USA > Wyoming > The history of Wyoming from the earliest known discoveries > Part 9
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"When Mr. Mckay returned on board, the interpreter related what had passed, and begged him to prevail upon the captain to make sail, as from his knowledge of the tem- per and pride of the people of the place, he was sure they would resent the indignity offered to one of their chiefs. Mr. McKay, who himself possessed some experience of the Indian character, went to the captain, who was still pacing the deck in a moody humor, represented the danger to which his hasty act had exposed the vessel, and urged him to weigh anchor. The captain made light of his counsels, and pointed to his cannon and firearms as a sufficient safeguard against naked savages. Further remonstrances only provoked taunting replies and sharp altercations. The day passed away without any signs of hostility, and at night the cap- tain retired as usual to his cabin, taking no more than usual precautions. On the following morning, at day-break, while the captain and Mr. McKay were yet asleep, a canoe came alongside, in which were twenty Indians, commanded by young Shewish. They were unarmed, their aspect and de- meanor friendly, and they held up otter skins, and made signs indicative of a wish to trade. The caution enjoined by Mr. Astor, in respect to the admission of Indians on board of the ship, had been neglected for some time past, and the officer of the watch, perceiving those in the canoe to be without weapons, and having received no orders to the con- trary, readily permitted them to mount the deck. Another crew soon succeeded, the crew of which was likewise ad- mitted. In a little while other canoes came off, and Indi- ans were soon clambering into the vessel on all sides.
"The officer of the watch now felt alarmed, and called to Captain Thorn and Mr. Mckay. By the time they came on deck, it was thronged with Indians. The interpreter noticed to Mr. Mckay that many of the natives wore short mantles of skin, and intimated a suspicion that they were secretly armed. Mr. McKay urged the captain to clear the ship and get under way. He again made light of the advice; but the augmented swarm of canoes about the ship, and the number still putting off from shore, at length awakened
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his distrust, and he ordered some of the men to weigh an- chor, while some were sent aloft to make sail. The Indians now offered to trade with the captain on his own terms, prompted, apparently, by the approaching departure of the ship. Accordingly a hurried trade was commenced. The main articles sought by the savages in barter were knives. As fast as some were supplied they moved off and others succeeded. By degrees they were thus distributed about the deck, and all with weapons.
"The anchor was now nearly up, the sails were loose, and the captain in a loud and peremptory tone ordered the ship to be cleared. In an instant a signal yell was given; it was echoed on every side, knives and war clubs were brandished in every direction, and the savages rushed upon their marked victims. The first that fell was Mr. Lewis, the ship's clerk. He was leaning with folded arms over a bale of blankets, engaged in bargaining, when he received a deadly stab in the back, and fell down the companionway.
"Mr. McKay, who was seated on the taffrail, sprang on his feet, but was instantly knocked down with a war club and flung backward into the sea, where he was dispatched by the women in the canoes.
"In the meantime, Captain Thorn made a desperate fight against fearful odds. He was a powerful as well as a resolute man, but he had come upon deck without weapons. Shewish, the young chief, singled him out as his peculiar prey, and rushed upon him at the first outbreak. The cap- tain had barely time to draw a clasp-knife, with one blow of which he laid the young savage dead at his feet. Several of the stoutest followers of Shewish now set upon him. He defended himself vigorously, dealing crippling blows to right and left, and strewing the quarter deck with the slain and wounded. His object was to fight his way to the cabin, where there were fire-arms; but he was hemmed in with foes, covered with wounds, and faint with loss of blood. For an instant he leaned upon the tiller wheel, when a blow from behind, with a war-club, felled him to the deck, where he was dispatched with knives and thrown overboard.
"While this was transacting upon the quarter deck, a chance-medley fight was going on throughout the ship. The crew fought desperately with knives, hand-spikes and what- ever weapon they could seize upon in the moment of sur- prise. They were soon, however, overpowered by numbers and mercilessly butchered. As to the seven who had been sent aloft to make sail, they contemplated with horror the
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carnage that was going on below. Being destitute of wea- pons, they let themselves down by the running rigging, in hopes of getting between decks. One fell in the attempt and was instantly dispatched; another received a death blow in the back as he was descending; a third, Stephen Weeks, the armorer, was mortally wounded as he was getting down the hatchway.
