loneerkozi.et1ion; - ScholarsArchive at Oregon State University

62 DONALD MANSON.
at the fort until his people had restored all they bad stolen and satisfied the
Captain for damages committed.
Capt. McNeill soon after sailed for the Sandwich Islands where he sold his
vessel to Mr. Duncan Finalyson, agent of Dr. McLaughlin. Capt McNeill
sailed the Lame to Columbia river, invested his money and entered the service
of the Hudson Bay Company, became a Chief Factor and died at Victoria in
1875.
In 1827, Mr. Manson first visited the Champoeg villages to fit out the southern
bound brigade. Tn 1829, in company with Dr. McLaughlin, made an extended
tour through the Willamette valley for the purpose of making a careful examination
as to its adaptability to agricultural purposes. But to recount in chronological
order the more interesting events in which. Mr. Manson has borne a conspicuous
part during life of 55 years upon this coast, would greatly exceed the
limited space at my command. It must therefore suffice to say, he took a leading
part in the construction and at different times had charge of nearly all the
Companies forts on the Pacific side of the Rocky mountains.
When for a term of years, his company held a lease or fur trading privilege
npon a part of Rusian America, for which Dr. McLaughlin paid annually a stip.
ulated price in Oregon wheat, Mr. Manson was ses'eral times sent into those
high northern latitudes. No man of his generation was more conversant with
the hi5tory of the native tribes or pos;essed a more thorough knowledge of the
country from the head of the Willamette valley to the frozen glaciers of Alaska,
than the venerable Donald Manson. One of the most vigilant, sagacious and
dauntless frontiersmen on the North Pacific coast, he was the officer upon whom
Dr. McLaughlin relied to command the post of most iminent danger. In 1839,
after a service of 22 consecutive years, he was given one year's furlow which he
spent in visiting his native Highland home. His parents were then living. Said
Mr. Manson, this was the great holiday of my life which, with a host of friends,
I enjoyed beyond measure.
On his return to Vancouver in 1841, he learned that his old traveling companion,
Mr. Black, with whom he had journeyed across the continent in 5823,
had been murdered by Indians at Fort Camloops. Dr. McLaughlin sent him
to that post to apprelend and punish the guilty parties, which was soon satisfactorily
accomplished, as was also an insubordination which occured at Fort
Stikine, resulting in the death of Dr. McLaughlin's son John.
In 1844, he was appointed Executive officer of the district of New Calidonia,
continued to administer its affairs with his usual ability for 14 years, when he
tendered the resignaion of his commission to the Company which he had faithfully
served for more than forty years. Having purchased of Dr. Newell his