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OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN OREGON DURING THE PAST FORTY YEARS. (1838-1878) ThESK SKKTCHES originally APrEABEl) IV TlIK P(»KTLAM). OrKGON, "L'aIHOI.U; SkNTISEI." in 1878. ThKY were 8UB8K(|IENTI.Y I'lHI.ISHED IN BOOK KOKM. This second epition has hken cokkecikd by the avtiior, the momt Rev. Francis Nohbkkt Blan«iikt, 1). 1).. kihst Aiuiibishop <.f Oregon, bekork his dkath, whk ii occfuuEi) june 18th 188:1 SXSTOS t. (published febrdaby 7th 1H78. ) THE history of the Catholic Chun h— even in the most remote ren;ioiis wluTf its be- nign influence is feU — possss-sew «:nat iuirrest not only for those who belong to --ilie house- hold of the FHith" but, moreover, to c\ .ryonc interested in the history of civiliziitinii iind Christianity. Nations have their reli<.nous historical aspect as well as those bt^iter known and more studied chapters pertaiiiiiijf m wocu- lar advancement, yet, wliil.«t historians luve to record the triumphs which mark the pathway of the pioneers of the forest, they are very reticent rewarding the labor, the trial." and the heroism displayed by tlie pioneers of the Cross. Yet these heroes of heaven-born Kailh — armed with no weapon save ihe sijiii of man's re- demption, and bearing aloft the standard of Christianity — penetrated into the remotest re- cesses of Ihe earth, guided by the unerring voice of God wlio calls tl.em to take up their cross and follow Him. until His precepts be- come known tLroiigliotit the world even "from tlie risking of the sun until the going down of the same." It is our pleasant duty, then, to place before our readers a few glimpses of the IoiIm and trials which the pioneers of the Cross endured in their early struggles to plant the seeds <»f t'iiristiauity in the great Northwest, ami in doing so we feel that every Catholic who per- Uf^es these sketches will treasure in his heart a ;.r.iieful remembrance for those whose names will he inscribed in the niche of immortality so deservedly accorded by faithful Catholics to the apostles of the Cross. The world has its heroes, but to the mis- sionaries of the everlasting Gospel must be as- signed H far higher ghiry, because they are the herahls of a King whose footstool is the uni- v»r-e ! It is in His service that deeds of he- roism are performed which make all worldly actions pale into utter insignificance. The reason is obvious : the hero of the world dis- plays hi" valor for earthly glory alone, whilst the missionary (f the Cross is animated by the highest and holiest aspirations that can illu- mine the soul — the hope of enjoying with Got! the eternal reward promised to those who scat- ter the seeds of Faith among the tribes and peoples who are without the knowledge of the true God. This, then, was the high and ennobling mis- sion III which the pioneers of the Cross in Oregon engaged when they undertook to cross the almost trackless plains which then separ- ated the Atlantic from tie Pacitic, and, as we follow them through ti.eir long and arduoua journey, let us not forget to chant a requietn over the graves of those who have passed to their reward, whilst we accord to those who are stil) eugaged in God's siprvice tliat homage so justly accorded to venerable age, holincsti of office, ai>d sanctity of life. HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF THK The Fiust Catholics <'k Oregon. W'lieu the renownedJesuit missumary auil Ma.wqnent martyr to the Faith— Father I»nao .lojrufs— first j.lnuted the seetisof Faith nnioii<r iliX Iroquois IiuViaiis on the hanks of tiie Mo- liawlt, ill 1642, lie little tho»j,'lit the grain of niii«iaril.»eed thus sown would eventually ..row up iuto a jjreaf tree whose hraiurlies woiiia reach from the Atlantic to the Pacific. But, when we reflect that "the hh)o(l of the iii.irtyrs is the seed of the < "hnrch," wc need not wonder at such a miracuhuis manifestation of (iod's will, and the mutilated hands iiiid tor- lured limbs of that suflTeriujr imssioiiMry were iwcepted by lleaveu as so many holocausts ..ffcred up"^for the propajjalion of the Faitli fliroughout every portion of the American .-.iniineut. . Another element of population throujrh wliose presence in Ure-jon the Cailmlic creed was propa-ratcd. was the Canadian loyigevrit. lar-e numbers of whom were eujia-ed to uc- cMinpany the several expeditions of Lewis and Clark ill I8O0, .Jolm Jacob Ast.>r in 1810. and ihat of Capt. Hunt in 1811. In Astor's ex- iH-dition there were thirteen Canadians nearly all of whom were Catholics, and m..i»y of these i.i...ieers afterwards settled in the Willametie (ori'nal-v called Wallamette) valley where in 18:58 still reshled Mici.ael La Framboise, Stc- phiMi Lucier, Louis Labont^ and Joseph Ger- viiis. Capt. Hunt's expedition havin<r encoun- u-red -reat hardships on the route across the plains" many of the members deserted from its ranks and remained amou}? the Indians; this fact will serve to account for the preleiiec of a ■iiiiiiber of Iroquois Indians who were fouinl amon'r the Flatheads in 1816. Lar^'e nu n- bersol" Canadians and Ir quois were also e.i- .r-,.r,.a in the service of both the N..rth West Companv and the IIud..?cn Bay (Company as -r.olerd and trappers at their diflerent statnms xvi -t of M.e Rocky Mountains. Tiiese hardy piutieers led a roamiu}< life, but, true to their .sirlveducalion, amidst all the scenes of savage life througii which they passed, they never for- .r,,t their faith, but oil every occasion, when ?\ lifer threatened them, they souglit the God . f rwlvatioa in prayer. In this uiauuer the Indians, by whom they were surrounded, re- ceived the "first knowledjre of •the white man'* God," and through the Cat' olics they also learned of the B'nik-fiown long y*nrs beftirc they were visited by a priest. To the Cai.- adians and Iroquois, therefore, is due the honor of opening the way for the Catholic missionary in Oregon. The First Colonists in Oregon. In 1824. Dr. John McLaughlin, chief Factor of the Iludsoti liiy Co.. was appointed Gov- ernor of the Hudson Bay Oo's. posts, with head-qiiarliTs at Vancouver. Washington Ter- ritorv . where a Fort wa> erected that year. He w:«s one of "nature's noblemen" in every spin re of life. Of commanding presence, strict integritv, sound juilginent. and correct prin- ciples of justice, no man was better qualified for the positimi he occupied as the father and friend of both the Indians and the whiles who then jointly occupied the Pacific Northwest. Dr. ivi' Lan^jhlin was the arbiter to whom both whites and 'ndiaiis looked for the settlement ol their differences, and the friend from whom thev sought relief in all their difficulties. His ashes test lieiicatli the shadow of the cathedral cross of Oivgon City, where he died in 1857. He was originally a member of the Ang!i<:au dinrili. I III wasconvertedby archbishop Blan- ch I in 1«1-', and was ever afterwards a most exi mpl.iry Catholic. May his soul rest in peace. I'niler the impartial supervision of this good and great niiui the business of the Hudson Bay Co. prospered amazingly; he preserved peace between the Indians and the employees of the company, and established twenty-eight trading jxwts d);riog the fourteen years he presided ovci- the iiflairs of the corporation he so ably represented. Under Dr. McLaughlin's di- rection a number of the e;nployees of the com- pa'iv, whose term of service had expire* were sr jplied with provisions and farming utensils to enable them to settle in that portion of the Willamette valley, wliich has since been known as French Prairie, and which afterwards be- ca;iK! the nucleus of a large and prosperous Catholic settlement. He also extended assist- ance to every immigrant whose necessities 'e- Catholic Church in Obkoum. 1 qiilreil it, ADd hiH good deeds have enxhrlued liiit iiHiue amidst tiie most honored of the pi- oiitt-rs of the Pacific coast. Ill 1834 the first wa' e of iminigriuioo reaeh- «-il the shores of Oregon. These cuiuprised a iiumlierof Methodist miniMers sent out hv the BiiHnl of Foreign Missions. In 1836aiiiim- her uf Presbyterian mitiistersarrived, and the t'ullowing year a second insiulmen' of Method- iiil preachers were sent thither in order to lielp Die iirsi under the ostensible purpose of set-u- riii^ souls for the Lord's vineyard, but in re- ality to secure large tracts of land, liir^'c bauds of cattle, and to eularge their numurotis com- mercial speculations. Again in IM88 the I'resby terian missionaries were re-inforced. so that, prior to the arrival of a Catholic mission- ary in Oregon, the sects were repreficnted by twenty-nine rc'rular preachers bebulcs a uu- iiu-ruus retinue of agents, colporters. and other members — male and female. Tliene forces were pretty well scattered over the country, the Methodists having esiablishments south of the French Prairie, in Marion county, and also at the Dalles, in Wasco county. The Pres- byterians were located at Wailatpu, on the Walla Walla river, among a portion of tlie Ciiyiise Indians, and also at Lapwai, on the 4 'learwater. Besides these, Mr. Heaver rep- resented the Anglican church at Vancouver, n.x chaplain of the Hudson Bay Co., so ilutt I lie missionary Held was well occiipiod prior lo ihu advent cf a Catholic priest, and it is well to understand the situation so that the reader may brHer realize the ainouut of opposition which uie pioneer missionaries of the Catholic Church had to encounter in their eiforls to plant the Cross in Oregon. Let us now pause for a while in our career iifier the cross-bet.. ors of the west, whilst we leiini from coiitemporiiry evidence the manner i I which the sectarian missionaries preached thvi Gospel to the Indians whom they came to convert. Tiie first Protestant missionaries left the eastern states amidst great e<;lat, under the iiiijiressiou that they were going to the Flat- iiciul Indians for the purpose of having them t\\\i\ all adjacent tribes take up the Bible as ihi'ir rule of faith. But, after a very brief tri- al, these gentlemen found the situation not so congenial as they anticipated, and they aban- doned the Flalheads to their perfidious fate. Mr. Tow nshend, w hose work on the Rocky Mountains is our authority on this point, says that when he traveled a few days in the com- pany of these "missioiiHries," he soon discov- ered that their object in going west was not so much for the purpose of spreading Christianity among the Indians as it was "for the gratifi- cation of '•eeing a n<w country and participa- ting in strange adventures." They candidly admitted to Mr. Town!<hend that the means of subsistence in a region so remote and so d'"- licult of access were, to say the least, vi.y doubtful. Hence, as these propagandists of Protestant error could not be assnrcKl of a well- stockeil larder, they quietly *'folded their tents" and left the Fhitheads in the mist of that pa- gan (iarkness in wliicli they found them en- shrouded. Lii'le did these tourists think when they ^illr^o(ik the poor Flathead Indians that there were I hose coming after them who would never forsake ihe mission given them from on high, but who could say with St. Paul: ''Even unto this hour we boih hunger and thirst, and lire naked, and are buffeted, and have no fixed aboda." (1 Cor. iv. 1 1 .) These are the Cath- olic luiseioiuiries whose labors once begun were never almiuloued, and whose efforts we shall fi.id crowned with (-"i-cess. so that the whole Fln'head Iribe of Inniaus embraced the Cath- orcfiii'ii,iin<' re tinlay among the most happy an I fuosper. is people i the t re republic. ^u-m' onaries" were e sertpa' hedio represent the various sects iu y laud under more favorable auspices than were those 1m 'lies and gentlemen beloagini; il #« M< ^ list Episcopal church who proflPer 'it- ir nt-ry ires to leave their eastern home.- ot e« an<ielizinp the savage Iij "wilds" of Oregon. The hist. orable band has been written b missionaries in language more complimentary to their compauic Dani« 1 Lee and J. H. Frost wer. 'O ol f he evaugelical elect who were sent oot 'brin. the Indians to grace," and in their 'Miti- iled -'Tea years in Oregon," they gi ■ unbiassed insight into the manner iu the Master's service was abandoned b urpose t»i dst the rini mem- o of these hful than HISTORICAT. SKKTrilM OF THR ••iniMionariM," in onlor llmt ilu'V niij^lit eii- tiT into ttie dUvcry of Maimnoii. The«« gen- lUiu.ii tell us lliKt the Orejron mission invol- \f.l an expenditure of forty-two tliousantl <loi- Jiiri* ill a single year, ami iio womltT, when there wert! sixty-eigiit prBCUs fohnected witli the ••niijisiou" each of them represented by n rerfs l..(iable array of figures on the yearly pay-roll. SKESCS It. (published KEBKUAKlf MTH 1878.) I'KOTijrANT Missionary Laboks ik Okkoon. ,Yf(IlE Methodists, Prcsbyterinu?, nnd other 1^ sei-ls, us we liave already seen, wi-rc rep- r.setited in Oregon a? early as 1834 by a eorps <.f niis-sionaries ►nfficient in number— if liiey (mly had a divine mission to sustain them throughout their labors— to convert all llie In- dians from Arizona to Alaska, but Dr. Stephen Oliii, LL. D.. a Melhodist bishop, tills ns ihat ••very few of the Indians came uuili-r the in- fluence of their labor,' and adds this rather damaging deelaration :— "The niissiouari.s were, in fact, mostly engaged in secular affairs concerned in claims to large iniclsoi liiiid, <laiius to city lots, farming, maichandizing, blacksniilhing. grazing, horse-keeping. Imu- bcring and flouring. We do not btdieve," con- tinues Dr. Olin, "that the history of Chrisluui missions exhibitsanolher such spectacle," The good Doctor was evidently amazed al the trans- formation from missionaries of the Gospel into land-sharks and horse-jockeys. It is no won- d.r. th;-i,, llial lie tells ns "the mission became iilion.- lo the growing popiilalion.' and he c» u- flndes his evidence hy asserting llial --of all tlio Indians who had ever held relalionsof any li iud wi<h these men, none vow remain." This i> not very flattering testimony for the success of Protestant i>ropagaiidist8 coming from a I'loiestant source ; bnt "let the truth be Kdd though the heavens fall" was evidently a prac- ili-al maxim in the mind of the Methodist Epis- , opal bishop we have quoted. Nor need we \\onder that missionaries who traded in horse fl.»!i luid town bus, and who had "oallle on n thovsanil hilN ' should become 'odioii-*" to lh« sellhrs around them, whilst the Indians in- stead of seeking the light of the Gospel as eniin- cialed by these holy horse-tra<lers, sought rath- er to retire to their primitive wigwams amidst the solitude of the woods "where rolls the Oregon And hears no sound save its own dashing," than to encounter a civilization the very preaeh- t-rs of which sought first the kingdom of this world, and took the chaiuis of "all things else" being added thereto. Kev.G.C. Nicolay. a minister of the church of England, visited this country i" 1843 and has left his impres- sions of what he saw among the missionaries of the Willamette valley, in a work entit' "The Oregon Territory," which we have b. - fore us. lie was evidently unbiassed ) his judgment and speaks his mind only because his experience had received a serious shock in the manner in which he found the so-called missiotuiries comporting themselves. Under the cha^t^r devoted to "settlers in Oregon' this aiiihori'y »a}S with truth: — "It se. ins but the right and proiier order of tliinur* I bat the niisMionary In uncivilized lands sbnultl lit- I be barldnger not only of the bU-sa- liiys of Ibo t'liristiaii religion, but of civiliza- tion alfo. and tberel'ore that he should be fol- lowed ill liirt track by the settler and farmer, ■Ik UK I'll nic i.iid artisan, who obtain as the nv, ai'i ot tlieir superior intelligence and kiH.wkd^ie tlie wealth and iiideijendence wliicli in tlieirowncoiintrythelrsirapleequal- it.v with otlurs could not expect; and this is jiist, the benefit they confer Is incalculable: It d'.ieM not decrease Its value that others in dis- tant lands possesa the aame, but rather in- treuses it as tilt means whereby they may be raised t 1 the smie eminence. Now, though I his is to lie exi^cted and desired, it has ever bwii tbouarht a just ground of complaint :•- gainst men whose lives are devoted to the ser- vice of (iod ^nd the spread of His Gospel, if they let other «R'Cupatioii8 interfere with that which ought lo be their primary one, or seek to make a 'gain of godliiiess;' and still more If the inlUience accorded to them, in congruence of their important duty and sacred otnce, be <'onvert<l into an engine for political purposes, i.r Ihev teach other doctrine with respiect to our nel«hbors than the words of theuiK>gtle — 'Follow peace with all men.' (Heb. xfl. 14.) Catholic Church in Ohkoi. fi "lu rRvUfwiiiK the hiittorv of the Mcttleri* of Oreguii, hII thid will up|H*ar by i heir own show- iiiKtolieiit th«<l(Nirof the Aiihtlcuii iniHMlon- arien wh<> Suve e««tubliMh«><t tli^Miwh -a ilit-re; and the iict«i«Hity for ilrawiiit<a(t«iiti< n to it itt IIiIm, that no HUtiafiiutory uuL-ount of Or.>);<>n could \>c nh'tiii withoutMoine notieuof the Wil- luniette Hettienient, and ceituinlv no true hIu- tenient of uffuirtt there can Ite gi^en witliout thewi facts t>«liiK referred to. In their nettlc- nienUt at Okana(<aii, Walla Walla, Cowlit-% and NeiMiUHlly th*H charge Ih ho far true, that their princii>al »t ;ntion, at Lieut. Wiliiei* tet*- titleM, tHdevotot' /aKricnlture, buton tlie Wil- lamette they » ': into political aKi-hti* and would-be legl?' •>«. TIiIh the '>i«tory tif th • .s(^>ttlenient will nulflciently evidence." • "From this beKinniiiK the colony lucre; «■• ! till when Lieutenant WiiiieH viHlted it in 1 P it counted sixty families, who, he »a.\ h, c. .. Minted of American iniHaionarieH, trappe.M, and ( 'itnadlans, wlio were formerly servants of tlie lludcon's Bay Co.; and that the origin of llie settlement has l)een fairly stated, ni.iy t>e gutii- ere<l from the conclusion he arrived at coir ccrniiij.; it. All of thee ippeared to t*u (loing well; but he was, he says, 'on the whole dis- appointed, from the rejMirts which had l>een made to me, not to tiiid the settlement in a greater state of fttrwanlness, (considering (lie advi'.ntages the mijsionaritN have had;' — tlius making tlie prosperity and advaiiceiiieiit of the settlement depend in a great iiieaMun-. if not eniirely, upr:i them: but that tlieir in.s- sionary intentions have merged, in a great measui-e, inotliersmon '(»ely connected with t'oae and <;oiiifort, Iss more plainly evid- enced by the followinj. count given oy him uf tlie Wesleyi ii Mlssl • there: 'Tie land-t of the Metli(>di><t Ml :«loii are situate<l on the banks of the 'v Jl uuette river, on a ricli plain ad' •■^eiit tofli I'.'vslBof oak and pin.'. I'liey ai b;>uteight uiles bey .md tlie Catuolic Mis- si( I asoutheiii diiXHJtion. Tlieir tteid-t are well enclosed, and we p.wsed a large one of wheat which we undji-stjwd was half s»wn by ilie last year's crop which had leen lost thro' neglect. Tlie crop so lost amounted to nearly a thousand bushels, and it is su|jp.isc>d that this year's crop will yield tweiity-iive bushels to ihe aero. About all the iireiiiises of this mis- sion there wap an evident want of the atten- tion rec^uired to keep thlng.s in repair, and an alisenceof neatness that I regretted much to witne.ss. We had the expectation of getting a sight of the Indians, on wlioiii they were in- culcating good habits and te.iching the word of God, but, V th the exception of four Indian servants, we saw none since leaving the Catli- olic Mission. 0;i inquiring 1 was in.'jrraed that they had a »<Ii<niI of twenty pupil« yoou' ten nilles distant at ilie mill, that tlK're \«ei'«' but few tidiilt Indiiki.B in the n<>igl>lH>rli'>'>il, and ti attlu-ir intoiiiioti .iid priiici|Mkl l.upc was to estaltUsh a colony, ami by t heii «-.\ample to inducw white seitleis t.> locate neir iliein, over whom they iiisied lo e*erii«> a inirul and religious inliiieiice.' " "At theiiiills, which were badlysituatt d and managed, he saw twenty lay inemliers of the Misflioii under the charge of a principal, and abotii. tweiity-flve Indian lioys, who, he was told, were not in a condition to 1m* visiicd or iiisiiected. Tlu-y were nearly grown up, ratrged ami half clotheil, and lounging about underthe ^ triv-s. He might well adil, "riieirappearaiict' , Maiiytiiingl)UtMallsfuctory,and I must own : was greatly disapiMiinti'd, for I had Iteen led lo . xiM-ct that order ami neatness at least (he could mMn-ely liave expected Ivan) would have be»'n fouiiil animiir them. muMiih'rin;/ tlie utrrnxj v' f'onrof inis! iiiDiiritsi luiniiiil lu II . From theniim- ^ iter of iH-rHiins alH>ut the premises tills Ultle « spot wore the air and stir of a newaeculu ' set- * tleineiit. It was intended (o Ite the home and <,^ i(H-a(l(>n of (be nii&sion, and the niiMsionaries ^ had niudc individual sihctitniK of lands to thea- mountofor.x thousand acicseach, in proHpeci of the whole country falling under the Amer- ica)! domiiiioii. Hohllng tlicse \W\\k and with such interests to incite them, it is not surprising to tlnd these mis-sionaries among the first to excite |>olitical changes, and to introduce the eonse«|ueut dis- cussions and dissensions." Such is ihe character of the work inuugu- rated by nii-ssionaries who left the Atlantic slope under tlic liallucinatiou tliat tliey were called to preach sal vat ion to i!:ose that sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, but whose trading propensities overcame tlie'r re- ligious zeal, until finally the cause ofChrio'- anity was wrecked on the shoals of self-ag- gradizeraeui. The foregoing extracts, taken entn.ly 'rom impartial Protestant sources, will give iji" ^n- eral reader a very lucid view of the "severe trials" whicli the early Protestant mi.ssionariea underwent in their so-called ^'missionary la- bor" in Oregon, but we have, by no meau^, exhausted the evidence extaut on that score, as Hon. Alexander Simpson, in his work en- titled "The Oregon Territory" tells us, iu al- lusion to the Methodist and Catholic missions in the Willamette valley, that "the latter con- ^ HISTORICAL SKETCHES OP THB sisted of about one hundred families, a very regular congregation, ministered 1o by Mgr. Blanchet, a most estimitble and indefatigable priest of the Roman Catholic faith," whilst the Methodist Mission, he adds, consisted of /our families : a clergyman, a surgeon, a school- master and an agriculturnl overseer." Evi- dently the temporal welfare of the well-fed Protestant missionaries was far more iniport- aut in their own estimation than any spiritual comforts which they pretended to extend to the Indians. (published FEBRUARY 21 ST 1878.) Origin of the Canadian Mission in Oregon, BEFORE THAT OF THE FlATHEADS. ■TPN the mean time the Canadians who had set- '1 tied in the Willamette valley began to pine for the presence of a priest in their midst. The nearest bishop to whom they could apply was the venerable prelate of Bed River; they sent him two petitions, one dated July :}rd 1834, and the other February 23rd 1835, earnestly praying for some priests. In answering tliem, July 8111 1835, the bishop, addressing the gov- ernor, requests him to deliver them his letter. Those documents are too precious and too inte- resting to be omitted, therefore we insert them. The Bishop of Juliopolis to Dk. John McLauohlin. Red Klvei-,June()th 1835. To Dr. J. McLaughlin. Hir: I iuive rect'ived last winter and this suriMg a wtitioM from certain free families set- tled on the Willamette river, requcstiuit that inis-'iormrii'si be sent to ir.struct tlielr children •111(1 lheMi-*elve«. My Intention Is to «lo all 1 c m to grant them their rerjuest us soon as pos- sible 1 have no priest disposable at Red River, but 1 am g:)lng this year to Euro|)e, and I will en<U-!ivoi' l<> procure those fi-ee people and the Indi ins afterwards, the means of knowing Go.l 1 send togi'ther with this letter an an- swer to the petition which I have rece'ved; I re(i'i«--< von to delivei- It to them; I add some eateiiiisins which might l»e useful to those peo- ple. If there is any one among them thit cm read. Tiiose people say they are protected by you. I'lease Indnr-e them to do their best, and to (k'scive liy giwid behavior, to derive benettt from the f.ivor they Implore. I have the honor to be. Sir, Your most humble servant, ^ J. N. Provencher, Bishop of Juliopolis. The Bishop ok Juliopoms to all the families SETTLED IN THE WILLAMETTE VALLEY AND OTHER CATHOLICS BEYO ^ D THE Rocky Mountains, Greeting: — I have received, most beloved brethren, your two |)etition8, one dated July 3d 1834, and the other February 2Hd 1835. Both call for mis- sionaries to instruct your children and your- se'.v.s. Such a r.quest from persons deprlvetl of all religious attendance, could not fall to touch my heart, and if it was In my power, I would send you some this very year. But I have no priest disposable at Red River; they must be obtained from Canada or elsewhere, which requTes tlmo. I will make It my bus inesa in a jiuirney which 1 am going to make this .year in Canada and in Europe. If I sue- fi din my efforts, 1 will soon send you some lie In. Mvlntcntion Is not to procure the knowledge of God to you and vour children only, but also to the nunieious Indian tribes among which you live. I exhort you meanwhile to deserve, by a >f ood l)ehavlor, that Got! may bless my un- dertakiug. R use your children the best way vou can. Teach them what you know of re- ligion. But remember, my dear brethren, that ihe proper means of procuring to your children and your wives some notion of God and the re- ligion vou profess, is to >{lve them good exam- ple, by a life moderate and exempt from the great disorders which exist among the Chris- tians l)evond the niouotaiiiH. What idea do you give"«»f God and of the ; c-llgion you profess, to the Indians esiwclaHy, who see in you, who are calling yourselves the servants of t hat great God, dlsfirders which etiual, and perhaps sur- pass their own? Yon thereby prejudice them uyalnst our holy religion which you violate. When this same religion, which condemns all crime, shall ite preached to them, the Indiana will object the wicked conduct of those who profess it as a protest not to embrace it. On receiving thl« letter which apprizes you that probably you will soon receive the priest whom you seem to pray for earnestly, renounce then at «)nce sin; l)egin to lead a life more conform- able to your belief. In order that, when tha mlsslunarieti will arrive among you, they wiU c5UJ ^. ^, Catholic Church in Orkgon. <rv>— «— ^,^»^ \i iZji^ ,<^-u^>^, ^f^~f find you dispdeed to avail yourselves of the in- structions and other religious assititance which they shall brin^ you. 1 wiub God niaj' touch your hearts and change them. My greatest consolation would be to loam hereafter that as soon as this letter was read to you, you be- gan to pay a little more attention to the great affair or your salvation. Given at St. Boniface of Red R!ver, on the Sthday of June 1835. ^ J. N. Provencheb, Bishop of Juliopolis. Demand or a Passage for two Priests. The only aieansofcounnunication from Can- ada to Oregon being in the hands of the Hud- son Bay Co., by scndiug every year a unmber of canoes laden with goods and conducted by a number of Canadian voyageurs, the bishop of Juliopolis made an application for the pas^iH^^e of two priests in one of the cauoes to Oregon, with the design of forming an establishmeut in the Willamette valley. To this last point the Governor and Committee in London objected, but would grant a passage on the condition that the priests would form their establishment on the Cowlitz river. The bisliop of Juliopolis having complied with the suggestion, Sir Geo. Simpson wrote to the archbishop of Q;iebcc, that if the two priests would be ready at La- chine to embark for the interior about the 25th of April, a passage would be aflPorded them. The following is the correspondence on the subject : — LkttebofSih OkoroeSimp^ox, (!ov- KRNOR OF THE HirDSt)>? BaY Co. IS THE Interior, to his Lordship the Akch- RI8HOP OF QUEHEC. Hudson's Bay House, London, Feb. 17th 1838. "My Lord: 1 yesterday had the honor of re(soiviim a letter fioiii the iji^hopof Juiio|)olis, dattd Red River, Octolier 13th, 1837, wherein I am requested to oininunicate with your Lofilsliip.on t he snliject of sending two priests to tlio Colundtia river for tlie purpoeeof estab- It ;l;iiiu' a Catholic Misalon In that part of the countiy. "VVlien tlie liirflirn) first mentioned this sub- ject. Ills view WHS to fiirni the Mission on the banks of the Willamette, a river falling in the Columliia from the south. To the establish- ing of a Mission there, the Governor ii ml (.*( in- niittee in London, and the Council in Ili.d- son's Bay, had a decided ol.jiction, as the so- vereignty of tliat country is ^till undeeide<l; but L l"^t summer, intimated to the bishop that if he would estaldisli the Mission on the banks of the Cowlitz river, or on the Cowlitz Portage, falling into the Colnmbiu from ilie noitliward, and give his assurance that the missionaries would not hieate thtiiiselves on thesouthsideof the Columbia river, but would form their establishment where the Co's rejj- nsentatives might point out as the most eli- gible situation on the north side, I should rec- ommend the Governor and Committee to af- ford a passage to the priests, and such faculties t<>wariis the successful accomplishment of the object in view us would not involve any gre-Jt inconvenience or expense to the Co's service. "By the letter received yesterday, already ulludetl to, the bishop enters fully into my views, and express*^ his willifigness to fall in \\ ith my suggestions. That letter I have laid before the Goveriior and Committee, and am now instructed to intiunite to yv>nr Lordship that if the priests will be ready at Lacbine to embarli for the interior about the 25th of April, a pass:ige will l>e afforded them, and on arrival at Fort ViiiKouver measures will !« taken by the Co's representative there to facilitate the establishing of the Mi^sioll, and the carrying Into effect the olgetls thereof generally. I have the honor to be, my Lord, Your Lordship's most obedient servant, Geo. Simpson. Appointment of Missionaries. The archbishop of Quebec had no sooner received the foregoing letter than he immedi- ately gave the charge of the Mission of Ore- gon to Rev. Francis Norbert Blanchet, then curi dea Vedres, district of Montreal, by send- ing him letters of Vicar General under the date of April 17th 1838, and instructions bear- ing the same date. His companion. Rev. Mo- deste Demers, who was already at Red River, was to be named by the bishop of Juliopolis. The.se instructions were as follows: — Instructions oivkn to V'ery Rev. F. N. BliANCHBT and REV. M. DEMEBS, AP- POINTED Mission ARIF.8 for that part OF THE Diocese op Quebec WHirn is SITUATED BETWEEN THE PACIFICOCKAN AND THE ROCKV MOUNTAINS. 31 HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF THB April 17tb 1838. My Rev. Fathers. You must connider as the first ohject of your Mission to withdraw from barbarity and I he disorders which it produces, the Indians scat- tered in that country. Yourseciuid oiilet-t is, to tender your services to tlie wicked Christians who have adopUni there the vices of Indians, and live in licen- tiousness and the forgetfulnessof their duties. Persuaded that tlie preaching of the Gospel is the surest means «>f obtaining these happy results, you will lose no opportunity of incul- cating its principles and maxims, either in your private conversations or public instiuc- tions. . ... In order to make yourselves sooner useful to the natives of the country where you are sent, vou will apply vourselves, as soon as you ai- rive, to the study of the Indian languages, and will endeavor to reduce them to regular prin- ciples, so as to be able to publish a grammar after some years of residence there. You will prepare for baptism, with all pos- sible expediticiu, the infidel women who live ill concubinage with Christians, in oruer to substitute lawful marriages for these irregular ui'l'^ns. . ^ , .,1. , , You will take a particular care of the Christ- ian education of children, establishing for that purpose, schools and catechism classes in all the villages which you will have the occasion to visit. ... .. . . In all the places remarkable eillier lor then- iiosition or the passage of the voyagers, or the fathering of Indians, you will plant cnwses, «o as to take possession of those various places in the name of the Catholic religion. * * * Given at Quelicc ou the 17th of April, 1838. ^ Joseph Sign AY, Bishop of Qiiclec. (published FEBRUARY 28th 1878.) Journey of the Mie^ioNARiES from Lachimb to Fort Vancouvkr. t CCOMPANIED by chief trader Har-jrave, \ Vicar General F. N. Blanchet embarked hi one of the light bark canoes carrying the express of ll\e Hudson Bay Company, leaving Montreal on Thursday, May :3rd 1838, reach- ing Fort Vancouver on the 24th of the follow- ing November. The journey from La^Mne to Red River (2,100 niili's) was' made in caii.-"'8, with occasional portages, in thirty-three days. The journey from Red River to the Rocky Mountains (2,025 miles) occupied eighty-four days, including detentions. The river route was made in eleven light barges and the land trip — occupying five day 8 — was made on horse- back Horses were also used in making the tedious trip across the Rocky Mountains, from Jasper's House to Boat Encami)inent or Big Bend on the Coluuibia river. This trip occu- pied nine days, a band of seventy-two horses being provided for the use of the company. It took six days to make the ascent on the East- i-rn slope, and three days to descend to the plains on the Pacific side, but the missionaries were well repaid for tlie toils they underwent in the gramleur of the scenery that surrounded thei.i at every step. The remainder of the journey, from Big Bend to Fort Vancouver (about 1.200 miles) was made in light boats down the Columbia river. Vicar General Blanchet, having passed 35 days at Red River, took his departure in com- pany .vith Rev. Modeste Demerson July 10th, slopping en route at Norway House and Forts Constant, Cumberland, ('arleton, Pitt and Ed- innudton on the Saskatchewan, and Fort As- siniboine and Jasper's House on the Athabaska river. During this journey the missionaries baptized one hundred and twenty-two on the Eastern slope aud fifty-three on the Western. After passing the snmniit of the Rocky Moun- tains the missionaries stopped at the House of the L ' "S and Forts Colville, O'Kauagan, and Walla Walla, at each of which immense crowds of Indians af sembled in order to behold the Black-gowns whose presence they so long waited lor. During this long and tedious trip the missionaries had the happiness of cele- brating Mass and delivering an instruction every Sunday, and ou every day at which they sojourned at the Forts on their route. By this means the consolations of our holy religion were bestowed on many Catholics who for years had been strangers to the presence of a |iriest. MN m Catholic Cbvbch im Orkoon. 9 GONBBCKATION OP THB RoCKT MoCNTAINS TO God. , FmsT Mass m Oregon. As the summit of the Rocky Mountaius was to be reached and crosBed ou Wednesday the 10th of October, the missionaries thought it iiicunibeut upon them to celebrate Mass, and pronounce the glorious words whiclj make the God-man descend upon earth, in thanksgiving for God's protection and favors, and to con- ecrate, in a special manner, to their Author these sublime Rocky Mountains which by their •rrandeur and sublimity seem anxious to cor- rejipond to the invitation of Holy Scripttire : >'0 ye mountains and hills, bless the Lord ; praise and exalt Him aboi^e all forever. "(Dan. iii. 15.) The country or region of the Rm-ky Mountains appeared as a vasl^ sea of number- less isolated high mountains, and abrupt peakf of all shapes, where the eye of the traveler fan- cies seeing here and there perfect t(»wers, beau- tiful turrets, strong castles, walls and fortifica- tions of all kinds ; as well as barren heights which forms the base of higher hills and moun- tains raising majestically their lofty heads to heaven. Magnificent indeed is the spectacle displayed before the eyes of the voyagers in •he greatness of the gigantic nature where the hand of the Eternal was pleased to retrace the image of His creative power. Early on that day therefore, at 8 a. m. the vicar general cele- brated the holy sacrifice of the Mass, to con- secrate to their Creator these mountaius and abrupt peaks whose prodigious heiglils ascend towards heaven to celebrate in such beautiful language the praise of the Almighty. It was ou Saturday, the 13 of October, a day dedicated to the Immaculate Mother of God, that, being at the western foot of the most lofty mountains, the two missionaries began to tread beueath their feet the long-desired land of Or- egon; that portion of the vineyard alloted them for cultivation. Filled with joy they retired a short distance from the place where the car- avan was resting oo the bosom of a beautiful prairie, aud there fell ou their knees, embraced the soil, took possession of it, dedicated aud oousecraled their persons, soul and body, tu whatever God would be pleased to require of them for the glory of His holy Name, the prop- agRtion of His kingdom and the fulfillment of His will. The caravan joyfully reached Big Bend towards the evening. The fact of find- ing there but t wo boats insieud of four required, grcntly checked the joy of all. The captain of the expedition decided that one thii*d of the parly should remain until the rest having reached the House of the Lakes one ox the boats would return to their relief. The following day (Oct. 14lh 1888) being Sunday, it was on that day that the holy sac- rifice of the Mass was offered for the first time in Oregon at Big Bend, ou the banks of the dangerous and perilous Columbia. At this greflt act of religion, performed by Rev. M. Demers, the two missioimries being much moved, consecrated themselves to the Queen of angels, imploring her special protection for the rest of the voyage. The boats being laden and rea<ly, aud the last prayer made on the shore, the two missionaries shook hands with their dear companions whom, alas ! they were to see no more, and started at 1 p. m. on the tnrbu- leiii waters of I he upper Columbia. Therange of mountains lowering, as it were, amphithe- atrically, continues from BigBeitd to the lakes. The days are short in so deeply embanked s river which runs fifteen miles an hour, in h succession of rapids or rather cascades. The distance from Big Bend to the House of the Lakes is 105 miles, which were run in ten hours : two hours ou the 14th, six on the lath, and two on the IGih of October. The rapid of the Dalles of the Dead is a nar- row channel turning nearly at right angles on the left rocky high bank. The boats must keep close to the pcint of the left bank in order to avoid being rushed into the infuriate waves. That dangerous rapid was run down safely on the 15th, the boats being light with baggage and passengers, aud well managed by eight men, six at the oars, one at the stern, and the other at the prow with long and large paddles used as rudders. EIOUTKKM DATS AT THK HoUSE OF THE LaKES. Fik 1 MissiuNAKY Labors IM Orboon. LOflS OP I'WKLVE Ll\ E8. Tbt boats w«re do sooner arrived at the 1/ 10 HI8T0BICAL 9KF.TCHE3 OF THE House of the Lakes that one of theiu was iiu- loaded, and sent back to the relief of the party left behind. The House of the Lakes beiuj? still in constructio n, the missior .rieseucainped as usual under their tents. The first week was spent iu prayer, celebration of I he Mass, teaching the Indians, singiii<r canticles and evening exercises. The Indians of the Lakes soon came to visit the priests, anxious as they were to see and hear the black-gowns so often spoken of by the Canadians. They were found to be of a mild, peaceable character an<l well disposed to receive the words of salvation. They being the first sheep of the vast fold en- ' trusted to their care, the missionaries took pleasure in instructing them, speaking of God, t f the creation, of tHe fall of angels and man, and of the Redemption by the Con of God. The Indians listened with attention, assisting at Mass with awe; and before the return of the boat, they brought their children (17) to be baptized, regretting not to have the same happiness to make their hearts good. It was painful to the missionaries to leave them ua- ba Jzed. When the day on which the boat was ex- pected had passed without its arrival, a gloomy presentiment began to seize the heiris of ull. It increased iu intensity the following day. At last, on (he •24th at the CDiicliision of Muss, a boat appeared afar off, half broken, coming in mourning, iv'iliout the usn-il joyful cliant at arriving. Tlie men were hardly able to move their oars. As the boat approached all ran to the shore. At the sight of so fuw m n, wo- men and children, a heart-rending spectacle took place ; an indescribable scene of d wola- liou and shedding of tears began ; cries and piercing lamentations were long heard and echoed bv the nei:rhbi)ring mountains. For, alas ! the boat had capsized, and out of twenty- six souls, twelve had perished. At Big Bend the boat was found too much embarrassed with baggage ; room was hardly left for pasreu/ors. At the datigerniis Dalles, all went ashor-. w'l'h only a portion of the bag- gage. The bo it starttMl, struck a rock, filled, but was brongli' o'l s'mru. Having been emp- tied and reloaded, the tur packi^cs left in the bullom having got wet, rendt -d the boat heavier. The passeuj-ers embarked with the greatest repugnance. On the next rapid the boat filled up again. Then commenced a scene of desolation and dread with cries nnd scream- ing of women and children. The pilot com- manded all to remain still, as they were ap- proaching the «hore. But Mr. Wallace^ an English botanist, pidled off his coat, stood up, put one foot on the side of the boat and leaped into the water wi'h his young wife ; the boat lost its balance and upset, and of twenty-six persons sirnggling in the water, twelve lost their lives, ^ ailace and his wife iu the num- oer. Some reached the shore, others were saved on the keel of the boat which fortunately fastened itself on a rock three or four feet deep at the head of a rapid. This calamity hap- pened in the dnsk of the evening. The body of a chiW was found caught under the boat. Sad, long and excruciating w^^s the night. The next day, the boat having been repaired, the siirvivers continued their sorrowful journey. (published march 7th 1878.) Missionary Labors at Colville, O'Kanaoan AND Walla Walla. "•f S soon as the ill-fated boat had arrived, an ^1% Indian canoe was dispatched to Colville for a boat and provisions, which had become so scarce as to threaten starvation and oblige each to receive a daily allowance. The repaired' boat was sent the following day to the scene of desolation, to look for, and bring down the dead bodies of the lost friends. It. brought down only the bodies of three children to whom were given a solemn Christian burial. Wood- en CI osses were blessed and placed over their graves. The express boat which had left for Colville ou the 16th had returned ; the one sent for i>v an Indian express had also arrived with pro- visions ; there were then two good boats. All being ready and the missionaries biddingadieu to the good Indians of the lakes, the caravan left ou November Srd the House of the Lakes, Catholic Church in Oukoon. 