"The remaining four made good their retreat into the cabin, where they found Mr. Lewis, still alive, though mor- tally wounded. Barricading the cabin door, they broke holes through the companionway, and, with the muskets and ammunition which were at hand, opened a brisk fire that soon cleared the deck.
"Thus far the Indian interpreter, from whom these particulars are derived, had been an eye-witness of the deadly conflict. He had taken no part in it, and had been spared by the natives as being of their race. In the con- fusion of the moment he took refuge with the rest, in the canoes. The survivors of the crew now sallied forth and discharged some of the deck guns, which did great execution among the canoes, and drove all the savages to shore.
"For the remainder of the day no one ventured to put off to the ship, deterred by the effects of the fire-arms. The night passed away without any further attempt on the part of the natives. When day dawned the Tonquin still lay at anchor in the bay, her sails all loose and flapping in the wind, and no one apparently on board of her. After a time some of the canoes ventured forth to reconnoitre, taking with them the interpreter. They paddled about her, keep- ing cautiously at a distance, but growing more and more emboldened at seeing her quiet and lifeless. One man at length made his appearance on deck and was recognized by the interpreter as Mr. Lewis. He made friendly signs, and invited them on board. It was long before they ventured to comply. Those who mounted the deck met with no opposi- tion; no one was to be seen on board, for Mr. Lewis, after inviting them, had disappeared. Other canoes now pressed forward to board the prize; the decks were soon crowded,and the sides were covered with clambering savages, all intent on plunder. In the midst of their eagerness and exultation the ship blew up with a tremendous explosion. Arms, legs and mutilated bodies were blown into the air, and a dreadful havoc was made in the surrounding canoes. The interpreter was in the main-chains at the time of the explosion, and was thrown unhurt into the water, where he succeeded in get-
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ting into one of the canoes. According to his statement, the bay presented an awful spectacle after the catastrophe. The ship had disappeared, but the bay was covered with fragments of the wreck, with shattered canoes, and Indians swimming for their lives, or struggling in the agonies of death, while those who had escaped the danger remained aghast and stupefied, or made with frantic panic for the shore. Upward of a hundred savages were destroyed by the explosion, many more were shockingly mutilated, and for days afterward the limbs and bodies of the slain were thrown upon the beach.
"The inhabitants of Neweetee were overwhelmed with consternation at this astounding calamity, which had burst upon them in the very moment of triumph. The warriors sat mute and mournful, while the women filled the air with loud lamentations. Their weeping and wailing, however, was suddenly changed into yells of fury at the sight of four unfortunate white men, brought captive into the village. They had been driven on shore in one of the ship's boats, and taken at some distance along the coast.
"The interpreter was permitted to converse with them. They proved to be the four brave fellows who had made such a desperate defense from the cabin. The interpreter gathered from them some of the particulars already related. They told him further, that, after they had beaten off the enemy and cleared the ship, Lewis advised that they should slip the cable and endeavor to get to sea. They declined to take his advice, alleging that the wind set too strongly into the bay, and would drive them on shore. They resolved as soon as it was dark to put off quietly in the ship's boat, which they would be able to do unperceived, and to coast along back to Astoria. They put their resolution into ef- fect, but Lewis refused to accompany them, being disabled by his wound, hopeless of escape, and determined on a ter- rible revenge. On the voyage out he had repeatedly ex- pressed a presentiment that he should die by his own hands, thinking it highly probable that he should be engaged in some contest with the natives, and being resolved, in case of extremity, to commit suicide rather than be made a pris- oner. He now declared his intention to remain on board of the ship until daylight, to decoy as many of the savages on board as possible, then to set fire to the powder magazine, and terminate his life by a single act of vengeance. How well he succeeded has been shown. His companions bade him a melancholy adieu, and set off on their precarious ex-
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pedition. They strove with might and main to get out of the bay, but found it impossible to weather a point of land, and were at length compelled to take shelter in a small cave, where they hoped to remain concealed until the wind should be more favorable. Exhausted by fatigue and watching, they fell into a sound sleep, and in that state were surprised by the savages. Better had it been for those unfortunate men had they remained with Lewis and shared his heroic death; as it was, they perished in a more painful and pro- tracted manner, being sacrificed by the natives to the names of their friends with all the lingering tortures of savage cruelty. Some time after their death, the interpreter, who had remained a kind of prisoner at large, effected his es- cape, and brought the tragic tidings to Astoria."
