Page:Portland, Oregon, its History and Builders volume 1.djvu/255

Rh nearly exhausted, their clothing was badly worn, some of the immigrants, especially children were sick. They were threatened with massacre by the Indians. It was then the greatness and humanity of Dr. McLoughlin was best shown. He prevented the assaults of the Indians, provided boats to carry the immigrants to Fort Vancouver, furnished food and clothing to all, extended credit to all who needed it without collateral, although selling goods on credit was strictly against the rules of the Hudson's Bay Company. He took care of the sick at the company's hospital without charge. He provided means for them to reach the Willamette valley, and supplied them with seed wheat to be returned in kind the next season, loaned them tools to cultivate with, and also cattle._ Although most of these and succeeding immigrants repaid for these advances, it is to be greatly regretted that a number did not, and thus caused Ur McLoughlin great trouble and loss, and were one of the causes which led to his resignation from the Hudson's Bay Company in 1845, which became effective in 1846. Without these aids, most of these immigrants would have sullered greatly probably many would have died from privation, exposure, and some possibly from starvation. The total white population, men. women and children in Oregon, outside of the officers and employes of the Hudson's Bay Company, prior to the arrival of the immigration of 1843. did not exceed two hundred persons.

The immigration of 1844, numbering about fourteen hundred persons and of 1845, numbering about three thousand persons, arrived in nearly the same destitute conditions as the immigration of 1843. They were protected, aided and supplied on credit by Dr. McLoughlin, as were the immigrants of 1843.

These early pioneers of Oregon were not adventurers nor mendicants I hey were courageous, strong and forcible men and women who came to Oregon to make it their home. They had the confidence in their ability to overcome all difficulties. A majority of these were from the southern states. They started without full knowledge of the trials and difficulties of the journey, many without sufficient equipment or supplies. They were not encouraged nor protected by the government of the United States. They came of their own initiative The assistance Dr. McLoughlin extended to them was not charity. It was a matter of humanity.

Sir George Simpson, the governor-in-chief of the Hudson's Bay Company, severely criticized Dr. McLoughlin for his assistance to these immigrants. Furnishing goods and supplies on credit was against the rules of the company, and it was thought that by so doing he was encouraging the settlement of the country by citizens of the United States called Americans, as distinguished from Canadians and other British subjects. In 1845, Lieuts. Warre and Vavasour arrived at Fort Vancouver, ostensibly as visitors, but they came as officers of the British army to report on the condition of affairs and to plan for forts and posts in case of war. In their reports they severely criticized Dr. McLoughlin The result was that Dr. McLoughlin, in 1845, resigned from the company. Under its rules his resignation did not take effect until the expiration of one year.

Dr. McLoughlin's assistance to these immigrants was not only humane but it was necessary. Had he not done so, it is not unlikely that Fort Vancouver would have been captured by these immigrants and a war between the two countries have resulted. This result, Dr. McLoughlin with rare prescience fully appreciated, and stated it in his reply to the criticisms referred to.

Before the arrival of the immigration of 1846, Dr. McLoughlin's resignation had taken effect and he had established, in addition to his flour mill, a sawmill and a store for himself at Oregon City. He extended similar aids to that and to succeeding immigrations as he had to the preceding ones. By the time the immigrants of 1846 arrived at The Dalles, the Barlow road had been made over the Cascade mountains, so it was possible to bring wagons overland from The Dalles to Oregon City. But the Willamette valley was so new and