loneerkozi.et1ion; - ScholarsArchive at Oregon State University

6o flONALD MANSON.
person on board perished. The Princess Chowa, daughter of Concomly, King
of the Chinooks, who had been the wife of Mr. McKenzie, one of the Astor
partners, but at this time was living in regal splendor at the Chinook villages,
arrived at Astoria in one of her large handsomely decorated canoes, bringing
the startling intelligence that a ship was being dashed to pieces in the breakers
off Clatsop Point, saying to Mr. Macson, my canoe and men are at your service,
I will take you to the scene of the disaster. He accepted her generous offer.
Calling to his assistance Michelle Lafranboise, John McLain, a Scotchman, and
Jack, a brave Kanaka sailor, and after a hurried preparation, they embarked
with the Princess, sailing fcir Clatsop Point. When they arrived at the beach,
the sun was low, the ship's boats, portions of the cargo and rigging were strewed
along the shore for more than a mile. Several hundred Indians had collected
along the beach, all wild with excitement, -appropriating to themselves whatever
they deemed of most value. They had found two casks of rum which- they
had opened and many were already intoxicated. Mr. Macson was not aware
that the vessel belonged to the Hudson Bay Company, until finding the Captain's
gig bearing his name, also that of his ship.
The Clatsop Indians persistingly refused to comply with the repeated de.
mands of Mr. Manson to surrender the rum and other goods, saying this land is
ours, and whatever the ocean casts upon these shores and is saved by our laborbelongs
to us. Seemingly determined to resist all overtures which he thought
proper to offer, Mr. Macson's little party having been strengthened by the arrival
of a half dozen Indians from Chinook Point, his party retired behind the first
sand ridge where they had left their guns and other equipage with the Kanaka
and Chowa's slaves. Here Mr. Macson informed the Princess anU the men as
to the course he intended to pursue, gave orders to march to the summit of the
of the sand ridge where they halted, fired their muskets into the air, then deliberately
reloading in plain view of the tumultuous Indians, he led the way directly
to the crowd surrounding the nearest mm cask. As they appiaached, the Indians
divided permitting them to pass unmolested. Having no means of securing
such large casks, he broke the head and the rum mingled with the Waters of the
ocean. Then followed by his party a few hundred yards down the beach he
dispersed the Indians, and secured the second cask in like manner.
For this insolent exhibition and thefts which followed, Dr. McLauglin gave
those Indians a justly merited chastisement which they never forgot, while the
Princess Chowa and her few brave adherents were suitably rewarded.
Captain Dominas having sailed on a cruise up the Northwest coast, and the
Convoy had gone into the Willamette river and opened trade a short distance
below Clackamas rapids. Said Mr. Macson: Capt. Thompson of the Convoy,