big brigade of several hun- dred horses. He is accompanied by young Douglas, after- wards the great Sir James. At Okanogan they find that the Spokane brigade has been waiting for them nearly a week. A day or so is spent in repacking furs and trans- ferring them to the boats, and the consolidated outfits pro- ceed down the Columbia to Fort Vancouver, leaving the horses to recruit themselves during the summer on the broad bunch grass ranges abounding along the Okanogan. Oft- times the waiting brigades would be indulged by the officers in a regale, and the place in consequence be the scene of great festivity. Traditions in regard to these regales, some of which appear to have been famous affairs, in which drinking, feasting, gambling, dancing and horse racing were the lead- ing features, are about the principal thing remembered by the half breed descendants of the old voyagers. In November, 1824, Governor Simpson (afterwards Sir George) stopped over for a day or two at Okanogan on his famous trip across the continent. With him was Doctor McLoughlin coming to take charge of the entire business of the company on this