11 where llie Irtst ten days of sojoiirniog h\f\ been go sorrowful, and reached Colville on ih'* 6ih. Tin; exiiress boat had aniioiinfed the ooiniii-j; of lln! /Iinrkgowni.; the news had spread like lij^htuiii^, hence the gathering there of the chief* i)f fi.e uationa. As soon ii ; they !*aw the hoiilft coining they riisbed lo the shore and placing themselves in file, men, women and children, they begged to tone!) tlie hands of the priests, which ceremou took a ioiig time. A large house having been placed at their disoo- sal, they nsed it to assemble the Indians in, and g »ve them all the instrnction they could, during the short time of four days they ent Rt this ]U)st. Having baptized nineteen persons and cele- brated Mass before the chiefs ".nd the-- people, who assisted at the sacred mysteries as if i 1- rcady fervent Christians, the missionaries left Colville on November the 10th and reached Fort G Kanagan on the I3lh, after having j)a8sed through many dangerous rat)i<ls, dalles and portages. During the twenty-four hours ihey remained at this post, they had occasion to be convinced that ihe Indians who fre- quemed it needed only what is required in or- der to become good Christians. Fourleen bap- tisms were made, and one Mass celebraled at this Fort. Leaving Fort 0'Kanaj>«n on No- vember 14th, they readied Fort Walla V/uIIh (now Wallula^ on Sunday morning, the IHih. During the twenly-iour hours they remained at this post they had three baptisms, celebrated one Mass, and were visited by the Walla Walla andCayuse India. :s, who, liaving heitrd liy the express of the coo'ing of the priests, hail come to see and hear them on their passage, not- withslai.ding the contrary orders of the Head of the Wailalpu mission. Holy Mass was cele- brated before the Indians, who assisted at it struck with amiizeineut. In so short a time the priests could give them btii a short explan- ation of tlie most necessary iru'hs of salvation. As this is the closing chapter descriptive of the (rip (.-f ihe missionaries across the plains, ;»n(i as our recital liereafier will be iniiinly ih'voled to events and incidents which trans- pired during the residence (;rthe missionaries in the Northwest, we think it desirable to iii- .>o't the following interesting letter of his Grace Most Rev. Francis Norbert lilanchet, then vicar get. eral, to tlie archbishop of Quebec, desc-ribing in detail the daily incidents of the journey across the plains and the arrival of the missioiuiries at V'aucouvt r. LiCTTKROF VICAR OKNKH.AI, BlA.NCHET T()HIsL()l!I>8HIPj<)SEI'H8mNAY,AHCH- Bti^IlOI' OK QUKHKf, <JIVlNO AN ACCOUNT OK THK JOtRNKY OF THK MISSIONARIES TO ORECiON. Fort Vancouver, March 17th, 1S39. Mv LoRn: It is for me a very sweet and agreeable tjisk, toseiid to your liordslilp r ews from the two iiiissioiiarlch wlioiii, in your zeal for Ibesalv.itlon of I be souls entrusted to your (listoi! 1 n)Iicitudc, y«.u have sent to Oregon, to ( uliivaic the vircyard ot tl e Lord. After numerous lutioships jind fatigues, dangers by land and wa'cr, in our journey across the con- tin< nt, ve Imve the pleasure, Kev. Deniersand T, to annoiiiice, with love and gratitude to- wards God iind the blessed Virgin Mary, that we nave reached Inippily theend of ourvoyage, yet not witln.ut losing twelve of our compan- i( i-,s, di« wi «il in the Colunibia river. Please join in « nr tl t;ilifgivinf.'8 to Gcd for the pro- tection and caie of His rr«)vidence over us. As t'l < n !K ve airlvtd, we vient to work. '11 ♦•f.e!d is v:l^t,olir( (cupationsaretiumerous, 1 have sciKely lime to write. But I know with wbiit imxiety ai d interest your Lordship isex| cctiiigM n;e i oti sregiirdingourjouruey, tlu- ■ountiy. tlie lattors begun and the bouea given l)y the Oregon mission. May the inu)r- nialioii I am going to give satisfy your expect- ation aiitl till tlieardent desires which you In- ces9;iiiily feel f >r y< ur Hock. I willliegin with an account of my trip from Lacbine to Ileil River (St Boniface"), where I had to stop to receive the orders of Mgr. Pro- vencher, bishop of Julio| olis, and to take along Rev. M. Demeis, my traveling companion, al- •^jady therefor a >ear. I left Montreal, Thurs- ■ v 'May 3rd 18S3. The 700 leagues from that y to Red River were travele<l in aH days, •ivliig arrived there on tbetitb day of June, on one of tlie Hudson Bay Ct>'8 canoes, c«ra- matided by Mr. Hargrave, chief trader. The loaded catn es which st^irtefl some days after the light ones, with a number of families, ar- rived three wieks af'ev. Everyone knows liow dangerous this mode of traveling is. Tosi>end daysand often nights in an uneomfoi table position; to undergo the Inclemency of seasons, the gusts of wind and the torrential rains; to run down numberlesa rapids at the peril of one's life; or to travel ou u Historical Skktches of the foot long portages thmujrh forests, rooks ami ponds; to «)an'p "Ut in cold and damp plat-es; to devour In haste a scanty meal, badly prepai-ed; to stop at the different posts, inhabited by white people and visitetl by Indians, for the administiation of tlie sacrament**, tlie visitri- tion of tliesicit and tlie exhortalion of jKior sinners; such was, my Lord, the life of the mis- sionaries on their way to the far West. For eiKlJt days we went up, Mr. Hargrave and I, tlie Ottawa river. We left It and went up anotlier river to its source. That took us a whole dav. After that came a ponage, tLree miles ill length, where Is the summit of the lan<' - dividing the waters of tlie Ottawa from thone fliwlnginto lake Nipisslng. At the end of the iMirtage, we came down a little river in one day. We were then on lake Niplssing, which we crossed in twenty-four hours. Alter a sliort portage, we began to go down French river tlirough which the lake discharges its waters into lake Huron; that also took us a whole day. The crossing of lake Huron to Sault 8te. Marie, took us three days. From thence to Fort William on lake Suiierior, six days and a half. Leaving lake yuperior, we astinded, for three days, the Timlnistigouia river up to a portage nine miles long, wliicli is the height of lands, and divides the waters running into lake Superior from those ttowing into lake Winnipeg, and thence into the Hutl- sonBay. After that long maid we embarked, "near ito source, on the river IJes Embarrux, which flows into the Milk Imcs. We crossed the latter and also lake La I'luie liefore reach- iiic tlie Fort of the same ninne. Our journey from the height of lands t<> this post had la aed live days. It took us ihi-ee da\8 to go down the river La I'luk, two days lo iiross liike Des £o/s. thri-edayslogodown the \Vinuip.g,<.ne dav to cross lake Winiili>ej.', and another d-y to 'ascend Red river up to Kt. B<>nif..ce, the residence of the bishop of Juliopolis. Our Canadian and Iroiiuols traveling com- panions were exhausted. Itwasthesamewlth Mr Hargrave and myself, and that for good reisons; for, very often, we would leave our camp at one in the morning, and encamp only at about 7 or 8 in the tvcning. Many times we were exposeil to great dangers, in the mid- dle of lake-s or in coming down or going up rapids. Tlie current used to set adrift our ca- n'ot-on liidden n.cks, and .nceouri'miill bark canoo was nearly daslieil to plec«^s on »»ne <if these hitidi-n rocks. The mournful cros-^s to bj seen ab .ve and below the rapids area sign or lilt' dangers these places afford. According to my calculation of the hours of triveling, I counted from Lachine to Matawan 115 leagues on the Ottawa; hence to Sault 8te. Millie, 134; on lake Superior, 140; from Fort William to the height of lands, 50; hence to lake La Piuk Fort, 98; llu-nce to Ftirt Alexan- der, down the Winnipeg river, 12l»; and at last, from that place to St. Bonliaee, between 3oaiia 37; total 700 leagues, iravled in 488 hours, or ;^ ' days of forced marches. At the extremity of lake La Pluk, I met the worthy missionary of the riauteux, Rev. ff. Beicoiirt, who was then vlsHIng thecamjisof that nation. I crossed lake Winnipeg on the uth of June, and on the 6th I arrived at St. B<iniface where I met bishop Provencher, Rev. Thllieault and Rev. Demers, appointed to the mission o '>re;.'on. Rev. Poire, missionary in the White Horse Prairk, came two days after. Rev. Belcourt returned from his mission <»u the 14th. On the 18th Rev. Poire left to ac- company a caravan of 800 or 900 wagons on a buffalo hunt. It was after his return that this geiiileman went to Canada with Mr. Belcourt. Rev. Mayrand arrived on the 22nd. It is easier l<i feel than to expn.ss the joys and emotions, the souvenirs and hopes caused by the meetingof those zealous lab«>rers in the vineyard of the Lord. This was the most nu- merous gathering of priests ever witnessed by the inhabitants of these remote regions. The mustard-seed was beginning to appear as a vi- gorous tree, already shadowing a multitude of souls draw n from the darkness of idolatry and tninsplanted in the kintrdom of God ; precious fruits of tl e evangelical zeal animatinK these missionaries. Hajipy the prognostics of a still richer harvest to be gathered. Having spent five weeks in v.iiitingall the missions of Red river, we started. Rev. Demers and I, on the 10th of July for our destination, after having sang a high Mass in honor of St. Ann to ask from God the benediction of heaven on our journey; for we had to penetrate Intoa country never yet visited by a Catholic priest. The rivers, lakes, mountains, prairies, forests and hills of Oregon would soon resound with the praises of the holy name of Jesus; the cross would be planted from place to place, from shore to shore, over the thousand leagues we had vet to travel, and the word of Him who said that that sign would "attract ail to Him" in the person of these po«>r wandering sheep to which we were sent. What a joy! What a sweet consolation f<«r missionaries! From St. Boniface we went. In seven days of dangerous navigation, to Norway House, a small fortres.*, 130 leagues distant from our starting point, and 10 leagues from lake Win- nipeg. Tbe'.ommandinsr chief Factor had the kindness to give us fof lodging and chapel the apartments destined for the Governor of the company. We sjieiit there eight days, saying Catholic Church ?s Okkcon. 13 holy Maps, dl(«tributiug catechisms, haptizinjr chiklroii and some adults, itmtrucliiigaiid t>x- hoiUipfj the whites and Indiniis ai the Fort. We h1s>> iKTfi Hilled two marriaKes tiiere. On rtuiidity, the 22iid, there wasa higli Mass, ves- pers iiiiid I WD serinoiis, to whieh some of tlie jivjitlemen aiideierltsof tlieeonipniiy assisted. Dniinir 1 1 lis brief stay of eljrhtdavM, many small buiKls i>f travelers came fr uu York Factory, on Uu Ison's Bay, to Norway House, from wheiu-e ;hey were all to start together to cross the mountains. On til" 26th of July every tidiig was ready. The brlrwle assembled and liegaii to march uiidtir tliB command of Jolni Rowand, Esq., Chief F.ictor of the Comoany, a Catholic, whose at tent ion, Itindnessaii I constant efforts to alleviute the fatigues and privations of tiie route, we will never forget. The lirigadecon- air,ied of eievon boats laden with inerchaiidiM?, agreat number of hired men, women and chil- dren. Among the travelers were Messrs. \V;il- lace and Banks, botanists, sentfioin Etigliiii'! by a scientific society. Having passed the head of lake Winniiejr, the river .Saskatchewan, or 8t. Peter, wliicli we had to ascend for 37 days, apjieared with the <lrand rapid that requires a jnirtage of everything. We crossed tlielaUeffe Traixrn, Bourbon, des Cedres and dci Vase,'*. On Sunday, Vugust 15th, we reached the little Fort (-'oii- stant, built on the right shore. We li.ul trav- eled 93 leajrues with oar, piTcn, sail and line, h iving been ften obliged, at the principal lapidt), to unbuul our lioats. We had b ip;ized on the way a child who died an hour Liter. I [aviirj;, that day, sang high Mass in the pres- ence of the CVjs Indians of the lu'ighborhood, wlio iip eared to lie well disposed to ivcive th" seed of tlie Word of God, we .starte.l liuht awav,aiid arrived on the 7tli at Fort CnmbiT- laiid" on tiie laUu' of thi' same name, .■$ > I M;;ues from Fort Constant, and (Ui the ISth .it Fort Carletoii, 88 leagues from the last. 'I'nere we peit'ornied 36 liaptisms and 7 iiiariiag<'s. .\- mong tliose l).iptize<l were the coniiii inder of tlie post, Mr. Patrick Small's family, compo- sed of 8 I ersoiis, of wlioiii lliree wt-re adults. At Fo t Pitt, 87 le.i^'ms furl her, we had 11 bap- tisms and at Fort K imuntoii, also called H'ort d vi /'m/rr.s. in cliargeo' chief Factor John Row.itid, we had 3i» liaptisms, « f which 5 were adults, and 3 marriages. Tiii-. last fort, wlilihc-r we arrived on theOth of September, is 101 leaifues distant fn»m Fori Pitt, amidst tiie UrLs. It would be quite fit .o btcome a stati"! ' • ii missiimaiy who would unierstand these Indians' language. Mean- wliile, a priest could, in good weather, goon horsi back across the prairies, from Red River to Fort Ciirleton in \!i days, hence to Fort Ed- muntoit 1/ 12 days, allowing time to slop nl every fori along the road His visit would do a gre.it deal of g<i<id to iln- employees and to the poor Iiidians, with wliom they trade in fms. On the 2l)th of September, we had at Fort Ed- niunton, asttlenin Mass and vespers, and two sermons. On the Idih, liefoie leaving, we blessed and planted a cross. This we did all along tho road, wherever we had wild Mass, eitlier near the forts, or on the shore, or in the Ulterior along the roaii. For six weeks we had followed the crooked course of the Saskatctuwaii. We had then to quit It and to change our small fleet for a car- avan of 66 horses, in order to reach, by land, across forests, ponds, prairies, rivers, ditches and lieaverdams. Fort .Assinilioineon the Ath- aliasea, a distance of34 leagues, which required tlve ilaysof fatiguing and dangerous walking. On Septeml'er 16tli, we left Fort Asslniiiolue f.nd began to struggle against, the rapidn and daii!.'eiN of tiie Atlialiasku which we ascended f.ir 17 days. On tlie 28th, we saw for the first time the imposing forms of the Rocky V oun- tains, the highest summits of which are per- petually covered with snow. On the 2na of October, we liad corneas far as Jasper's house, 4 leagues inside tlie Rocky Mountains, and were then 5i2 leagues from Fort Assiniboinc. There were there 3o baptisms, for the greatest part children of half breeds, or free people, living in the v.oods as Indians and hunting tlie beaver. Holy Mass was celebrated ou the opposite side of tlie river, far from the noise of Jasper's. Tlie Athalusca being no longer navigable, we changed, on the 5tli, <iur boats for a car- avan of 72 liorses, a great deal worse and more im|)eifect tliaii those of Ertmunton. These ' animals were ea.sily frightened, and throwing ott" iioisemaii and baggage tliey woul'^ either start for tlie woods or run into ponds or mud holes. The organization was ditficult and the departure slow. We went along the right shore of the river whicli, running In zigzags in a val- ley well timbered and bordered vith high iii'ouinains, produced high and long points tliat we had to cross straight over, in order to shorten tiie distance. We had to cri«8 chan- uvU. and sand iiars; we traveled alongside of a lake at the head of which is the Prairie Caiup- meiit, where we halte<l. We were 3 lea:^ue» fro.ii Jasjwr's house and had come there In 4 hours. On the 6lh we had to cmss forests of thick woods and climb up hills and rocks dipping into the water. We had to pass on the side of these hills whence the eye sees with awe the yawning abyss. Woe to the rider whose hone 14 HmOBICAL SKKTI^HUa OK THE •-Nil wouldmis.->a«lii!rle!«tt'|.! AfU-r b:iviiipc11iil>- ed very liigli rtK-U.n luiii traveleil 4 I*>iik"*^<' '" 3^ hourn, we c-aiiipetl 0)>i)0!!itf tl»« nick cHllfd the (Md Mii». On thf Till, after two lioure of iiiun-b over a nice little prairie liiilitly covered witli wimmK on a level ground, we took breakfast hi a ttne l>rairie. \Ve then went up and down 12 <ir 18 hills and rocks covered with w<iodn. We crossed lour little rivers, the Vnmpofthc Vow, pretty >fr.>ve«of li;jlit woods and beautiful wil- lows."' H ivlng walked 7 leagues in If, hours, wecampe I near th.- south fork or branch of the Athabas .a in a place covered witli burnt tives. (PUBLISHED MARCH 14tH 1878.) V'ICAH (IKNERAI/S I.ETTKR CONrLfDKn. /In tlie Hth, the luggage and pet)|)le were \f carried over, in a canoe wliitii liad been brought BO far witli infinite pains and lubur from Jasper's. The horses sw;mi across. This branch of the river was a real torrent, 45 steps or yards wide. The southwestern branch is but 30 feet wide, we had to cross it on horse- hack from its right shore at a place civlled 27« Hole, where the horses lost f«K)ting for 18 feet. The baggage and horsemen did not get v.et; SIS to tliose who were on foot they had toswini, holding the luggage or the hoi-se"s tail. Pro- ceeding now along the shore, then on the top of iiigb roclss, we met with niaiiy olts acles offered by hi!<h rocks, thick timlierand fallen 'rees. A hill apijeaivd; in order to f;icilitate its stet'i) Mscension, we climbed up in zigzags. \Veha<lt< dismount our horses In places where* the h n-ses had to jump or climli. Fr 'Ui the top of this hill apiteared the most enchanting scenery. Our sight rested w itii pleasure on a large Viillcy bordered with foi-ests niising their iieads up to one fourth of the mountainous lieight In the middleof Ibis valley wecould see the river, with its thou -and turns and as many points or hills producel by its course. It w;isa m:ijf'dfl<ent and encljantitig8|iectacle which caused our hearts to rise to Ciod, and whlcli we weivsorry to leave. VVequitted the river, c ossed several hi lis and groves and again leaelic t I be river. We came to Moose Piaitk, wlR'le :i ni<'e waterfall, several hundred feet in heiirbt, falls from the top of the moi'iitains in- to the 1 iver. The road liad been b.i<l and dan- gerous that day. The live leagues which the light cavalry liad run in CI boui-s, were trav- eled in two liours more by the loaded animals. On the ftth, we croftsed new points and high hills l)efore n*aching the first grand l)each two nub's wide, covered witli fine gravel, l)»ird«'ivd with mountains, and in the midst «f which the river ^e«^med t«) play, making a thousand turns from one sIo|M' of the mountains to the other. We cnwsetl a second l»eaeh llirnugh which the river flowed in like manner, i but day we bad to cross it &'i times in order t<t shorten tlie distance. Wt- saw many glaciers in the mountain passes, went through many a snow Imnk, and also saw a waterfall a» coti- siderable as the first. It was tlie Barrel FaU. We iialted at the Oun Vamp, surrounded wilh high )H-aks white with snow. We had trav- eled that day 8 leagues in 7 liours. On the 10th, l>eing > U leagues from the top of the Rocky Mountains, at 3 o'clock in the morning, I celebrated under a tent the august sacrifice of ilie Immacnlale Lamb in tbanks- giving for all the l)eiKfits the Lord hud be- stowed upon IIS, and to consecrate by the sac- rifice of the ( r. ss these sublime mountains, to tlie glorv of their Creator, the all-powerful God, of whom ihey sing the praise and power. Having walkt.d with much fatigue 2^ hours, across ponds, rocks, fallen trees and other obs- tacles, on the slope of mountains, alongside of tiio narrow Itui swift torrent, we came, by a steep way to the gorge or pass half a league ill width t'erweiMi (he two mountain ranges, liiotrn and Honker, wliose grand summit, per- petually coviitd with snow, rises some 17 or 1K,0»;0 feet above tlie level of the sea. This pass, pretty sle«'p in its central slope, Is cov- ered on both sides with masses of rocks fallen from the ab; upt mouiituins, whilst otberrocks, Hiispendeii atnive, seem to threaten the fright- ened traveler. Half way in the gorge is a round lake called Puiich Bowl. It is 311 yards in diameter. Its wateis communicate, uiiuerground, with twc other lateral lakes, whciein originate two riv- ulets. One is the source of the east branch of the Atliabasca, the other is the source of the Por(age river of the Wi-st. These two rivers are supplied l)y a great many streams from the mountains; so little at first they soon become impracticable torrents rolling their waters with an extraordinary noise. There, at Punch Bwrl. we were but one league and a half from our morning camp, and it had taken us 2j hours to travel that sliort distance. We were 27'. Iciigui-M from Jasper's. 700 leagues from St. Boniface, and 1,400 from "lonti-eal. One may Judge, thereby, of the obMucles encountered in that day, witliout speaking of the obstacles and dangers met witli for 6 days on the East- ern slo))e, in the ascent and descent of bills, rocks and heights, from Jasper's. We still Catholic Choicb in Okkoon. 15 walked one mile and a half in 2 boure, going down tlie WeMtern Mupe, niucb atet-per timn tl>o EaxU-rn; and going over rocks, frugments of rockw, and tre«B along the Portage river. We liuliod a abort dietanoe from La Grande ihtf, A great ateen hill we liad to dt.iicend, and whither our loaded horses arrived but 2 hours aftev thoste of the light cavalry. They were tired ami unable to go any further. On the 11th, the Onat HtUapwared with its Icing circuits In zigzags, to facilitate the steep- ness of it't descent. We descended it in 3 hours; the first part on horseback, the second on foot, and the third on horseback again; after which the caravan rested for acme hours on a t>eauti- ful buxh-prairie, the first portion of the large field we were sent to cultivate. We took pos- session of it, and consecrated ourselves to Its cultivuti.in. We crossed the Portage river 8 times, and made 4 leagues in 5} hours. On the next day, our riding hordes walkeil 2 leagues in 4\ Itours through the mud boles of the grcttl timber Point. It took the laden ani- mals 8 hours to make that distance, l)ecAnse they had to be unloaded and loaded again, every now and then. On the l.Sth, the traveling was easier and more agreeable. Having walked for 6 hours and crossed several points of w(M>ds and hills, we reached Boat tneampment on the right shore r)f the Portage river, some distance below Its ji! nctlon with tlie Canoe river flnwi iig from the North. We had come down the West slope of t he njoun tal ns I n .S days. We were 13} leagues from Punch Bowl, 41 from Jasper's, 4-5 froin t he entrance of the Ricky Mountains of wliich the range seems to continue up to the head of the lakes, .55 leagui-s further below. The t'oUunbla river has its source 5) leagues on the South. From Boat enrjimpment, it ab- ruptly turns to the West, hence the name of "Big Bend" Is given to this curve. It then flows Southwest down to the Spokan ■ river, below Colville;then Northwest to Okimagan; then Southwest to Wallulu; thencj West to Vancouver; thence Northwest to Cowlitz; thence West to the Pacific Ocean. This rapid river, about 60 yards wide at Bij Bend, which rolls itsswollen watersamtdst nunitMtrless dan- gers and was to ofter us In Its rapids, its whirl- pools, its dalles, its falls, its abysses, a tliou- sand more dangers than all the rivers we had yet navigated, was now iiefore us. We had iiow to eiic >unter Us dangers; and we were remly to meet them. On tlie I4tli, it being Sunday, the h<»ly sao- rittce of the Ma;^ was celebrated to consecrate us to the Queen of angels and beg her to take us under her protection. It was tlie first Mass <Milebruted In the territory of our mission. At 1:30 p. m., the iHMta were loaded, the prayers having been auld on the shore, %«e shook bands with our traveliiigcompunlons whom we quit- ted, alas! never to meet again, and we began to sail. Having traveled 10 leagues In 3J hours, we canified in the middle of tne rocka, and to- wards dusk we went down fiom this bad place to choose a better site. On the 15th, the grand and famous Dalles of the Dead appeared; it seems to be but 20 yan' i wide. Wuat makes It dangerous la the curved form or elbow of high and perpendicular rocka against which the whole body of water rushea. Hence the fury of the waves and the necessity to pass cl<«e by the opposite shore. Here we had to leave the boats to carry ofT every iblng. The barge Is then conducted by 8 men, 6at the nais and one at each extremity as pilots with long and wide paddles. In that way the DaUu of the Lead was passed wltiiout much danger. The little Dalle.- d« low, 30 yards wide, was also fortunately run down with loaded boats. We also went ihrough 3 big rapids and 30 smaller <mes, besides a strong continuous current and abysses which threaten the unskillful traveler. My barge broke o})en In the morning, during a fog, on a hidden rock, which put usin great danger. MyrompHUlon wasin the other ba~ge. The river, which from the Baneg encampment, looks as a canal cut through toe mountains, began to flow, towardsevening, In a less moun- tainous country. In this canal the horizon always appears on a level with *.he top of the treesof ihefcllowlnfT rapids and the high walls of rock, now crowned with forests, and then with beautiful rov.sof willows, terminate at every ripid by a fall, or kind of step making a real nniphitheatre. It Is a grand, magnificent and delightful sight, but the dangers offered by the canal prevented our enjoying it. On that day we had traveled 40 leagues In 6 hours. On Tuesday the 16th, liaving made 5 leagues in 2i hours, we reacii<;d the Hougeof the Lakes. Two hours after, one of our l)oats went back to the Barges encampment to fetch down the third of our companions we had left there for want of room. Theother boat started for Vancouver with the express. It t«K>k 6 days to the first to go up tlie 55 leagues which separated them from us;ltarT5ved hereon the 21st. Next day It started down, got filled with water at the Dallesofthe Dead, was emptied, but again filled in the following DaUfs; It was going ashore ^tien some one jumping in the water upset It. Hence the loss of 12 persons out of the 26 who mounted it. It was about dusk when thiscal- amlty occurred. Tlie broken barge went on its way the following day and arrived on the 24th in the morning at our camp. Great was tbe consternation at this sad news; an express was ir> HiSTORfCAI. FunTCHRtl OP THK dent tarolvlllp for a Uvtt luid goiuo provlxloDs. Tlieotl)t'roiie \vt\* tvpuireil mul went biiek to the unfortunate Hpot to liriiiK (liv druuneil bo- dies doun. Tlmt iiccidentdetuined UMlSduys at the Hoiimqfthe LriAvju. Thin lime wuHM|x>iit in inHtrnciInK itie Indiunn who appeannt quite docile and well diHposed; they were >»orry not tn have the happineHH of toeing biiptixetf lil<e tlieir ciiil Iren. At luBt <in the 3rd of November, havini; per- formed 17 buptisitiH, one marringe, Htid liiiried 3 drowned children, (the only b idien found,) Mt the fo:»i of H vroMS erected ii few utepn from nuroanij), where we celebrated holv Mastsevery day, we embarke<I in 2l>oat8, upon tlie waters still keepins; in their lionoru nine of our com- J>aulons We cro-«ed I lie Hrst lake, 13 leu^uet* ong, and one wide. Then came the second lake. IH leagues by 2 niilen. Below the lakes on the left in the Kootenuy river, whicili njv peured to be 30<) feet wide; and four hours' dis- tance below, 'lie Flat 1 tend river falling into t lie Columbia, through a beautiful fall some sixty yards wide. Tlie ninth rapid below the 1 lUes forms the Little IMle.t where the water passi's through a camd 10() feet wide, iK'tween high rocks or basaltic columns. VV'e can «ay tluit the Rocky Mountains extend us far as the lakes. Tlie day twfore we arrived ut Fort ('i>l- ville, the want of tlmlwr — wi>ichftl)ounded up to the Qreat Dalles — began to lie noticeuiile. After having traveled 72 leagues in :i days', we reached in the forenoon of the6lh. Fort Col- ville where we remained 81 days occupied in celebrating holy Mass and in i'nstruetinn 'he IndiaiiN of tlve nations who assisted with as much resjtect as if they had bten fervent (Mi ris- tians. Hav'Mg performed 19 baptisms, we left tliat fort o- le lOlli, and went to c niip two miles lieli'W in order to avoid the ('Imudierea fall, wliich stops navigation at that place. On tile 11th in the morning, we were triv- e'ing upon tlic Columbia wliicli a]i|)eared full of dan^jers. The giiiiid rapid appeared, 2n others followed. On the 12th, we passed the fork of ihe Spokane on the left shore, And tli.it of the .Simpoils on the rijilit. On the l.Htli, we reached Fort Okunagaii, si ii.iled on the right shore, 64 le.mues from Colville. NVf had trav- eled that distance in 3 days, inissing through innuincrable rapids, at the mosi dangerous of whicli the jieopie had to land in order to ligiit- en tlie boats. We started again on the I4th, after having baptized 14 |)er.sons, celebrated Mass and in- slructed the neighboring Indians during the 24 liouis of our stay at tlie fort. The little river (Jkaiiajian apijeared lijilit away. Wc juni|)ed 12 lapids on that day. On tlie ne.xt day, the I.jUi, a rapid was formed by the liock Islands. The passengers went ashore, and yet it did not nrcvent the b< at, carrying our chnich ki (mIh, mim t-trikiiig a rock and breaking, in coming down a eusi-adi>. It was Hlling witli water as it api>roaeh(>d the shore. On tlie]«th, wesuw, at a lieight of 100 feet in tlie Assure of a rcH-k, H pet rifled tree. While Jumping the 4 Priest's Rapids, lur Istut struck on Ihe bottom l>ut did not break. Behiw these rupids, tlie high and mountainous shores of llie river give place to low and level prairies, over which the sight can extend with ease. On that very day, we enjoyed a »|H'ctacle of which we hatl been «ie- prived since we left Winnipeg, that was the sunset. The ren.ainder of this day and also the next, we sailed on quiet waters. The low shores gave ns a chance to see the Blue Moun- tains, iSoutliof Wallnla, and those of Puget !S< und or .Mount Rainier. We left behind us, on tlie ri>;lit, the Yakima river, and l)elow,on the left, the Snake liver, also called Lewis and Clarke, wliieli iip|H'ared to lie 500 feet wide. On Sunday, the IHtii, we arrived early in the morning at Foil Walla Walla, built on the left I'ank of the Columbia, a short distance from the river (if that nuin*'. Peter C. Pambruii, Ks«j., in clia;g(.' of tliut important fort, a Cath- olic, received the two missionaries with the giraUst cordiality. He was born in the parish of Vaudreuil, district ef Montreal, Canada, anil was foinnrlv Lieutenant in tlie Vaitigeura Va- tiiiilliDy. His excellent wife was, at the time, at F«)ri Vancouver with her little girls, Maria, aged 12. Eda 3, and Harriet 1« months; and tlie lioys Andrew D . 17 years, and Peter C, 15. Tlie girls were IwptiMd with their mother on IXceiiiber IS, and the (at her had his marriage idessed on the same day. It was a beautiful and hap|>y day for ine. The holy saciittceof tlie Mass was celebrated, afterwl.idi the chiefs of I lie Cay uses and Wal- la Wallas came with their ptniple to see the pricKls. '1 he Cayuses were divided into two tiibes;oiieof which on Ihe Walla Walla river, known as Wailai])u, formed the Presbyterian mi.>4sioii, estalilislied by Dr. Whitman in 1836. The other camp lying on tlie Umatilla river, .SO miles hence, was under liie command of the young cliief Taiiatoe. The day was pissed in .s|>eaking to them of (iod and religion. They were so glad to see the Blackyoicns so long ex- jiecteil. There were three baptisms made at this place, and on a subsequent visit by Rev. M. D( mers, the young ciiief brought bis ciiild to be baptizt>d by the priest, Mr. Pambiun having consente<l to be its godfather, which gained for him great blame and displeasure from the Doctor. Since that time the young chiofand his band always pi-eferred the priest's religion to that of the minister. Catholic Ciicrch in OnKcoN. 17 SSSXOS TXX. ( PTTBLISHED UASCH 2l8T 187S.) ViCAK OKNKRAL'8 LKTTRR CONCM'DKD. An iiinnd«y, the 19tli, we left Fort Wallu Xf Walla will) it«exuellviitcoiniuaiider. 'he little rivnr Wnlla Wallii, uii the left, wa lol- lowed hy theUmatllluoii the name ttide. iStveti loasuei^' below the fort, we leaped the (iraiid Raphl M Itbout ae<.'ldeiil. From thence, we be- wail t<i we the white Hiiniiult of Mount H(mk1, whose tMtBelii the Cttflcudes range. On tlilsday, the 2llth, our provialonH becoming short, two horneti were purchased for fiKxl, for which the Indiann were paid $10 a piece. The Columbia beinu pretty low at thWafuson of the year, our two boats touched the ground In descending the 7th rapid on that day. We left the little river John Ikiy on the left. On wednetiday, the 2lHt, we saw on the same side La riviere dot Vhules, (the river of the Fallw) so called by the Canadian voyageurs, not for having falls, but because of it« uroxiuiity to the falls to be found on theCohuunia. We ap- proached them <m the right shore, with grext precaution, on account of the slrexm. "These falls," (ChvUeg In French) says Father Deniers, In the report of his first trip to C'olvill<i in 1839, "are a series of rocks, a mile or twii long, which extend across the Columbia and leave hut a snail channel on the left shore. These rocks rise ever so little in an amphitheatre and are divided l)y a great number of channels which the mass of water has cut for a passage, in the course of time. The ttntckute is pretty rt-gular and from 2) to 30 feet wide. 1 went at far as possible to examine them more closely. Dieir nun>l)er and variety are surprising. Tlicv are not equally deep, rtome are dry, whereas In others, passes u large volume of water. The falls are from o to 12 and lo feet hl<{h. One ntuy be astonished to lean* that these chitteg, so terrible at low water, are i uu»oth and still at very high water, which does not hapiK.'ii every year. Then It Is that, instead of fearing Ihem, the voyageurs hasten to appro..ch them, to light their pipes and rest.' Heiv we had a long portage of boats and bag- gage for a mile. The task was m.ide still more (litlienlt by sleet. The Indians of this place, who !tp|)eared very poor and destitute, came to tlie assistance of the men, but not without having been earnestly and IncessaiUly beggeil •A wiiiie. TlKit portage took us 4 hours. Tlie f'.iitM DnUen, (.Small Dalles), so called by the fii ' French Car.adlan vt)yageurs, are about hi\ir an hour's march from Chulcs. We passed them without nocldenl; they area mile Ion;; and about 25n f«fet wide, walled on both sides with iMNaltlc columns, with pn>Jeetlng points ami recesses, which form a canal, or dalle, tlipMigh which the stream move<l with the swift .less of a dart. The danger had been null so far, but It came on after crossing the Dallfji; for our tMiat l>eing caught by the curieni of a whlrlpo«tl was carried close to a rock, where, had It struck and been broken, It would Mton have sunk. One league flirt her down we found the Gran- der Dalles, »n called t>y the French Canadian voyageurs and HoFm/xim by the Indians. Here the CTolumbia is intercepted by a chain of solid rm-ks, through wlilcb — woi'derful to say and see — the strong mass of waters have opened a channel tothemselvis. TbeOrofidml/a/fesare 4 ndles long, Impassable In the high water of May and June, but paaaable in the low waters of the Fall; and even then, not without a dis- cbarge of ptrsoi is and baggage for the tw o first miles. The first part Is a canal of about 150 feet wide, walled with busaltic columns about 60 feet hl|tb, ending In a platform about 80 feet broad, and terminating with other basaltic col- iimnstiOfet't high. During the high watertbe swollen Columbia passes over the platform. In low water It only runs through the lower channel; projecting points and recesses In the walls form waves and whirlpools very danger- ous, even for light bmits managed by 8 men, at the (;Hrs, one at the stern and the other at the prow, with long and wide paddles used as rudders; nevertheless, they are never passed without dread. The two first ndles were run in 10 minutes. Duringthemiddlestageof the water the whirlpools are very dangerous; I wat- told that several years ago a boat was caught by one of them, and soon disappeared In Its large and deep funnel. After crossing the Qrar.dej' Duller we saw on the left the buildings of the MetluMlist mist^lon fur the Indians, es- tablish' d in 1837. On thursday, the 22nd, we passed the Great R(»ck of t he Dead . From the Dulles to the Cas- cadcfto\xr navigation was quiet and pleasant, on the smooth water of the Columbia, Dordered on iHith sides with picturesque mountains. On friday tbe2.^rd, we reached the Cascades which stop the navigation for 4 miles, and require the ixirtage of the baggage. But they are far from being what their name indicates, a series of caf^eailes; for the two first miles, tliey uro sim- ply a big rapid passing between the contracted banks of the river, followed by a swift current, a wavering water along the shore of the river, on the lef% while the unloaded boats can be brought (own with a line along the shore of the right oank for the fii-st two miles; then, m.i 18 Historical •^Kn-iiKii or tiir rnrtly linlfii Mie.v rnn the IhkI iwo miU- Mith warN. V\e rviicl.t.! rhe ri,i>er ro^udtii wuU Mr.'ut run- uti«| .aily iiioukIi U-fcrf imm.i. to iimkf tia li.hK iM.r'UKe on Hit- muiiu' iliiv, mut ♦•ncum|. at (lit- /> w< r Cim-iuIk. On .s,iiir.|:,v tli«a4tli. \Vf wtiH on with Mill iiiiit .mi>;tti'- .•ft on ,.iir riKhi the high rock .•«IIh1 ( V,,^ H..,» l)ylruvil.r«oiui,connlolv»in«liin<| Worm often |«revHlliiiK there. WV puHm-d iiiaiiv IslancU. an.l wlun MpproaehinK Kort VaM«l..uver the baai8 went ashore to allow the travelers to niiike tlu Ir toiletn, and *<nii: after we were at the eiDl ot our lonjf Joiirnev, at o p. ni We exiKTieiioed eold from Colvllle lo the nmmha IMltM. It was ho ftevere, Home .hivn as to form lev oti the oarn of the men. Home eveniiijp* we found the Kround covered with H «)r 4 inehen of Htiow, whhh we hud to ivmove to i.itch our tentH. Some nightM the eol.l waH !