This was the story which greeted the ears of the little band of Astorians. The natives throughout a vast range of country had heard the tidings and its effect on them could only be conjectured by the white people at the fort, and had it not been for McDougal, who possessed a thorough knowledge of Indian character, not a white man would have been saved. A short time before this the smallpox had ap- peared on the Pacific coast among the Indians and the death rate had been fearful. In some instances, we are told, it nearly swept off entire tribes. The superstitious natives were not certain as to its origin. Some attributed it to an evil the "Great Spirit" had inflicted; others thought it had been brought about by the white men. McDougal, taking advantage of the ignorant and superstitious nature of the savages, acted promptly and assembling a number of chiefs whom he believed to be in league to murder the Astorians, and assembling them in a room at the fort, he told them he had heard of the treachery of some of their northern breth- ren toward the Tonquin and its crew, and he was deter- mined on vengeance. This the savages could understand. McDougal went on, "The white men among you are few in number, but they are mighty in medicine. See here," con- tinued he, drawing forth a small bottle and holding it before their eyes, "in this bottle I hold the smallpox, safely corked up; I have but to draw the cork, and let loose the pestilence, to sweep every man, woman and child from the face of the
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earth." The stratagem was successful, for it acted like magic; the chiefs were horrified and greatly alarmed. They begged and implored him not to uncork the bottle, as they and their people were the firmest friends of the white man and proposed to remain so. They thought it unjust for him to punish his friends for what his enemies had done. He listened to their arguments and protestations of friendship and finally told them that as long as they remained friendly to the whites he would keep the bottle corked, but he as- sured them upon the least show of hostility, out would come the cork and they would be obliged to take the conse- quences, and thus was preserved the lives of the first Ameri- cans who planted a trading post at the mouth of the Colum- bia, and so matters passed at Astoria until the arrival of Mr. Hunt and his party on February 15, 1812.
It should be stated here that another ship, the Beaver, had been despatched to Astoria by Mr. Astor on October 10, 1811, which arrived at the mouth of the Columbia and an- chored in Baker's Bay on May 9, 1812. After the arrival of this vessel expeditions were sent out in various directions. Mr. Hunt sailed in the Beaver and made a voyage along the coast and visited the Russian establishment at New Arch- angel, where the vessel landed a quantity of supplies for the commander of the Russian post and took in exchange a quantity of furs. The vessel then proceeded to the Sand- wich Islands, where Mr. Hunt remained to await the annual ship to Astoria, while the Beaver proceeded to Canton to market the furs and reload with merchandise at that point. This voyage of Mr. Hunt's consumed considerable time, and before he returned to Astoria McDougal closed out over $100,000 worth of furs to the Northwest Company for $40,- 000; also a large amount of merchandise at this equally ruinous rate. As part of the deal, this unfaithful servant became a partner of the Northwest Company, and conse. quently has gone down in history as a traitor to the Ameri- can fur trade, and his memory is justly despised by all American traders and trappers. This treachery on the part of McDougal resulted in the abandonment of Astoria.
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Great Overland Trail Discovered.
CHAPTER X.
GREAT OVERLAND TRAIL DISCOVERED.
ROBERT STUART AND HIS LITTLE BAND OF SIX PASS AROUND THE SOUTH END OF THE WIND RIVER RANGE DURING THE EARLY WINTER OF 1812-DISCOVERY OF THE SWEETWATER RIVER AND PASSAGE DOWN THAT STREAM-THEY CAMP AT BESSEMER FOR THE WINTER-LEAVE THEIR WINTER CAMP FOR FEAR OF INDIANS-GREAT SUFFERING OF THE PARTY AS THEY JOURNEY DOWN THE PLATTE-DISCOVERY OF THE PLATTE RIVER CANON-SECOND WINTER ENCAMPMENT-JOURNEY DOWN THE RIVER IN THE SPRING OF 1813.
