loneerkozi.et1ion; - ScholarsArchive at Oregon State University

DONALD MANSON. 59
the great Northwest, through his wisdom, justice and humanity has left to man
kind a noble example, and his acts of benevolence will in due time adorn the
pages of truthful history.
Soon after completing the new stockade at Vancouver, Mr. Manson with a
force of men was sent via Nasqualla to Frazier river, where he selected a site
and superintended the building of- Fort Langley, situated on that river near the
northern boundary of Washington Territory. Soon after completing this large
fort, he returned to Vancouvei.
In the spring of 1827, two Boston fur trading vessels entered the Columbia,
the brig Owyh.eornmanded by Capt. Dominas, and the schooner Conyoy,
Capt. Thompson. Dr. McLaughlin directed Mr. Manson to get ready the
Multnomañ, a river sloop and taking on board a cargo of Indian goocts-was
sent to old Fort Astor, (which had been abandoned three years before and was
now a complete ruin) to oppose the Yankee traders. A sharp competition was
at once inaugurated between these maritime fur traders and the Hudson Bay
Company, which was every where the case with rival companies so long as furs
continued to rule high in the markets of the world. While this competition
was of the most persevering and vigilant character, the personal relations of the
traders were always amicable. Festive entertainments were held by the officers
on board their respective vessels, and in pleasant weather, on the site of the old
fortress, where nothing hut its fallen ruins were now left to mark the place
where important national events had taken place but a few years beforehere
upon this historic spot on gaily days, would come in regal pomp, old king Concomily,
hi brother Scon-ich.ko, Che-nam.us the young chief, and Qua.luk or
George, the interpeter on board the Tonquin, and only survivor of the disaster
of that ill fated ship with an aggregate fleet from all the villages of more than
a hundred canoes. Then would follow a feast lasting several days. Many
of those present on these occasions were the same people who had seen Caains -
Robert Gray of the- Columbia, and Broughton of the C/ia/ham, who entered the
river in 1792Lewis and Clark who made the first overland journey in iSo5had
witnessed the building of Fort Astoria in the wilderness and in the pride of
her early prime, had heard the first report of her great guns come booming
across the broad river, awakening the slumbering echoes of the mountain solitudes.
Here, at the witching hour of twilight in bygone years, had proud old
Concomly and his boasted thousand warriors, of/times listened to the resounding
melody of the Canadian boat-song as they glided leisurely along through the
sunset waters of one of the grandest rivers on the globe.
During Mr. Manson's stay at Astoria, one of the Companies ships, the William
and Ann from London, with a cargo of supplies was wrecked on the bar, every