• degreeN of Itt-aumur. Such iilKhtH a!4 we imsHed under a tent at Home dlHiiiiee from a w'unty rtiv, on aeeount of eheneareitv of drift wocKl to be found on the nhore, weref;ir from Ik'hik pleuHunt. At />». dnUfn portage, the ground wan eovere*! with a hard ^'lazed fr(«,t I lieeecleHiantical .sinUane or c.ifimwk of ijriest.i whieh is the tvpe of the "neamleHH garment". )| rhrmt and of HIh Chureh, and the Klor'on^ hah t of the clergy of Canada, was w..ni l.v ii« all the time during our long journey from Tan- ada to Oregon, and nlnee our arrival. It wuh then, euHy for ihe C'anadians to recogni/A^' thnii^ |iriL-N(8, and the IndiMiiH the Blackgown.s an- iioiineed to them. Thin practtce we will eon- tniue to olwerve, at home and abroad. At Fort Vane mver, we were 40 leigiie.s from the oeeun; 20 from the (.'a.'H'ades; 40 from the lii'lles; m from Walla Walla; 14o from Okana- gan; 20'.t fn.m ('olville; 287 from the linns,- of the Lukes: ;|42 from Big Ik-nd, uinlav, tVom J'liiieli Howl. Iiielosing thin long letter, I U'gK.hf I'l . ve I to reler your Lordshii) to a general report of our receplioii at Fort V;ineouver and ourmis- «ioiiar> li.hors. Please hlesHyoin- two mUsioi- ri.s III the oreat far West, their tloek and their labors, and ..ccpt tlif homage of the senti- ments ol vehi'iiition with whieh I have the honor to U-, my Lord, of .\ our Lordship, (ill- most hunilile and olxlieiit servant h\ N. Bi.AMUKT, V. (i. AlJUlVAI. ASI> UtCKKflON OK THE MlSSIUN- AIJIKS AI FOKT VaNCOCVEK. Tile two mi.ssiouarie.s being anxious to reacli the destination of their long and arduous jour- ii< y. the brigade s'nrted Iroiii Fort Walla Wal la (ii.w W;,i|„|.,) „„ M,„„|„y „„,niiug. Nov, libh. rea.-hiii;,. K„n Vaiieouver nn the follow ing Saiiirtljiy. aher a weekV Mlowathl ledioiip deH<eiii ».f ilie Colninhia river The .same dis iHiiee is now traveled in steamers in two days When the flotilla appeared in sight, as it iiia.le iifl wi V down the Cohimbia, all was ex- eiteiiunt at • o fort, where news had already been receive., of the ealaiuity which had o«'- eiirred to the parly and the eonseq-ient loss of life. All the populace nmlied to tlie river hank ill order to feast their eyes on the Hrst Cath- olic missionaries wlio.se presence they had loug expected. Prominent among the assembly sl(tod Jamcd Douglas, who was acting Chief Factor and (lovenior of the establishments of the llndsoii Hay Co. west of the Rocky Momi- lains, in the absence of Dr. John .McLoughlin who was then absent on a visit to Canada and Kngland. Me was the first to welcome the missionaries to the scene of their future labors. t'ondnctiiig ihem to the fort, where the fla" was flying in honor of their arrival, the Gov^ crnor ushered them in apartments prepared fi-r ihfin. appointed a servant to wait on them, and in every way manifested his hospitality and his delight at their arrival. No .sooner had the missionaries reached the fort than they ,vere waited upon by Joseph (Jervais. Stephen Liicier and Peler Beleque, a delegation re(iiv.<enting the Canathans of the Vyillaiiietie valley, who. liaving heard t'.at the missionaries were coming, had left their i.o.nes in a body in order lo greet the long-looked for Catholic missionaries on their arrival at Van- couvtr: hut nearly all had been obliged to re- turn h .iHL in consequence of the delayed ar- ri.e! of the missionaries thrngh the disaster of ti.i Oa'es of the Dmd. T saving the missionaries located at Van- co.r . r, Ihcre to return thanks to God for hav- ing preserved them through their long and ar- duous journey, let us glean from confempora- I ioiis history a sketch of Fort Vancouver as it ihcn exi.*ted. We copy from 'The Ore-ron Territory" by Rev. C. G. Ni. olay, and issue.l III Loudon in 1846. Describing the forls of the Hudson Bay Company, that writer snya: -W: rl,. Cat^uk Ciiurcn in Orkgon. •ilia WmI iii^'. Nov, U' follow . Ill le(lioll^ Mdine ili<« two (1||}K jllti H8 it I WHS ex- I nlri-ndy ha<i oc- rit I0M8 of verhnnk ■at Cath- llHll lou^ iSMeiiibly i« Chief neiitg of y Muiiii- toii^hiiti ada and )me the ) labor8. the fla<: fie Gov- repared n them, ipitality Jied the Joseph teque, u I of the t'. at the • iiwines ked for «t Vao- i to re- yed ar- iisaster Of all tUeh>,ri\ VMiMouver Ih low the prlii- • pal: here Dr. .McL..ukI.11„, th.. k..v. ,n!.r f the terr torv remd«.. an.l here In the pihuiiwl hiteriorare warehoiiH«M|; u Ih|„,1m.,1 the »iiid«,. rtun, of trade from Kau.ehatka u. c"lit*.rX 19 .5:;^^^i\j;i'tsrM^a!si=i t Van- or hav- find ar- il! pora- er as it Oregon issued 'oris of ..f WC...U... wall. .nade,;^-^ck;,H;; wi^^i:.";; flnulv flx«l In the around, and t-UmeTy rt?Sd ogetlier 25 feet blK^, un.i strongly -ecJred on the Inside by buttrH««.; the are* h. oultlTat^ and Hurrounded by houHes and otllcM,. th« J ,V- ernor's rehldence being In the centre there Ih a cha|>t.| and sch.wl. T'heoffleen.of heC™i ! pany dine together in the oonunon h-ll, tlio governor uresldlng; but it h.» been remarked nf .hJ 1, • nT"' '*'*l'" *»veHand the females of the f«ta.jli8hnient fn»m tiie table does n.t eontributc. to the reHnement of ,3,",^' 1 here l«al«, a public "batchelor's hall," where after dinner the time Is passed in conversation and smoking but the fatter In said to l^ d " dining as u liablt. The hospitality «»f Fort \ ancouver and ts governor has bt*i. ligl iy praised, especially by American WiUers. It tiiiouldseem not without g.K»d reawmt,: and the jr^-neral feelmg of .vgret at leaving thesociery It affords speaks much la praise of the offlwi^ ..t he ( ompany, not less than the gmnl clieer of tile «;.)vernor. * '^ -"cvr Uevond the fort are large granaries and sK.reWuses; and before It, on till bunk of tS river, U the viilajre in whicli tliewrvantwof the ( ompany reside; in all, ihe residents may be seven huudr-d. In the v.ll.ge is an l..«.pltaT Attached to Fort Vai , .uver is a niagnlfl. cent farm of moiv thun .;,00() ac-i-es; s.nv-,n|||s cutting many liundred thousand feet iier an- iiuin; grist niillH, and every otii.r reuuwite for • ^omnien-e ami agriculture. Ver^els of 14 feet draught can cme abreast of the wli .rf at low water (sayH Lieutenant Wilkes), and at the store of tlie Company every necejis.ry cui Iw Jiui.;.:ied asclieapasin tlio Ijnited States; i.ils however must l)e taken witli considerable Hm- itatiop, and refers probaUly t«. the English goods i„ p:,riicular. kron. hence theComSany carries on a kicrallve tra.le wll h ( 'aliforniaVthe ftan.wich Islands, and tlie Russian st/ttle- ments, besides its exporte to England <. ll'l <''""l>«"y'8 servants are principally -ootdi and Canadians but therplHulwalrreat liumW .. i.aif-l.ree.ls, cliildren of the Com- I'uiiy ssirvunisund Indian women. These are |<.-ner»; .v a well feature*' race, ingenious, ath- Itiic, a.ul remarkabler xl h..r8enten; themen «mke excellent trappers, and the women, who ir.quently marry officers of the Comfwuiy Uu.^ "'^'"' ^"•"•'»'. ""rt "tlentive wivev tlM-3 are ingenious needlewomen, and g.NKi i.aiu.gen.. 'Yhey frecjueniiy attend the Ir^.u^ b«n«l«on their trading excuwlons. 1 which ar tiesol heir Indian Hi.cestors, among w bio , l« the not unfreouent use of the nioeassli l»H.gh Hsually it /sniadeof orn«me,"ed Zh Instead of (Iwr Skin. "vino, uJ!u.V'fi'"'u '^* "•••" ".'* Pri»cl|)al establish- ment of the Hudw.n's B«y Conifmny in the V\ est gives the stianger a high Idel, of its pA«u •erit> and n,portanw;thethkkly,.eople0^vll. fage the hghly cultivated tlelds he aUwnce of Hi guanU and defences, tl ^ guns of thTfort having long since been dlsmounletl, theclvl" Ized ap,Haiam;e of Its interh)r, and tbe activity and eneigy w l.leh nrevalls -the noble riveV^ lure l,m yards wide, on whieh perhaps some of i.e Company' j,, origs, or steamers wHlupp.ynt. d, m. «nd armed, ai; at In^ chor. and . h. ■ -eighteiiod h. 'the effect b> the inagn. ^-oeiiery by which it issur- rounded; tVis- r ..e w<hm1» flanking the inlghty stream, and bt. ed by lofty mountains the sn..w-covered ,.eHks of^Mounts Ho<Xli Ht Helens «oH;eringover all; while tbe wild flow- ed his selu lion of its site. Here is, andUoubt- iesh will com nue, the chief trade of Western America, until tlieincreHsingdemands of com. lupn^and imilonal industry transport it to he shores of Juan de Fuca straits anaAdmlrelty Inlet; yet even tiien, as the only naval and merc-anti le station in South Oreg<u,, and as J^ ctMving I he trade of all branebesof the CoW bla.ai.. I.aving Immediate and rapid wmnect- ion with Pugefs Sound by the 6owlit" a^d Msqua Iy ami with (iray's Harbor by the Chehalis— thus connectinK the great fnih water with the great salt-water n^vLS the Columbia with the Strait of FuSlwf |)ccuuv only the sec.nd phtw. sir H. Pellv 111 hfs letter to Lord Gieneig, in 1887 glv^ hi. account of the state of the ComJk.fiT- ibe Company now (occupy the couiitrv h*. tween the ft,H=ky Mountair.^ and Uie Siflt by six permanent establisliments on the «>a9t si.xteen in the interior country, besides sevcra migratory an-. ,:, ••i':gpartle»,kiidtheymain- \essel on tl ,f,i...t. u,- m u-inclpal estabiish- '.'.t for U}o trail* of the coast and Mi'.ed nifiGt V nti -s from tbe Paci- ni " i.'iiH i t!i >Columbia,and •V! •!» Ih.l .i' {' that celebrated ai< iielg-t, ir lood they have ment :i>id Interior Is s flc, on the i called Van. navigator; 20 Historical ?ketchm or the large posture nnd graii. farms, nffordiiig nif*t ahuiidaiitly every species of ugru-ulUiral nio- (iuce, and nuiintaiuing large herds of st.x-k j.f every dt^'eriuti^ln. 'I'liese have been gra(hmll> eslablinhod, and it is the Intention of tluConi- mnv still further not only t«» augment and ir- crease thttn, und to establish an ex p<iit trade in wool, tallow, hides and other things, Inil to encourage the settlement of their retired ser- vant* und the Inmiigrants under their proiee- tion; and he asserts further, that the soil, «Mi- mate and other clrcunistanee^of the country, are as mneh, If not more adapted to agncuUn- ral purposes than any other spot in America. H»^ » (POBLISHKU MARCH 2STH 1878. ) INTKREHTINO LETTER FROM RKV. MoUKSTK Dkmers to Rev. C. F. Cazeai-, Secretary, Quebec. Vancouver, Oregon, Mandi 1st, 183!). Rev. dear Sir:— . . ,, ,i,.> When I was appointed totlie mission of Oregon In 1837, tojjether willi tlie Vtrv U°v. Father Blanclu-t, tliei)assageot tlie iiiisiionaries from Montival to Fort Vain-ou- ver across the American eontinent and in the e^in'oes of the Hon. Hudson Bay Coinp.iny, met obstacles which prevented tlieir imme- diate departure. Bishop Provencher, who sto »d in nci-d ot a missionary, st?cured a pass-i^v lor me to Ited Kiver. Tliis was twenty one liundnil miles KAved ill inv journey to Ori'gon. 1 was ilVaid, however, that when I should hMveac<iiitred a knowledge of tlie language of the Sanleaux, 1 would not bo allowed to proceed on my j .uriiey if an ..pportunity nresenU-d itself; but Divine Providence took all dilflculties (mt of the way, for as soon as the missdonar en for Oregon had obtained :ipas->a)i:e,liish<.pl'rovenclierallowe<l ni«' to proceed, ami 1 had the lnippine.-« of uii-etin^ with the Very llev. Father Blan- ,-litton P d River in W.iH, on Ids passage to Oregon Leavins? to the vu- ir geneail the re- cital of the Ules of his iripfr-.m St. U .nifaceto Fort Vancouvei, I will give you an account «>f mv mil istrv: For tlie last three months this f.)i t, hiM* with the Canadlansand Indians here, .,.ciipiv d -ill n.y lime. I luive found liert'»<>me I' insolation, (iod has given me the grace to leiiin the Chinook language In ashort time. It is Ml this jargon that I instruct the women and .•hildreu of the white settlers, and the savages who come to «e me fn ni fir : nd near. I am M> busy ironi morning (ill night that I can scarcely tind time to write the following con- cerning the savages settled on the west of the Rocky Mountains. I would ask, therefore, your Indulgence; as I merely passed through the ditl« rent Indian tribts scattered along the Columbia from the Rocky Mountali.s to the I'acittc Ocean, the following sketch must of lie* .ssity be very ImiH-rfeet. I hope, however, i it will besuflclent to make known to you thoee divers tribes, under the most interesting as- nect— that of religion. My re«ent arrival In this country and the mnltipliclty of my occu- Datt< ns do iiot permit me to give more than a fulntske'ch. Unwilling as I am to expose my- self t.. the danger of giving false impressions and wrong information, I will wait until I may have acquired a more thorough knowl- fdire of those unknown tribes. Lake Hocbe. ^ , , , The first savagts we saw are called Lake In- diam. These Hist <.f the large fold comniitted to .)ur care coiivsp«md well to the description uiveii us of them by ihe Canadians, who had lieeii forson.e time telling them ot their own chiiffc— !l.t b'ock iob«e— and had given them I he hoi)e tlmt some of them would arrive and give tlnni a knowledge of the Master of life. He who made them, "Kaekfruien tshoyien." \Vc can ei!sih Imagine with what joy they re- (vive.l tho^e chiefs for whom they had bee" so I long waiting. For 17 days we remaiiied at the Hoiise of tiie liakes and labored In this new viiuvard, which promised from the very begin- ning of our visit to iM an bundant fruit. Alter the first instruction on God and His attributes, on the ci-eation, tlie fall of Adam and the ne- (vssilv of Baptism, those who hiid little chil- dreii hastened to bring iheiii for Baptism, to have t beir hearts made good." They regretted tliatthev, themselves, could not receive the same happiness. These Indians desire noth- inir more than to know G<h1 and the religion that leads to Him; they anxiously long for the moment when a priest may come among them U. teach them the holy truths and niaxims of our divine religion. It was not without gr ef that these i>«»or people saw the missionaries have them; and on our part we were not in- different to the expression of their warm af- ftrlitin. Quomodo audkut .sine prcedicantef COI^VILLE. In this fort we saw Indians belonging to 5 dlfterent trib*s, who had come from the ne;gh- borhoo4i to meet us. A barge which had pre- cidcdusdown the river, had br«»ught them the newt, that the long expected chiefs were aiming. Hardlv could they perceive the barge In which we were, than they all, men, women Catholic Chcrch in Oukgon. 21 ;nui children, hastened to the shore with joy fleiiicted on their ciiunteiianees, to bid us wel- come. It was not without emotion we saw this* demonstration of tlieir Kratiftcation. We liad to tear ourselves away from them, to ac- companv the c«»mmaudant to the fort. The chiets of tlie Oiaudieref, SinpoUs, tipokam, Pia- knos and of the OkMnagans with some of their people, received such instruction as our time would allow us togivethem. All gathered to- )j;etber in a larjje liouse given to tlieni for the (Ktcasion, and waited in hilence for the moment I when we should speak to tliem. With what attentive eagerness they listened to the Word of God, which being translated to them by the chiefs, acquired a new force and an additional weight. SVe forgot nothing that was calculated to fortify them in the principles of the Catli- olic religion; thus, in a short time, we liave scattered s>>me of the seed of the divine Word, and we have the sweet hope that, according to (iod's merciful designs. It will liear fruit In this p<)rtion of the human family so long ne- •rlected. We easily can see what progress (Christianity would make among tribes so well I disposed, but fides ex audMn. The live tribes mentioned above, the LaJce I Indiana and the Flat Heads, of whom we shall (•peak later, speak languages so similar that ! iliov readily understand each other; It wouM i»- enough to know one of these language.-* t<» -,.eak ihem all. The.iolbe Indians and the 1 ( 'iiuiieres are the most numerous of all. Okanaoan. During the 24 hours t hat we remained at this uortt, we became acquainted with the Indians who frequented It; they are tolerably nunier- i ourt. We may say of them what we li ive said .)f those mentioned above; to m.ike fervent I Cliii-stiuns of tliem It would sutn<« u> teach ihein the Christian doctrine. Nothitig more is iieeiled. Between Okanagau and Wall i Wall i we have seen «)nly a few Indian huu«. F.ir want of interpreters we could liardly make oui-selves understood. Walla Walla. Some of the chiefs of the Ciyuie triim ha 1 I I'oine toyet her at tills post to see the chiefs ot the I I'leuch (Canadians). All over, t he same wixl J iiul the suuKi eagerness tt» know O mI, the same I i.>y and satistaction in seeiii'.? the black rtilK-s I uf" whom thev had heard hi* much. Although h->*. .vol Christians, tliey firmly lielieved the ( ruths <if the religion we explained to them on I I li.f wav. Tijey speak the language of the Nez 1 /' rcp» which is <ilt»>gether different frimi that i ot the Oiauiierj.1 and of Ihj Flat Heads; they .:.ni CMU verse with those of Walla Walla whose 1 ! I I /u *ge la spoken as far as Djj* Ckateii. Some- <.vli.it U'.-liiW are the Dalle:i Indians, who can speak with th«i«e of Des ChuUs and of the J 'as- cudes, 20 miles distant from Vancouver. -V J'reat many of the Indians speak the Chinook argon of which there will be meutlou later. Vancouver. The C.'hlno<)k Indians'are scattered along the Columbia river from this fort down to the Pa- cific Ocean. Before the year 1830, they were the most numerous tribe Inhabiting the banks of this river. This rendered them proud and haughty. Beside this, they were rich; but about this time came the disastrous malady known l)y the name of fever-and-ague which carried a great many to their graves. In the heat of the fever they would leap Into the river In the hoiieof relieving themselves of their suf- fering, but they found death as quick as it was certain. It was found necessary to burn a wlH)le village where the dead bodies were piled <.ii»- nm>n another; for the survivors were not capable of burying tlieir dead. This calamity which God sent tiese Indians on account of their ubomtnable lives, came to visit them every year, and always made some of them its victim's. We are told they reformed their lives, except tbot-e who lived near the fort, who are wicked and denntrallzed on account of their amimunlcatlon v ith the whites. They make a shameful traffic In crime; they have female slaves whtin) they hire at a price to the first who asks Iht m. They have seen us and see us vet M Kb an indifference that makes us regrvl tlieg«K)d Indians of the upper river; but the part of the tril)e situated not far from Fort George, (n. w Astoria) down the river, is not as dt pravtd, which jjlves us the hope of being able to Chri'-tianize them, with the assistance of Hlni wlio wills that no one should perish, but lliat ull should con\e to the truth. At the very nionieiit 1 write this, I learn that their cliief, with a great luany of his men, has lust Hirivtd toseetlie Freiu-li prieste. A few days ago lie had sent depnti« s to know wliether they would instruct bis Indians. The real language of the Chinook Is almost unlearnablo;it differs entirely from that of all the neighboring tribes; but they speak thejai-- Kon also, which is used as the medium between the Canadians and the whites in general, and the Indians whoaresettled nearthefort. The Jargon Is composed of words taken from dif- ferent languages, disfigured in their ortho- ffraphy and pnniuuciation. It is all borrowed from different languages which makes it easy to acquire. It possesses only from four to five hundred words. It nas no participle; one and iLe same word has several meanings. For In- stance: Wawa, means to speak, to learn, to tell, to answer, to ask; Komtux, means to know, to learn, to oompreheud, to bear, to think and to 2i Historical TiiHTciiKS of tiik holi(>ve;tlui!<, by .uMiiij^ Xdvitkn, oertaiiily; we iiiivo, Xdirilhi luilk-ii komlux Snlxilce I'lUjie, 1 be- lieve in (J'mI; heiic** it followslbat it isiioteasy tiitraiisliiie Frencli expressions ir.to it, we liave to use |):iiM|)li ruses. For tlie last niontli I l<now tSiisjiirt^oiisutHeientlywell tittfiveii structioiiM and to teaih tlie cate'ehisin wiilioul beinj? ob- lige<l ti> write tbeni down. I have translated the rtiirii of the Cross, and the way to uive one's heart to (1 >d. I cannot send the trans- lation of tlie other prayeix, as they are not (iiii"e finished. A good many of the tascade Imli- ana who understand this j MKon, and some of the KlieUalula, attend the catechism undeve- lunKpravers. In order to impress deeper upon their meniiir' the truths contained in tlieaiMw- tles' Creed I have tried to arraiiKt' it toa (per- tain air. The Indians love music very much; they kno.v nearly by heart the canticles that v/ere suii.- at Mass last Sunday. I expect to learn the Klickatat language, winch will l>euf great use in instructing this tribe, an I those of I)es (Miutes and of the Cascades, wh > Uiider- stand it well .ThegreatesldilHcullyin learning the languajje spoken on this side of the m un- tains consists in the pronniici ition which is such, that w^ are many limes at a loss to tind characters to represent" it, as in S:ih'ih'c Tnyw, (J'.d, (Chief.above) hihkt, one. Tim- d.)es not all iw me to expatiate on tl.is matter. Tiik Indians of Cowlitz. * The Cowlitz Inilians love with revereni-ethe missionaries who are established aniin^ liiem. They have a language of their own, ditterent froni that of the Chinook In li .ns. Tliey are tolerably numerous but p 'or. Thfy -rive ns hopes of their conversion, .\f.cr the visit of the vicar general, they said t<> the -'etiersof ("owlitz: ' rhepriestsaregoiiigtost ly wiih us; we are (xior, and have nothing to g ve (lit in: ThihirirhiDi iitsdiko, inilr ikta ii('y(vk<(: we want todosonielhingfortliem, we will work, make fences, and whatever else tliey wish us to do." Several of them came to see the m ssioiiarics iit Vancouver, and expre.sst>d the m )si ardeut desire to have them come and rem .In wiih Thk Willamettk Indians Tlie vieir general who pass • lamo iih among the Canadians established on this river, could not speak highly of the Indians be had seen — the Kuldixmi'i^- They were very numerous l.tf.>re tlie levrrs. but are now re 1 need to a smaHnimiber, winch keeps decrea-*ing every dav. Thev aie poor and lazv; thieving may be '^ Cowlii/. is a corruption of the original In- dian word ro-idl-ifz used by the early settlers. coi.sidered their prednirnant pj'ssion. They wi-h to keep away from the ndssionaiii-s as much as I he Cowlitz Imliaiis wish to be n<ar them. Hardly any of them were seen by ihe vicar general at tne chapel assisting at the in- structions. lUit it seems «e might succt-id bet- ter among the diHer»nt triltes<.f this nation who are settled on Ihe triluifaries of Ihe Upper Willamette. From these they take (heir dif- ferent iianies. I learn there are fourteen or tlf- teeii dift'eieiit dialects spoken by these triUw; tliey are noi so e-s«'nlially different lint that they can understand each other. Moreover, the Chinook jarg<m is spoken among the Ka- Thk Northkun Indians. In Fi.rt Okanagan we had information of a >;r( at many Indians w ho are settled at a great distance ir'om the H<n ky Mountains, towards Ihe North. Some C iiadians in the service of the lion. Huil.-on Hay Co , in tho.se quarters, loul Us that pi iists wi ultl do « ell among them, altlu.ugh ihey are i.ol civili/.ed as those of the Cidumliia. \Ve will let them know the object of our arrival in this country, but we cannot st'iid word to them before next summer. The Ncz PerccK tribe is very numerous. They ate mostly settled on large prairies not far from lite mduiitaiiis towards the North. TheCan- ; diaiis who live among them lor the purpose ol (ibtaiiiing the beaver fur, have for a long lime spoken to tliem of the black robes — the <hi« fs of the Flench. Naturally good, mild, iiiid full of resiM ct for the prayer to the Master of life, they anxiously (hsire that priests may come lo ills; I lift them, and make known lo I hem the religitni of the French. They have even imtigined tl at they could buy one, and have inquiietl of lilt Canadians how many horses and beavtrs it would take to h:ive one stay with them, saying, that "he would want for iiothinj:, and that the best of the spoils of the chase w<iuld lie given to him." (lOod dis- cipline and morals reign among them. May we not here exclaim with the Savior of the world: Slems qiikkm wulta, opemrii autem pnuci. What can two missionaries do ani<iiigsomany tribes but desire that the Lord may send mis- sionary priests to six w tliem the way to heav- en, for which they have been created, and to tell them that their souls ate the price of the Blood of the Savior, lioyule ti-yo dominum mea- »w ut mitUit openirios in nusmn smun. Ileccivc, Rev. IX-ar 8lr, The assurance of my esteem, M. DEMERS, Missionary priest of Oregon. P^ W^ m^'mmKm tfi-VK "nT^rrvunk Catholic Cixkcii in Okkgox. 23 (published APRIL ilf:? 1878 ) First Ma^s at Fobt Vancouver. Condition of the Country. VOVEMBER 25th, 1838, was as beautiful as ^\ a summer day. It bciii^r Sunday, prepar- ations were made in the school house for the first Mass ever said in lower Oregon. Tiie huildini.^ was too small to contain the iTi>wd composed of the gentlemen, ladies and Cath- olics of the outside camp. A solemn high Mass of thanksgiving was sung by the vicar general who gave an instruction suitable for the occa- sion. Vespers were also chanted in thi after- noon. The divine service was moving, even to tears, as many of the Cauadians had not heard Mass for ten, fit^een and even twenty years. For them that day was one that would never be forgotten. They saw at last that they liad priests among them, to instruct themselves, their wives and their children, to admini.sier to them the sacraments, and give them at the last ai:d awful hour the consolations of holy C'liiireh. In all this they felt happy, aii<l giv- iuii thanks to God, they were willing an I ready to obey iheir pastors faithfully. It may be well to take a view of (he couitry in relation to the It.'u n tribes, the servants of the Hudson BayC'i ,and Catholic uii I I'rot- fstaiit settlers, in order to have a cunvirt idea of tlie condition of things in the mission en- trusted to their care. Their mission extended t'idin California (42nd paMllel' to the North- orn ;:lHcial sea, between the Painfic OvVaii and the Rocky Mountains. The Indian tribes were II lunerous, scattered all over I he coniii ry, speak- ing a multitude of divers and difficult tongues, and aiidicted to poligamy and all the vices of liagaiiisnj. The servants of the H. B. Co. in uiive ser.ice in its 28 foris for the fur trade, were ill ;:reat majority Catholics; so also were tlie four families settled in Cowlitz, and the 26 « -it.'iblished in the Willamette valley, with their wives and children. .Many of the servants and -it tiers had forgotten their prayers and the re- li:;i<»u« principles they had received in their V'ltith. The woinea they had taken for their wives were pagans, ar baplized without suffi- <ieiH knowledge. Their diildivn were raised in ignorance. One may well imagine that m many places disorders, rudeness of murals and indecency of practices, answered to that stale of ignorance. There were also found in the vjilley of the Willamette some Protestant settlers, and in different parts of the country about 30 Prot- estant ministers, with their numerous attend- anis, their wives and children. The Meth- odists had two missions, one in the Willamette valley, and the other at the Dalles. The Pres- byterians were established at Wailatpu among the Walla Wallas, at Lapwai among the Nez Perces. and en the Spokane river. Besides the.-'", the II. B. Co. had its own chaplain at VancJHiver fur two years These ministers were zealous, making efforts and using all means possible to gain converts to their sees. As to the Cat holic settlers and their families, although considerably numerous, they were not cily without any clergyman of their faith to teach them and tlieir families the Catholic doc- trine, but were nu>reover exposed to the most seducing tenipiaiions of perversion ; for, if on the one hand, they were deprived of all the means recissary to practice the worship com- manded by their faith and claimed by cons- cience, on the other hand, the practice of their separated brethren and the exhortations of the ministers, were immediately at hand, as no pains were spared and nothing neglected to induce iheiii to join the sects. Kev. Mr. Beaver, who arrived from England at Fort Vancouver as chaplain in 1836, was anxious to bring the < 'at holies of the fort to his Sunday services; but h.< ^'hs checked by the good Dr. McLaughlin ; nevertheless, he re- newed his efforts after the Dr. left for England. And strange to say, a report came later that a list containiDg the names of Catholics begging Mr. heaver tu attend to them, had appeared in one of the newspapers in London. No doubt this was a forged Irick; but it is certain that he I joined with the Methodists in saying; *'No need of priests ; I suffice here, and the Methodists iu the Willamette valley." As for the Meth- odist ministers, we have seen before, they were visiting the French settlers, and succeeded in 24 Historical Sketches of ihb V) \ bringing some of them to their Sunday meet- ings, baptized 8<)me women and performed marriages. This being so, one may under- stand why the grant of passage by the H. B. Co. met with so much opposition. The firsi request of the bishop of Juliopolis was refused. On a second application it was granted for two priests in the canoes of 1837, but was after- wards withdrawn, for the reason, no doubt, of not favoring an establishment on a foreign ground, but also in order to give the Protestant ministers more time tostreugthen their position and to make proselytes. Hence, of the two missionaries appointed to start in 1837, only one was allowed to reach Bed River that same year. Such was the situation of the country in 1838. Nevertheless, in spite of all com- binations and obstacles, the two Catholic mis- sionaries, Deo jiivunle, arrived safe, and were lodged in the room which Mr. Beaver and lady had left three weeks before for England. From the foregoing, it is easy to understand what the missionaries had to do. They were to warn their flock against the dangers of .se- ll ;i<rt ion, to destroy the false impression al- rciidy received, to enlighten and confirm .he fiiitlt of the wavering and deceived consciences, 10 bring back to the practice of religion and virtue all who had forsaken them for longyears, or who, raised iu infidelity, had never known nor practiced any of them. They were to tJHch the men tiieir duties, the women and cliildren their prayers and catechism, to biip- tize lliem, bless their unions, and estnlilisli good order and holiness of life e^erywheri!. In a word, they were to run after the sheep when they were iu danger. Hence their pass- ing so often from one post to another — for neither the whites nor the Indians claimed their assistance in vain. And it was enough for thi'Ui to hear that some false prophet had penetrated into a place, or infeirdeiT visiting iome locality, to induce the missionaries to go there immediately, to defend the failh and pre- vent error from propagating itself. In the mean time let no uue imagine that all this was eff'-jcted by enchantment ; no, on the contrary, they had to make many jour- neys, and had to undergo much pain and pa- tience in order to caution the flock against the dangers of seduction and error, to enlighten the ignorant, to recall the wavering consciences, and bring back to the true fold the lost sheep. Oue may well understand what time and pains were required to come so far, and that after having succeeded, it would not have been pru- dent to abandon them too soon to themselves. This said, let us now follow the two mission- aries iu their undertaking. Missions to various places and among THE Indians in 1887 and 1838. Mission at Vancouver. The mission at this post lasted four months and twenty days, (from Nov. 24, 1838 to April 1 .'i, 1839) without interruption, attended by the two missionaries, save nine days spent by the vi. r general on a visit to Cowlitz, and 34 for \ui '^oing to and giving the mission at Willam- etto. The Catholics of the place did not re- main indifferent to the favor afforded them to have tie premises of the apostolic labors of the two priests; they faithftiUy corresponded to the grace. The missionaries took but two days to rest from their long and tedious journey, for the fouriji and fifth day after their arrival saw them at work ; the first, in favor of the servants and their families, the second, in favor of the ladies and I heir children at the fort. On Mon- day the 26th, they were invited by theGovernor to 'make a visit to the stores and depots of the Company, of the clerk's office, the houses of the bourgeois, clerks and their families. On Tues- day, he accompanied them on their visit to the village, which lies next to the fort and contains the houses of the servants and their families. The census made, gave 16 Catholics, Canadians and Iroquois. They especially took the names of the men and women who were to be separ- ated before being married. The Indian pop- ulation on the shore of the Columbia and neigh- borhood was supposed to be 300 souls. The holy ministry began for the men and their families on Tuesday evening, by gather- ing them in the fort, on that day and hence- forth, iu regular meetings in which, after the evening prayer maf' '•' common, a pious read- ing was made anil o. J songs were "•:;i\r in French; a praci h '. wntinuedaud js em I*— i^ im Catholic Ciici;ch in CrKGON. kept with the ;ireatc8t 8alit>fafiir)i: ; in conse- quence of whicli the whole assembly wns soon iusitriKted to sing 'he first verse of 50 hymns, the men forming one choir, and the women, the girli* and the children, tli« other; each choir singing alternately after the Ist, 2tid, 3rd, &c., verse snng by the aolna. These meetings be- came so attractive as to draw, on many occa- sions, the bonrgeois, the clercs and their fam- ilies to enjoy the pleasant and harmonionit con- certs. The Indians themselves did not remain insensible to the charms of these chants, nor were they the last to come and hear them in large numbers, sometimes 70 and 100. On Feb. 20ih, 1839, there were 140 assisting at the evening prayers. The holy work began for the ladies and liitle girls of the fort on Wednesday, the 28th, by teaching them their prayers and catechism in French. By persevering in this holy work, many of them soon became able to say the Ro- sary, a holy practice of devotion in honor of the immaculate Mother of Qod, which the two missionaries established in Oregon from the beginning. Rev. M. Deuiers, who made the beads, <Ustributed fif^y of them in a short time. The catechism was held in ihe forenocm. The afiernoon was reserved for teaching the pray- ers and holy truths to the Indian women and children of the village,in order to prepare them tor baptism. The difficulty here was great, as they ha«l to learn these prayers in Fn'iicli, and the task -ould not be completed but by a long and tedious repetition of them for weeks and months. This catechism was frequented by CO women and girls, and 18 little boys. The Indians were not neglected ; they were gathered twice a day, in the forenoon atid in lite evening. Rev. M. Demers, who had learn- ed the Chinook jargon in three or four weeks, was their teacher. Later, iu January, having translated the i^i^n of the C/o««. the Our Father and the Hail Mary, into that dialect, he taught them to these poor Indians, who were ninch pleased to learn them. In Febriuiry, he suc- ceeded iii composing some beantiful hymns in the same dialect which the Indians, as well as tlie mill, women and children, chante«l in the < liurch w'!th the greatest delight. Thus by pa- lience and coustaDcy iu teaching, the niission- iirics were pleased to see that their hard labors were beginning to bear some fruits. The forenoon catechism lasted generally from 8 to 1 1 :30 o'clock ; the afternoon session from 1 to 5, and sometimes 6 o'clock. The interval was interspersed with singing Chinook hymns, teaching catechism, and some relaxa- tion. While Fr. Demers was instructing the Indians, the vicar general taught the Cana- dians, nnd gave instructions in French to the hoys who were able to read English, so that by such means, some of them were soon able to assist in teaching the prayers and catechism toothers. The Gregorian chant, a.id serving ft Mass were not forgotten ; and it was after these exercises that the missionaries heard the confessions of those who had do time to come during the day. By all this it may be seen that the two priests were far from being idle. 1 oSbJvA wis tS* (PUBLISBKD APRIL 18tH 1878.) Rkharkablk Conversion OF Doctor John McLaughlin. ^T is but just to make special mention of the mportant services which Ur. McLaughlin — though not a Catholic — has rendered to the French Canadians and their families, during the fourteen years he was governor of Fort Vancouver. He it was who read to them the prayers on Sundays. Besides the English school kept for the children of the bourgeois, he had a separate one maintained at his own expense, in wliieh prayers and the catechism were taught in French to the Catholic women and children on Sundays and week days, by his orders. He also encouraged the chant of the hymns in which he was assisted by 1 " wife and daughter, who took much pleasure \a this exercise. He visited and examine<l his school once a week, which already numbered several good scholars, who suuu Icnruud to read French and became a great help to the priests. He it was who saved the Cathblics of the furt and their children from the dangers of per- version, aud who, flnding the log church the '>() Historical Sketches of the CHnaJiHiiJi Imd liiiilt, n few miles below Fnir- liekl in 1836, not properly locnted, ordered it to be removed, and rebuilt on a large prairie, its present beautiful site. To that excellent man was our holy religion indebted for whatever morality the missiona- ries found in Vancouvt r, as well as for the welfare and temporal advantages the settlers of Cowlitz and the Willamette valley enjoyed at that time At the time the twn missionaries arrived Dr. McLaughlin was al).>i nt on a visit to Canada and England, but was expected to return in the following Heplembcr. The good work of that upright man deserved a reward ; he received it by being bntught to the true Church in the following manner: — When he was once on a visit to Fort N'is- qually, a book entitled "The End of Contro- versy," written by Dr. Miluer, fell into his hands. He read it with avidity, and was over- come and converted at once. On his return to Fort Vancouver, he made his abjuration and profession of faith at the hands of the vicar general on Nov. 18th, 1842. He made his icnfession and had his marriage blessed on the same day, and prepared himself for his Hrst ciunmuiiion by fasting during tlie four weeks of Advent, which he passed on his claim at the "Willamette Falls," now called Oregon City, in having the place surveyed into blocks and lots. Being thus prepareil, he made his first communion at Fort Vancouver, at midnight Mass on Christmas, ' ith a large numlK>r of the faithfid women and servants of the Hud- son Bay Go. The little chapel was then full of white people and Indians ; it ivas beauti- fully decorated and brilliantly illuminated; the plain chant was grave, the Christmas hymns, in French and in Chinook jurgon, alternately by the two choirs of men and women, was im- pressive ; as well as the holy functions around the altar ; in a word, it was cuptivating and elevating to the minds of the faithful, comme- morating the great day of the birth of our Sa- vi<ir. It was on such an occasion that Hon. Peter H. Burnett, being at Vancouver in 1843, and alti-ndini; lii^^li Mass as a mere spectator, at midnight om (.hrislmas, received the first iiiipressions lending to his conversion, as men- tioned in the preface of his book entitled ''The Path •-.'hich led a Pr.Jtestaut Lawyer to fJie Catholic Church." From the time of his conversion Dr. John McLaughlin showed himself a true, practical ('hristian, and a worthy member of the < 'hiirch. never missiag Mass nor vesper-* on Sundays or holy days, going to c«)mmnnion nearly every month, and preaching by word and example. On going to church each Sunday he was often accompanie<i by some Protestant friends ; one of them inviting him to go and assist at the ser- vice of his church, he answered : "No sir, I go to the Church that teaches truth, but not 'o one that teaches error." He was kind to his chil- dren and grand children ; his son-in-law fol- lowing his example. Dr. McLaughlin was born in the district of Quebec, Can., and died at his residence in Or- egon City on Sept. 3rd. 1857, aged 73 years ; fortified with all the consolations of the Church, after a lingering illness of two years, which he bore with Christian patience and resignation, about three months before the return of arch- bishop Ulanc!ict from South America in 185*7. Dr. McLaughlin was the father of the or- phans and servants of the H. B. Co. ; the father of the French-Canadian colonies of Cowlitz and the Willnmette valley; of all the American iuimi<;ranls,andagreat benefactor of the Cath- olic Church. On hearing of this great man, our holy Father, Pope Gregory XVI. sent him the insignia of the knights of the distinguished onler of St. Gregory the great, which arch- bishop Blanchet delivered to him on his re- turn from hJurope lu August, 1847. Missionary Labors at Fort Vancouver. Af\er the arrival of the priests, the Lord's day had been sanctified by regular public ser- vices, consisting of a high Mass with an in- struction in the forenoon, and vespers and Sun- day school in the afternoon. The chant at Mass and vespers was the Gregorian, for some of the men were already able to sing the Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus and Agnus Dei, or were soon able to do so. The singing of French hymns by the choii-s of men and women, as aforesaid, added not a little to the solemnity of the service. The large building granted for the purpose was iriFTwasa.