The journey of the couriers from Astoria east was an event of no ordinary importance from the fact that circum- stances impelled these men to make a new route across the then dark continent. They were to become the discoverers of South Pass, the most important gateway through the Rocky Mountains. They were to make the pathway between the Missouri and the headwaters of the Columbia more direct and consequently much shorter than the route of Lewis and Clark or that of Wilson P. Hunt. They were to discover the Sweetwater, as well as the North Platte, and were to be the first as explorers to trace out a river flowing to the east directly from the mountains. The more north- ern streams flowed to the north, but these couriers, who were on their way eastward, were to add greatly to the knowledge of the geography of the mid-continent. It can be said of this band of explorers that they were brave, deter- mined and withal possessed a conservative daring which enabled them to overcome the wildness and wild men of the desert and mountains. The history of their journey forms an important chapter in the annals of Wyoming. At times, it is true, they were lost and knew not in what direction to turn their footsteps, but fortunately on such occasions their brave leader argued with himself that it would never do to falter and so he led the way along streams which according
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History of Wyoming.
to his judgment were to empty their waters finally into the Missouri river. In spite of the storms of winter, piercing cold and deep snows, there was but one determination ever present, and that was to push on and thereby save the lives of the men entrusted to his care. This battle with the ele- ments and the wilderness has never been excelled in this or any other century. In telling the story for these pages, I have followed closely notes taken from the original journal first published by Washington Irving.
Again Wyoming is to be honored by the arrival of a body of Astorians. This time they remain in her borders several months. On the 29th of June, 1812, Robert Stuart, Ben Jones, Robert Mclellan, John Day, Ramsey Crooks, Andri Vallar and Francis Le Clerc left Astoria to make the journey across the mountains, bearing dispatches to Mr. Astor at New York. Robert Stuart, the leader of the party, was one of the original partners of the Pacific Fur Company, which organization was chartered on the 23rd day of June, 1810. He was a young man of spirit and enterprise and was one of the four partners who embarked in the Tonquin on the 8th of September in the year above mentioned. The other three partners were Alexander McKay, Duncan Mc- Dougal and David Stuart, an uncle of Robert. To illustrate the sturdy character of this young man, it will not be out of place to relate an incident of the voyage. Captain Thorn of the Tonquin was a waspish individual, though thor- oughly honest and devoted to the best interests of his em- ployers. He was not a partner in the enterprise and con- sequently the four men who were, deemed it their right to assume authority on shipboard. This Captain Thorn did not concede, and each time when the partners would make their requests, the Captain would reply with much firm- ness that "It was contrary to orders." On the voyage the ship touched at various islands in the tropics and at each place the partners went on shore and in some instances kept the vessel awaiting their pleasure. This, of course, raised the ire of Captain Thorn, who, being a naval commander, was a strict disciplinarian. Finally, on the 4th of Decem-
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ber, 1810, they landed at the Falkland Islands to obtain a supply of water. McDougal and Mckay took this occasion to go on shore, but with the request from the Captain that they "would not detain the ship." Once on shore, however, they were in no haste to obey his orders, but rambled about in search of curiosities. The anchorage proving unsafe and the water hard to get, the vessel stood off shore and re- peated signals were made for the absent partners to return to the ship, but these gentlemen paid no attention to the signals and did not return until nine o'clock at night. The next day another attempt was made to procure water and the same partners again went on shore, but with emphatic requests from the Captain that they should return promptly, but the same thing occurred again and Captain Thorn now resolved to make sail without them, and the vessel moved away. When those on shore saw the ship actually under way they speedily took to their boats, and it was not until they had a hard pull of eight miles that they reached the ship. Two days afterwards they anchored at Fort Egmont, on the same island, where they remained four days making repairs, and this time McDougal and Mckay were joined by David Stuart, and all went on shore to make the best of the time. They hunted, fished and enjoyed themselves to their hearts' content. When the vessel was ready to depart, Mc- Dougal and Stewart were in the south part of the island, out of sight of the signals, consequently there was more delay. The Captain paced the deck in nervous agitation, stormed and raved. He declared that this sort of annoy- ance should cease. It was the third time his orders had been treated with contempt and the ship wantonly detained, and he vowed it should be the last. Accordingly, the order was given to hoist the anchor and make sail, and soon the ship was standing out to sea. Robert Stuart was the only remaining partner on board, and when he became convinced that the Captain really intended to leave the three partners on the island, he requested him to change his purpose, but that only made matters worse and the obstinate Commander declared that they should be left on the island. Robert Stu-
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art's blood was now up, and feeling that the success of the enterprise was jeopardized by the folly of Captain Thorn, he seized a pistol and declared that he would blow out the brains of the Captain if he did not shorten sail. Fortu- nately, at this moment the wind changed and came ahead and the partners were enabled to reach the ship. The im- pression was created on board, however, that Robert Stuart would not have permitted the other three partners to be left on the island even had it reached the point of his killing the Captain. The circumstance revealed the resolute char- acter of young Stuart which was of service to him in the wilds of Wyoming a little later.
