A History of Oregon, 1792-1849: Drawn From Personal Observation and Authentic InformationGray, W. H. (William Henry)
History
A History of Oregon, 1792-1849: Drawn From Personal Observation and Authentic Information
Gray, W. H. (William Henry)
Frontier and pioneer life -- Oregon; Oregon Territory -- History
After getting a full supply of salmon for a tin whistle, or its
equivalent, a smell of trail-rope tobacco, we came to the ford at the
three islands in Snake River, crossed all safe, except a short swim for
Dr. Whitman and his cart on coming out on the north side or right bank
of the river. As nothing serious occurred, we passed on to camp. The
next day, in passing along the foot hills of the range of mountains
separating the waters of the Snake River and La Rivière aux Bois, we
came to the warm springs, in which we boiled a piece of salmon. Then we
struck the main Boise River, as it comes out of the mountain, not far
below the present location of Boise City; thence, about ten miles down
the river, and into the bend, where we found a miserable pen of a place,
at that time called Fort Boise. It consisted of cotton-wood poles and
crooked sticks set in a trench, and pretended to be fastened near the
top. The houses or quarters were also of poles, open; in fact, the whole
concern could hardly be called a passable corral, or pen for horses and
cattle. I think, from appearances, the fort had been used to corral or
catch horses in. We were informed that it was established in opposition
to Fort Hall, to prevent the Indians, as much as possible, from giving
their trade to Captain Wyeth, and that the company expected, if they
kept it up, to remove it near the mouth of Boise River.
At this place, McLeod and McKay, and all the Johnny Crapauds of the
company, united in the opinion that it was impossible to get the
Doctor's cart any further without taking it all apart and bending the
iron tires on the wheels, and packing it in par-fleshes (the dried hide
of the buffalo, used as an outside covering for packs), and in that way
we might get it through, if the animals we packed it upon did not fall
with it from the precipices over which we must pass. _Impossible_ to get
it through any other way. After several consultations, and some very
decided expressions against any further attempt to take the wagon
further, a compromise was made, that, after the party had reached their
permanent location, the Doctor or Mr. Gray would return with the
Hudson's Bay Company's caravan and get the wagon and bring it through.
To this proposition the Doctor consented. The wagon was left, to the
great advantage of the Hudson's Bay Company, in removing their timber
and material to build their new fort, as was contemplated, that and the
following seasons.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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