*' y r-^fw r to tiie )r. John )rHCtio«l • 'hnrch. idrty8 or ly every xample. H8 often u\h ; one tiie ser- sir, I go 3t to one liis chil- Ihw fol- strict of ■e in Or- J years ; Church, 'liich he ^nation, of arch- n 1851. the or- e father Cowlitz nericau le Cath- il inaa, eut him giiished Ij arch- his re- TVEB. > Lord'd )lic ser- • an io- ud SuD- hant at DT some * Kyrie, sre soon hymns jresaid, service, ose was Catholic Ckcrch in Okeqon. 27 •.'.neriilly full of Catliolic.*, lunon^r vhom witj ntien .<e<wi ii luiiuber of noii-Catliolivs. As lo the Protfstiiut service on Sunday, nliifh was ti.e Kpiscopnl, it was held in the iiirjre hall of the governor's liousi- an<l reail by liiui. The American ministers who traveled pretty often and were always lod;;red and polite- ly treated l»y the governor and other bour- geois, were seldom or never invite)! to hold the Kjtiscopal service on Sunday. Their singin<' with their wivjs in their rooms late in tlioeve" uings. (Ml many occasions, was the means of drawing .some of the ladies and children to hear thi-m. Chrisimas Day, which in 1838 came on Tuesday, and being observed as a general hol- iday by the Company, the men had u chance to celebrate it. There were two low Masses at inidn ght irt the room of the priests at which some a.s8iste<l. The hi ' Mass, vespers and iiistruelion took place a, .isuni (ui Sundays. The music which accompanied the (Gregorian .bant at Mass, aud that of the hymns at vcs- |>c rs in place of the anthems after the psahns, rendered the office of Chri.stmas more soletnn liian iisiuil ; so that all returned home well pleascil and contented. As tlie Company used to send over the Itocky Mountains in the beginning of March every year an express to carry its papers to Canada, the missionaries avaikMl themselves of the opportunity to .send to Quebec the his- tory of their journey from Lachine to Van- couver, with an accfuint of their labors during the journey and since their arrival, an item oT which, extending lo Man-h 1st 18;^!>, was: baptisms, S09; marriages, Gl; burials, !>. Out of the 309 baptisms, 175 were made on the journey and 131 since their arrival. Out of the 174, 122 were made on the east und .)3 on thewest of the Rocky Mountains. Out of 1,34 74 were from the VVillaniette. .'>3 from Van- couver, and V from Cowlitz. Of the Gl mar- riages. 25 were from the Wilhmiette, 24 from Vancouver, and 12 from the east uf the liocky Mountains. First Visit to Cowlitz Mission. According to an agreement made between lie bishopof Juliopolis and Sir George Sirap- •■'on. governor of the Hudson B.iy Co . the prin- cipal sta'ion of the Catholic nr.vsioiiaries was to be at the settlen;ent on the Co.vliiz ri\er. because it was not, like the Wilbimette settle- ment, on grounds whose owner-xliip was dis- puted by Great Britain and the United Stale.*. To the end, therefore, to -how his willingness to carry out that Hgrecmen'. and order the buihiing necessary for a residence, the vicar general accoaipanied bv Augustine Kochon, a servant brought f-nmCanada, left Vancou- ver on Wednesday afternoon. December 12th. 1838, in a canoe paddled by four Indians, aud reached the Cowlitz setlKnienf on Sunday, the IGih, at 10 a. m. The tirst Mass ever cele- brated at that place was said on that day, and anoihcr one on Monday in the house of Mr. '!?'"\"I' ^'"""^"''on, before the settlers and <heir families, who "era much pleased to learn that the priests were to reside among Ihe.n. Haviu" visited 'he place and chosen for the mission a piece of land of clear prairie of f;40 acres, strewed oidy with rare borders of timber, he left his servant there to square the timber for a hou.«e and barn, and lo make rails for fences. 'J'he Cowliiz .«etllenient has been five years in existence, li is on the west side of the river, in a I rairie .'•ix miles long and two miles wide, boiuided tin the east by the river, on the west bya iargequantityoftimber. It is a very fine location for a ccdony. Its soil is rich aud fer- tile; grass, fishing and game are in abundance. The sitnation if, beautiful: in the north west appears Mour.i, Rainier, and Mount St. Helen on the east, whose high peak is always covered with snow. The Hud.son Bay Co. has a farm there on which a large number of men are em- ployed in farming on a large scale. The young colony was then composed of only four Can! adian farmers, whom Dr. .McLaughlin had dis- charged from furt:,er long services. The Cow- litz river runs from north to south and empties into the Columbia ; it is very tortuouS and full of snags, which renders its navigation difficult aud dangerous, especially for small crafts, and by reason of its numerous rapids of dangerous ascent Having made seven baptisms, given to the men the necessary advices, and recommended Mr. Fagnant, on' of he farmers, who was able -yi^w^ "xas^yaigsgsi^ia^Ms^cBiA my^^iM i i i^ M i-i tnn w i ■ 28 Historical Sivetciiks of the to read, to leiu-li tlie pniyvrs and i-iilechisiii In tlic women and diildreii. llie viciir ;;enenil left on Tiu'stLiy inoriiiii;; llie 18tli, luid reHehed Vrtueoiiver on Tlmrsday tlie 20tli. at 4 :30 j). !:i. Governor Douglas had tlie politeness to go and meet him on the shore with Father Demers, cu his arrival. On liis way up and down he vis- ited some Indian lodges to announce to them the arrival of the Blackyowns who comes to speak of the Great Spirit and make theiu good. First Mission to the Willamette Vallev. This mission lasted about 30 days ; from Jnnuary 5th 1839 to February 4th. This val- ley takes iti name from the river which flows through it from south to north. It is a con- tinuance of large and level prairies strewed with timber which is found specially along the banks of the streams. The east shore of it may well be called the granary of Oregon, the western shore being generally mouutainous. The settlement of this valley began as follows: Thei-e remained in the country three French Canadians, remnants of the old expedition of Hunt a»id Astor, viz : Stephen Lucier, one of the former, and Joseph Gervais and Louis La- bonte of the latter. S. Lucier being tired of leading a wandering life began in 1829 to cul- tivate the land near Fort Vancouver, and get- ting dissatisfied with his first choice, he left it in 1830, and, removing to the Willamette val- ley, settled a few miles above Champoeg, then, called by the Canadians Campemevt de Sable. Following his example the two others, J. Ger- vais and L. Lab(mt^ followed him in 1831 and settled some distance south, one on the right and the other on lhelet\ side of the river. Some old servants of the Hhdson Bay Co., being dis- charged frou', further services, went over to them and increased their number. The good and generous Dr. McLaughlin encouraged the colony ami helped it with all his power. It continued to grow up every year, and its set- tlers began to feel the necessity of having some priests to reconcile them to God and also to instruct their wives and children. The nearest bishop they could apply lo was at Red River. They sent him a petition in 1834, asking for priests. Their request was without success, so they renewed their petition in 1835, and this time it stemed they were to be heard, for the bishop of Juliopolis obtained, in 1H3('', a passage for two priests in the canoes of 18.J7 to Oregon. But in the interval of the appoint- ment of the missionaries, other reflections su- perseded the first ; and on remarks being made that, as there were in that country Anglican, Methodist and Presbyterian ministers, the dii- ference of tt-achings might create dissentions among the Indians ; for this reason, and per- haps to give them time lo proselyte, the grant of passage was withdrawn. But having made new eflbrts the bishop obtained the chiimcd passage in the canoes of 1838, hence their ar- rival and their labors at Vancouver. (published APRIL 2oTH 1878.) THE Catholics of the Willamette valley were very anxious to see among them at least one of the priests they had so earnestly as-kcd for. On llie day appointed for going, two large canoes from the valley, conducted by two of the most respected ciiizens of the colony, Mr. Stephen Lucier and Mr. Peter B^l^que, w ere ready at Vancouver for departure. The vicar general, leaving to Father Demers the ch.irge of cimtinning ihe mission of Vancouver, started on Thursday, Jan. 3rd, at three p. m. The Willamette Fall, a beautiful fall of 30 feet, across the river, which requires a portage of canoes and bag- gage for a quarter of a mile, was passed early on Friday ; and on Saturday at 10 a. m. the campemtnt de Sable, (Champoeg) was reached. The four miles from thence to the log church (for there was a church already) were made on horseback. And as Mr. Lucier and Mr. B^l^que were neighbors, and on his way, the vicar general stopped and visited their fam- ilies, who were so glad to be the first to see the priest and see him in his true ecclesiastical Robe or Soutane, which the two missionaries continued to wear in traveling, at home, and iu the town of Oregon City untill 1849. Catholic Cucrch in Orkook. 29 TliHt log church was built in 188C, ns scon 11- liiey had any hopes of having priests. It was H building 70 feet by 80, built on a prairie uu the eastern side of the river, on the road to C lianipoeg. The vicar general took possesn- ion of a part of the churt^h, at the back of the iillnr, measuring 12 by 30, which being after- wards divided by an alley of 6 feM, gave suf- ficient accommodation for two bed rooms on one side and a kitchen and dining room on the other. Later on, in order to make room for some orphans, the alley became the kitchen. The aAernoob of that day was s^ent in re- <'i-iving visits, as r!I, especially the women and the half-breed children were very an^cious to e the priest so long announced and expected. hat day was indeed n day of joy and lender (motions to all. The following day, January 6th, being Sun- day and the Kpiphany of our Lord the church ^vas blessed under the patronage of the great apostle St. Paul, after which was celebrated tlie first Mass ever said in the yalley, in the presence of all the Canadians, their wives and children. It was surely a great day for them all; for t lie Canadians who had uot seen a priest nor heard a Mass for iO, 20, 30, and some for nearly 40 years ; and for their wives wIk> were at last beholding one of those priests their hus- bands had so long ago spoken to them about. Sweet and touching indeed were the sentiments these Canadians experienced on seeing them- selves at the foot of aii altar, of the cross, and before the face of a priest. These p<H)r people were overjoyed, and the women were amazed in beholding the priest at the altar in sacer- dotal vestments and prayer. The holy Sac- ritice of the immaculate Lamb of God was of- liTfd ; the pastoral letter of the bishop who had heard their voice and sent them priests was rt-ad ; the commaDdnieuts of God and of the Ciiurch were published, as well as the rules to l)e observed during the mission; and all term- inated with reflections and advices which were very touching on both sides. All went home liappy and willing to obey the Church, even in regard to separation from their wives until Hieir unions would be blessed. And so great wito their desire to have their wives and chil- •h-en instructed, and to lose nothing of the in- structions given, thi.t they brought them from home to live in tents around the chiircii. The men wotild not do less ; those living the ueares^t came every day to hear Mass and passed the whole day at the church, returning home in time to attend to their business and prevent the wasting of their crops by their hired and slave Indians. Those who lived farthest away re- mained several days before returning home, sleeping in the large hall uot yet divided by an alley. And let no one suppose that in that season the people had to suffer from the in- clemency of the weather; uot at all ; for the weather was so extraordinary flue and mild, and so similar to the mouth of May in Canada, as to make the good Canadians say : "The good God has pity on us ; it is tor us that He has sent this flue weather." The exercises commenced every day by the celebration of Mass with an instruction, after which followed the recitation of prayers in French, the explanation of the Apostles' creed and the most important truths of religion, intermixml with singing of bymi:s, from Mass till 12 a. m., and from 1 to 4 p. m. And as the women did not all understand French, and there were among them a variety of tongues, some being of the Chinook, others of the Col- ville aud FUthead tribes, the difliculty was o- vercome by using different interpreters to con- vey to them the words of the priest. At dusk took place the evening prayers, the reading of pious books and singing of French hymns ; after which some boys were taught to read in French and serve at Mass. There was at that time in the valley a young man, 26 years of age, bom in Havre de Grace, France, called Peter Stanislaus Jacqnet. He left the sea which he entered at the age of 1 1. That young man became useful by knowing how to rea«l and teaching the prayers, while the priest was hearing the confessions of the ^ ^n, who had to come more than once, aud thost, " the little boys and girls, to aceostom them to the Holy practice. The meu had also to be examined and re-afiirmed in their prayers, but they gen- erally were found to have retained them in a surprising manner. The instructions and teaching of prayers lasted three weeks. The fruits of the mission 30 Historical Sketches of tiik I were coiisolinjr; lor niRuy of tlieludiHU woinou and a number of jjrown np boys and girU, and younjf cliildren Imd learned to make the sign of the cross, the offering of the heart to Gwl, the Lord's prayer, the Hail Mary, the Apostlep' Creed and some of the Acts ; 25 Indian women were baptised in excellent dispo^itionb, and their nnions with their husbands blessed by the Church; 47 other baptioms of children were made, to which, if we add those two of an old Indian man and of a young Indian girl, Iwth sick, who soon died, and were the first to be buried in the new cemetery, we will have 74 baptisms and 26 marriages ; the 26th couple, being a Canadian, married in the valley by Rev. D. Leslie, without the certificate of the death of his wife he had loft in Canada, the vicar general could not bless their union, but ordered and obtained a separation, until such time as her death would be ascertained. Besides the altar fixed in due time, the vi- car general had a commuuiou rail made to separate the sanctuary from the nave ; a cross fixed on the gable of the church ; an acre of ground chosen, fenced and blessed for a grave- yard, with a high cross in the centre ; small wooden c- ^^es were also blessed for each house. T six first verses of hymns which had been learned, and were daily sung at Mass with some taste and delight by the men, women and children, were earnestly recommended to be sung at home. The two missionaries saw wiih greiit pleasure their advice put in practice, la fine, taking the fourth and last week of his mii^siou to rest a little, the vicar getienl went and took possession of a tract of ground of 640 acres for the mission, and weat arouud the whole establishnieut to visit the settlers, who received him with the greatest demonstrations of joy and thanks to <iod for the consolations of religion they had received. Their joy, nev- ertheless, was greatly lessened in not baiu" al- lowed to keep among themselves, at least, one of those tliey had called for. But they ex- pected liiHt this would not last loug, and that their gi>od father, Ur. McLaughlin, would ob- tain a change. Having given them five Sun- days, the vicar general started on Monday, Feb. 5th Hud reached Vancouver on Tuesday, where he remained at work till March 14th. The Tkue Name or oub Uiveb. It is fit to explain he; y the name of our river is ca''ed Wallamette, rather than Wa/lumet or Wiilamette, as many call it now. The reason is obvious : it is because Walla- mtlte is the true Indian name, whereas Wal- himet and TFt7/««je«e are but corrupted and fabricated ones of modem date. Proofs are not wanting to show that from 1812 to 1842, the principal persons in the country, either American of Astor and Hunt's expedition, or British, or Scotchmen, or French Canadians of the North West and Hudson Bay Companies, always spelled the name with an "a" in the firnt syllable, and a "tte" in the last one, thus: Wallaviette. The syllable "mette" not to be pronounced "u.et " as in the French word boii- qntt; but as"mette"in the word j<u«/<e. It was tlius spelled by the gentlemen of the H. B. Co., Dr. John McLaughlin, James Douglas and Peter Ogden, when the Methodist, Presbyter- ian ministers. Catholic missionaries and aiany other American citizens arrived here in 1884, '..6, '88 and '-iO. Hence the numero- dis- ciples, who adopting the name of our river as spelled by tlicui, made a faithful use of it be- fore 1840, and long after 1842, and even as far down as 1848 ; and one even to 1859, be- cause convinced of its being the genuine name; and all that, notwithstanding the strong pre- vailing use of the spurious one of Willamette. Witness the following instances : — Rev. Jason Lee, who arrived in the country in 1834, signs, in 1844, with Dr. McLaughlin and others, a document in which the word is spelled Wallamette. David Leslie, W. H. Wilson and George Gay, who came here in 1837, Sidney Smith in 1889, and A. F. Wall- er and L. H. Judson in 1840, say they are living in the valley called Wallamette. Young and Carmiohael, addressing the Oregon tem- perance society, date their letter from Wall- amette, Jan. 3, 1887. Rev. G. Hines who came her*- 'n 1840, in his history of Oregon, in 1859, ou .ill occasions calls onr river by the name of Wallamette. Dr. E. White, who ar- rived here iu 1836, when writing as sub-agent of Indian .iffairs tr 'he secretary of war in 1648, always date its letters from the Wall- Catholic Chckcu in Okkoon. 31 iinictte vKlley. Jusinh L. Parrish an<l A. F. \V^Hller, who Hrrived here iu 1840, hs Mev.i- oiliitt mioidlers, affirm that the name is an IiiiUhii one, to be spel ed with an "a" in the tir^t xyilable. Tlie Catholic misaiouaries on their arrival lit Vancouver in 1S38, reucivtMl also the name with it8 orlho<rraphy from the same gentlemen, Hiui always used it in their correspondences at home and abroad, from 1839 to 1848, dat- iu^ their letters frr>m, or addressiuji them to or "St. Paul of Wallamette." So did the Sisters of Notre Dame, Belgium, from 1844 to 1858. The gentlemen of the Hudson Bay Co. did likewise iu all their transactions and writings; thus, their bills of supplies to the Catholic mis- sion, i'rom 1839 to 1847 were always headed : "Catholic Mi^<8ion of Wallamette, or Walla- mette falls." Rev. Mr. Beaver, who was chap- lain at Vancouver, from 1836 to 1838, haviu^ returned to England, in a certain deposition made in London in 1849, calls our river by the name he had learned during his stay at Vancouver, Wallamette. SSSVOH XZZ. (published MAT 2nd 1878.) First Mission to Cowlitz in 1839. ynHE first r -isiou to Cowlitz was lieguu by % the vicar general on March 17ih. 1839, iiiid continued until the Ist of May following. Arriving at the settlement on the evening of March 16tii, the vicar general was accotniuo- (lilted by Mr. Simon Plamondon with a room I'lr liis own use, and also an appartment 18 by 2') feet to be used as a chapel. Besides the four farmers ami their families forming the col- ony, there was n large number of servants em- ployed on the farms of the II. B. Co., some of I hem having wives. The mission commenced '>ii radsiuu Sunday with the holy sacrifice of the Mass, the publication of the law of God .111(1 tiie precepts of the Church — on which an iiHtniciion was given. Mash was celebrated every day at 6 a. m., during which an iustruct- I i:i was given. The rest of the day was de- voted to teaching the calechiiini and hymns t<> the women and children in French. In the evening all assembled in the chapel where eve- ning prayers, an instruction, and singing of hymns preceded the hearing of confessions, which continued long into the night. The In- dians were iustrucled at stated intervals every day. The ceremony of holy week made a deep impression on all who attended, and the miss- ion was fruitful in irood results. The news of the arrival of the missionary at Cowlitz caused numerous delegations of In- dians to come from remote distances in order to hear and see the blackgown. Among these delegations was one led by chief Tala-lakum, whose tribe inhabited Whidby Island, Puget Sound, 150 miles from the Cowlitz mission. After a journey of two days in canoes to Fort Nisqually, and an arduous march of three days on foot, across streams and rivers, and by an exceedingly rough trail, they reached Cowlitz with bleeding feet, famished and broken down. Their object was to see the blackgown and hear him speak of the Great Spirit. As soon as they were refreshed the missionary began to speak to them of God, of the Incarnation and Redemption. But the great difficulty was to give tliem an idea of religion so plain and simple as to command their attention, and which they could retain in their minds and car- ry back with them to their tribe. In looking for a plan the vicar general imagined that by reprefieiiting on a square stick, the forty cent- uries before Christ by 40 marks ; the thirty- three years of our Lord by 83 points, followed by a cross ; and the eighteen centuries and thirty-nine years since, by 18 marks and 39 points, would pretty well answer his purpose, in giving him a chance to show the beginning of the world, the creation, the fall of angels, of Adam; the promise of a Savior, the time of His birth, and His death upon the cross, as well as the mission of the apostles. The plan was a great success. After eight days explanation, the chief and hie companions became masters of the subje^l ; and, having learned to make the sign uf the cross and to sing one or two hymns in the Chinook jargon, they started for home well satisfied, with a square rule thus marked, which they called Sahale stick, (Stick 32 Historical Skbtciiks or tiik from Hbove.) Thnt pUn was afterwnnis clinn^- t>(] from H rule to n large chart coutaiuin^ the great epochs of the world, such as the Deluge, the Tower of Babel, the leu coininaudmenis of God, the twelve apostles, the seven sacraments and precepts of the Church ; these 'icmg very useful to enable the missionary to teach the Indians and whites. It was called "The Cath- olic Ladder." The fruits of this long mission were very consolin-;. The womeu, grown up boys and girls had learned their prayers in part, and some of the catechism ; and the younger chil- dren, some part of their prayers. The first verse of several hymns, in French and ('hinook, had been learned and were sung alternately by the two choirs of men, women and children, after the chant of the other verses by a solo. By that means the offices on Sunday, at Mass and Vespers, were rendered pretty solemn and attractive. Tlie number of baptisms were 27, of which 20 were Indian children, and 7 were adult women ; thus in adding the 7 made on December last, wo have 84 baptisms made iu Cowlitz, 7 marriages blessed, and a large num- ber of Kaster communions. The winter season of iri33-?' Iiad bocu oo exceptionally beautiful as to allow the farmers to plow and sow without interruption. On the 5th day of April the prairies were bloom- ing with wild flowers and strawberries. On the 7th the grass was six inches hij:h. Au- gustine Rochon, the servant of the mission, brought from Canada, had iu no way remained idle ; lie had made 6,000 fence mils, squared the timbers for a house and barn, which were to be hauled on the mission land as soon as he could <>ct a yoke of oxen. The settlers of Cow- litz and their families were extremely pleased to have the visit of Rev. M. Deuiers during the mission of the vicar general there. This visit was due to the following circumstances: First Mission at Fort Nisquallt. About the 8tU of April 1839, Rev. D. Leslie, a Methodii't minister, arrived at Cowlitz on his way to Nisqually, where he intended ti» estab- lish a mission among the Indians. This iu- fnrination at once prompted the vicar general to despatch an Indian express to Fr. Uemers at Vancouver, asking him to proceed ut one to Nisqually in order to plant the true seed in the hearts of the Indians there. Fr. Demer^ lef^ immediately and reached his destination in six days, during which he was drenched with a cold and continuous rain. He arrived on April 21st, and was welcomed with great politeness by Mr. Kitson, the commander of the fort ; a house was appropriated for the pur- pose of a chapel, and he at once entered upon the object of his arduous journey. The In- dians flocked from all sides to see the great chief of the French and receive his instruct- ions. An unforeseen incident, however, came near preventing the mission begun under such favorable auspices. The rammandant was un- willing to allow a vast cr«»wd of Indians to en- ter the fort, and ordered them to stay outside of the palisades. One of the Indians, bidder than the rext, dared to force an entry and was pushed back rather roughly by Mr. Kitson, hence the beginniugof a riot, which might have become fatal, if the appearance of the mission- ary had not appeased that untamed multitude. Who shall not here admire the holy influence of religion in the person of an humble priest over an enraged multitude of Indians, on his simple appearance among tbeni? Such is the iufluence of religion ! Father Dcmers was then obliged to go out of the fort to teach the Indians, who, during the whole time of the mission, gave him evidence of their most perfect docility to his advice. The first Mass was celebrated April 22tid, iu the presence of the commander and other per- sons of the fort. Among the .ufong there were counted Indians of 22 different nations. All the days of the man of God were devoted to his dear neophytes. To celebrate the divine ofl- ices, teach the Christian prayers, administer baptism to children, explain to the Indians the dogmatic and moral truths of religion, to hear the confessions of the Canadians; such were the occupations which absorbed the days and part of the nights of the priest during the ten days the mission lasted. Monday, the 29lh of April, was to the serv- ant of God a day well calculated to indemnify him plentifully for his long and painful jour- neys and missionary labors ; for on that day, Catholic Chukch in Okkqun. 88 Mr,«. Ivilson the wife of the cuniiUHiiiier, iilter liiuiii^ fdlloweil the instriiciioiis with iniu-h Ht- ti'iiii(>ti,Hiul prHrticed with fervor the exurciHtt« nr|)it'ty prescribed to her, hail the happinewto (>|kmi liL-r eycH to the lixht, and receive the gift III laith Huii the grace of baptism. The foU l'ivviti<,' day, the 3Uth, btiug the day fixed for Ills di>ptirture, wag a day of nioiiruiiig for the jxior ItxliauB of Nisquady. Men and wonieu flocked around him to entreat him to remain >iin()n<; them and to sliow him the deep sorrow \\liich his too untimely parting caused iheuj. riicy went go fur as to promise him perfect do- ' ili:y to his advice, and that, if poligamy was Mil evil in the eyes of the Great Spirit, they vvtiidd forthwith conform themselves to his will. Deeply touched by these admirable effects of ilie ^ract! of God, Father Demers encouraged ilmm to perseverance, and consoled them the li>'s( he could for having to leave them, giving thorn to iiuderstand that he parted wit!) them to obey God who was calling him elsewhere, whore sheep were to be brought to the fold ; Mild that he would poon return to them and pre- piire tlieni for baptism. After having given iirdor^^ 10 build a chapel, and said Mass out- side of the fort, he parted with them, April 'i<»ih, hlossing I lie Lord for the success of his iiiiftsioti among tiie whites and Indians, and nwched ('owlitz on Wednesday, May Ist. with tlic conviction that his mission at Nisqually had left a very feeble chance for a Methodist niissinn there. Bro. Wilson, whom minister Leslia had lefl orders with to build a house, on M certain piece of land, must have been des- |ioi)dent at being witness to all he had seen. The fruits of this unexpected mission were \\ liftptJHms, '2 of which were adult women, I lie rest being children, and 2 marriages. This niisiiion was made so short because Father De- mers was bound to be at Vancouver to meet liierc tlio brigades of North and South, and l>re|i!ire himself for his mission to the upper ( i)iimibia. The vicar general having com- I ii'iei! his uii:^siou at Cuwiilz aud given bis iders for the building of the priest's house, ir.|)aio(l to start for Vancouver. 8S:3SXOS xxxx. (PUBUSHRD MAY 9tH 1878.) Sbcomd Mission imthe Willamettk Vallky. THK two missionaries left Cowlitz, Thurs- day, May 2nd, 1839, for Fort Vancouver, Father Demers desiring to visit the Catholic settlement at St. P-nil's, which latter place the two missionaries reached in safety by means of a canoe profielled by the stal%vart arms of four Indians. Father Demers at once started on horseback to visit all the .settlers, but was obliged to relinquish his journey aud return a- gain to Vancouver, in consequence of a violent cold which he canght on \m former journey to Nisqually. Whilst there he had the pleasure of receiving two large cases filled with goods intended for the mission, which had been for- warded from Cauada, and which were greatly needed. Among the gifts was a beautiful folio edition of the Bible, presented by Rev. Anthony Parent, of the Quebec Seminary, aud which was greatly admired by all who saw it. On arriving at St. Paul the vicar general learned with much surprise that his first mis- sion at Si. Paul had caused quite a commotion among the Methotlist preachers, who had a missionary station about 12 miles south of the Catholic settlement. The cause of this excite- ment arose from the fact that the vicar general had re-baptized and re-married a number of persons who were officiated over by the Meth- odist ministers ; a number of Catholics with- drew also from the temperance society and prayer meetings of the Methodist brethren. These acts aroused all the ire of the ministers who deeming themselves and their office ig- nored, determined to be revenged; btit before doing so they endeavored to make proselytes among the Catholics through means of Itev. Daniel Lee's preaching and praying in some of their houses. Rev. David Leslie next got up a revival, but it was barren lu any fruits. As a demit resort a complaint was made to gov- ernor Douglas relative to the influence which the C»th3lic missionaries were 'usingin order to keep the lambs of the flock out of the clutches of the Wesleyan wolves. The governor, how- S4 Historical Sketches ok the over told liis iiiforniHnt very curtly that "it was uone of his biisitiess." Thus, finding them- selves foiled at every point, the preachers had recourse to their usual weapon of slander and falsehood. A copy of an infamous publica- tion entitled Maria Monk, was circidated a- mong the community ; this work pretended to give "awful disclosures" concerning confess- ion and convent life, and was filled with stale slanders and exploded inventions. The circu- lation of this obcene book caused considerable feeling among the Catholics, and the vicar gen- eral found on his return an excited community where all was peace at his former visit. The vicar general's attention was at once directed towards allaying the excitement by a simple explanation of the vicious causes which led the Methodist ministers to cast such a fire- brand among a peaceable and happy commu- nity. He proved the work to be a tissue of falsehoods and calumnies which had been re- futed over the signatures of some of the most respectable Protestants of Montreal where the scene of its shameless relations was laid. The Canadian settlers naturally became indignant at the vile artifice, hypocrisy and ingratitude of the Methodist ministers whose lives they had been the means of siiviug but a short month before. It appears that an Indian had stolen some wheat, and being discovered he was se- verely beaten at the Methodist mission ; his tribe threatened to massacre the people at the missioii. which so alarmed Rev. David Leslie that he hastened at once to the Canadians beg- ging them to use their influence with the In- dians to save them, which the Canadians did most effectually. Finally, the Methodists dis- covering that their efforts to malign their Cath- olic neighbors were recoiling upon their owu heads, they quietly withdrew the vile book wiiieh had caused so much trouble aud learned afterwards to live in amity with their neighbors. The second mission given at St. Paid's, by the vicur general lasted thirty days, and was attended with great zeal by the surrounding settlers, their wives and children. The Cath^ oUc Liidder was found very useful in impart- ing instruction, as many of the neophytes did not understand French sufficiently to be in- struc ed in that language. It was also exposed in the church on Sundays and fully explained to the congregation who listened with the most respectful attention. During the mission the vicar general lia<i the consolation of receiving into th- k l-i of Christ Mr. Montour, a former cl rl; of th.- Hudson Bay Co., together with hi wi'^e aud children. This gentleman proved i nur-i zeal- ous convert, assisting with Hie gre* ? ■."? 'evo- tion at all the offices of the church on Sundays and week days. On the Sunday within the octave of Corpus Christ! all the congregation united in a grand procession in honor of the Blessed Sacrament ; repositories were erected, and an avenue of trees planted through which the Isrge multitude passed in regular order. Thus, this mission produced great spiritual re- sults, and the vicar general left for Vancouver on theTthof June, well pleased with theearnest piety of St. Paul's congragatiou. (published mat I6th 1878.) Bbigade of the Nobth. Mission of Fatbeb Demers to Fort Colville in 1889. THE Hudsoji Bay Co's brigade of the Noit'i which was syled "rfc« porteura" in conse- quence of the men being obliged to pack the baggage on their backs for want of horses, ar- rived at Vancouver June 6th, 1839, and staried June 22ud on its return. It consisted of a flo- tilla of nine barges manned by fifty-seven men under the command of chief factor s Ogderi and^ Black . A passage was offered to one of the missionaries with this brigade as far as Walla Walla, and as the Indians at Fort Colville had been told by the missionaries that one of them would return again for the purpose of instruct- ing them in the faith. Father Demers was se- lected for that duty, leaving to the vicar gen- eral the vast missionary field alrea«ly open along the waters of the Columbia, the Will- amette, and Puget Sound. Ar-iving at Walla Walla Father Demers procured a guide expecting to make the trip to Colville in six days ; in this, however, he was itsFomimmB' wtnm Catholic Church in Oregon. lioDiited to disappointment as his guide proved iroaclierous and left liim aloue before half the ()iirney was accoiuplished, which necessitated him to send back for another •riiide, and thus lourteeii days were consumed ou tlie journey. \*'ter litis delay and having surmounted many .ficulties,FatherDemers arrived at FortCol- . ille, wiiere he entered at once on a mission which lasted for. 83 days and resulted very beneficially to the employees of the H. B. Co., :is well as to the numerous Indians gathered arnund the fort. On his return trip he also L'iive an 8 day mission at Okanagan and spent two weeks at Walla Walla, to the great joy of ilie assembled Indians and the few whites em- ployed around the fort. The Brioadb okthb Sooth. The brigade was composed of a large num- ber of servants, trappers of the H. B. (/O., re- turning from California with horses ladeu with furs. It arrived at VancouTer, June I5th, and v\ as to return in 3 weeks, with horses packed with provisions and goods for the trade of the tollowing year. Several of the servants had wives and children to be baptised, instructed and married. The task became onerous on the vicar general, as this was in addition to the ordinary duty of teaching the ladies and children of the fort and otliern. He undertook it heartily, saying Mass early and dividing hi* time between them all. There were made 44 baptism", of which 13 were adults, and the .