Resuming the story of this expedition across the moun- tains, and the thrilling events of the journey, which took place within the borders of what is now Wyoming, we must go back to Astoria, the starting point of the expedition. They went up the Columbia in canoes and while going up this stream the veteran John Day showed symptoms of de- rangement of mind and shortly after attempted to commit suicide. Mr. Stuart, falling in with some friendly Indians on their way to Astoria to trade at the post, succeeded in making a bargain with them to carry Day safely back. The Indians performed the service, but poor Day never recov- ered and died within the year. Mr. Stuart had received in- structions before leaving the fort to follow the trail of Mr. Hunt's party through the wilderness and thus reach the Missouri river. While passing up the Snake River, they by the merest accident encountered John Hoback, Joseph Mil- ler, Jacob Rezner and Robinson, the scalped Kentuckian. These four men, it will be remembered, were detached from the main party the year previous, and had been trapping for beaver on Beaver River. They had collected a considerable quantity of these skins and were conveying them east, but had encountered an outlaw band of Arapahoes, who had robbed them of everything, including most of their cloth- ing. Cass, another member of the party, they reported as having left them. At the time they were found by Stuart's party they were nearly famished. These wanderers were
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Great Overland Trail Discovered.
cared for and taken to the caches left by Mr. Hunt and there fitted out. The hunters, Robinson, Rezner and Hoback, took a new outfit and remained in the wilderness rather than re- turn to civilization penniless. Miller preferred to keep on with Stuart's party and take the place of John Day. Thus the party was recruited to the original seven. They kept along the Snake River for some distance, then crossed over to Bear River. They had an encounter with a band of Crows and barely escaped being robbed, and as it was the savages followed them for 150 miles. On September 18th the little band again struck the Snake River, where they encamped, considering themselves at a safe distance from the maraud- ing band of Indians. Their horses, which were much jaded, were turned out to graze. On the morning of the 19th the Indians swept down upon them and carried off all their horses. It was with mortification and despair that they resumed their journey on foot. After much suffering, on the 1st of October they reached the Grand Tetons and soon they came into what is now Wyoming. The snow was al- ready lying deep on the ground and they were without food. Fortunately, Ben Jones succeeded in killing five elk and starvation was replaced by joyful feasting. To add to their distress, Crooks was taken sick and the party was obliged to wait several days for his recovery. They finally moved on, making slow progress through deep snows and being obliged to ford many streams. They suffered much with cold and hunger. Several days before this, Mclellan left the party, preferring to travel alone. In their anxiety to struggle forward, they did not stop to hunt and it turned out there was no game in their path. There was plenty of antelope, but it was impossible to get near enough to shoot one. For three days the forlorn travelers had noth- ing to eat but a small duck and a few poor trout. After a time they succeeded in killing an antelope, and on this they lived for several days. The journal kept by Mr. Stuart says that on the 11th of October they encamped on a small stream near the foot of the Spanish River Mountain. Here they met with traces of Mclellan, who appeared to be keeping
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