-^ame number of marriages, amongst which were those of Mr. Michael La framboise, the conductor of the brigade, and Mr. Joseph Mc- Loughlin, son of Dr. McLoughlin. The brig- ade left July 13th, having to camp between 50 and 60 times, making 4 leagues a day, before reaching (heir trapping places. In Southern Oregon it had to pass through a very warlike, wicked and treacherous race of Indians, wait- iag in ambuscade for the purpose of robbing itud killiug animals and men, on all occasions. lieaee the name of La Voqinns (the Rogues) .'iven to them, and La Biviire aux Coquiru (the Rogue river) given to the country by the 'iicu of tlie brigade. Second Mission to Cowlitz. After attending to the spirit ual wants of l lie brigade of the North and South, the place to lie visited next was the Cowlitz settlement The vicar general reached that place on July 20 ; and as he had learned that a building had been erected on the mission land, he directed his steps there, and took possession of a little 30 by 20 log house in which he celebrated Mass the following day. It was roofed, and had an addition for a kitchen at one end, but was without floor, doors or windows. It took some time before this could be done, or the joints of the logs could be filled with mud, as the farmers were busy at their harvest. He found there also a barn 60 by 30 raised, roofed and ceiled, ready to receive the crop of 6 bushels of wheat a»»d 9 bushels of peas, sown last spring. A. Rochon, the mission's servant had fenced in 24 acres of land and ploughed 15 others, to be sown next fall ; so that the missionary of that place was assured of his daily bread. The log house was nsed as a chapel, under the patronage of St. Francis Xavier, and a lodging for the priest till 1842. The priest, having his modest bed on the Gospel side of the sanctuary, was more fortunate than the young Samuel, who had his own in the vest- ibule, away from the sanctuary. The daily teaching of the women and children began as soon as the har\'e8t was over. The Catholic Ladder was used here, for the first time, with great profit to all, on the week-days and ou Sun- days. A. Rochon, the mission's servant, had nm a great danger, some time after the de- parture of the vicar general, in the beginning of May. He had bought a horse from an In- dian and paid the price agreed upon ; the In- dian, displeased with bis bargain, came back to have the horse again, which Rochon refused; hence * strife, in which he was stabbed by the Indian. Fortunately, there was present a half- breed who, seising the stick which Rochon had thrown to the ground in order to have free use of his hands, soon made the Indian run away. This mission lasled 40 days. 36 Historical Sketches of the 8S:SS0H XT. (published may 23bd 1878.) Secomd Mission to Nisqcally. THE first mission to Nisqnally was made by Father Darners, who celebrated the first Mass in the fort on April 22, the day after he arrived. His visit at such a time was forced upon him by the establishment of a Methotlist mission there for the Indians. His mission was a success ; and, it now beinj? the time to go and consolidate the good already done there, the vicar general left Cowlitz, reached Fort Nisqually on August 30, 1839, and began his mission cf 12 days. The fort conkained five families, including that of Mr. Kitson, the com- mander and his servants, numbering in all 36 souls. The meu attended Mass at 5 a. m., and had other exercises iu the evening ; iheir com- mander giving them the example though not a Catholic. The forenoon was devoted to the women and childreii if the fort, teaching them their pray- ers and explaining the catechism with the aid of the Catholic Ladder. Some of the women being able to speak only Nisqually, Chinook jargon, and Flathead, Mr. Kitnon, who under- Htood those languages, besides French and En- glish, WHS very useful as an interpreter. Some of the women on the outside were allowed to assist at the exercises, and at the end of the mission the women and children were able to answer many questions on God, the Holy 'I'rin- itv, the Incarnation and Redemption ; all had leii'riied to sing the first verses of five French hvmns, and two in Chinook. " The nfiernoon was devoted to the teaching of the Indians, who were few iu the beginning, but continued to arrive in canoes every day, until tl.ey numlicred at least 300. Twice was tlie vicar general obliged to all>w a number of men and women to come and have the sati*- factiou "f shaking luiuds, the mothers brought their children on ilieir backs for the same pur- pose. Aiuoug oilii'r chiefs was Titlalakum, one of the 12 who iniveied from Whidby Island to Cowlila, in April last, in order to see the Black- gown, lustrudions out of the fort were given, first in a large lent and afterw irds in the open air, tmder the shade of a tree. All were look- ing at a large Catholic Ladder, hung up on a pole, the points being shown with a long stick. A mong the remarks made by some of the chiefs was that of Tslalakum : "That man V h had more children I'lan the first man Ac'im..!. ' It was a beautiful sight in the evening to look from the inside gallery of the fort on the In- dian camp with its numerous bright fires, and to listen to the harangues of the chiefs on the subject which had been explained to them, and the duty of Iheir listening to the great chief of the French. Some of them soon learned to make the sign of the cross in Chinook jargon, and to sing the first verses of two hymns in the same dialect. Two Indian children only re- ceived baptism, Itecause the parents were a- fraid of that medicine. There were 6 bapt- tisms, and two marriages were made. Mass was celebrated on the last Sunday outside of the fort, in a repository made of matting, to give the Indians an opportunity of witnessing the great ceremony ; the men sitting on their mats in a semi-circle iu front of the altar, and the women behind them. At Mass as well as at vespers, the two choirs of men and women made the air resound with the chant of their hymns. And so amazed were the Indians, that after the service was over, they remained a long time before leaving their places. Poor Bro. Wilson who, from a sailor boy had be- come a preacher, was looking at this Catholic demonstration of the Indians, with no small astonishment. Short Heunion or the two Mi*«8ionarie8. Objection Raised to the Residence at the Wili^mette. Parting or the Missionaries roR Winter Qoarters. The vicar general left Nisqually on Thurs- day and reached Cowlitz on Saturday, Sept. 14, blessed and planted a high cross and leav- ing this place four days later, arrived at Vaa- couver on the 20th, where he was joined, on Oct. 1st, by Father Demers, returning from his mission of 3 months and 10 days to the upper Columbia. The result of his mission, nan Catholic Chlkcii is Oregon. 37 n- to baptisins, wm* as follows : at Colville 37 ; ■ f whites 12, of Indians 2.') : at Okauauau 19 ; ot' wliites 4, of Iiulians 15 : at Walla Walla 5 ; if whites 2, of Indians 3 : ou tlie way 12 In- ilians were baptized, tnakin<r the number of iiiiplisins 73 — 18 whites, and 55 Indiana. The |(iv of their reunion was increased bv the good news that governor Douglas had coinnnini- liited to the vicar general on his arrival there, and which, ou request, he later gave in writ- ing, viz : — Fort Vancouver, Oct. 9!h, 1839. My dear 8ir: I uni directed to infurni you that the governor and conuniltee buve no fur- ther objection totheefltablishmentof aRuinan Catholic misRion in the Willuiuette; and you are therefore at liberty to take any means you may consider necessary towards tlie preiuotion iif that object. I remain, my dear 8lr, Yimra very truly, Jamks Douglas. Very Rev. F. N. Blanchet, V. G. It was on the representntions the good Dr. MiLoughlin had made, on his late journey to Loudon, that the objections to a residence were raised. Ou hearing this fact, the two mission- aries began to prepare themselves for depart- ure. And being ready t«' start on Thursday Oct. lOlh, they bade adic their endeared (•ongregatioo, to the ladiet* -d gentlemen of I he fort, and to governor Douglas, tenderiug hiui their warmest thanks for the generous hos- pitality they had received ; and, starting in dif- ferent canoes, they went down the river and landed at the mouth of the Willamette, where they had supper together, after which they part- ed for their winter quarters ; Father Demers for the Cowlitz, and the vicar general fur the Willamette mission, which he reached early on Saturday, while his dear confrire reached his mission but on Sunday, owing to the heavy load in hi!> canoe, and the many dangerous rapids on the river. Ou the day after his ar- rival he blessed the bell he had brought with him, which weighed 50 lbs, had it set up 40 Let from the grouud, and began to riug the .In^e/iM three times a day. The vicar general >vlio had also brought one which weighed 80 11)8. had it blessed two days before Christmas, and began toringthe^njre/us three timesaday. Ml honor of the IncaruatioD, and glory of Mary immaculate. The hall of 30 by \'£ feet, scparateil from the nltir by apar ition. needed the loose floor to be fixed, the ceiling and s<.ine partitions had to be made; a man undertook the job. which he performed in three weeks. Dr. John Mc- Laughlin had arrived at Vancouver from Eu- rope, by the express boat, on Oct. 18. His visit to the Willamette settlement was warm- ly greeted by all as a father, (ireat was the joy of the people of the two missions, in hav- ing a priest to remain with each of them. Great also was the joy of all in having a high miduight Mass, at Christmas, in both churches, which were full to completion. This closes the labors of the missionaries in 1839. (published MAY SOtii 1878.) Sketch or the (^lowxrrz Mission, BY Rev. M. Dbmebs. Cowlitz, Feb. 5, 1840. To Rev. F. C. Cazeault, Secretary, Quebec. My dear Sir: Having returned on the lot of Octolier fnmi a mission I had given during the HMunner, in the upiier part <>! the Columbia, r could not have the pleasure of staying very long with the vicar general. I had to le -ve him on tlie 10th of the same month to t ike charge of the mission on the Cowlitz river, which Rev. Blanchet bad left in order to t)e at Vancouver durini; the month of Hepteml)er. This separation did not take place witiiout sor- row as we were leaving eacli other not to meet axaiu for four months; but was imposed upon UH by need and duty. In effect, the permission of settling permanently in the Willamette bad been Krante<l to the great advantage of itsdaily increasing Catholic population. The Cowlitz mission liad not to be neglected either, and it was assigned to me. Having left Vancouver both on Thursday, Octoiier 10th, we look sup- per together at the mouth of the Willamette, after which each one went bis way in ordt^r to be in bis respective place <m the following Sun- day, which I could not do, iiotwithstauiinK all the efforts of the men and the active part I tiMik in the labor. I had with me a half-breed named J. B. Boucher und three Indians; my canoe was large and contained a laree quan- tity of luggage,amongwhich wasabell weigh- ing 50 ]H>uu(fi. I was tlierefore deprived of the 3« Historical SivEtches of the happiness of celeliratiiiK Mass, ami my jK-ople of hearinjtit. Ahj^ooiuis they heard I wjixfHii- liig, all tl"fkt«l to meet me. They welcomed me ami iarrie<l my baggage to my resideiiee. After mv iiiHtHllaiioii I went with my people to pay triltute to a cross erectefl near by. The following day, Oct. 14th. a frame was ereeted, the bell was ble.«»ed and placed in |)o- sition, 40 fe-.t above the ground. I considered it an lionoi- to ring the Hint Ani' -nyself. A constcrated bell was heard f(. ..«. ret time in the valley of the Cowlitz hk •" as in the whole extent of tins vast country. Inuigine u log house 30 by -JH feft, having u roof like a wolfs head, no'ceiling, and u door levelled with an axe, and you will have an idea of the place where I spent the winter. It was also my chajiel. They have decided on building another liouse an"d had even dressed the lum- l)er durinjc the pre<«dlng winter, but instead of that they determined to erect, with tlie same kind of lumber, acha|)el <iO feet lonjf, and to Kave 'he same house to the priest until he could ge a l)etter one. The (>)wlitz mission has still liut eight families, Including those of the H. li. <*o., altogether 4() iK-rsons, exclusive of a few Indians who lived with the French, and a greater or smaller number of employit's according to the need Three days in the wwk were set apart for the instruction of the Can- adians' wives and children; the liree others were >;iven to the Indians and to the study of the Cowlitz lauguage which is very dilticull for a beginner. Tlie young men and the Indians v ho 'ivc ^•'ith the French, Ijeing unable, on account of their work, to attend during the day, I was obliged to give tliem part of tlie nights. For i; or 2 iDurs I was kept busy teacltiiiir tliem their praytrs, reading the answers at Mass and the way to serve it, also the Plain Chant. At midnight Mass, on the festival of (.'hrist- ntas, they were able, by the means of rcj>eated exercises, to honor the birth of our Bavior, by uniting their voices to those of the aii^'els in the (iloria in excdnui. 8«M>n alter tills they could als > help tl;e priest in singing tlie Civcb. The young men of this mis'^ion, as well as all the l)alf-l>reeds in general, who were instructed at F^irt Vancouver, owe to the kind dispositions and devoted cares of Dr. John McLaughlin the knowledge they have of the letter of their cate- chism before the coming of the luissionuriefi; a benefit which is surely not the least amongst t hose the ( ■anadlaii!' received at his hands, and for which they owe him an eternal gratitude. Ex^)erleiice has taught us not to rely too mncli on the first demonstrations of the Indi- ans iiuron the tirst dispositions they manifest. Those of the Cowlitz promised letter success. Evtry where we meet the same iib^-tables wliich always recard the conversion of the Indians, namely: iiolygamy, their adherence to the cus- toms of t lieiV aiicestore and, still more, to tinn- anmiK, the name given to the medicines they prepare for the sick. This tamunwan Is geiier- mIIv transmitted In famUies, and even w«)inen can pretend to the honor of making It. If any one Is sick they call In the medicine-man. No ilanger of their asking him what he wants for his trouble; they would l>e afraid of Insulting him. Whatever he asks Is given him without the least objection; otherwise they may fear everything from that doctor, who will not fail to take his revenge for a refusal by sending some misfortune, or some sickness, or even death through his medicines to the one who refused him. be he 50 leagues off. If any one is d< "d. such a one kille<l him; then let him look out on whimi the least suspicion fulls; his life Is in the greatest danger; the least they will do to him will be to kill Ids horses, if they do not kill himself; and to force him to give all that lie has, through fear of death. A serious quarrel took place lately on that acc«>unt. Hand play isalso very common amongthem, thty get excited and often end it with a quar- rel. They add idolatry to Infidelity. They paint on a piece of wwid a rough likeness of a human licing and keep It very preciously. They believe these charms haveasuperlor pow- eraiid strength, and they pray tothem. When they have exhausted all the resources of the ^(?w(t;««,s which often makes the evil worse, and the sick man dies, they scarcely allow his eyes to close liefore they are covered with a m-ail bandage; his nostrils aie then filled up with(nA«m,a kind of shell they use for money; he Is clad In his best clothes and wrapped up ill a blanket; four | osts are diivsn into the ground: ill these posts holes are bored, through which sticks are passed, upon which Is placed the canoe destined to receive the corpse jilaced in file with hlsancestors. They place him face downward with his head pointing toward the nmuth of the river. Not a handful of dust Is laid upon him; the canoe Is covered with a great number of in \t8 and all is over. Then they present their <*fterings to the dead. If he •..as a chief or great warrior amongst his men, thev lay by his side his gun, his powder horn ami his bag: valuable otjects, such as wooden plates, axes, kettles, bows, -irrows, skins Ac, are placed upon sticksaround his canoe. Then comes the tribute of tears which the spnuw-s pay to ach other and to their children. Day and night for a month or more, continuous weeping, shouting and wailing may be beard from a great distance. When the canoe gets rotten and falls to the ground, the reinaiusare Catholic Chlkcu in Okeoon. 39 taken out, wrapped up in new blankets tind laid in a new cuiioe. They cling 8o niucli to I Ilia ki'i of huriala that during tlie winter, a huptized child having died witliout my knowl- edge, I could not induce them to take it out of the canoe in order to g^ve it ChriHtian burial. ThiH adheoion to burial rites and (atnanwas^f ill cause the missionariea to bn more pnident in baptizing. We have learned not to trust the repeated promise* they make to us not to liave recourse to tiie tamanwag if the baptized eliild gets sick. You may see that pn>grew baa been verv slow among thera so fur; their customs and hubits are so inveterate tliat it will take a long time tVtr religion and the fear and knowl- edge of Uod to unnN>t and destroy thementire- ly. Polygamy is not as widely spread now as it used to be, but tliere U in Itotti sexes a fear- ful immorality. It is kept up and often taught by the whites who, by their Hcandnlo'.is con- duct and lioundlesB debaucheries., destroy the impressions made by the truths of rellKion. This year the ndssion will lend to ihe In- <Uans t<ecd to sow in garden patches, esitecially (teas and potat<x?8. Perhaps they will then try to come out of the miserable state in which t liey are languishing, when they will see that, with a little trouble and latxtr, they can amel- iorate it. Tlie peas and potatoes may make tlieni forget the tierries and the camas. Time prevents me from giving a greater extent to tills sketch. I am Ac, M. Demers, priest. (published jcnk 6th 1878.) MissioNART Labors in 1840. Missions to Vancouver. Nisqually, Whidbt Ii^lano. Chinook Point, Bridges and Coi.ville. First Cohhumiom at St. Paul IM EARIED with a separation of four long \j[ mouths. Rev. M. Demerd left Cowlitz nil Feb. 7th for St. Paul, which he reached on the nth, having had to brave niud aud rain, cold aud snow, aud spent three days iu his journey to Vancouver, where he stopped four (lays, and three other diiys on his way to St. Pn^d. He reuiaiueil but 8 days there, his pres- et jeing much needed iu Vancouver, where he arrived on the 25th, ia order to oppose the efforts minister Daniel Lee was making among the Indians of thj fort ttiuce Jauuary. To deny the necessity of baptism is to deny the existence of urigiaal sin ; aud to deny the existence of original siu is to deny the neces- sity of Redemption, and d'>c]are that religion is a fable ; for such are the consequences fol- lowing from the denial of origiual siu : and, alas, such was nevertheless the hcrrible and damnable doctrine ^hich the Methodist min- isters of Willameile preached formerly to the Canadians, saying : *'A child is sAvod and is a king in the kingdom of heaven without bapt- ism ; adults are also saved if their hearts are pof>d," and strange to say, that minister who had failed with his co-iuiuisters to convert his countrymen aud the Canadians, did not leave t he fort before giving, by aspersion, such a sham liaptism to Indians ignoring God, the Holy Trinity, the Incarnation and Redemption, and any prayers ; and who, in reaching the mission at the Dallcji, did the same with ignorant and polygauiist Indians, giving to them bread and wine. Rev. M. Demers dividing his time between (lie servants, women and children of the whites, and the Indians, taught them all, and had but little trouble to iiudeccive tl> Vitter, with the help of the (JatkoHc Ladder; nud to bring them hack from the erroneous road of Protestantism. ilis missiiin lasted 36 days, after which he re- turned to Cowlitz on April 5th, having been 57 days absent. The vicar general having prepared his letter for the express leaving for Canada, left St. Paul on March 16th, aud reached Vancouver on the same day, because of the strong current of the high water; that was the quickest trip ever made. One item of his report to Canada was: from March 1839 to March 1840, were made 204 baptisms, 35 marriages, 14 burials and oue abjuration at St. Paul. Of the bapt- isms, 13 at the Colvilie mission, 71 at Van- couver, 30 at Cowlils, 19 at Nisqually and 11 at St. Paul. The vicar general left St. Paul on May 4th on a journey to Cowlitz, in order to deliberate with Rev. M. Demers on the plan of the summer campaign. At Vancouver he had the pleasure to open two cases of books, church ornaments aud other effects, coming from Frauce ; aud on the 9th, the two mission- aries were embracing each other ; but the con- Mi ■M 40 Historical S&ktcues or the Bola(ioii of meetinn; togetlier did not last long, by reason of the vicar general, being called a- way by letter to visit some person tliat was sick, had to leave on the 14th for Nisqually, where he found Mr. Kitson, the commander of the fort, sick ill his bed. The exercisos of the mis- sioii at this fort commenced without delay, and lasted from the 16th to the 27th of May : the forenoon being devoted to the instruction of the women and children of the Canadians, and the rest of the day to the Indians outside of the fort. Mrs. Kitson being kind enough, as usual, lo act as iutepreter. Mrs. Kitson having taught the Indian women how to make for themselves, robes of dressed deer skins, they appearetl this time, dressed like white women. All were reg- ular at the instructions. In visiting the lodges in the evening, the vicar general was pleased to see the improvements made, in making the sign of the cross, singing Chinook hymns and repeating what they had learned. On May 18lh, chief Sahiwamiith arrived with a band of his people. One of them being sick with consumption, was prepared for bapt- ism, wlien one day, his companions moveil by a supcr.«titious fear, carried him away; it took two days to overtake him and bring him back. He was baptized at the age of 40, with a wo- man and 8 children, and afurwards showed much faith and resignation to the will of God. The missionary expected to see, at the mission, three other chiefs, called Talalakuin, Nelhmtu und Wilskolatche; but the murder of a man by a Sockiratnish, having rendered traveling on that bay dangerous, they did not come. The priest was much consoled on seeing the ea<;cr- ness of the Indians to come at the first bell, to listen to the explanation of the Catholic Ladder and words of eternal life, under the shade of a large tree. The vicitr general was preparing to close his mission n -d return to Cowlitz, when on ihe '2tJth of May, a cauoe arrived containing six Indians and one woman. They were chief Txlalakums men atid his wife, sent by him, and directed to bring the priest to see him and his tribe, as he was sick and unable to come him- self; and in proof thereof, his wife presented the vicar general with a skin sheath, which was found to contain the square rule (Shale stick) he had received on his visit to Cowlitz, in April 1831'. Thanking God for the door opened to him, the vicar general started May 27th, in a canoe of his own, lauded at differ- ent places on the bay, to address the words of salvation to the Indians, and arrived the fol- lowing day, the Ascension day, at Tdalakum village, on the western shore of Whidby Island. A battle had taken place on tht . very sauie day between his tribe, the Skekwaminh ..ud the Klalavit of Port Towosend, in which the lat- ter, who were the aggressors, lost two men, be- cause, as Tdalakum said: "these men do not know God, nor pray to Him." He had tried to stop the fight, but in vain. He had been protected by the cross he wore on his neck. All this explained the strange movement of the Indians, runningon the shore and calling" Who are you'r" (qui vive) on seeing the two canoes coasting along the island. The priest, in his black gown, was received with the greatest demonstration of joy by Tslaf- aknm and his lril)e. and his baggage seized and carried to the village on the high land, 60 feet above the level of the bay. On Friday, May 2yth, an altar was prepared in a repository made with mats ; a rough board was the altar table ; the vestments for Mass and the sacred vessels were exposed ; a Catholic Ladder, six feet by 15 inches, was attached to a mat and hoisted high on a pole, before the eyes of all. "I then began the instruction by making the sign of the cross in Chinook jargon," says the vicar general in his relation to the bishop of Quebec, "and to my great astonishment, all the assembly, men, women and children made the same, pronouncing the words exactly as practical and fervent Christians. I began to sing the first verse of a hymn in Chinook jar- gon, to the air of 'TV vas remplir le vau de ta tendrette' and, behold, to my great wonder, all continued to sing it to the end, with exact precision. I began to sing another one to the tune '•Je mett ma eonfiance,' and to my iucreas- intr in-eat astonishment, they all continued and sang it as well a6 the first one. I admired the SUCTO88 Tdalakum had had in teaching his peo- ple ; I blessed the Lord for the good disposi- tions of the poor ladian. and my joy was so wreat that I shed tears of gratitude. Catholic Chukch is Okkgon. 41 '•I .vats tlien dressed in surplice, wiili a stole, nud be;riiiiiiii<; llie explHiiiition of the ('ntliolic Ladder, when ehief Witska/ritche arrived with ii hand of his tribe from another part of the inland, and came to shake liands; I'U'iei' Nelliim siion came a!:?o with his bands. All the chiefs ^at in front, the rest behind hud on the sides. That was indeed quite a l.".r;^c meeting. I then l»^<;an to dress for Mass^ and to explain the -Mass, the Oreat Prayer of Catholics. On the wiiole assembl}- making the sign of the cross and singing the aforesaid verses of the hymns, I became convinced that Nellam and Wttska- I'llrhe had not done less than Tslalakiim with tlieirtribes. The Ca<Ao/ic Larfrf«»di8tribiited at Nisqually,the preceding year, had been used and explained, utid the singing of hymns prac- ticed. The two hymns were repeated altern- ately during the whole Mass. In admiration of what I heard and saw, I thought I was in heaven, rather than in an In<lian country. Tears of joy fell again from my eyes. An in- finite satisfaction had been offered to God for tlie sins of these poor people. There was hope. Other bands of Indians arrived after Mass, and among them a Klalam who spoke in favor iif |)eace. I continued my iusti-uetion till night, and the day ended by prayer, rosary, and the singing of hymns. The body of the Klalam killed in the battle was found and buried by the old men, for the youug men woidd not touch a iorp.«e, fearing that it would shorten their life." (PUBLISHED JL'NE UiTII 1878.) ^N Saturday, May 30tl., a large number of Indians arrived from various parts of the island, who showed themselves as attentive to the instructions and as recollected at Mass, as the day before. I>esiring to visit the island, 1 directed my steps towards the north, passed tliroiiirl" beautiful prairies, forests of lar:re irees, fields of potatoes, cultivated with no •)ti>er iiisirnmeut than a c irved slick, and ar- rived at the house of Nettuin, situated on the •Mstern point of the island. It was a housa luule of logs, 30 ly 20 feet, ceiled, an.l furn- ished inside with a lii|)e>iry of mat.*, with an ope ling in the center to let the smoke out. Neilam received me with great attention and showed me the place to sit down on a pile of folded mats. There was no p<ilygamy in this house, as generally practiced by other chiefs. I regretted very much to have no lime to bap- tize and bless this iuleresting couple. After prayer and singing of hymns, I went to the hhore and found 15 lodges of Indians, who ha<l never seen the hlade-fjoum. On seeing me thev cried out, and placing themselves in a line, men, women and children, to the number of over 150, they came to touch my hand, a cer- emony <:f etiquette ; after which they made the sign of the cross, and sang the Chinook jargon hymns, which they had learned, as well as the other tribes. I advised them to come to Mass an<l to bring their children for baptism on the following day. I left them full of joy in order to return to my ten»< where I found a large re- union of Indians, who listened attentively to my instruction, which was protracted late in the evening, notwithstanding a high wind, the noise of the waves and foliage. On Simday, May 31sl, Nellam arrived early with his band of Skagits, their women and cliildren. Next appeared at the head of his band, the Snohofuish, accompnniet! by inferior chiefs, M itskalutche, surnamed L" Frun^ais. (The Frenchman) clad in full French costume, trow.-ers, shirt, vest, overcoat garnished with porcupine quills, hat and cravat. Tslalaktim came also with his band of Sokwamish; all placed themselves according to rank, to the nuniber of 400. The exercises of the preced- ing day were repeated with the same spirit and zeal as ou the previous day, before and during holy Mass. My emotion was great at the sight of such a multitude of Indians, so ea- ger for the kingdom of heaven; and at the sing- ing, so pure and so expressive by the many voices, whose accent so natural, seemed to me to surpass in beauty the harmony of the most !'-t.ai!i«d oomposititm.i of music masters ; it was so great that I could not master it. The holy Mass being t .r, the dinner of salmon and smoked deer I had ordered, was served ou mats before the chiefs; all were tilled with joy : then followed the great smoking of 42 Historical Sketches or thk the cahiinet of peace and union between the tribes. In the midst of the joyous and noisy chatting, was heard a great crying out ; all rose up and saw a heavy wooden cross 24 feet long in the arms of numerous Indians who were advancing t<»ward8 the spot prepared for it ; it being solemnly blessed and erected, and all following the example of the biackg(yim, went and prostrated themselves and venerated if. Then followed the singing of hymns by this joyous multitude of Indians rendering homage to God and Jesus Christ for the first time. To this moving spectacle succeeded another one, the baptism of the chiUlren. The mothers of the children were placed in two lines, leaving an alley in the center for me to move, and also for the fathers and the children. 1 again ex- plained the fall t f man. the mystery of re- demption, the tuerfictwe of baptism. I required of all a profession of faith and an abjuration ; and all were loudly answering: "Yes. we bj- lieve in God who created all things. Yes, we believe in Jesus Clirist, who came to redeem us. Yes, we believe He has made seven mediciiifs to make ns good. Yes, we believe He has made but one road to go to heaven. Yes, we promise to keep and follow the road of the blackgowii, which is the one Jesus Christ ma 'c Yes, we reject all other roads lately made by men. Yes, we renounce the devil, his thoughts, words and deeds. Yes, we desire to know, love and serve the great Master of all things." Then began the ceremony of solemn bapt- ism, which lasted four hours, during which I baptized 122 children. The heat was very op- pressive; the chiltlren were sc.nred and crying, and soon all retired. Mond«v. June 1st, was spent in the ordin- ary instruM ions and exercises. Tuesday, Jiuie 2nd. was fixed for my departure, to the great sorrow of the poor Indians; I recommsndeil the chiefs to oiiccnn-age llieir people to follow the road ol liie hlachjown, and urge the con- clusii ' ofpeace before the leaving ot'llie priest. For tli;tt jxirpose Wi'xhnlat-hc wu* depntt'd to the Shrkirainish: and. in changing my route for Nistpnilly. 1 liml the hiippiness to coirribule to the re'coiicilialioii of two tribes. Having •riven my great (Jalholic Ladthr 'o N<ll"iii. ' o oflered to carry me to Xisqn illy in his large wooden canoe, which with '2S men, was still light. My canoe was carried over to Ncllnm'f place, and I started on that day. In coasting along he island I saw fort? 18 to 20 feet high, raised by ih" Indians to protect themselves a- gainst the YvgoUah of Fraser River. I visited several tribes, and in one village 125 canie to touch my hand, and were found able to make the sign of the cross, and lo sing the C hinook hymns. I slop| ed Till night at the village of the Ske/cuuniiiili. the Indians wl t Ii.mI !ieen fighting. At this place about 140 came to touch my hand, and made the sign of the cn)ss, and sai.g the hynms equally as veil ns the other tribes. StitahfHihan, their chief, who had vis- ited Father Demers at Cowlitz, had taught ti.em what he had learned himself. On Wed- ncsdiiy, June 8rd. I solemnly baptized '.'♦> chil- dren ; after which took place the meeting for the conclusion of peace, which lasted nenr y four honrs. My address was transmitted by my interpreter to a third one, who delivered it to the chiefs with an astonishing eloquence. After many and hmg harangues, it was cou- «luded that the Skekwantish slundd pay two guns to the Khlam» for the two men killed. Witskii/iitche took the guns and carried them to the Klalnms, who, according to custom, would give something in return. Thus was jieace coix-luded. I then started at 3 p. m., traveled all Thursday, and reached Nisqually on Friday, and found Mr. Kitson b« .r, and started ai 2 p. ni. for Cowlitz, whicli I reached on .Saturday, June. 6th, at 10 p. m The fruits of the mission were : 9 baptisms at Nisqually, 218 at Whitby, 6 on the way, total 238. (hublishku jcne 20th 1878.) 1 YANY of the Chinook tribe had already ^yr seen the hlaikgmvn at Fort Vancouver, and hail their childre.i baplizeil ; but they had not yet been visited in their own land. The time having arrived to visit them at home, Rev. M. Demers left Cowlitz on May 19th. Mild arrived at Astoria on the 21.sl. The lon>- expected ship bringing from the East, Jasi u Catholic Chcrcii in Orkgon. -J.'l IjM-, with a number of MeilxHlist ministers, their wives Hnil several youii;; ladies had just iTossed the bar; they were to be distributed nil over the country, in opposition tu the Catholic missionaries. On the following day. Rev. M. Demers went on his mission, and fixeii his tent union<! the ChinooKS. He met there Daniel life, till! preacher, who, after a few days left him a clear 8tii<ro, being in a hurry, no doubt, i<> visit the ship in order to have the first choice for a wife among the young misses. As to the Rev. M. Ucmers, with a little bell in one liand, and a Catholic Ladder in the other, he continued his mission for three weeks, instnict- ing the adults, baptizing the children, and do- ing much good. lie returned home much sat- isfied, after an ab.sence of 26 days. He re- mained but two days with the vicar general, having to leave on June loth for Vancouver, ill order to administer to the Brigades going \orth and South, before leaving for the Col- viile mission. After Rev. M. Demers had left Cowlitz, the \ icar general remainetl in order to be present lit the erection of the new chapel, measuring 2.') by oO feet, wliicli took place on June I7tli; and leaving on the 19th, he reached Vancon- vir on Sunday morning, remained four days with \i\» dear cun/rirv, and arrived at St. Paul .Iiuie 21st, after an absence of 54 days. Rev. M. Demers, having given a mission of tcti days at Vancouver, started on June 29lli, witli the Brigade of the Porltnrs, commanded Ity chief Factor Ogden ; he was at the Qrandes Dulles portage on July 5th. at Walla Walla on the 10th, reached the Palonse river safely, half way between Walla Walla and Colville, and arrived at last at the end of his far distant mission, luiving suflf'ered much from the heat of the sun and the want of water for himself and his Imrses. Having coinpleled his mission at Colville he returned by way of Okanagan and Walla Walhi, reaching Vancouver on Oct. •Jnd. jitst three months and six days after he had left it. After a few days of rest, he started for St. Paul, '.vhich ho reached on Oct. 11th. They b')'.h siarieil together for Vancouver on the 17th in ortler to give that place a mission of fourteen days before going to their winter quarte s ; after which the vicar general reached the Willamette Oct. 31st, and Rev. M. Demci- reached Cowlitz on the same day, after an ah- .«ence of four months and eighteen days from home. At St. Paul 7 persons were found suf- ficiently prepared to make their first commu- nion in December. It was dnring his mission at Colville that, hearing there was a priest somewhere among the Indians of the Rockv 3Iountain8, he announced the fact to the vicar general by a letter which reached him on the 30th of August 1840. Lkttkr of Rt. Rkv. Joseph RosATt, Bishop of St. Lot is, to thk Rt. Rev. Father Gh>EHAi.< fiheSoc'IETyofJesuh. St. Louis, October 20th, 1839. My Rt. Rev. Father. Twenty-three years ago, two Fiidis "t of the In^quols mission, left their native country, Canada, with tweuty-two other warriors, and went to settle in a country situated between the R(H>ky Mountains and the Pacific ocean. That country is inhabited by infidel nations, and especially by those the Frencli call TetfK i'hites. They married there and were incorpo- ratttl into the Indian nation. As they were well instructed in the Catholic religion, pn>- fcwwd by tlie Iroquois — converted by the an- cient Fathers < f your Society — they have con- tinued to practice it as much as it was in their power, and have taught it to their wives and children. Tlielr z«al went even further; be- coming arostles, they have sown the first seeds of Catboilcily in the midst of the infidel na- tions among whom tlicy live. These precious jrems l)egin already to' bring forth fruit, for they have caused to spring in the hearts of the Indians the dt sire of having missionaries who would teach them the divine law. Eight or nine years ago (about 1880), some of the Flatheaii nation came to St. Louis. The object of their journey wad to ascertain if the religion spoken of with so much praise by the Iroquois warriors was tu reality such as repre- sented, and above all, if the nations that have white skin, (name they give to £urt>pean8) had adopted and practiced it. Soon after their ar- rival in St. Louis, they fell sick, called for a priest and earnestly asaed by signs to be bap- tized. Their request was cii>jcrl}' gnmtcd and they received the ludy baptism with great de- votion; then holdinj^t lie crucifix, they covered it with affectionate kisses and expiretl. S line years after (about 1832), the Flathead nation sent again one of the Iroquois to Saint Louis. There he came with two of bis chll- ■MM 44 Historical Skftciiks of thk dreii, who were limtnicted und bupHzed Uy the Fathers of the col lege. He asked itdHttionarieM for hJH country men, and utarted with the hope that one <hiy tlie desire of the nation would In? necoinplinhed; but on his Journey he was killed bv tlie Infidel Indianx ot the Sioux nation. At last, a third deputation of IndianH ar- rived at !St. LouIh (183t») after a long voyage of three months. It wan composed of two t'hrl»- tian IrcMiuois. These Indians who talk French have editted us hy their truly exemnlnry con- duct, and interested us by their ciincourst-s. The Fathers of the college have heard their t-onfe>*sionH, and to-day tiiey approHclied the holy tableat my Mass in the catlietlrai church. Afterwards ladminiHlered tliem the sacrament of ( 'i>nt1rmation;and in an allocution delivered after tlie ceremony, 1 rejoiced wl.h tluni at their happiness, and gave them the hope lo have soon a priest. They will leave to-morrow for their home; a priest 'will follow I hem next Spring. Out of the twenty-four IrtM|Uois who formerly immi- grated from Canada, four only are still living. Not content with planting the F.iith in tlu^^e savage countries, they also defended it agiiiiisl the prejudices of the Protestant ndidsteiis. When t'liese pretended missionaries presented themselves, our good Catholics refused to re- ceive them. "Tlu!^e are not the jn lists we have spoken of to you," they said to the Flat- lieads, "t hey are not the pHests with long hhirk ytmnn, who'have no wives, who say Msihs, an«l carry a crucifix with tliiin," &c. F' r (iod's sake, my Right Rev. Father, forsake not lluir souis. Adept, &v., &(•. l{lJo.sKi'H, Bishop of iSI. Lcnis. The letter which we publish above from the bishop of St. Louis, JIo., lo the General of the Jesuit Fathers, produced at once the result anticipated. No sooDer had these coura<re«)U8 soldiers of the cross learned that there were thousands of soids pining for the presence of the true disciples of God, than they sol to work at once [lerfectiug their plans .so that the bread of life ini^lit be broked to the Indians in the far west. Father Peter John De Sniet was se- lected as the apostle to carry the cross to the Flathead nation, and, after making a few nec- essary prcpaniiiiui?, liu set Oitt in tiie .Npriiig of 1840 on his long aud arduous journey. Uf the trials which beset him on his iriji lie lias lell a till! account in h. Sketches of tiie Western M'ssions, which are read, at this lis'aM day. with the same interest that siirrouiided them nearly forty years apo. His niicsion lasted two mouths and resuhed in the .onversion ot 600 Flatheads, and liiiding the Indians so well disposed to receive the SVord of Life, he re- turned to St. Louis for the purpose of securing additional Fathers, as he saw the \\ork before them was »)ne of great magnitude. Father De Sniet accompanied by two other Jesuit Fathers, accordingly returned to the Flatheiid Indians iu 1«41, bringing with them many articles necessary for the establishment of a permanent mission, and in a short time he had the holy satisfaction of beholding the em- blem of Christianity arising over the little church whidi marked the frundation of the Mission of St. Mnry'sof the Rocky Mountains. The causes which led to the presence of Jesuit missiouaries among the Indians of the Rocky Mountains are of such liislorical inter- est that we give them: — A large number if Canadians and Iroquois were employed by the Comjmnies trading among the Indians of the Pacific Coast, as well as liy the various exj e- dilionsly sea and by laud. That ofCapt. limit which started in IHll, had great hardships to endure, and loss of men to sutler hy desertion, in 1H1J>. Of llie number were 24 Iroquois who ji'ined the Flathead nation. Tliey soon married and had families. And as the Can- adians were the tirst apostles among the In- dians of the Pacific Coast, so also were the 24 Iroquois among the Flatheads ; speaking t<) them of their religion, churches, priests, and festivals. The Flatheads who were naturally good, were pW-ased. They sent a deputation to St. Louis about 1H30. in order lo ascertain about what the Iroquois related. Soon alter arriving the} took sick, called for the priest, were baptized. and expired kissiug the crucifix. The nation sent another deputation of one Iro- quois, in 1832 ; he arrived safely at Si. Louis, had his children baptized, and was returning home with some hope of soon having priests for his countrymen and adopted nation ; hut he was killed by the .Kionx Imliaiis, A third deputation was sent in IHS'J.calling for priests. This lime the deputation, consisting ni two Iroquois, returning in the fill, started witli the fill hope that some priests would bo sent on the following year; for the Rt. Rev. Bishop HP Catholic Church in Orioon. 4.) RosHti, hnvin); written to the Superior t , jiieral of the Jesuits at Rome, beg^iiijyr him eHrr.e»<ily to take chHrge of that inission, had received a favorable reply, (leiice the appointment of Father I)e 8met, who came in the Spring nf 184U,pa()fled two inonth8amou<: the Flatheads, baptized 350, and went home, to return in 1841. Sueh is the orij^n of the Flathead mis- sion, and the apostleship of the Iroquois, who, when the pretended niiasionnries, Jason Lee, and others, presented lhemselve.H to the Flat- lieads ill 1884, told them : -'These are not the priests we have spoken to you about. They are not the priests with long black gowns, who have no wives, say Mass and carry a crucitix with them." Rev. M. Demers had at last a correspondence with Father Do Smet, and brought the following letter with him : liKTTKR ov Rev. Fathkk Db 8mkt, H. J., TO VKRY RkV. F. N. BI.ANCHCT, V. ti. Fork of Jefferson River, Aug. 10th 1S4(). Very Rev. Sir: — The present which I havt- the lioiior to write will surprineyour Reverence, im coiiiinK frimi one unknown, but in quality of a <i>-opeiiiti>r III the Vineyard of the liord*, ami ill II so far remote country, it fwiiiiot be dina- ^ireeiiiile to you. I wish I <»iild have leisure to >;ive your Reverence some detailuof iii.v iiiis- >ion to the Rocky MountainM, but Mr. Bniiite who ii>8o kind as to carry my letter to Fort < 'olville, just ready to start, gives nie but u fi w laiiiuteM to write. Y«>ur Reverence will then learn that Mgr. liusati, UiHliopof 8t. Jiouis, in conceit with my pioviiiclul, superior of the comoaiiy In Missouri, and iiictniipliiince with tlie tn sires often niaiiifeste<l by the TcIch Plalen niid Fend d'OreUles, and a great numU-rof Nez l'erce.1, lias sent me to the Rocky MoiintiiiiiH, to visit these nations. I have found the two tirat in the best desirable dispositions, well re- ■^olved to stand by the true cliildivn of Jesus Clirit-t. The few weeks I hiid the happiness to pai« among tliem, have been the liappiest of my IHe, «"d give nie the linn hope, with the grace of God, to see soon renewed in these countritw, m> long forsaken, the fervor of the tirst Christians. Since I am among them, I <:ive three, four or flvj instructions a day; they cannot be tired; all come to my lodge at the liwt rJiigingof tlieliell; they are anxious t<>!oae 1 1 ( >ue t>f my words relat i ng to t hese I nst ructions 1.11 heavenly subjects; and, had I the strength iosp<-ak to them, they would willingly listen to me w hole davsii lid nights. I baiitixed alK)ut 2tX) of their little children, and ex[iect to bap- tize, in a ',hort time, 15ti adults. Tlie ohie<'t of my niif>^ion was to visit agr«\it p;iit « f the Terrili'iy of Oivgoii, mid niukf re- ports to my Bi.«hop mid Siijierior, on the favor- able places to opin iiili-Hiims. But I have found so many g(H>d dis|M»iithina among the Indians of the plains, that I ha\e changed *'.e plan of my journey. I will ret urn to St. Lw.iis before the winter, and will Ite back next apring with a caravan of missionaries, who are ulieady pre- (mring themselves. The Shonhnnrn and Strpentn (Snakes) desire to have an estal>lisliinent; thn fttei^ Plnteg and Fend d^Oreillex have nothing more at heart. The Xfz Perceg wenied to be tired with these self-dublie<i ministeisa femmef, and pluiwa very great pivdilection for Catholic priests. We willtherefore haveenough tooc- rupy ourselves in thesi' mountaii.s without extending any further into the land. I hoiie, tie vert helt'ss, that befure the winter of \hV , I will have the honortopay a visit toyourR* v- ereni-e, in order to have the aid «»f your coun- sels, and work in concert to gain these poor nations to Je^us Christ. Please present my rehjKH'ts to Rev. M. Demers. I have the houor to be, &o. P. h\ DE BMET, S. J., MlhSIONER. (PL'BLISHKD Jl'NE 27tH 1878.) MissioMARY Labors in 1841 AT Vancodver, Falls of the Willamette, Clackamas and Cascades. fHK two missionaries had been separated nearly four months and a half, since last fall. The place of their reunion was Fort Vancouver. Rev. M. Demeis leaving Cowlitc on March 3rd, reached Vancouver on the 6th, and began at that place a mission of 26 days, with the usual daily exercises, in the morning, afternooD and eveuingr and returned home on April 3rd, the eve of Palm Sunday, aAer an absence of 31 days. There were three Indian tribes which had been gained to Methodism for over a year, viz: those of the Clackamas, Willamette Falls and Cascades. The two missioBaries had been too busy to visit them before. A door was opened to them this year in the following manner : A chief of the Clackamas tribe, called Pohpoh, went to St. Panl in Febrnary ; he saw there the orphan boys in charge of the Catholic mis- 46 Historical Skctchm or the »ion, some Indiiin familicft «nd other persons, niiinbering over 15. lie assUled at the daily exercises and explanation of the Catholic hul der. He was a MelhodisJ, and the Corypheiis of the sect, but on lookin-r at the Laddvr and seeing the crooked road of Protestantism made by men in the 16th century, he at once abjured Methodism, to embrace the straijtht road made by JcHUS Christ; and returning home he invited tlie missionary to visit his tribe. The vicar general was pleased with the invit- ation. He left St. Paul on March llth, to meet Father Demers at Vancouver, ami he stop- ped on his way at the W'lpiito Luke, which is oidy a few miles below the Clackaujas river, where the Indiausof the Clackamas tribe .v»re assembled to dig the Waputo root, (a kind of potatoe) on the right shore nf the Willamette. He was received by chief /'oh poh. and jrave the tribe a mission of 4 days, with ilio usiml ex- ercises atid theexplanntiouof the Catholif Lnil- der, &c. Mass was celebrated on >S itidny 1 4lh and following days. That great celebration was astonishing to them. AUriDiigli they had been for tv.o years under the teaching of Hro. Perkins, .ill the fall of 1840, and under that of Bro. Waller since then, they listened to the missionary for four days with pl.iisnre. The fruits of the mission were the Imptirim of 11 children, and an ndult in diingcr i>f death. It was also the beginninj; of their altaixldnuient of Methodism. He reached Vancouver on ilie 15th. On returning from thence, .March 24th, he (mve them two other days, celebrated J'ass onUie-iSth, oaplizedan adult, the wife of chief Wexamits in danger of death on the •26th, and reached St. Paul on Saturday 'iTlh, after an absence of 17 days. Chief Poh poh returned to St. Paul ill April, in order to learn more, and streu.;theu liis faith. He relurued after 8 days lieutre with a lAidder, a red flag, bear- ing a cross, to be hoisted on Sunday. He was overjoyed. One of the items sent to Quebec, Canada, was: "From March 1840 to March 1841, were I erformed: bnplicms 510 ; marriages 1*2 ; bur- i: Is 11; communions 60 ; one al juration at St. l'«ul. Of the .ilO baptisms 26:i were made by i' vicar general at Nisqiially «i d Vlii.U.y I-- laud; lli4 by Father Demers at Chinook, Ciiw- litz and Colville misHons : the rest, \\:\, M Vancouver and St. Paul. Of the 510 baptisms, about 410 were Indians. 100 whites, and 40 adults." The Willamcitc Fall Indian village was on the west bank l»elow the fall; its chief was We- BaviHi. The lime to visit having arrived, the vicar general left St. Paul, after the celcbra- lion of Faster, and arrived there on April 21»tli. On his arrival, he made known to the chief the object of his visit. The prouil chief an- Rweretl: "Hegone! Away, away with you: we don't want yon." Such a rough reception did not discourage the missionary. He soon learn- ed that the chief had been very much oHendcd because il.e Clackamas tribe had been vis^ited before his own. On explanation he bicame calmer, and, at last, secnn-d sntisfi; ■ Then li.gaii a mission of 7 da of hard work ; the n.issionarv being obliged to run every day after ihesc lazy Indians, to bring them ti> liis tent, and assist at the several exercises, 'the h(dy Mass was cchbralod on the IJrd day, a Sunday, and the following days. The sight of the altar, vestments, sacred ves.sels, ami great ceremonies were drawing their attention mucli more than the cold, unavailable and lay service of Bro. Waller. There seemed to be more at- tenticm given to the ringing of the bell, and she mission exercises. The missionary had at last the concolalion to see the poor Indians make the sign of the cro.ss, say the offering of the heart, name the 7 medicines (sacraments), 8ing a short pravr before and after meals, and also the ("biiiook hymns. 11 children were baptized, and families out of 10 had been rescued front Bro. Waller. On the 4th day of the mission arrive<l Poh poh with some of his people. He complained very much that when his flag was hoisted on Sunday, Mr. Waller pulled it down, to the great displeasure even of those of his own sect. On aniither day there came some Indians from Clatsop. On seeing the allur, ornaments and vestnient.s, they saitl : "i>lr. Frost is far from showinjru.s such linugs. That same day an Indian reported that Keiin- *»)(.. chief of the Indians beh>\v Vancouver, said to his people: "Fidiow ihe jriest if you like, Vr niv.'>elf. I am too lad, 1 an unable to change. 1 will die the same. Catholic Church in Oukook. 47 (PCBI.ISHED JULY 4tII 1878.) AriiiTiONAL Incidents in 1840. ypfllE fiillowin^ iiu'idt'iitH showiiijit tlie dispo- \. siti'iiis of the Indians nre worthy of heiiip; nu'nlioiifjl. A «S'wo/jo»jwA cliiof came to Cow- litz ill the fall, to 8ee tlie |>rie««t Hn<l tell hiin hnt the timber for h Ikmisb of prayer, recoin- Miendud by the hhich-ginon, had been prepared :iiid was retidy for erection. lie caine to have !i priest to direr-t tlie work. He wftii iiiiich dis- a|ipointed in beinj^ obli^red to relurn home a- j.iiie. Ilarki'ly, a chief from Yakima, came down to S' f'jinl in tlie fall, with his family and Homr , i '>eople. Alter three weeks of iiistructioii • ; itnrned home with a pair of lu'ads, a cross some pictures and a Catholic Lndder, and used to explain it to his people on Siiiulays. A chief from ( )kana<:^an sent word i<> St. Paul, asking what to do; that he was ready to come down with his people next spring, if so n'comnieuded. A Priest's Rapids chief, on the Coliunbia, came down to St. Paul in the liiU, with liis wife, three children and a brothor- iu-law. lie passed the winter there, ;rot in- structed, learned his prayers, and was baptized under the name of Joseph, with his family. Father Demers jiave a uiissiiui of nine days to the Okaiuj^ran Indians, on returninjr from Col- ville. On November 20lh, 1840, he blessed and occupied :i new house at Cowlitz. From that date, the lop chapel ceased to be his lodg- ing place. It was made more decent by ceil- ing the sanctuary with mats and orDamcnting the allar table with vases. Various Missions in 1841. From his mission at Willamette Falls, the \ icar general went, <m May 6th, to the Clack- iunas irilh*, which he had already visiTed in Marcli at the J I opa'o L:tke. The iisuai ex- ercises were continued at the ringing of the bell for nine days. Bro. Waller came and called hiui an iitruder. His Evuitgelicdl Lad- der was liroiight near the (Jatholic one; the In- dians prououuced themselves in favor of the latter ; twelve lodge.s were gained. I'x-in^' ob- liged to return to St. Paul on the loih, Kev. M. Detners, from Vancouver, came tu repiacj; him. He continued the missicui for two weeks, giving some days to the Willamette tribe and the rest to that of the Clackuiuas. It was on that occasion that Wemmun, the Corypheiis of Bro. Waller was gained over. From the Clackamas, Rev. Father Deiners returned to Vancouver, to attend the Hrigades of the North and South, after which he went home to teach catechism. And as the Colville mission was being omitted this year, because Father lie Smet being expecteil to conu; down that way. anil it had been resolved that Rev. .M. Deincrs woidd go this year to the Sound, he started on August 11th. went to Nisqually and thence to the bay. He visited many tribes besides those seen by the vicar general; lie tra\ - elled from one nation to another, acconipanied by chief Tsliilnknm and many other great chiefs. His traveling was a triumphal one, surrounded sometimes by COO and at other times by 3,000 Indians, who, hostile to each other, were now peaceable in presence of the hUtck-gown. He often pas.«ed whole days in teaching, with a Ijiidder 10 by 2k feet, the.se poor Indians so desirous of heavenly things, and continuing li-«e at night to sing, to pray and hear the har- angues of the chiefs repeating what they had learned. It was a beautiful and consoling spec- tacle to see tribes who had never seen the black- gown, able to bless themselves, sing and pray around the Luddcr, when the priest was giving the hand to new comers. From the bay he// passed to Fort Laugley, on tlie Frastx river.A There were new triiiiuphs among the Cowit- ehans. There ended his mission, and on Sep- tember 24th, he was at home, having made 765 baptisms, and beer 44 days absent. In the beginning of June, Commodore Wilkes left Vancouver on a visit to the Willamette valley, and took dinner with the vicar general at his residence in St. Paul. He told him that on seeing a eross ou Whidby island, he called it the Cross Island. The vicar general having promised Father Demers that he would visit Cowlitz during his absence, started Aug. 14th, for that place. Ou returning, September Ist he gave a mission of 14 days at Vancouver. 48 Historical Sketches or the It was OH that occasion that commodore Wilkes assisted, with several officers of his staff* and Dr. McLaughlin, at high Mass and vespers on a Sunday. It was a solemn day. The follow- ing Sunday, though the commodore was absent, the ceremony was not less solemn. A house (J2 by 25 feet was raised in March, at St. Paul, to serve as a hal! for the people oa Sunday and a lodging for the priest. The next mission to be made was that of the Cascade tribe which had never been visited by the hfack-gown. Tatnnkoon, its chief, had al- ready been a convert since 1831), at tlie sight and explanation of the Catholic Ladder. He had met many times, the assaults and cffcjrls of the Methodist preachers, but all in vain; he remained unmoved. He was glad to see leplete arrive on September I7ili. His tribe num- bered from loO to 200 souls. The daily ex- ercises of Mass, &c., began and were wniiiu- ued for 10 days, and the jioor Indimis, in part, began to sing, to bless themselves and to pray. Tamakoon received a bell and n Ladder to be used on Sunday. He was nbic to speak on it fur several hours; .'54 <hil n were baptized. From the Cascado^ the viciir general passed to the Clackamas, on Noveu»ber 80th. That was his third visit it lasted 13 days with the usual exercises. A high cross was blessed and erected on October "id. Bro. Waller, hearing that the Indians were willing to build a chapel, came and made a noise ; all had left him save a few. Eleven cliildren were liMplizcd ; in all 41, with 30 beiore. The vinir gcnenil left them on October 12lh for St. Paul. Theiicjir general left St. Paul for Cowlitz on Noveuiber 15th. Meeting at Vancouver Sir George Simpson, who desired to visit the ('anadian settlement, he returned home with him. Sir George assisted at high Mass and vesper* nu Sunday, and seemed to have been pleaseil with vvlmt lie litid seen there and at Viiiicouver. He becauie convinced at lastof the necessity of granting passaire for new priests and other assistants. Starting again the vicar general reached (Jowlilz on December Ist: lift it on the 7th; arrived at Vnncouveron the lOth, and at ("lackanias village on the IHth ; went tiinr«vHt lhi> font ftf the cross .vitli the Tmli'irw • r • ■. - uud the chiefs : left them well pleasjd. Ai liiu river was much swollen by the heavy and nnnsnal rains, he met great dangers at Rock Island, above the falls. He being on shore to lighten the canoe, the canoe capsized, and eight persons were struggling in the water ; all were saved as by a miracle. The vicar general reached home on December 23d ; but left for Vancouver on the 27th, to attend the funeral services of Mr. Kitson, who having come to Vancouver in 1840, made his abjuration and received holy communion and the other sacra- ments, had died happy. The vicar general retiu-ned home on New Year's eve. (published JULY 1 IXH 1878.) I^CIDE^TS IN 1841. P EV. Father P. J. De Smet, S. J., returned j|_^- to the Rocky Mountains in the spring of 1M41, with the Rev. Fathers Meugarini and Point, and founded St. Mary's mission among the Flatheads. The Cowlitz settlement had the happiness to possess the Blessed Sacra- ment in its little chapel from January 6th. Harkely^ the Yakima chief, who visited St. Paul hist fall, arrived at Cowlitz on January 25th, with some Indians from Okanagan, and a son of the Spokane <hief, called La grosse Tete, the Coryphens of Bro. Kells. ten in all. They had come by the way of Nisqually, and hence through the long portage. They had been siripiedoftheir blankets and ordered back bytheCluhalis,towliich they refused to accede. The son of />» grosxe Tfte had left his home in spiteof hisfailier tobecomea Catholic. They came to get instructed. They went home via Vancoii* er and the Columbia. The little chief di» Chaudiirei (Cnliille) was an n[>ostle n- niong his people, wiih the Catholic Ladderin his hnnds since the departure of the priest. Missionary Labors in 1842. The two missionaries met again this year, at Viinco'.ivcr, af^er a separation of 8^ niouihs. Rev. M. Dt-mers came first in three r'ay* of Liai wiatlier, und arrived on February 23rd. Catholic Chuhcu in Oukqon. 49 He begnn a mission of 27 days, with the usual forenoon, afternoon, and evening exercises; rifter wliieb, louvin;; on Monday of Holy Week, ;ind ox|)eri«iicin';.' three other days of very bad wpalher, he reHched home after au absence of '52 days. The vicar fr*'neral came later to meet hi? dear companion, and arrived on Tuesday of I'assion Week, March loth; and star.ing on Tiiursday of the, leame week, and experiencing Imd weather also, he reached St. Paul on Sat- urday, the eve <>l' Palm Simday. One of the items he sent to Quebec, Canada, was: from March 1841 to March 18-12, were performed ; baptisms, yG5 ; ni'irriaa^es. 1 2 ; bur- ials, 21 ; communions, 115. Of the U65 bap- tisms, 765 were made on Pnget Sound, all lu- "lians. save 15 Whites at Fort Langley, 09 at the Clackamas, Willamette Fall and Cascade ■lission, 70 at Vancouver, 24 at the Cowlitz, and S7 at St. Paul. Having given the great festival of Easter and ihrce weeks of the Passover time to the faith- ful of St. Paul, the vicar general pave his first outside missionary labors to his dear Indians uf ilie Willamette Fall. Arriving there on A- |iril 20lh, and notwithstanding the cold recept- i'>ti he received, he began his missionary labors wliicli lie continued for 15 days. The poor In- ilians were very indolent ; the ringing of (he liell drew a few of theni in lb j beginnin;r; ihey lirtd forgollen all they had learned before. Having r.o time to g<» and visit the t'lackuniHS Indians, on the pre.seut occasion, they were in- \ ited t(» couie to the Fall ; several of ihcm came, liy persevering in his efforts he began Id gain tlu'ir confidence, and they became more ^iKentive. lie made 6 baptisms, including 2 adults in danger of death. The reason of their apathy was the distraction in wiiicli lliey were involved by the immii>ralii)n of the whiles ; 15 laniilies of them had crossed the Clackamas liver durinjr his mission at that place, in Nov. 1H4I. And, as the Willamette Fall was au aitnteiive place, many of tlieui began to settle ttuTi'. ileiHx ihediiiigcr for the poor Indians. The fiMiiis of liie mission were not so consol- ing as formerly. I)ri Miiv 4.(h. tlm vu'ttr (rcmprul want r»..«n the Willamette Fall to Vancouver to receive 8 cases which had arrived from London ; and from thence returned to St. Paul for the feasts of Pentecost, and Corpus Christi, falling on May 26th. Dr. McLaughlin paying a visit to St. Paul at that time, assisted at high Mass and procession, with much edification; having visited the whole colony, he encouraged the set" tiers to continue and went home much satisfied. Arrival of Father De Smet, S.J. Rev. M. Demers returned to Vancouver in the middle of May, to attend to the wants of that mission and those of the Brigades of the North and South. He had been there but a few weeks, when Father De Smet arrived at Vancouver from Colville, which he reached in the early Spring. In crossing a rapid below Colville his boat was capsized, but he reached the shore in safety, sufiering only from the loss of his baggage. Re v. M . Demers brought him to St. Paul ; he spent 8 days with the vicar general, sung high Mass on Sunday, addressed words of exhortation to the congregation, and expressed himself much pleased with the sol- emnity of the Mass and vespers services, es- pecially with the singing. Of the Catholic Ladder he said: '"That plan will be adopted by the missions of the whole world." Here he returned to Vancouver with Father Demers ; the vicar general soon rejoined them to deliber- ate on the interests of the great mission of the Pacific Coast. The missions to be attended (his year (1842) were those of Chiucok Point, Vancouver, Cas- cades, Clackamas, Willamette Fall, and the Sound, whose tribes were so famished for heav- enly things: witness their running after the hhick-ffown in 1840 and 1841, and their re- peated calls for a priest ever since. The name of another mission was presented to the coun- cil, that of New Caledonia, now British Col- umbia, which was threatened to be visited by the Presbyterians of Walla Walla. All things being considered, the resolve was that the New Caledonia mission should l>e at- tended before alt, and that Father De Smet should start for St. Louis and Belgium to bring temporal and pin-soual efTicient means. Re\'". *• !■» .;.. . I . 1 .1 I ui. i^cutoiB av,i.<rpiiii^ iieniiiiy tne lOUg aud hard luissioa of New Caledonia, prepared him- Historical Sketches of tiik self for the journey and to winter there. The two missionaries started with the Brigades of the Porfeurs on June 29th, and separated from each otlier at VVaUa Walla. The vicar gen- eral left alone to administer to the wants of the extensive mission, returned soon to St. Paul, to teach catechism for the first communion, which he put off after the harvest for new instruction. The Cowlitz mission which had lost its be- loved missionary, needed to be consoled. The vicar general left 8t. Paul on Au^nist 12th, passed a few days at Vancouver and retiched Cowlitz on the 18th. He remaineil there 20 days, teaching the white women and children for the first communion. The Indians had al,><o a share of his time. He baptized ten of their children. In the mid.it of his occupation he heard that a woman was sick at Nisquaily, Mild had but a few days to live. Leaving at 4 p. m. on Friday with a guide, and traveling a distance of 25 leagues, he readied the house of the jioor sick woman on the following day at (5 p m. : gave her the coiisolatioii.s of religion, Imptized her child, passed the night there, and ive.it to the fort to hear the coufessioim of the men, and starling on Sunday at 4 p. m. he reached Cowlitz on Monday at 6 p. m. The I'hiirch raised on June 17lh 1H40, was not yet finished for want of lumber. On leaving Cowlitz, Sept. (Jth. and reaching St. Vi-A on the lOtii, after an ab.ience of ."{O days, he was accompanied by the great .Snoiio- mish chief Sehahipaheu, wjio had foiiglii (he Khtlams in 1810, and came out victorious, .«aid he, by virtue of his beads and Catholic Ladder. He had come to Cowlitz tivice la.st spring, and had accompanied Father Demers to Vancouver in May, expecting he would bring him to the Bay, and when he saw him goiu" elsewhere, ancl was obliged to return home a- lo'ie, he went away with a stricken heart. It wa.s the third time he iiad come to be itislruct- eil and iiaptized. He was much plea.«ed to see the churches and services on fjnndav in Van- couver and St. Paul. On arriving there, the vi'.'i'.r geneni! rec'iinwe >d ibc cntechi.^iii for the first communion. Tiu- ITtii of Scpiemlier wa.'^ a djiy of great r.;;"icii;g for the vic.ir yener.il in rcceiviuL' ami embracing his ilear new confreres, Rims. A. Langlois and J. B. Z. Bolduc. arriving from Canada. They had liecn overaycnron ilicir journey : for having left Boston oii Aug. KHh. doubled Cape Horn on Dec. 4th. ami iuikIumI at Valparaiso, Gambier Islands, Tiihiii and Honolulu, they crossed the Columbia river iuir (Ui Sept. 12lh. When the bi.shop of (Quebec was refused a piis.sage in the canoes of the Hudson Bay Ci uipatiy for ollu ■ priests for Oregon, lie sent them by sea. Sir (ieo. Simp- son avowed to the vicar general in 1«41. tlint Mr. Beaver, the ex-chaplain, was the cause of the refusal. The fidlowing Sundiiy, a hii;li Mass Wi;s celebrated with deacon and siib- deacon. fur the first time in Uregon, and fol- h>wed by tiie Te Dtim. On Sunday St'iil. ,SOlli. took place, with great solemnity, the first c(mi- munidii of those prepare<l. The faithful at Vancover were complaining of not being well attended ; time was Wiinlini; to the missionaries. Now that their iiiinib( r was increased, they would have a betu r si, me Therefire the viciir general leaving St I'mil in charge of Father Bolduc, started wiili Fr. Langlois and reached the mission on Oct. 7iii. The instruction of the ladies of the fort wiis given to Fr. Langlois ; the vicar general kept for himself that of the women and children of the village. After three weeks of daily leach- ing, seven ladies of the fort and two women of the \ illage were found able to make their first communion, which look place on Sunday Oct. 30lli,f(irthe first 'ime in Vancouver, with grcnt solemnity be*' being dour ■ Paul, iind \ those niissii i at Fori Van* • attended the mission at Vancouver, foUowed Father Bolduc, who completed his instruction and baptized him. large congregation. This I Langlois was sent to St. .<d<luc to Cowlitz, to attend e vicar general remaining ver. Chief Selialajxtlifn who (PCBLISHKU JL'L*^ iHtll 1878.) IJX H K Cascades and Clackamas tribes had not I been visited for ovpr nii<> vi>i>r Tl,,,.. 1,..,| lieen exposed all the while to the seduction of Catholic Chukch in Oregon. 51 I.e prenchers telling ihoni: "The priests have orsaken you." They did uot need l'^ months u> forget what they had learned in a fev weeks. iNeverthdcss, their visiting the hlack-gown roni time to time was a proof of their lovin" l"'n still. As to the Clackamas, it was \,». possible to pay them a visit. The Cascade I.i- «l!aus had a better chance, as their movio- yearly, m October, on the left shore of the Co" l;i!»bia, nearly opposite Vancouver, broii-rht them near to the priest. Therefore the vicar general divi.ling his time between the women <.f the village and those Indians, gave the for- mer the forenoon, and the latter the afternoon for several weeks. This met with many dif- hcnities, such as the crossing of the river, the .livision of the tribe into two camps, afar from each other and the ice of the upper Columbia covering the river. Nevertheless he had the consolation of m. .ing 15 baptisms. Another great consolation he met on Nov. ISlh. was iliat of receiving the profession of faith of governor McLaughlin to (he Catholic faith, as ivlal6d elsewhere. He made his first commii- inon at midnight high Mass, at the head of 38 c'.inmiiiucants. The office bad never been so M.lemu as to chant, music and decoration, as on < Iiat night. The nnmber of first communions nm<le in the Fall was : 13 at Vanco"vcr, 7 at St. Paul and 4 at Cowlitz. Thus ended 1842 Missionary Labors in 1843. After a residence of three months and a half the vicar general left Vancouver for St Paul' on Jan. 18th, 1843. When »„ his way he stopped to get a paddle, he also baptized a dy- Hig child. Father Langlois, availing himself of the presence of the vicar general, started on Jan. 30tli for Cowlitz, to see his traveiin-' com- F.amon. He was three weeks on his journey On retnni.ng he met a heavy rain, and the liigh flood of Feb. 13fh, which exposed iiim to irreat suffering and dangers. Chief P'actor Do.iglas, being on his way to tiMiDd VictoriH, on the south end of Vancouver r.lau.i. siMiied with an expedition of 22 men ind invitp.l Fnlher Bolduc to accompany him' I laving the conseiit_of ihe vicar general he left • >'.v.!!z :::: .M:;r;:!i "ili, nlih i he expedition for N Ls-iually, where iho steamer Benver was wait- ing. Leaving on the 13tli, she reached her destination on the 14lh. where Father BoMuc met a large number of Indians. On Sunday the 19th, he celebrated Mass in a repository, before ihe men and over 1200 Indians, and baptized 102 children. And giving up his de- sign of going farther north, he bought a lar^e canoe crossed the bay in two days, reached Whidby on the 2oih, and fixed his tent near the cross erected in 1840. The Skaml, and other tribes received him with open arms. I hey built him a honse 28 by 25 feet He faught them during 8 days, baptized 173 chil- dren, and leaving on April 3rd, he got home on the 6ih, after an absence of 31 days In sending his report he begged to be allowed to go and found that mission. The vicar general left St. Paul for Vancou- ver on Ma nh 13ih, and bought a lot for «225 al \\ illamette Fall to build a chapel for the Indians. One of the items sent to Canada was: from March 1842 to March 1843, were l^efJl^ *"• P*'"'"*' ^^ "'arriages, 26 burials. Ut 688 baptisms, 447 were made in New Cal- edonia, 98 at St. Paul, 86 at Vancouver, and o7 at Cowlitz. By a recapitulation from 1838 were made 2,C66 baptisms, 148 marriages, 86 bur^ls. 1 he vicar general left Vanconve" for A • "«"' ''"""g Passion week and returned on April 18th, the eve of Palm Sunday. Rev. Fr. Demers was not expected to have any chance to come back before the return of ^ the Brigade of the North. It was therefore with Ihe greatest surprise that on entering his room, on Holy Thursday evening, April 13th the vicar general met him there. Sweet and / moving was the embrace after a separation of, nearly nine m.mths and a half. Leaving Van-/ con ver June 29th, 1842, he reached Ft. Thomp] 8..U Aug. 10th, Fort Alexander, on the Fraseii River, Aug. 23rd. Fort Stuart, on Stuart Lake ' 300 leagues from Vancouver, the residence o| Chief Factor Ogden, the commander of tha Brigade, on Sept, 1 6th. He celebrated a hieW Mass there on the 18th. Returning home, h^ reached I-ort Alexander, September 24th, had' a chapel built by the Indians, celebrated Mass \ in It Deo. 4th, and took his Ind.rjna^ jq jt q^ \ Jan 3rd, 1843. He learned two languages, 1 translated the hymns and prayers in their 62 Historical Sketche* or thk idioms, and taught them to the Indinns : and left them able to pray, sing, and explain the Catholic Ladder. Hard was their separation. Availing himself of the invitation of Chief Factor Ogden, he started with him on horse back, in three or four feet of snow, on Feb. 21 St, from Fort Alexander; reached Fort Thompson March Ist, passed 13 days at O- kanagan, starving, and waiting for a boat; came hence on horseback along the Columbia to Snake River ; hence by boat to Walla Walla and Vancouver, 44 days from Fort Thompson. In going and coming he had encountered many trials, dangers and fatigues, sometimes ex- treme. The vicar general preached on Good Friday, and Father Denier^ ou Kaster Suudav, April 16th. "^ Father Boldnc, arriving from Cowlitz on April lyth, left for St. Paul with Fr. Demers, wl o preached there on Sunday, the "iard, and re urning to Vancouver, they both started for Cowlitz on April "iTth, to prepare tliemst'Kes for the mission of Whidby. On May lOih, they were on their way to Nisqnally with 2 men Hud 11 horses, 7 of them with packages; they reached Whidby on May 25tli, 1843. Father Langlois being put in charge of Cow- liiz, Vancouver, Cascades, Willamette Fall, and Clackamas Indians; left St. Paul May 1 7th, for his post. He succeeilL-d to UuiMli his church erected in Cowliti in 1840 ; and be^raii to celebrate Mas-s in it on Pentecost Sun(r«y, June 4th, 1843. He visited several time* ll.e Indians of the mountains, living ou the route to Nisqually. From Cowlitz he came to Van- couver in the ' j.'ini.ing of June to attend the Brigades of the North and South. He went to the Cascades in thebt'jrinningof July,aud gave a mission of 8 days to the Indians of that pTace. Pa.«sing hence to tlie Willamette Fall and the Clackamas tribes, he spent !»everal weeks a- mong them. The plat .surveyed in Dec. 1842, at the Fitil had been called Oregon (Jitv; it was jrrowinir rapidly, to no benefit to theClack.imas and Willamelle Full Indians. Hence ihe little witece.is "ilFiilhcr Ijii'i^iois, who cons>>! \ liim- s"it' by the hope of thi; conversion rt \VnUi-v Poniero-.-. ii (lioiiHr ,Mr,)( .hit. nli>) built tlu C.ltllCllr.ll of ( )f I,;.!!! f'ilv in I x I "> On reaching the (Jlatkamas Indian villa^'e, Father Langlois found that the cross eroded in 1841 had disappeared. It had beeti cut down by order of the Methodist preacher Waller, to the great sorrow of the Indians. Yes. the cross which shows the excess of the love of tl.«? Son of God for man — the cross by w liich Jesus Christ, our Blessed Redeemer, redeemed ti.e world — the cross made known from those of the two thieves by a mira —the cross shown to Constantine, in the sky, with the words: "7m hoc sigrto vivces" — the cross which couverted the whole world from paganism, and which is a terror to the devils — the cross, whose sign shall appear on the last day : that cross is a scandal to the Mi-thodist minister Waller ; he has it in horror, as the devils, he caimot bear the sight of it; he ordcn ,1 it to be cut down, and pretended to teach the poor Indians Chn'gt crvrified, without showing them a cross ! ! ! Great God ! What subversion of ideas and judgment in the sect! What destruction cf saving doctrine! What turning upside down of ♦•ommon good sense and true religion rathe/ nnfortunafely too well typified by the turning upside down of a table adorning the short bcU fry, (short faith) of the Methodist churches! The vicar general in going to St. Paul to fake the place of Father Langlois, taught cate- chi.sm from May 1st to July 2l8t, on which day 18 persons made their first communion. Kx- treniciy great was the surprise of the vicar genernl when at the end of June, he saw Fr. Demers arriving at St. P.iul from Whidby, which he had left with Father Hoiduc af^er one monih of residi-nce. That step had not been taken rashly, but on the most weighty reasons, which the vicar L'eneral approved, and which it would be too long to explain here. Never- theless Father Kolduc was onlered to go and puss the sinnmer with diief Tghihihim in order to learn the idiom. Bnt the rumors of war induced iiini to retuni from Nisqually. The plan of the Whidby mission being postponed till the arrival of Father De Suiet. in its stead was aopoimced the opening of a school at St. Paid in ilie fall. A setrond catechism class, begun by the vicar g-neral ai St. Paul after the hiirvest, was continued by Fr. Langlois, «ii.i Oil Octobei' 19th, reueived 19 persons t<j iliuir first communions. Catholic Chlkcii in Orkgom. 58 Tlie news fame in Oclober tliHt two other Jc?iiit Falhers, De Vos and Hockeus, sent from yi. Louis hy Fr. 13e Sinef. had arrived for tlio thiihend nnd Coeur d'Aleiie missioiiK; they hn<l come with h caravan of 700 touIs. Dr. MeLanjihlin, on a second visit to St. Puul, in October, approached the holy table on a Sun- day at tlie head of a number of the faithful. Ou his return to Oregon City, the vicar gen- eral accompanied iiim and chose a block' for the church. A few weeks after, Walter Pom- roy, whose wife was Irish, came to St. Paul, made his profession of faiih. had his marriage •ilessed, his children baptized, and returned happy to the Twalatiu Plains. The nth of October was a day of great re- joicing at St. Paul, on account of the solemn blessing of St. Joseph's colh-ge, after Mass chanted by the vicar general before a large congregation. On that day, there entered as boarders, 30 boys, sons of the farmers, save one Indian boy, the son of a chief. Father Langlois was the director ; Mr. King principal find teacher of English, and Mr. Bilodeau, as- si.stant, and teacher of French. Several rods east of the college was seen, in way of erection, .1 building 60 by 30 ft., for the Sisters expected to arrive with Father De Smef. Faithful to his pn)ini8e of sending assistants, nmdc in 1842, Sir George Simpson granted a passi.ge in the canoe of the Hudson Bay Compdny, to five men and two women, who arrived with the Brig.ide ou Nov. 28th. Father Deiners, after attending Cowlitz with Father Bolduc. left it to come and remain in Vancouver, which he Itift ill the begiuuing of December to reiMrn to Cfiwlitz. and the vicar gdueral, leaving Father Langlois in charge of St. Paul, reached Van- iouver Dec. gist, to give the f lithful of that place the festivals of midnight Mass, Christ- mas anil New Year. It was during this year il.iil Hon. Peter II. Burnett, (afterwards .^ov- <>nior of California) while attending Mass on Christmas eve, merely as a spectator, was so iii>v«,i l»v the »oleinuitynf tho service that he bocaini! a most zealous convert to the Catholic Church. Tims ende«l 1813. Erection of the Oregon Mission into a Vicariate Apostolic, December Ist, 1843. Whilst the missionaries of Oregon were do- ing their best to promote the spiritual interest of the mission confided to their care, the bish- ops of Quebec and Baltimore, looking further and to a greater solid good, and acting in con- cert, earnestly recommended the Holy See to erect their mission into a Vicariate Apostolic. 1 lie Holy See acquiescing to their desires erected said mission a Vicariate Apostolic by a brief of Dec. 1st, 1848, and appointed the vi- car general F. N. Blanchet its vicar apostolic with the title of Philadelphia. The vicargen- eral was far from expecting such a result so soon, the notice of which reached him only on ^GvoInber 4lh, 1844, to his great surprise and sorrow. 8SSTO8 xxsir. (published JULY 25th 1878.) Missionary Labors in 1844. •sa? N January 1844, at Vancouver, the vicar general baptized 10 adults and blessed 8 marriaget' after one month of instruction. As the town called Oregon City in 1844 contained 60 houses and tvo Catholic families, and had a good prospect of increasing, the vicar general ihought u was time to provide it with a mis- sionary And as the rif:ht man was Father Demers, who was at Cowlitz, the vicar general left V«u«.uver on Feb. 19ih, for that mission, whicli he had not visited for a year and a half On bis way he visited several Indian lodges baptized two children, one of whom was very sick, .listnbuted biscuits to those who had been baptized before, and thereby made them and their parents happy. The vicar general and *ather Demers left Cowlitz on the 26th, and arrived at Oregon City on the first of March after a painful journey of five days. Father Demers ou his arrival took possession of a house, rented from Dr. Newell at • 10 a month and the vicar ueueral retiirnpH to Vftn ^ on the followirg dajr. Father DemenThad ^rw rived at Oregon City, under strange circum- 54 Hi8Tcr>icAL Skktches or thk stances; Bro. WhIIcf having kit ill cr""t amoug his countrymen had left ior ^prt3 in- known. March JJrd, being Sumlay. !. ; held services before and after noon, and feloomtcl the first Mass ever said in the city; the chapel was found too small for the occasion. There was a fight at Oregon City on Mon- day, March 4th, between some Indians of the .Molalle river and some Americans, in which 1 Indian was killed and 2 Americans wounded. They were both sent to Vancouver for trcat- nu'iit, and both died ; G. W. Le Breton, on the 7th, and theolheron the 16th. Le Breton had become a Catholic at St. Paul, in 1842, but seeing he could not get the girl he expected, he withdrew gradually from the Churdi and apostatized. During his short sickness, I lie vicar general visited liiiu often, and used all his zeal to bring him back to repentance, but all in vain ; he die<l a Protestant, and was l)uried by chief Factor Douglas. The tight was an unfortunate and ilisgraceful affair, brought on by the indiserelioii of two wliite men. The vicar general left Vancouver fbrOrogon City and St. Paul on Marcli 28th. Having settled some business for St. Joseph's college, and the mission claim, which was snrveyeil by Jesse Ai)plegate, ami retnrjiing, reached Van- <!ouver on April 3rd. April .")'li bein^ Good Friday, chief Fai-tor IJ.iuglas assisted at tlie oflice and came down to the adoraiioirof ,lie cross with governor McL'uighlin. On retnr.i- ing to Cowlitz the vicar general baptize<l 7 In- dian children on the (!ulun>l)ia and 3 on the Cowlit/, rivers ; and gathering those formerly baptized, he gave them biscuits. He found Fa'her Bohlnc in good health. Some business havinj; been iilteiided to, he returned to Van- couviT on the 24tli. Leaving on the27ili for St. Paul he saui: higli Mass at Oregon City on Sunday the 28tli. reaching St. Paul ou the fol- lowing Tuesday with Father Deiners, who after visiting togetlicr the mission saw and grist mills and tlie Sisters house in course of erec- tion, returned home, while the vicar general re- mained till June 30tli. on business. Oil ,^(av 13ih he blessed and erecte 1 a hiich cross on the spot chjsen tor the new ehnrch to be biiilt in iw(r r>.> Qii.,.1.... I.I.,,, 'til, ii, .>„,.,.„.,...;,,., „(• - • -• " •• • .,,,...,.....,,,,,. liic Jilessed Sacrament took plm'c at St. P.iul. which was made very solemn by the college pupils singing and performing figures before he Blessed Sacrament, during the proccxsion. Father Demers went on June 10th to attend to the Brigades in Vancouver, which the viciir general reached on June 22ud after an absence of ."JS days. (^n July 12th, the vicar general left Vancou- ver for Cowli'z and arrived on Snndav. 1 lib. He said a low Mass. On his return he met in the Columbia river the Knglish frigate Ln Modenle. Caf)t. Baily. The captain being d... siroiis of visiting the Willamette valley left Vancouver with the vicar general, chief Factor Dongl.is and several officers of his stafffor St. Pani. They all attended high Mass cm Sun- day, July 2l8t, and seemed to be very much pleased to see such a service. They lodged at the college, where there had been, on J iily 1 8th. an examination of the pupils before a large ns- Fcmblage, with great '-redit to the teacher's and .scholars. Leaving on Monday on a tour to the upper valley, Vr. Deiners accompanied them. Father Lan<rlois left St. Paul to pay a visit to the Jesuit Fathers of the Rocky M. .inlains on July 28ih. He returned on Sept. 6th. much worn out by a journey of 42 days on horseback. His feet were much swidlen for a time. He returned with Father Mengarini on heiring of the arrival (»f Fr. I)e Sniet by ,sea. Fathers Josct. Zerbinaiti and Soderini, three new Jes- uits, were sent from St. Louis to the Ilocky Mountains this year. AiiurvAi, OK Father 1)k Smet by Sea. 'I'he long expected return of Rev. Fatlier I)e Smet came at hist. Leaving Antwerp. Bel- gium, on .lannary 9th, 1814, in a sailing ves- sel called L' Infill i(jiil>le, he met with <ireat dan- gers at Cape Horn, touched at Valpaniiso and Callao, spent four d.iys outside the Coltmd)ia b ir waitinj: for a pilot, pas.sed the bar on July Hist, runniiij: stiaight east throiiLdi the smith channel, sinuelliing never al tempted before, came to a pass of 21 fathoms "f water, .-irid ar- rived at .\storia in ilie evening. All who saw the course of the ship ijioiighi tliiit she would be AMeekcd, the caiJtaiii and | assct)!r,.|-s C-ar- • i.iivi i^-i. L.'iin-i iirineitat Van- coiiver in a canoe on Sunday the 4i!i, u\ (J a, m. Catholic Church in Oregon. 15 the ship arriving m 6. Father De Sinet was iici;oinpauio<l by fdiir new Fathers ; Rev. Fath- ers Ravalli, Accolti, Nohili and Vercniiase ; some hiy hmthers and six Sisters of Notre Dame ofNamiir. The news of his arrival reaching the vicar general at St, Paul on the lOlli. he was at Van- ooriver the next day, aud ihe religious carax an reached St. Hani on Ihe 17th, and t mk up their quarters in the college. On ?und ly the 18lh, the vicar general sang high Mass hcfore an af- fluence of people anxious to see the Sisters and the new Fathers. {)o the followin,' Thursday was sung a Mass of thanksgiving. Father l)e Sinet took a land claim on LHke Ign.ttius, and had in a few months a house hnilt on the high land near the lake,for there8iden«'eof his Patli- ers. Father De Sniet started on 0<-t. Cih for the llocky Mountains ; from whence Father De Vos arrived at St. Paul on the I.Slli, on Imrse- biick, bringing with hiin two lay bDthers. The Sisters entered into their convent on Oct. 1 9th, and had a Mass celebrated in the inferior chap- el the next day; Fathers De Vos and Accolti filtered their new house called St. Ignatius. On November 4th two Briefs arrived, dated llmic, Dec. 1st, 1843 ; one erecting the mis- sion of Oregon into a Vicariate Apostolic, and '•le other appointing the vicar general. F. N. Hlanchel, to the position, with the title of /»A»7- 'idelpliia, which, on representation to Rome from Quebec, was changed into that of Drata, on May 7tli 1844. The addres.ses of his let- ters from Canada betraying his case, felicita- tions were tendered to the vicar general, but he refused them for sevenil days. U is consul- tation being answereil. it was u^ieless to refuse, so he gave his consent on the 8th. aud made a resoh'.tion to go to Canada to receive his epis- copal consecration from the archbishop of Quebec, and hence to go and visit Rome. Father Demers was appointed vicar genera! and adniiiiistraiur of die vicariate apostolic du- ring the absence of the bishop elect, by letters '>f Nov. 2'>tli. A inHiifl.'tfe was issued, and ou Dec. 5th I8H. the bishop elect crossed the bar on board the bark Columhiu, Capt. Dincan, en route for Canada, via England. Th; Belgian imrk L'In/atigatiie. was detained by contrary winds until the fullowin; day. (PtBMSHEt> AIGC8T IST 1878.) Fight at Oregon City, March 4th 1844. Extract fb' the Missionary Rkport ok thb Vicar Gem .ial in 1844, on thb Occasion. '^»'|?|7K arrived from Cowlitz to the Willa- ** 'n«'«*e f«H on March 2nd, after a pain- ful journey of 5 days. After having installed the pasior of Oregon City into his house I re- t'lrned to Vancouver. I soon learned what a crowd assisted at Ihe Ma.«8 and Vespers of the first Stinday, March 3rd. The evil one did not allow the missionary to enjoy long this fine oufhet, for the following day human blood be- gun to stream in a fight in which an Indian in- .stantly succumbed and two Americans were woimded. Alas ! what a misfortune ! What shall be the consequences ? And for wiiat that broil ? For false reports. One Klickatat In- dian had been killed, he, his tvi ^ wives and a baptized child, on the upper Clackamas river. Some one falsely accused the chief of the Mo- liillc river Indians of the crime. A most cer- tain repf»rl, even among the Indians, was that the massacre had been committed by 2 slaves whom their master had maltreated too much, and who had been seen relurnirig to their land with the booty of their master. Dr. White who gave credit to the first report, had promised a reward of $100 for the apprehension of said chief, living or dead. The chief of the MolaJIe did not ignore what had happened. Conscious of his innocence, but well armed, he had come to the town accompanied by four men. He crossed over to the Indian side. During that time there came the question to apprehend him. Dr, McLaughlin's store clerk remarked: 'That Indian is a good man. you should not molest him : if yon do, you will repent !' No matter the Dr.'s secretary (Le Breton) and a mulatto persisted and. on liis return, asked him to sur- render. He refuses; ihey insist; he defends him- self; Ihe rnvsUtto is ordered to shoot, the shot sta' the Indian is wounded; he rushes on hi* asfgiessors, w iio rnn away. He was nearlv overtaking the secretary, who, turning, seized the miiizle of the pistol with his right br.ud 5e Historical Sketcuks of the the shot starts, enters and passes throu^^h liis arm ; the liidiiin staggers hikI falls, and the mu- latto finishes him with the butt end of his gun. The four other 1 iidians begin to shoot with guns and arrows; Ainerienns come at the noise and return fire, but without catching them, and having two men wounded. The first, Le Bre- ton, died in three days. There were found two balls in his elbow and the wad further. The second died 12 days after frotn the shot of an arrow in the left arm. The Hhaft had been immediately drawn away, but the iron remain- ed, which could not be extracted butafter death. Both died in dreadful sufif'eriugs. It is prob- able that they were poisoned. The last was but a spectator; the greater pari of the Amer- icans did not know what was the matter. Letter of Rev. M. Demers to the Vicar General. Oregon City, Mnrtli 6th, 1844. Very Rev. Sir : — I did not suffi-r myself to be intimidated by the affray of the other day. I heard the mr.sket shots closely succeeding, but I made light of them, till I saw men run- ning backward and forward in the ^Ireots, load- ing their pistols and carbines. 1 asked what it was? "An Indian fight," was the answer. Le Breton has r< ^ived two arrows, one in the arm and the othci in the thi^'h, I think. There was such a confusion tiiat 2.5 Indians, as brave and determined as they were, could have killed all the Peltiers. The Indians on the other side say that the deceased had come to have a talk with the whites, in order to disculpate himself from the charge ina<le against him. The mu- latto, Winslow, on seeing him, said : "that is the man who would kill him," and for whose capture Dr. White had promised a reward of $100, which Le Breton had gained. I saw the poor Indian; he was still breathing. But, O barbarity ! the mulatto who said it was he who pierced his hat with a bullet, did pierce him after he >vhs dead : and, in the morning, hi- hoad \vh:- foiitid split and entirely separated above the forehe.id, and the brains still clung to the ax«> which had been the instrument of such aavag'i tT'ielly. Hoirendum est/ In aaolher letter of Marcii 7ih, to the same, Fr. Demers adds: "The settlers seem to acknowledge they have h«'en loo quick in this iinf-irtniuite afl'air. but the unlucky deed is over ; it is a real mur- der, based upon the extremely rash and incon- siderate conduct, and the unjustifiable action of poor Le Breton who will pay dearly f«»r his apostasy and crime." — o — The merit and glory of an historian is to be a true and faithful narralor of facts. If he iails in this, his veracity will be doubted in the most impcrtniit points. This being so, what shall be thought of the History of Oregon by V/. H. Gray, when all will learn how shanieftdly ho has distiirted and falsified the facts concerning the fight of March 4lh. For it is false that the Indians of the vicinity of Oregon City made an attack on the town. It was by no means an attack ; not one of the Clackamas, nor of the Willamette fall, but five of the Molalles oniv took part in the fight It is false that the In- dians commenced the fight. It is false that thr chief was placed under guard and was killed when attempting to escape. It is false that the Indians made an attempt to destroy the peo} le and town at Willamette fall. It is false that there was any need to stir up the whole coun- try, to organize t"or defense, as all the Indian tribes were never so peaceable as they were then, liavii'.g oo reason lt» molest any one, as their fisheries, hunting places and camas prai- ries had not yet been taken away from them. It is false that the Company had any thing to fear from tlie Indians; if the fort was repaired, bastions built, and all other protective and de- fensive measures were completed, it was to de- fend itself against another kind of savageness. (PL'BLISHRU AUGUST 8tII 1 878. ) Missionary Labors in 1845 anc 1846. 'jm HEN the bishop elect left for Canada in Xl I )ccrmbcr 1 844. the mi.^si.mary stat ions were attended -a follows: Cowlitz by Rev. A. Langlois. Fort Vancouver by Father Nobili, Oregon City by Fr Accolti. St. Paul by vicar general Uemers, St. Joseph's college by Fath- er Bolduc, and the Sisters by Father De Vos. Catholic CHUitcii ix Okkgon. «7 Aicor<lin;r «, tlie best onlf-ulinioii, ilie Imlimi poj)ulHti<.ii 111 iliHt time numbered 110,000, of which <; .000 were Cliristians ; Hboiit half of iliem beiii;: at the Rocky MoiinfaiiiH utid the reinaiinler in the lower [)«« of Orej-on. The white Catholi*! popnlation was about 1,000, of vvliieh 600 were in the Willaiuelte valley. 100 iit Vancouver, 100 at Cowlitz, anil the rest in I lie various trailing posts. The Jesuit Fathers hacl four missions at tho Kncky Mountains in IMo, viz : St. Mary. St. Josofh, St. Peter and St. Michael; the Coeur d'Aleine was one of them. By a letter from administrator Dem"rs, dat- ed Oct. «lh, 1845, and other notes, the bishop elect learned the following : Father Nobili had left in J(me with tho Brigade of the North for New Caledonia, Father De Smet visited lower Oregon at the end of .lime, FaMier l)e Vos had the care of Oregon City and Fort Vancouver, and Father Accolti was chaplain of the Sisters at St. Paul. The priest house was finished at Oregon City, and the church much advanced. Tlic church built by Father Vercruis.se at La Oraiide Prairie wa.s soon to be blessed and o- licned for divine service. Father Ravalli had li-ti fur the Rocky Mountains. Sixty thousand luicks had been burnt for the new church at St. Paul. St. Joseph's college, containing 28 boarders, being too small, had been enlarged with a second story by its principal, Father Holdiic. The good religious of Noire Dame de Nainiir were overburdened with occupations in the care and teaching of 42 little girls, and a chapel, mea.Miriiig 80 by 30 feet, was in course of construction for them. The church at ( )rejron City was blessed and opened for divine serx ice on Septuagesima Sun- day, Feb. 8lli, 1H4(!, in presence" of a large concourse of Proieslants. From that date the church i.« full on Sundays, a number of people attending service through being desirous of seeing the impre.ssive ceremonies of our church and hear the explanatiun of its dogmas. 'J'he coruer-'loite of Si. PhiiI's brick ciiurch was blessed hy vicar general Demers on May 24th, 1 8 16, and the church was dedicated and opened for divine service (HI Nov. 1st of themimo v.j;.>>, ll was the Hrst brick building ever erected in the country, measuring lUO feet by 45, with wiiigii or chapels of 20 "cet ; v» belfrv showmg the sign of onr redemption 84 feet' from the ground. At Vancouver in 1845, chief factor I^ouglas having desired the erection of a Cath- olic church, one was ] ut up and shingled. Governor McLaughlin nas preparing to leave the Hudson Bay Co , am! retire to Oregon City. "I was forgetting to say a word or two abcnit the political state of the country,' says vicar general Demers; 'a provisory government had been established, Mr. George Aberncthy is governor, the Hudson Bay Co. joins in with the provisory government; Vancouver, Cowliis and Nisqunlly form a district of which chief factor Douglas :s the judge in chief. This vin- dicates and proves to be false the charges for- merly made that said company was opposed to a provisory government, if the Hudson Bay Co. o|. posed the establishment of a provisory government in 1841, no one could wonder or blame it, as commodore Wilkes himself was opposed to it, on the ground that it was pre- mature. On the occasion of the foregoing, we wish to correct a great mistake made in a lecture by an eminent judge, saying of Very Rev. F. N. Blan- chet and Rev. M. Demers; "they were subjects of Great Britain, and their influence and teach- ing among the people was na* irally in favor of the authority and interest of the Hudson Bay Co. They disconniged llio early attempts at the formation of a settlers' government in the country." All this is entirely inaccurate; their being British subjects had nothing to do with their teaching, uor would naturally lead them "to teach their people in favor of the authority and interest of a fur company." A higher sense of feeling than this was their rule ; they had a conscience and a faith. Nor did they ever discourage the early attempts of a settlers' government, either within or outside of their churches. When, during the meeting in June 1841, vicar general Blancl.et gave his opinion that it was too soon, that, as commodore Wilke.s was expected here, the committee should wait for his opinion. That step was by no means an act of opposition, but on the contrary an act v.. f/. ..■i„u..v., .. •••i.ia tiiL v^uiiiuiuuuic upprovea ot at St. Paul on June llh, on the ground that the country was loo young. And also on a later li.'^^rfp 58 Historical SKrrcREa of thk occasion, when he bejiped that his nflme he erased from those of the romniiltce, that was clone iu no sense of opposition but for want of time. In a word, let all coniprt-hcnd that the two Catholic missionaries understood too well the delicacy of their position in this new and unsettled country, to commit such imprudent blunders. The ('atholic Church was projrressinjr at Or- efion City under the teachinjj of Fatlier De Vos, whose sermons were toucliin*;. On July 15 1st he received the profession of faith of Dr. Long and wife, and Miss Cason. In 1846 the fol- lowing became converts, viz : Hon.P H. Burn- ett, June 7th ; Miss Walter Roarers, Aug. 3rfl ; Maria E. McLaughlin, (Mrs. widow Hae,)Oct. 4tli ; and in 1847, Fendell Car Cason, Feb. 28; and W. Wood, aged 77 years, March 7th. ISt. Paul had also its converts in the persons of Mr. Johnson, and a learned <loctor and his wife, who were very edifyiiijr- No one dared to ask the doctor why he had returned to his ancestors' religion. Three or four tliousuiid immigrants are expected this year. The good Dr. Long had the misfortune to get (howned while crossing the Clnckanins river on hor.-^c- back, ten or eleven months after his convers- ion. His remains were buried in the enclosure of the church of Oregon City, by Fr. De Vos, ill the beginning of June or July 1846. CONDITION OF THE MISSION AT THE KND Of 1811. A deputation of Indians came down from New Caledonia to Vancouver in 184-1, to call for .1 missionary. The number of priests not })ermitling their petition to be granti'd, they returned home sorrowful. Father l)e Siiiet having bnniglit some priests, Father Nobili started in 1845 for New Caledonia. In IH4I> another Father went to assist him; returning, they canu' back in the spring of 1847. .Mostly all the Indian tribes of New Caledonia had been instructed and baptized. At the end of 1844. after six yci^rs of efforts, disproporlioned with llio needs of the eonnlry, the vast mission of Oregon, on the eve of its being erected into a vii'iiriate apostoljf. hti.l uained neariyall liiu Indian irihvsnf tliu.Soiiiid. of New Caledonia, and several i>« the lln-kv 6,000 pagans into the faith. Nine missions had been founded : five in lower Oregon, and four at the Rocky Mountains. Eleven cliurchcs and chapels had been erected : five in lowt r Oregon, two in New Caledonia, and four at tin- Kocky Mountains. One thousand Canadians, women and children, had lieen saved from the imminent jeril of losing their faith. The schemes of the Protestant ministers had been fought and nearly annihilated, especially at Nisqnally. Vniu-otiver, Cascades, Clackamas, and Willamette fails, so that a visitor came in 1844 ai.d disbanded the whole Methodist mis- sion, and Bohl its property. The Catholic mis- sion I ost'cssed two educational estabiishmenls. one for hoys and the other for girls ; the num- ber of its mii-sionaries had been raised from ei^dit, (four secular and four regular priests), to filteen. without speaking of the treasure lie mission had in the persons of I he good religions of Notre liaine de Namur. Hnch were the ri'- riilis obtaiiic<l in spite of the want ot mission- aries, which greatly impaired all their etlorts. Mouutains and lower Oregon. It had brought (I'LBMSIIKO ACOUST 1.5th 1878.) Ti!K IJiSHOp Elect's Jolkney to Canada, Rome, and Retukn to Oregon. fHE bark ( ohinibia sailed from Astoria to I ionohilu in 20 days. 8he stayed there 1 2 days « liich the bishop elect spent with (he Pic- piis Fathers, who had a splendid stone church n.i'Huiritig 150 itet. a large congregation and a bPHiitifiil Sunday service. The bark lenv' j Honolulu on Jan. 12th 1845, doubled Cape Morn March ."illi, and reached Deal, England. iMay 22iid. being Hve months and eighteen duys from Astoria. The bishop elect passed to Do- ver anil fri'iii thence to I>ondon, wheio he re- mained ten ilavs, the guest of Mr. I'abhc Maillv, |iasH)r of the Freiicli ciiapel in Lonil.ti;. Em- liarkinx at Liverpocl on Jnuf 4th. he ivadied lUiston on Die lO'li. and Montreal, Canada, on the 24 h. A few ('ays after he arrived at Que- bee, whose venerable church at that time was draped in inouruiug on the occiision of the Catholic Chukcii in Okkoox. A9 lMiruin;rofii« suburb, Si. R.)cli,H mouth before, auil that of Hi. John n few (Ihvs previ.naly. lieiii;; unuble to receive his'opiso.pHi couse- •THlioii ill Quebec, tlio bishop fleet <luterniine«l lo receive it ill Monlreal, w ilh bishop elect rriiice, coniljiitor of MontrenI, the cereninuv Imviuj; lo take place ou Jul. 2.*mIi. The cou- (•ecnititr was the lit. Rev. Bishop of Montreal. Tliore were present on the o. insion five bish- ops liesi.les the two elects, 150 priests, aO other clerics, and hu iiuinense crowd of the faithful. Canada had never witiies'sed a festiv.sl of siirli !*pleudor Iwfore. It was in CanndH that the bishop of Philadelphia, in pnrtibua, learned that Uh title had been clian;red into that of Dra- sa. on May Tth, 1S44. After passing a nioiiih and a half in Canada, the bii^hop of Drasa left for Boston. Jidy I2tli, readied Liverpool, pass- edsoniedays in Lon<Ioii. wen' lliro' l?ri;rhton, Dieppe, Rouen, and reached Paris oir.Sept! sth, lakin-r bis lodging at the Brothers of St. Jean de Dieii. The bishop of Drasa had a great task to per- form before returning to his vicariate ; which ^vlls to obtain from Rome some assistant bish- ops. to look for new missionaries and new sis- liT-', and odiect funds to enable him to buy the requisites for his vicariate, and pay the freight upon them and also the passage of the iui.«sion- iiries. A II this required much time and iravel- iii;:, and going backward and forward. Ileuce it look twelve nionlhs, from Oct. l.S4"i lo Oet. I ^4C, lo look for help and funds, ft.llowid by w.iitiug nearly five months for « ship in which to return home. liis Ist trip and visit was lo B>dginin in order to secure new Sisters of Noire DiimedeNamiir. Oil his way he passed ihroiigli Cambrai, Dou- a>', Lille, Gaud, M alines and Brussels. All who heard of his mission l>ecame deeply inler- e<ted in it. His se(!ond visit was to Rome. Leaving Paris on Dec. Hth, he spent the fes^ livals of Christ mas at Marseilles, and reached t!ij holy city on Jan. 5ih, 184lj, He soon ob- litiueii au uiidieMce and was received several times by his holiness Pope Gregory XVL The > )nr monihs he prissed in the eternal city were well employed. He presented to the sacr..d cmgrogaliou of the Propaganda a memorial on the cuii.litioii and wants of bis vicariate. He \isi»ed the four great basilicas and other great churches and mouiinjents. He tlesccndeff into the Catacombs several times, and obtained ihe relics of Sfs. Jovian, Severin. Flavia and Vic- toria. Leaving Rome ou the 8lh of May for Paris, he visited on his way Leghorn, Genoa, Mari^illes, Lyons and Chalons. . He staved some days at Avignon and a week at Lyons, the guest o» the grand seminarv. He had been allowed to address its 800 seuiiuarists, three of them soon presented themselves for the mis- sion of Oregon ; they were U, Delojme, J. F. Jayol and V. Veyret. He assisted on that oc- casion, May 24th, to the episcopal consecration of Mgr. Pavy, bishop of Algiers. Having already visited the priocipHl towns of Belgium with much success in 1845, ihe bishop of Drasa directed his steps ibis year to- wards Prussia. Bavaria and Austria. Leav- nig Paris on June 17th, he went first to Liege and assisted, on the iJlsf, at the grand proces- sion of Corpus Christi.at which were present 1 7 bisliops, a large nninber of priests and an immense religions crowd. It was the jubilee of the VI ceiiliirv of the festival which took its birth in the church of St. Martin. He then v^^iled Vcrviers. A ix-la-Chapelle, Cologne, and uexl. desc( tiding the Rhine, Bonn, Coblentz, Mayence, Frnntfort and AchaflTenbourg; after which passing through Wiirzbiirg ami Dona- vert, he reached M unicli where he spent 8 days, the gnest of ibe barefooted Fathers of St. Au- gustine. Descending the Danube, he next vis- ited Passau, Lintz and Vienna, where he re- mained three weeks, the guest of the Redemp- lorist Fathers. On reluming he visited Augs- burg and Mrasbiirg, where he remained a week, Ibe guest of its illustrious bishop. On August 2l8t, he was again in Paris, the guest of the seminary of foreign missions. It WHS on his return to Paris that he learned his vicariate had been erected, by briefs dated July 24ih, 1846, into au ecclesiastical prov- ince, with the three sees of Oresou City. Wal- la Walla and Vancouver Island. The vicar apostolic was called to the metropolis of Or- eg<.n City, Rev. A. M. A. Blunchet, canrm of tlia M/\nt«.«tol /.ut liA«]..nl «.> «U..« ^1*11*- ti ...- . - . ^ w... ...,,., mm ot l« nilM *♦ lij- la, and vicar general Demers to that of Van- couver Island. -wm'Aiweu "^ 60 HiaroRiuAi. Skctchu or tiik Til r'le course of his long; nmiids. lliu biMiop of I "-aca met ov«'rywhere with the warm sym- pati; .if lumcios, Hrchbishopd, bishops, pnators of cliiirclit>H, and the hi^hewt authority of each Plate, lie was receiviMl in audience by their majesties tlie kinji; and queeu of Belgium ; by hi-^ majesty he kiiij; of Mavaria ; by their iui- jtf. ' iiiH)t.4ties thp enii)eror and empress iito*!i "- ttni) his hi<!lines8 the archdulte Ixxiii* ol .'\ mna; and three times by his maji-iy I.o II s i'hi'i|'i e, kin*; of France. l"li« ■=ynipaihie8 of king Loiiig Philippe for the area! lu <»i<'ri of Oregon prompted hiii o graiM a fiff jDittsAge ? • the archbishop and fiis iiii.siouar .' mpanionfl nn il.e vesseUof 'tie royal na%'y; hnt this favor becoraiiijr imposHi.tle by utiexpecti i cii nntt*tHnc*'!i, he ordered thirir ex' ellencies, ^i^ luiEoi. minister of the i"le- rior, and Mr. .Vlnkaii. minister of the inHriiie. to pay each 7,200 fiHtics, a« an imlemni.v tur tlie expense the dt' might put him .o. fUis added to the 3,000 irancs the kii;: '> nl aln-aiiy given him, on his return from ihc hast. m«il<' the flue round sum of 17,80 t fn>iicw received from the government. God bh- t^u Belle France for such a gift ! The passage on th*' ^oxernmen vt-.-^sr! fail- ing, the C>ceanie MariiiiMC S«»cieiy came tor- ward, oifering a passage iu Octn'i. r : but that also failing, three Belgian vessids , red them- selves, but wei« found too small to ac^oiniuit- dale 22 passengers. The Oceanic .MHriiimi? Society then hough a vessel which wh* ex- pected to start at the v vl of l)t-cember. On learning that, the archbisthop »vciit to Namiir. returning with the Sisterit to Paris on Dec. 22nd ; but thnl \vii»* a month ttio soon, as ttte vessel was not ready at that time. The mis- sionaries had al?io the trouble of coming sev- eral hmes to Paris for departure, nnd were oblige*' ' » return elsewhere to save town ex- |>ense8. At last, ilie ves«^l h -ving Havre for Brest on Jan. '.Mb 1847, tht^ iirclibiHhop aud missionaries left Paris on ,1 niwry 20th, and re.;. ;u=i{ Brest r,n ihe iSnX . ' the vett.tel had uoi yet completed her cargf It is ! ut just to meution here that the I<c< line t^ociety o Vi<"".tlie directors of tin ; *d iu I) l^juni .•iirI ■ (ce, and the Royal M^-ssaj rie.s iruvcn (Ji.-'iir!_ s.-lieil luurkofthcii m tihies i;i lavur of Ihe Oregon mis»iioni Ihe first in icinlering 4, iK> 6orinB : the second hy nuitini; ili arch- bishop and sisters, with thi > liaggag. . « free paM on ihe railroad from N .mur t<. P»rf- and 'he Um mi allowing perci m and Iw-rg -a* I' pass tit half fare from Piins to Hreni Tlie hark was blesse*] and called / Elo 'a Malm" (The Morning Star) by h. iirth- tii.Hhop. on Feb. Viid, :n presence of a ieli'_'ioi»st «*rowd. The wind being favorabe, all .< -til uti iNtardr.v, rhc 10lh;bnt il. ■ f(ill<>wingda\ ^ -ing a dead calm all retum^Hl on pi ore, A isl, after a month's ,U-\ay at Rres "I/Kroih- dii Ma;ln," capt. Me? (-s. put lo sea ou Feb. 22! I, 1HI7. The rtdi; 'US colony sh carried ..t <t>' i|,o til of 22 p«r«>ii», i'lrhidii ' the an 'i- hiKhi.p. , iz : 78ittters of Notre Dans de Namur the 3 Jesuit Fathers tioete. Ghz».= ,-: and Me; j'sirey, and 3 lay bn-fhen: 5 **•<;»> Le Has, McCormick, I>filer« an. Veyrct; 2 deacons, B. I 'orme Hff' and a clerii , T. Mesp Th< inj»,= the iii.^tcr.^ was Vvry go. ! a lot?!; •» Ion table - is OMtvmon to all. An ,ilt; bti Hxeiliitlhen -partof 'leshij. wh holy raasses were dnly <•• ''hr^-ed on tlf of liie four lioly m«rtyrs. Snndav an. ing services, on deck we ery soi - impressivf. Pr.tyer. -eadiug an' «' thed:iily 'cctiptiiii !tst ; themissiii beauties the vast sea and of ! vault, esj iallv i the soiiiheni 1 r. 11 h! wer JijectK ot i .fweriii reatiiii' ■>m.!i* Jiho- trlh tl inn It d. treth the work of i<i'i-lui reilu iiriresof iliesea ; >»e Lunl higfi iiiios yes ; who .«aid to Peter, ( n <) upon II. rock 1 wili ! Id My Chnrcl. ;i„. gates ot II shall not |ii vail against ii the same Gv Ihe S»v "*■' (jod. "who niucJe all things, and vithoiit v\ oin was made nothing that was Ami . alas I there have been found n ' vni.s rfthe earth, men so p«r- i»elieving llie power of (Jod in I'll iiild earth. nroiiJiv ■•t..) :.,o..i' iim the same efficient power hi infallible Church (or the salvation f- iHiiieu ilation .i: -Tl ■d ; aiiu hi< H iidcrtul Ves. a tbcu^ai' moil : "Tli.' i Hianv. |i'i:iiiies, > r^ !l^ prii retot V Ja: ini*»(i= iiii I lies en- re The igled starry rofonnd lands of lory of tti Catholic Church in Okkoon. 61 ol ^riuU (^MMifeil to His own imnse nnv iikeiien*. •iiii who fiK>liKhly hegan n pre -udeti refimn- Mtioii. Gri'Hl (i<Hl I \vl t tioii8ih»e ! wimt fol- ly ; w hal horrible bln«( einy ! TIk Muiiii.'of the hark wHs^erifnilly sinootli vi(h the exception of t* henv\ otorinn : tl»« tirsr which rnine on u giKtiien iom the Went, >>n tne pnrni t>| of Rio Janeiro, ami la^toii 24 hours, carri' ' the biirk <«oin»" linndred miles out .>f heroour-v. I' wiu. ire- oiupeitt ; the Hec-- 'nl Ir 'ifi Mi^hf ilay^ ihiri; , which the wiml "as \ '!■■ h an«l contrary, an<{ the sea heavy, \^ ;en ' uninjr from enuth torn rlh > iithe Pacific. ii. bot.i .asions the captain « peareti very T' <1 of ' nmise appoai 1 laM on "' nd t t»ark arrive«l ; ' iiiile& from ;Mii tit. 8he niiiiiiiiefl oiittddc I- wan I p lo< nml wmd. At last, liiji iHfeii 5 n> (is and 2^1 days from Brcpl, (I nndcr the piloiaj^e of Rcevesn, ithe ero8«»Ml no bar Mtfcly and entered the Columbia river late in the at^ernoon of Aug. l: li, 1847. and < list anchor in Gray's Bay. Tli i ii wuh thai ilie nuxsionaries, in their excp«<> ;n^-reat joy, 'linnted a Te Deum. which toe?* of Ca|>e Disappointiiuint and the i»<-! >,' hillii re- l>eated with einnlatiou. (>!) ofAn<f. our bark got aground at the m be Wil- lamette, and OD the lUth, the ml- id uiis- sionaries left her for St. Paul !i they reached on Saturday the 2<)ih, . nijiht. The archbishop left heron the 25ih, celebrated -Mass in the cathedral at Orejrou Citv on ttie 'i6th,reache<lC'hnn)poe<;thefollowin*rday,and from thence, accompanied by a lar^e conconrxe of Cutholi«>8 and Protectants, he entered the church a ^;. Paul vested with his episcopal ri>l)e8. niozetta, miter and crosier. After the Tt: Deum and benedit^tion of (he Kles.sed Sac- rament, and appropriate words from ihean-h- bishop, all retired hiippy. The bishop elect had been two years and se«en months absent (Pt'BLISHKU AlOt'ST 2iND 1878.) RkJOICING.' m THE ARCHDK)^ KSR. Arrival of the Bmi =• oi Wai.la Wali.a. CoMSECRATioK i-i \nnov Oemkhs. Condition or Tii« DiocESsa. FROM li.e at al <>f the arf-hbishop to the sad event w ich put the C «tholic missions of Oregon upon the brink of (heir ruin, there were but festivities and rejoicings in tl ■ arch- diocese, especially at St. Paul, i'ho ejienco of the archbishop in the chmch, on his shrone. with epis4-opal insi^jnias, surrounded by a nu- merous cleryfv. the heaiity of the chant', music and s<demiiily of the seri ite, were drawing (he faiihfnl who <<>uld not weary of contemplating the beauties of God's house. On Sundays. Aug. 29th, and Sept. ftth, the archbishop moiuited the pulpit and gave some tieiails of his journey. On the 3rd Sunday he administered li.e sacrament of Confirmation to a large nunihcr f:f persons. On the 4th Sun- day he made an urdinatijm, raising deacon Ja- vol to the priestlmod. On the 6th Sunday he gave Confirn Htion at Vancouver. On the 6th, 7th aiul ,Sih Sundays, he was at St. Francis Xavi» r's mission of Cowlitz where he remained two weeks and which, then, coutnined 2.5 fam- ilies, or IHG souls, of whom 130 were adiihs and aO children, ami 74 eommunicinnts. He confirmed there 50 persons, celebrated high Mass on the 2nd and 3rd Sundays. The of- fices in tho morning and afternoon were made solemn hy the plain chant and the singing of French impressive hymns by the two choirs of men and women. He witnessed once more the successful efforts of the iwo first mission- "^r^y aries in teaching, in the French first verse of a large number of which were sung on Sundays by the whites as well as by T their canoes. He was at ^ Sunday : made an ordination that of deacon B. Delormc ' f\. .1... <vii — : — J... »n . \jtt (lie ii'iii/f* itj^ ua V , ^11 . tifica! high Mass was celebr nity, n j to chant, music and icii the 62 Historical Skbtcbes of thk witnessed before. In fine, tlie 80th of Novem- ber 1847, feasl of the Hpostle St. Andrew, fall- ing on a Tue>«(lay, put the crown to all the pre- vious fe8tivitie< and rejoicings of the faithful, by the episcopal consecration, which the bish- op-elect of Vancouver Island received in the cliurch of St. Paul on that day, at the hands of the archbishop, in presence of a numerous clergy and a very large number of the faithful. While the archbishop was on sea, sailing fur his archdiocese, the bishop of Walla Walla, who wus consecrated on September '27th 1846, left Montreal for St. Louis March iord 1847. Commencing from therea journey of 5 months, iu wagon on the plains, he reached Fort Walla Walla on Sept. dlh, seven days after the arri- val of the archbishop at St. Paul. He was ac- companied by nine persons, viz : four Fathers, O. M. I., of Marseilles, and two lay brothers : and two secular priests, liev. Fathers Bruuillet, vicar general of Walla Walla and Rousseau, and Wm. Leclaire, a deacon. He was heart- ily received by the commandant of the fort, Mr. McBean and family, who were Catholics, and treated, with his clergy, with great attention aud respect. By the arrivals from France and Canada, the ecclesiastical Province of Oregon City possessed in the fall of 1847, 3 bishops, 14 Je- suit Faihers, 4 Oblate Fathers «>f M. I., 13 secular priests, including a dtracon ordained in 1849, and a cleric, T. Mespli^, oniained in May 1850 ; 13 sisters and 'Z houses of education. The archbishop started with ten priests, in- cluding T. Mespli^, two Jesuit Fathers at St. Ignatius' residence, 13 sisters and two educa- tional houses. The bishop of Walla Walla wnsstartiii<; with 3 secular priests, including a deacon, 4 Oliliite Father^of M. I.. and 12 Jesuit Fathers at the Rocky Mountains. The bishop of Vancouver Island had not even one priest to accompany him to Victoria. ^ ticli was the aitualion on the eve of a most eniiueut danger. The whole mission of Oregon, comprising the three sees, was divided iu 8 districts. To the see of Vancouver Island were attached the districts of New Caledonia and Prince Char- lotte Island ; to the see of Oregon City was at- tached the district of Nisquully ; to the see of Wnlla Walla were attached the di^'tricts of Colville and Fort Hnll. On n 'nter occasion, June 29th 1853, at the recfmnicndaiion of tl^t- 1. Plenary Council of Baltimore, held in 1852. the Columbia riverand parallel 46 became ihc line of division between the diot-eses of Oregon City and Nisqually, from the Pacific lo the Rocky Mountains. The three seen and the districts attached to them containe<l numerous iribcE of Indians, who had been visited several times by the Cath- olic missionaries and converted, in great part, to the Catholic faith: they were <-alliu;' for priests since 1838. The time had arrivtd to sec their earnest desires accomplished. This was to 1)6 the case with the Cayiiscs living rn the Uniatilla, their camp being 30 miles from another Cayuse camp situated on the Walla Walla, a few miles from the fort. The first camp wiiK Catholic at heart, and their chief, Tamafoive, offered a home to the bishop. The diocese of Walla Walla had ris spe- cially, that it had already three Preshvieriiin missions; one at Wailatpu. on the Wallii Walla . among the Cnyuses mentioned above, estab- lished iu 1836, by Dr. Whitman ; another at I^pwai, on the Clearwater, six days' journey from Fort Walla Walla, established in 1836 among the Ncz Perses by minister Spalding ; and the last estnldished by Mr. Eells among the Spokanes. Hence the trouble, the bishop being regarded as an intruder. The object of the Fathers, 0. M. I., being the evangelization of the Indians, they left Wnlla Walla with Father Ricard, their supe- rior, early iu October, to go and found a mis- sion among the Indians of Yakima. The bish- op of Walla >^ alia left tl>e fort, with his cler- gy, for the Catholic can.p of the Caynses on October 27th, aLd reached the place the same day, a Saturday. The arrival of the bishop of Walla Walla with his clergy to the fort was a thunderbolt to the Presbyterian ministers, spet-itilly to Dr. Whitman. He was woimded to the heart by it. He cunhl not refrain fr«>m expressing hi!< great dissatisfaction, saying he woidd do all in his power to thwart the bishop. Such was the situation of affairs and the sad prospect of the bishop on Sunday, Nov. 28th, ihe eve of the terrible tragedy which brought Ihe Catholic Catholic Chukch in Orkoon. M Mi^Pion and iix estjiblislinients iijOre<>on iipoii the brink of itn ruin ; for nt the sijfht of the jIoo<l nlrt'Hdy done and to be done by the iirniy of the zealous niissionurios jiisf arrived, llie devil. i»liHkin<r with Hii<rer and rH;re. resolved to make his last efforts to uiterlv ruin (he Cath- olic cler;.'y on this Coa»t ; heiiee the horrible <lrania. The Murder ok Dr. Whitsian and Wife. The eiuijrralion of 1847 had bron<;ht dvsen- tery and measles amonjr the Proiestaut eamp. 1S'7 had sn<cnnibed to the epitlemif. The In- •lians already much displeased uiih their teach- er. Dr. Whitman, for his lack of good faith and fidelity in his promises, snspected him of poisonin;; them. They were confirmed in their suspicion by the report of a certain half-breed of the place, called Joseph Lc« is. raii.ed in the Eastern States, who said : "He had heard, at night, Dr. Whitman, his wife and minister Spalding speaking on the ne<-essitv of killin*' t liem in onler to seize their lands;" "and adding'^ ■ if you don't kill them, you will be all dead by next Sprih-. : i'hereiipon, the death of Dr. Whitman was resolved. On Sunday the 28th, six other Indians were buried. On Monday, the ;i>9th, 1847, after having buried three other of their brethren, a iHjrtain number of ihcm went to Dr. Whitman's establishment alnuit 2 or 3 p. m., and entered his yard, carrying weapons conceale.l under ilicir blankets, while the few men were bn.sy. ihcy began their work of desir.iclion by butch- iriug the doctor, his wife and 8 oihcr Amer- icans that day. On 'J'nesday. Nov. .30lh. the vicar general having to go and baptize some sick children at the Protestant Cayuse camp according to pro- niise. he started and arrived there af'^7 p. m. I'hereit was that he heard of the atrocious dra- ma. Me passed the whole night awake. On the morning of Dec. Isl. after baptizing the children, he went to the dreadful place ol" tha niiis.sacre. conwdcd the women kept in the doc- tor's h<.u.*e. washed the bodies and buried them will, the a.-sisiancc of a Kienchman, called StandHeld. who h.,.! been spared ; and all that ill the presence of the murderers; and going once more to console tbo wonieu, he started in haste in onlor to meet and save minister Spalding's life who was coming on that day from the Cayuse camp to the doctor's house. (published AUGUST 39tii 1878.) Narrow Escape of Mr. 8paldivg. The Lives or Fr. Bhouillet, the Biihop and Clergy in Great Danger. The Prisoners Redeemed and Carried to Oregon City by Chief Factor Ogden-. fATHER Bronillet was much pained when, in starling, he saw one of the murderers following him with his interpreter, who was an Indian. He had barely made three miles when he ob.ocrved minister Spalding coming in and who at once called for news. The vicar general hesitates, the minister urges him ; the vicar general evades his questions and keeps an animated convrrsation with the interpreter and murderer. He begs for mercy and for the life of the minister; the murderer hesitates, and says at last he must go and consult his friends, and ftrthwith starts at full gallun '1 hen. Father Bronillet reveals to .Mr. Splilding the h..rrors of the slaughter, the subject of his conversalion with the murderer, the object of his running back, and recommends him to take a determination at once, if he wishes to save his life, as the murderer will soon return. Mr Spalding is struck with terror ; he utters sad lamentations, asks many questions, and knows not what to resolve upon. He asks for and receives provisions, and Father Bronillet leaves him still talking with the interpreter. At last he rushes to the forest at dusk in the evening The vicar general had scarcely made a few miles when he heard the racing irot of horses ; they were three men, who gave vent to their great displeasure when they did not see Mr Spalding. From that day the life of Father Broiiiller was not safe from danger. He w«s held resjMiusible for the escape of the minister. That night he also passed without sleep. On Thuwlay, December 2nd, he reached the young chief Toniatow't c«mp early. On mm ^^^_^ ■ £4Jm:£~.ti4^ii«g 64 ilisTORioAL Sketches of the loarninj^ the atrocious deeil, the hishop, and clergy, and the wliole camp were struck with consternation. A few days afker an express ar- rived from Walla Walla, informing the bisiiop tVt his life and the lives of the priests were in danger, on the part of a certain ntimber of In- dians who could not forgive Father Brotiillet for having deprived them of the chance of ad- ding another victim to the ten first ones. On the 3rd, the bishop assembled the chiefs, ex- pressed t4ie deep pain and sorrow he felt at the enormous crime, and recommended them earn- estly to use their influence in order to save the widows and orphans. The chiefs answered that they had no hand in the massacre, and would use their influence to save the lives of the captives. A few days later, a young man who stayed in the doctor's mill, 20 miles dis- tant, was also killed ; the rest had the chance to escape. On the 10th, the two sick men who were spared on the day of extermination, were drawn from their beds and cruelly nuissacTed. On the 11th, one of the captives was carried away to the tent of one of the chiefs. On December 16th, the bishop received a letter, dated 10th, from Mr. Bpalding, relating the hardships of his six days' traveling only at ni<'ht, partly on foot, begging him to tell the Indians that the Americans would not make war, nor come for revenge, and to send his letter to the governor. On December iOili, the great and subalern chiefs repaired to the bishop's house to hold a council liefore iiim and his clergy, in which after a long talk and de- liberations, a manifesto ''I's drawn and given to the bishop to be sent to the governor with a letter from him. The bishop availed himself of the occasion to recommend once more and earnestly that they who had carried awiiy some of the cajitives. to return them without delay. As soon as the sad tidings of the Wailatpu massacre had reached Fort Vancouver, chief factor Og<!en. knowing the importance of a prompt action, started without delay to come to the help and rescue of the captives. On rcMching Fort Walla Walla on December IKth, 111' 8<'nt nn i'Xj)ri'>'s to notify nil llie chiefs to riimf and assemble at the fori. Un ,i fii>t ji,. vitatioii. the bishop begged in be o^-used , an a -■ecoiiil, he ciimo down with his ciivgy. I'lic assembly took place on Dec. 23d. Chief factor Og<leii strongly deprecated the horrible mas- sacre, threw the blame on the chiefs for not re- straining the yonng men, and said he did noi come on the part of the Americans, but only on the part of the Hudson Bay Cnmpauy; he woiihl not promise peace, but would employ his ii - fluence to obtain it ; that he had come to res- cue the prisoners, and expected he had not come in vain. The chiefs answered him that in consideration of his age, white hairs, and the assurance that he was unable to deceive them, they would grant his request. The Ntz Perces «hiefs consented also to release Mr. 8paMiug, his family and other Americans held as hostages. On December 29th. the ptisoners of Wai- latpu, ftl in all, arrived at the fort : those of l^apwai, 11 in all. arrive«l on Jan. 1st, 1848. under an escort of ."iC warriors. A high price was I aid for the captives. The followiug day was fixed for the departure, now most urgent on account of the strange rumors which circu- lated among the Indians, that th^ Americans were at the Dalles, coming to t«ke a revenge ; which rnniors might in u moment make the Indians change their minds and try t«i keep the prisoners as hostages. '! he bishop ac(e|ited a passage on the boats : \.< ns accompanied by Father Rousseau, and by Fr. Ricard. O. M. 1. In spite of all the <liligence by chief factor Og- dcn, the iHials ventured into the streiim at 2 p. m., just in time to escape the SOCayiise war- riors who arrived scarcely an hour afterwards to kill Mr. Spalditrg, and im doubt, to keep the others as hcitages. At the Dalles minister Spalding showed the true spirit which animated him towards the Indians, quite different fr< m that expressed in his letter to the bishop of Walla Walla, in urging .N!ajor Lee to gt» I. ii;.Me in order to take ihcm by surprise; c. • designing to Major Magone those when f ed death, with the excel tion of five or six ti. ^te spared. The boats reathed Fort Vancouver on ,Ianuary8lh. On the 10th, chief factor Ogden delivered the prisoners to the governor at Oregon City, wiih (he lutitr of .Mr. i^palding to tlie bishop, the i!Uiuifesto of the cliiefs, (tccmipanicd by the Lifhop's letter lo the j;ov.rnor. The editors Catholic Chukcii in Orkoon. 65 of iTie Oregon Spectator would publish but a part of Mr. Spalding's letter; but Mr. 0^'den SHjiug, "must publish all or nothing," they fonsentcd. but with ranch repugnance. On Jan. loth, the bishop of VValb Walla, after hard trials and imminent danger arrived safe at St. Paul, the residence of his brother, the arch- bishop of Oregon City. After the bishop's departure, vicar general Brouillel left Fort Walla Wella and returned to Umatilla with Fr. Leclaire. He remained there till February 20th, in the midst of thou- sands of rumors of troops at llio Dalles, of bat- tles and of villages being burnt. Ho had pro- mised the Cayuses of his miosion to remain with them as long as peace would last ; so he did, in spite of many daugers on the pjirt of l>otli the Indians and the Americans. The first tight with the Americans having taken place on Feb. 19th, he thought he was disengaged from his word, and left the following day for Fort Walla Walla. But the Indians were so displeasefl with his departure, that they plun- <lered his house and set it on fire. .■Vnd as the I onimissioners called by the chiefs to treat on |teace were leaving on March 13tli, he availed liini!<elfof the occasion to go down with his companion . He was accompanied by Fathers Chirouse. Pandoay, and others of the Yakima mission : all going to St. Paul of Williimette. KrFKCTS OK THB MuBDEB ANU WaB DIX>N TUB Catholic akd Pbotestant M issioks. The murder of Dr. Whitman and oiheri^ had (he effect of bringing in imminent diin/er the lives of the bishop and his clergy. The war which followed brou^dii iheCaynse misi^iou to an end only for a short linif; for a few months :itter. the Cayuses of UmHiillc recalled their I riesis ; and the bishop starteil from Vancou- ver June 4lh, 1848, to return to his diocese, lie reached the Dalles on June lOlh, and being r.irhidden lo go ftiriher by Mr. Lee, the super- iiiiendcnt of Indian affairs, he fixed his resid- «Mice there, and began a mission at the Dalles, which was a part of his <lio4-ese. The Oblate Fiuhtrs returned nnmoleHted to their Yakima mission, about the same lime. Very different were the effects of the murder and war upon the Presbyterian missions of Wailatpu,Lapwai and Spokane. They had for effects their total destruction for ever ; for not only no Indiaoe, re- called their minister?, but none of them -Aould have been safe there. Knowing this, minis- ters Eells and Walker hastened to leave their Spokane mission at the beginning of the war under a strong escort. Black Inoratitcdk add Infamous Calcm- MIK8 or Mb. Spalding, The Catholic Chdrcmeb m Danoeb in I.«web Obegon. A Petition to the Legislaiure Against THE Priests. The Iocs of the ministers and their friends was loo great not lo be deeply felt. To »heir ^rief succeeded fits of anger which they dis- charged upon the bishop and his clergy. Mr. Spalding, closing his soul lo all the noble sen- timents of gratitude, and forgetting all its du- ties, accused the bishop and his clergy of ha-- Jiig been the instigators of the horrible mas- sacre. He published in the Oregon American of 1848, an incorrect history of it, containing 16 calumnious iharges. Father Brouillet, in giving a true hielor)- of the massacre, refuted (he charges in a pamphlet of 107 pages, pub- lished by the Freeman $ Journal in 1863, and republished by the Catholic Sentinel in 1869. But the orally malicious charges of iDe min- ister, from the beginning had already produced the evil fruits of deep and fatal impressions ; and the excitement became so great that the volunteers in starting caid that iheir first shots would be for the bishop and his priests ; and that, for several months, the Catholic churches and establishments in the Willamette valley were in the greatest danger of being burned down. But not satisfied with that, the min- isters beca-ie jealous in seeing the Jesuit Fath- ers safe a d quiet among the Indiana of the Bocky M untaius, the Oblate Fathers retoru- ing to thuir mission at Yakima, and the bishop attending the prayers of the UauUilU Indians, on his way for that mission, while they could not return. This being too much, they con- ceived the plan of a petition to be drawn np and largely signed, repeating the infamous charge*, and to be sent to the legislature. It w as (^n ieuted, but by that time the good com- I 66 Historical Skbtchbs or thk moD sen^e of the people hnd made them right; two-lhirds of the legislature voted ajrainst it, and the officers of the army, their aoldiers and volunteers, becoming better acquainted with the true facts on reaching the stnt of war, did honimage to the truth in acknovsledging the honorable and loyal conduct of the bishop and bis clergy. (published skptrhber 5th 1678.) Fath&r Brodillet's Pamphlet in 1848, 1857, 1869 AMD 1871. Chakoks Rrmbwkd in 1869 AND 1871, AND Answered in 1872. TO those *ho never read Father Brouillet's pamphlet, written in 1848 and published in 1853, and who desire to know its contents, we give the title of its five chHptt'r8,viz : — 1. The remote and immediate causes which led to the Whitman massacre. 2. Documentary evidence proving the fore- going assertion. 8. Review of the evidence addiicnd in the foregoing chapter. 4. Journal of the principal events that occur- red in the Walla Walla country from the ar- rival of the bishop luul his cler<;y until the mo- ment they left for the Willamette valley. Let- ter of Father Brouillet. from Fort Wnllu Walla, March 2nd, 1848, to Col Gilliam. Letter of H. H. Hpalding, from Clear Water, Dec. 10th, 1847, to the bishop of Walla Walla. Meet- ma r/* the chiefs at the bishop's house, and their manifesto. A rrival of chief factor Oplen, and redemption of the captives. The bixhop tit the Dalles, on his way to Umatilla. ;). Summary of the chief accusations made bv Mr. Spalding against the Ciitliolic cler;iy of Walla Walla, with an ani<wer to each of them. But this was not the end of the trouble ; the charges were renewed : this time not by one minister only, nor presented only to a territo- rial legislature for action, but by an army of ministers, and presented by them for action to the highest authority in the land, the Senate : for, as the infamous charges made by H. H. Spalding against the Catholic clergy of Walla Walla had reached the various Protestant sects of Oregon and the Eastern Slates, and were believed by them as gospel truths ; and where- as, hostile to each other in principles, they an^ always ready to join together in an assault on the old mother Church, they availed them^ielvfS of a chance of showing their hatred to her, 22 years afler the massacre, as follows : — In 1857, a special agent of the Treasury Department, J. Boss Browne, whs sent to the far West, to make a re|ort on the condition of the aborigeiies, and the potent causes of war between them and the white settkrs. On fitd- iiig that Father Brouillct's pamphlet was »u important document on the siilject, he embo- died it in his report, which the U. S. Congress published as Kxecurive Document No. 88, of 18i'9. The fact remained unnoticed for ten years, till on a sudden, during the year 1869, it drew the attention of seven Protestant asM>- ciaiions, or sects in Oregon, and three in the Kastcrn States ; and greatly aroused their ire. because "It severely reflected upon the devoted missionaries of the American b<tard." Hence, the many resolutions of each sect, severely blaming the action of the Senate, calling Fr. Brouillet's pamphlet "a libel on Oregon's his- tory, and a gross and malicious calumny," en- dorsing the most infamous charges of H. H. Spalding and af-cc-rtaining them, as if, after a lapse of 22 years, and so far from the spot, they had been eye witnesses, and had seen and heard all ; whereas, Col. Gilliam, his scddiers and the volunteers, on the spot two mouths afier the massacre, becoming better acquainted with the facts, hid exoncniled the hi^hnp and his clergy from i<ll blame; which the legislature also did in Dec. 1848, by rejecting, by a two- third vote, the petition, reptaling the charges and denitiiidiiig the expulsion of the Catholic clergy from the Indian c<)niilry. The action of these ten Protestant seclc having lieen embo- died in a pamphlet of 81 pages, tl e fame was passeil by Mr. Spalding to Mr. A. B. Meach- am, supt. of Indian Affairs in Oregon, and passed hy him to Mr. Delano, secretary of the Interior, who presented it to the Senate <>u Feb. 8th, 1871, and is known as Executive Document No. 37, of 1871, Catholic Church in Okkoon. «7 Tliip exeoaiive document No. 37, 1871, was iibly answered and victoriously refutud iu 1872, by Father Broiiillel and the Catholic World : by the fir^t in u pamphlet of 18 pages in double column, which the Catholic Seulinel produced in July and AnRUit, 1872. and wherein he de- rIareH unreliable and malicious the evidences of the ten vhiirehes, and proves that point of evidence under the followinjf heads: 1. Falsi- fioatiou «»f otficial reports; •>. fnlsitication of depositions; 3. falsiftcation of quotations; 4, falsity of statements; by the second in an article of 18 pa;;es in double iwlumn. to be found in that magazine for February. 1872 ; wherein it says of the executive document No. 37, 1871: ••VVo have had recently placed iMjfore us an official document printed at the public expense for the edification of the United States Senate, and, no doubt, widely circulated throughout the union under the convenient frank of mnny pi- ous members of Congress, in which are repro- duced calumnies so gross, and falsehoods so glaring, that we consider it our ,iuty not only to call public attention to it, but demand from our rulers at Washington by what right aiui iiutborify they print and circulate, under offi- i-ial form, a tissue of falsifications, misrepre- .•»i'.ntations, and even forgeries, against the re- li.^ion and the ministers of that religion which i-< professed by five or six millions of free American citizens." We give licro below as a curiosity the fan- ciful names of the ten deoouiinations or loso- ciations ntGntiotted above, wondering, if Christ were to revisit the earth, which of this Bar- iium's ''liappy family" He would put up with: '•Tlie Oregon presbytery of the United (?) Presbyterian church; thf;Orrtgi>n presbytervof Cumberland Presbyterian church ; the Oregon jiresbytery of the United Presbyterian <-hurch; tlie Congregational A.ssociution of Oregon; I'le annual conference of the McthiMiist Kpi*. «• »pal cliurch ; the Chri.'tiiHn brotherhood of the Stiite of Oregon ; the Piensant Uute Baptist I'liurcU of Oregon ; the Steuben presbytery of I'le Pre.sbyierian church. New York; the cit- i<:ens of Steuben, Alleghany and ('beniuug <!our.tie!<, N. Y. ; the citizens of Oberliu, 0. I" Of tlicse a.Hsociationd and hundreds of other men-built churches, which obatiuatjly and coa- srantly unite in fighting against the old Mother Chun-h of Christ (and in nothing else), we may say : if these would allow to Go<l as much wis- d4>m nod common seitse as to a man desirous to build a high fabric, they would nDderstand that He who made heaven and earth so perfect and lasting for the sole enjoyment of man, must have made most perfec* and lasting, that is, in- fallible, His Chundi made for a higher object, the salvation of souls so dear to Him. There- fore, no need of the so-called Reformation : therefore the touching of that Ark, the Church, is the sin of Oza; it brings death and damna- tion. An Indian understands that at once — made tangible to him by the Catholic Ladder. A PftoTErrAMT Bishop on this AND Kindred Sobjects. Bishop J. W. Bashford, of the Methodist Episcopal church, lately wrote ao interesting series of articles to the Pacific Christian Ad- vocate on the early Oregon missions. A prom- inent feature of th« islsliAp's write-up is his spirit of foirness to the eariy Oattx^* mission- aries, a feature which is absent from nuch of the nou-Catholic literature dealing with the s«me subject. There is a tonch of unconcious humor in bishop Bashford's contrast of Cath- olic and Protestant methods of civilizing the Indians. One gathers from his account of the miiiier thni the Protestants civilized the In- dians so rapidly that the aborigines died under the treatment. His discussiou on this point is of interest. He says : — ''It should be freely recognized also that the Roman Catholic Fathers by their widely ex- tended and long coutinued labors among the Indians contributed directly to the peace and safety of all Indians and white men k3 well as to the eternal welfare of those committed to their charge. Indeed, it was a Roman Cath- olic priest (Father Brouillet) and the officers of the Hudson's Bay Company wlm saved the lives of Messrs. Spalding, Walker, Eells and their families aAer the Indians had massacred Dr. Hud Mrs. Whitman in 1847. If the Bo- man Catholic Fwthers enjoyed the favor of the Hudson's Bay Company and ineurred the crit- icism of Protestants for contributing so litil«, to the advancement of the Indians in the arts. 68 HlSrOBIUAL SKRCflKS Of THE of the white man, the slower pace at which they led their wards toward the white man's civilization at least kept the Indians ali\ long- er than did the Protestants with their more rapid rale of progress. In this regard at least they displayed a wisdom superior to the Meth- odt 8. Upon the whole, probably history will recognised tha* the Hudson's Bay Company and the Roman (/atholic Fathers rendered a greater service to the Indians of British Col- umbia than the Protestant missionnries and the Americans rendered to the Indians of Or- egon. While they struggled for a slower and more backward form of civ!iization, yet Can- ada by extending law over the land, the Hud- son's Bay Company by preserving a consid- erable measure of order among Indians aud whites, and the Roman Catholic Fathers by ministering to the spiritual needsof their ward;* — all contributed, if not to the speedy, ai IcHst to the orderly settlement of Oregon." (published seftbmber 12th 1878.) Chbomoixwical Noc'es. 1847. Rev. P. McCormick ;«kes charge of Oregon City, Sept. 6tli, and Rev. B. Dt-lormo of St. Louis, French Prairie, on Nov. 3rd. The news of Dr. Whitman's murder reaches Oregon City on Dec. 8th, and is communicnted to the legislature the following day. 1848. The bishop of Walla Walla arrives at St. Paul on Jan. 15. Mission of Rev. V. £. Deleveau to Port Vancouver, Feb. 1st. The archbishop confirms 23 persons at Oregon City, Feb. 13th. The three bishops availing them- selves of the chance of their reunion at!!H. PhuI with a large number of clergymen, hold the first provincial council of Oregtui City, in that church, on Feb. 28th and 29th, and March 1st, in which regulations for discipline, and lU de- crees were made which received later on the approbation of the Holy See. On March I2fh, bishop Deim-rs leaves Fort Vancouver with the Spring Express, for Walla Walla, Colville and th'! Rocky Mountains, on his way to Cau- mda and Europe, in order to raise fundd, aud look for missionaries for his dincere. On May 4ih 1852, he was at Oregon City, on his way to Victoria, which he reached while the Hrcl'.- bishop was assisting at the I Plenary Couuril of Baltimore. Rev. J. F. Jayol is sent to Cow- litz, for the Nirqnally mission, March ]9lli. The bi<>hop of Walla Walla celebrates polific- ally at St. Paul, on Easter Sunday. April 2dd. Mission of Rev. F. Veyret to (lie Sound, May 8lh. The bifhop of Walla Walla leaves Van- couver. June 4th, for his mission of Umatilla; arrived at the Dalles, Iteing forbidden by tiif Snpt. of Indiiin Affairs from going fiiriher, lie eMablishes St. Peter's mission at the Dalles. Ang. 23d, adniisi^ion of the Fathers O. M. 1., by the archbishop, in the district of Nii^qually, to atten<l the Indians of the Sound. They es- tablished their mother house a mile from Olyni- [lia, and Irom thence visited the Indians of the whole Bay. On Sept. I2th, four Sisters of Notre Dnuie nrrive<l at Oregon City for a residence. They occupy the rectory, and open their school on the 15ih. Rev. J. Lionet, and Father Lamp- frit, O. M I., arrive over the plains in October. The archbishop leaves St. Paul for his resid- ence at Oregon City, on Dec. 21 st. He stays a month at Mr. McKinley's, and rents a house from Mr. Pomeroy for the rest of the winter. Itev. J. Lionet is sent, Dec. 28lh, to establish a mission at A^ttoria: inntead of that he es- tablisheil it on the other side of the Colimibia, on a piece of land which he cultivates. The admiBsion of the Oblate Fathers in the district of Nisquiilly, Aug. 23d 1848, having for object the care of the Indians on the Sound, Father Veyret was recalled from the Bay aud put in charge of St. Paul's in the beginning of September, same year. 1849. Rev. A. Langlois leaves Oregon for California, in January. Gen. Lnne, first gov- ernor of the Territory, arrives at Oregim City, on March 2nd. Same day, Fniher Lanipfrit is sent to Victoria <lnriiig the absence of bit^hop Deuiers. A large brigade composed of fam- ilies of St. Paul. St. Louis and Vancouver, starts on Ms'y 19th, with Father Delorme. fur the California gold mines. disci>vered in 1848. Arrived on the spot, a burning fever deeiinatea them ; 40 are carried away by the epidemic, Catholic CHtt-.vii is Ohboo-.. C9 vis : 20 heads of families, 13 single meu and boys, 4 women and siitiie children. Father Delorme exhausted with fatipiie, is also seized by the fever and barely escapes the dniijicr. 8t. Joseph collcge,St. PanI, is elosed iu June, in consequence of the California mines. Ou Saturday, June 9th, the Sisters of Notre I >-'•<». of Ore|rou City, enter their new larjj built on a block given them by Dr. M» i- lin. On the following day, ihc art-llti- p blesses it and celebrates the f.rst Mass in its chapel. Deacon G. Leclairc is raised to the priesthood, Oct. 'ilst. Rev B. Delorme re- turns from California by sea, and arrives Dec. 26th. A picket «»f soldiers, under the c«>m- mand of Col. Backeritos, passes the winter at Oregon City. Mrs. Ha4>kento.<ii becomes « con- vert to the faith and is baptized, with all her children, by the an'hbishop. 1850. The murder of Ur. Whitman and others had brought war a<!aiust the Cavuse tribe. It lasted two years, (1848 and 1849) without tratchiu)! one of the murderers. And while it caused the fall of the Presbyterian missions, it had the effect of increa8in<; those of the Catholics by the establishment of St. liter's at the Dalles, and converting! five sup- |io8ed Cayu.se murderers from Presbyterian- ism to (-aiholicity. For the civil authorities .absolutely requiring the extradition of (lie mur- • lerers, the Cayuse chiefs found at last tive men vlio coii.sented to go down, not as fsuilty, but ' ' have a talk with the whites and explain all -■)OHt the uiunlerers, ten in number, who were •uiw no more, having l)een killed by the whites. >obt by their chiefs ou this me.«sage. they ex- pe'tcd to return home. They were delivere<i t(i Gov. Lane early iu the spring, brought down lo Oregon City and kept as priM>uer-i. 'i'jieir ;rinl took place, "Notwithstanding the prison- \>rs were pre <h»omed to «leath," .^ays the "Ri ver • t the West ;" therefore it was a sham tri.il '♦hich (li-(!eived no one; and they were sen- : .need. May 27tli, to be hung. The execution it»ok place <in June Srd, at 2 p. m., before an iiumeiisf crowd. On hearing their sentence, their ihoii;;hi8 were to .tave their souls, and cull for a prie.ot. The arclibishop went to see :heui without d«lay, and c<mtinued tog<» twice a day tu te.ich tliemr with the Catholic Ladder and pr. rare them lor baptism and death. Mr. Spalding -vctit e.irly to see them, but they re- fused to hear i i-n and pray with him. Such were the fruits cf the eleven years of the doc- tor's teaching. The Indians call the priest ; had the priests counseled them to murder Dr. Whitman, it would rather have been to assail them with reproaches, than to ask for their spiritti.'il uiinisi rations. On the eye of their death, the old chief Kilo Kite and hi;* four companions made a declar- ati«)n in duplicate. Wfore Henry H. Crawford, sergeant of Co. D., R. M. R., and Rol>ert D. Mahon, corporal of Co. A., R. M. R., declar- ing: the first, that he was opposed; his two sons took part and were killed ; the second, that he was absent and came home the day atter; the third, that he saw the deed, but did not par- ticipate and w as sorry : the fourth and fifth, that they are innocent and die for nothing; all declaring the priests never counseled the crim* (see Catholic SevHnel, April 20th and 27th, 1872, for full account.) In the forenoon of June 3d. new quest ions were made, to the same effect. On that day the pri.aoners heard a low .Mass, after which they received the sacraments of baptism and confirmation. At 2 p. m. the archbishop, assisted 'vy Rev. F. Veyret, now a Jesuif, accompanied liiom to the scaffold, where the prayers for the dyiig were recited. Touch- ing words of enc<»urigement were addressed to them on the mom« nt of being swung into the air: "Onward, on .vard to heaven, children ; in- to Thy hands, O Lord Jesus ! 1 commend my spirit." They were then swung into eternity. There is a shameful omissioti io be found in the "River of the Wert," as to umv ihr y died, whether Presbyterians, infidels, or Oatholics? A shameful and false charge is found there also againgt_the youngest of the five, of having been cruel to Jos. Mcek's little girl at the time of the HiaMMcre, which is about as true as the ridiculous story of the marshal himself, who said : "One of them on the scaffold begged me to kill him with my knife." A calumnious falsehood! The truth is that the old chief, Kilo Kite, proudly refused to let his hands butied. But upon the archbishop showing hiui the cru- fix, he became resigned and kept silent. That is one of thn mmuy inaccuraciee to i>« found iu 70 Historical Skctchcs or thr the "River of llic West. ' The followinp fact, 80 honorable to ihe ciiizens of Oregon City and all who joined with them, phonld not h« omitted ; that on hearing of the innocenoe of the five CayuBC prixonera they began to circu- late a petition to get iheni a respite ; their sym- pathies increased much more on learning tli«ir declaration ; but, the governor being absent, there was no one to sign it. Rev, T. Mespli^ was ordained a priest on May 25th. In answor to the bishops assembled in coun- cil at St. Paul's in 1848, there arrived from Rome, on Sept. 29th, briefs bearing the date of May 81st 1850, to the effect of creating the district of Nisqually into a diocese, and trans- ferring the bishop of Walla Walla to that see; and suppressing the diocese of Walla Walln, and passing its administration and those «»f the districts of Colville and Fort Hall to the archbishop, in consequence of which the bish- op of Nisqually leaves the Dulles, visits St. Francis Xavier's mission of Cowlitz, and on Oct. 27lh 1850, fixes his resideiice at Fort Vancouver. Hiiving thus brought our history of the Cath- olic Church in Oregon down to the present es- tablishment of the three sees of Oregon City. Nisqually and Vancouver Island, we close our Sketches. S HORT BIOG R A PH 1 1">4 OF THR THREE PIONEER BISHOPS OF THR PROVINCE OF OREGON. Archbishop F. N. Blaschkt. Franv'ois Norbert Blanchet, missionary and tirst bishop and archbishop of Oregon City. U. S. A., SOI! of Pierre Blanchet. a Canadian tarmer, was born Sept. 30th 1795. near St. Pierre, Riviere .'.u Sud, Province of Quehee. After three ycnrs in the villKire school he went in 1810. with his brother Angustin Magloire, later to first bishop of Walla Walla and Nis- qually, to the seminary of Quebec, where he was ordained priest July 18fh, 1819. He wa« statioued at the catliedr.tl (or a year and was ihon sent to Richibucto. N«w Bniiifwick. as |nsHr of the Micmac Indians and Aradinn settlers. In 1827 he was recalled to MonircMl. and appointed pnstrr of Sonhmges. l)nriri<; the cholera of 18,32 he attended the strii ken to fearlessly (hat the Protestants of the p ace pn- sented him with a testimonial. In 18.S7 le was a| pointed vicar gener*-' by bi^hop Sigmiy f( r the Orc;;oti mission, and he set out on Mj'v .3rd, 18;'8. accompanied by the Rev. Modestc Demers with the annual express of the Hud- Kon Bay C« nj any. and they arrived at F< rt Vancouver on Nov. 24th. For four years they labored alone. Tlicy were lien reinfonn-d, fnm tiro? to lime, ly other I ricsf!», both secular and regular, and by Sisters of N >tre Dame of Namur, Belgium. On Dec. 1st 1.''48, the Oregon missi. u became a \ icariale Apostolic and Father Blanchet was named its first vicar. He was consecrated bishop in Montreal on July 26lh, 1845. He visited Europe at different times in quest of priests and financial help. On July 24lli, 1846. the vicariate was erected into a province ami bishop Blanchet was made archbishop of Or- egon City, his brother Magloire b»)canie bishop of Walla Walla, and Father Demers bishop «if Vancouver's Island. The iirchbishnp was indefatigable. He held his first provincial council in 1848. attended the first plenary council of Baltimore in 1852, went in 1855 to Sonih America an«l collected for two years in Chile, Peru and Bolin'a; he went to Canada in 1859 and returned -.vith 31 priests and sisters. He attended the second plenary council cf Baltimore in 1860 : on July 19th. 1869, he celebrate*! hid golden jubilee of ordination, and in the following October set out - Rome to assist at the Va'ican council in ! . J. When bishop Seghers was made hi.-^ coadj nr in 1879, he retired to the hospital of the sii»ters of Providence at Portland. He is the author of the "Historical Sketches of the Catho'ic ( hurch in OregDii." In 1880 he re- signed and died in Portland June 18i|i. 1883. He found on the Pacific coast a wilderness, both .spiritual and material; lielef. after 4H vears of heroic work, a well organized ecclc- Mastical province. He will \te known in Am- erican history as the Apostle of Oregon. Fi.Miop A. M. A. Blanchkt. Aitgiistin Maijloire AlexanHre UlHtn-lie». broilier of the preoeiliii<r. Hrst biMiop of WhIIh WhIIh hikI Ni»quHlly, Stare of Wnsliiiigton, V. S. A.. WHB lM)rii AngiiRl 22iid, 1797. on liia fntlier's farm iieHr the village of St. Pieriv, Hi\ i^re dii Slid, Canada. After Htleiidiii),' the villiigc school for three years, he was sent to Qiiebce. with his brother Franynis Norl)ert, to Mudy for the priesthood. He was onlaincd JnneSrd, 1821. After a year as assistant pas- tor at St Gervais, ho was sent ns niissioimry to the Isles de la Madeleine inid later to Cape Breton Island. He gave four years of ininis- iry to the Gnlf provinres. Then he was re- (ralled to the vicariate Apostolic of Montreal, and was successively pastor of fonr parishes, in one of which he was the successor of his el- der brother. In 1846 while a canon of the Montreal cathedral, he was appointed bishop of the new diocese of Walla Walla in what is now the State of Washington. He was con- secrated Sept. 27th, 1846. In the following spring he set out overlnnd for his d slant see with one priest. Rev. J. B. A. Uronillet.and two students. At Pittsburgh he declared his inten- lion to become a citizen of the United Slates. At St. Louis the party was increased by Father Uiciird, two deacons and brother tilanchet, all members of the Order of Mary Iinniacniale. Fort Walla Walla was reached on Sept. oih, 1847. The bishop located at the Dalles, and thence inulliplietl his apostolic labors through- out the vast territory under his care. He was fill of zeal. He esiublished missions; built rhiirches ; founded acadt-miea and colleges: ho .'started .schools for the Indians ; he begged for I riests in Cauada and abroad, and he obtaine<l sisters for hospitals and other institutions. In 18.50 the see of Walla Walla was siip- (.i-essed and that i>f Ni^qiially ercrted in iis xter.d, with headquarters at Fort Vancouver, lu 18.')2 he attended the first plenary council of Ualiimore, but, on account of iniirniities, he WHS unable to attend that of the Vatican. In 1879,a(ier32 years of arduous labor in Wash- iugloii, he resigned his see and was named titu- lar bishop of Ibora. He spent his last 8 years in priiyer and suffering. His peaceful death, which occurred Feb. 2.5th, 1887, was a filliug close for his life of sacrifice. He is revered as :l>o Apostle of Washington. Bishop Moomte DrMrRS. 71 M<i<!i\-le Denierf, the Aposlle of British CoU uinl)i:i. was born at St. Nicholas. Quebec, on Oct. 1 1th, 18()!i. His father. Michel Oemers. and his mother. Rosalie Foui-hcr. were two worthy representatives of the French Canadian farmer class. Endowed with a delicate cons- cience and a distinctly religious disposition, young Dcmer.'* resolved to enter the ecclesias- tical slate, and stinlied first privately and then at the Quebec seminary. He was ordained on Feb. 7ih. 18:JC, by bishop Signay. and after 14 months passed as assistant priest at Trois-Pis- toles, he volunteered for the far-off mission of Oregon, where the white population, made up mostly of French Canadians employees of the Hudson Bay Company, was clamoring for the ministrations of a priest. Having crossed the .American continent in company of vicar gen- eml F. N. Blanchet, he reached Walla Walla Nov. 18lh, 1838, and immediately applied him- self to the care of the lowliesi, that is, the In- dian tribes, which were then very numerous. He studied their languages and visited their homes regularly, preaching, catechizing the adults, and baptizing the children. Hi* apos- tolic zeal even led him on along the coast of British Columbia, and in 18-i'<! he proceeded inlaiul )>4 far iiorlh as Stuart Lake, evangeliz- ing as he went all the interior tribes of that pivvince. His companion, the vicar general, having been elevated to the episcopate, Father Demers had to submit to what he considered a burden beyond his strength. He was consecrated bish- op on Nov. 30lh. \647, and appointed to the spiritual care of Vancouver Island, making Victoria hie headquarters. As a bishop he continued his work among the Indians, though he soon had to give his best attention to the rough and cosmopolitan element which now formed his wl>=«'» floiik. For its benefit he pro- cured in XSh' .e services of the Sisters of St. Anne, who established schools at Victoria atd elsewhere, and of the Oblate Fathers, who took in hand the evangelization of the natives, and also founded a college in his cathedral city. In 18C6 he attended the second plenary council of Bahimore.and shovtly after that of the Vatican. He died July 27th, 1871, beloved alike by Prot- estants and Catholics, and revered for his gen- tleness and his charity for the poor and lowly. 72 TABLK OF CONTEXTS. Sketch 1. liitrfMliiHion. 1 The lirst Catholics in Oroj^on. 2 Sketch i. Protestant missionary lal»or» in Orejjon. 4 Sketch 3. Origin of the Canndian missions in Orejion. Letter of the hishop of Ju- liopolin to Dr. John McLan^ihlin. 6 Letter of Sir 'ieo. Simpson, to the bishop <)f Quehec. Appoinlnjent of minsiona- ries. Instructions jriven to very Rev. F. N. Blanchet and Rev. M. Dcniers. 7 Skelcli 4. Journey of the missionaries from Lachine to Fort Vancouver. X Consecration of llie Rocky Mountains to God. First Mass in Ore;fon. Eifjliteen •hiys at the House of the Lakes. First missionary labors in Orefron. Loss of twelve lives. 9 Sketch 5. Missionary hibors at Colvillc, ()- kaiiagaii and Waihi Walla. ID Letter of vicar jrencral Blanchet to liie bishop of Queljec, jjivinjr ni» account of hia journey to Oregon. 1 1 Sketch 6. Vicar generals letter ctniliiiui'd. 14 Sketch 7. Vicar generals letter concliuled. 17 Arrival and recepliuii of the niis*ioniiries at Fort Vancouver. 1>< Sketch 8. Letter from Rev. M. Uemers to Rev. v. F. Cazean of CJuebcc. 20 Sketch K. First Mas^^ at Fort Vnncouver. Condition of the coinilry. 23 Missions to various places and among the Indians. Mission at Vancouver. 21 Sketch 10. Conversion of Dr. .McLaughlin. 2.5 Missionary labors at Fort Vancouver. 2(1 First visit to Cowlitz mission. 27 Sketch 11. First mis-iiou to the Willamette valley. The Wilhimetle Fall. 28 Tlie true name of our river. .30 Sketch 12. First mission to Cowlitz in \A'M>. .SI First mission at Fori Nisqually. 82 Sketch I.S. Second mission to the Willam- «.'tte valley. 33 Sketch 14. Brigade of ihe North. Mission ofFailier Deiners to Colville in 1839. 34 Brigade of tip South. .Second ujis^ion to Cow ;z. 35 Sketch ti'). Second mission to Nisqnaily. Short reuTiion of the two niissioimries. Objections raised to the r -^idence at the 48 4!» M h.) :>4 WillaniiMte. Farting of the mi^-sionaries. 36 Sketch IC. Sketch of ihe Cowliijs mission, by Rev. M. D«'iners. 37 Ske'lrh 17 Missionary lalK>rs in 184<». Mis- sions to Vancouver, Nisqually. Whidby Island, Chinook Fnint. Brigades and Col- ville. First communion at Si. I'aid. W Skeich 18. 41 Sketch 11». 4*2 Letter of bishop Rosati of St. I^ouis, to the (Jeneral of the Society of Jesus. 43 Skeich 2('. Missionary lal>ors in 1841 at Vnncnnver. Willamette Falls, Clack- amas and Cascades. Letter of Father l)c Sniet to vicar general Blanche). 4r) Skcleli 21. Additional incidents in 1840. Various missions in 1841. 47 Skcicli 22. Incidents of 1841. Missionary labors in 1842. Arrival of Father De Smet. Skeich 23. Missionary labors in 1843. Skeich 24 Missionary labors in 1844. Arrival of Father De Smel by sea. Skeich 2.'>. Fight at ()reg<m City, March 4ih 18^4. Extract fnmi the mi.xsionary report on llie occasion. nft Skeich 2f>. Missionary labors in 184.5 nn<l 184(). Letter of Father Demers to the vicar general. .Tfi Sketch 27. The bishop ele<l's journey to Canada, Komc, and return to Oregon. Coiidiiion of the missions in 1844. 68 .■Sketch 2H Rejoicing in the archdiocese at the arrival of the bishop of Walla Walla. Consecration tf bishop Deniers. I'on- dition of ihe dioceses. 61 Sketch 211. Ml r'cr of Dr. Whitman and wife. Narrow esca|ie of Mr. Spalding. The lives of Father Bronillet, the bishop and clergy in great danger. C3 Effects of the murder and war upon the Catholic and 1'rotef.tanl mission!). Ingrai- itiide and calnninies of Mr. Spalding. t-fi Sketch .30. Father Brouillet's pampMcts. Ofi A Frotestant bishop on this subject. C7 Sketch 31. Chronological notes. 68 Biograpliy of archbishop Blanchet. 70 Biographical sketches of Bishops Blan- chet and Demers. 71 IMI