taken possession of in the king's name on the 1st December, 1813, and
the British flag was run up with all the formalities of conquest, in
place of the American standard.
[87] Here is an assertion that Great Britain has been accruing title,
through the operations of her Hudson's Bay Company, ever since the
treaty of 1818. This gives an additional significance to her grant
of the civil and criminal jurisdiction of the territory, to that
incorporation. It will be well for our readers here to recollect the
declaration of our Government made in 1823, that thenceforth no portion
of the American Continents were to be considered as subjects for
European Colonization.
The Washington Historical Quarterly
Board of Editors
CLARENCE B. BAGLEY, Seattle.
J. N. BOWMAN, Seattle.
T. C. ELLIOTT, Walla Walla.
FRANK A. GOLDER, Pullman.
CEYLON S. KINGSTON, Cheney.
W. D. LYMAN, Walla Walla.
EDWARD MCMAHON, Seattle.
THOMAS W. PROSCH, Seattle.
OLIVER H. RICHARDSON, Seattle.
O. B. SPERLIN, Tacoma.
E. O. S. SCHOLEFIELD, Victoria, B. C.
ALLEN WEIR, Olympia.
Managing Editor
EDMOND S. MEANY
Business Manager
CHARLES W. SMITH
VOL. V NO. 2 APRIL, 1914
_ISSUED QUARTERLY_
Contents
T. C. ELLIOTT Journal of John Work, June-October,
1825 83
ANNA SLOAN WALKER History of the Liquor Laws of the
State of Washington 116
RALPH R. KNAPP Divorce in Washington 121
DOCUMENTS--A New Vancouver Journal 129
BOOK REVIEWS 138
NEWS DEPARTMENT 152
NORTHWESTERN HISTORY SYLLABUS 156
HISTORY TEACHERS' SECTION 158
THE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
UNIVERSITY STATION
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON
Entered at the post office at Seattle as second-class mail matter.
The Washington University
State Historical Society
* * * * *
Officers and Board of Trustees:
CLARENCE B. BAGLEY, President
JUDGE JOHN P. HOYT, Vice-President
JUDGE ROGER S. GREENE, Treasurer
PROFESSOR EDMOND S. MEANY, Secretary
JUDGE CORNELIUS H. HANFORD
JUDGE THOMAS BURKE
SAMUEL HILL
PRINTING DEPARTMENT UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
_Vol. V., No. 2 April, 1914_
The
Washington Historical Quarterly
JOURNAL OF JOHN WORK, JUNE-OCTOBER, 1825
(Introduction and annotations by T. C. Elliott.)
Readers of the Washington Historical Quarterly have already become
acquainted with Mr. John Work, an officer of the Hudson's Bay Company,
through his previous journal--with introductory note--published in
Volume III, pp. 198-228, recording the details of the journey of an
expedition from Fort George on the Columbia river to the Fraser river
and back in November-December, 1824, (in which he remarked among other
things about the "weighty rain" common to the Coast and Puget Sound
localities). Mr. Work's particular duties during January-May, 1825,
we do not know; this was the period during which Governor Simpson and
Chief Factor John McLoughlin selected the site for Fort Vancouver and
the headquarters were removed from Fort George (Astoria) to the new
location, which was on the high ground east of the present city of
Vancouver, Washington, where the buildings of the Washington (State)
Asylum for the Blind and Deaf now stand. Governor Simpson returned up
the Columbia river in March, 1825, with the Express bound for York
Factory on Hudson's Bay, but events indicate that he already had
learned to place much confidence in the young clerk John Work. In June,
Mr. Work finds himself assigned to duty in the interior and accompanies
the "brigade" of officers and voyagers under Mr. John McLeod returning
up the river with goods for the trade at the various interior forts.
Mr. McLeod was then stationed at Thompson River (Kamloops) but had
been given leave to return across the mountains to Hudson's Bay the
following spring.
Readers of the "three synoptical writers of Astoria," as Dr. Elliott
Coues designates Gabriel Franchere, Alexander Ross and Ross Cox, have
had occasion perhaps to tire of the narratives of successive journeys
up and down the Columbia river with the constant encounters with
the Indians at the Cascades and Dalles portages. In this journal we
have another account of the same journey and discover that with the
education of the Indians of the Columbia to the fixed and just policy
of the Northwest and Hudson's Bay Companies in their trade relations,
the hatred and distrust and armed resistance of these Indians has
already ceased to a great extent and that only the natural disposition
to pilfer has to be taken much into account.
Between June 21st and November 1st, 1825, the period covered by part
of this journal, Mr. Work journeys many miles and introduces us to
the regular lines of travel of the fur traders between their forts in
Washington, Northern Idaho and Montana and to some of the routine life
of the forts. He visits the Nez Perces at their trading ground where
the City of Lewiston, Idaho, now stands, the Flatheads at the spot
where the large power plant is now being erected below Thompson Falls,
Montana, and the then active Fort Okanogan, Washington, at the mouth of
that river where now there is only barren waste; but his headquarters
were at Spokane House, then as now the trade center for all the "Inland
Empire." He also tells of the very beginning of building and planting
at Kettle Falls, where the most important of the interior trading
posts, Fort Colvile, was just being started. Only the first part of
the entire journal is given in this issue and the remainder is to be
presented in a later number of the Quarterly, and then to be followed
by a second journal of the same writer.
For brief mention of Mr. Work's career the reader is referred to the
earlier number of this Quarterly--already cited, and to page 464 of
Volume II of H. H. Bancroft's History of the Northwest Coast. It is
sufficient to say here that Mr. Work was of Irish descent, the name
being properly spelled Wark, and that he remained in the service of
the Hudson's Bay Company continuously up to the time of his death
at Victoria, B.C., in 1861. This journal comes to us through his
descendants and is now deposited as a part of the archives of British
Columbia, and Mr. Scholefield, the Provincial Archivist, has kindly
compared this copy for publication. The journal has never before been
published and does not appear to have been examined or used by Hubert
Howe Bancroft, who had access to others of the Work journals in the
preparation of his series of histories.
The parenthetical marks are used to designate words that are doubtful
by reason of the original manuscripts being blurred or faded.
T. C. ELLIOTT.
JOURNAL.
June 21, 1825.
Drizzling rain with some weighty showers. Very little wind.
At 10 o'clock the Interior brigade, consisting of five boats carrying
pieces and manned by 32 men, left Fort Vancouver under the charge
of Mr. McLeod.[88] A sixth boat and 12 men under the charge of Mr.
McKay[89] accompanied the Brigade as a convoy to above the Chutes.[90]
The water is very high and the current strong. Encamped at 4 o'clock
opposite Quick Sand River.[91] We stopped at this early hour to get
some of the boats which were badly gummed. Some of the pieces were put
in Mr. McKay's boat to lighten the others.
Being ordered to proceed to Spokane in charge of the outfit for that
place, I accompany the brigade.
Wed.y. 22
Drizzling rain forenoon. Wind W.
Embarked at 3 o'clock and reached the Cascades at 1, had to carry at
the New Portage,[92] everything was got half way across the Portage
by 5 oclock when the men were employed gumming the boats. There were
a good many Indians, but they were very quiet, 60 to 70 salmon were
purchased from them, principally for Tobacco, at an inch per salmon.
Thursday 23
Dry weather, blowing fresh from the N. W.
Resumed carrying at 3 oclock and by 6 everything was embarked at the
upper end of the portage, where we proceeded up the river under saill
with a fine strong wind till 12 oclock when we put ashore a little
below Cape Horn,[93] Mr. McLeod considering it too rough to proceed.
Friday 24
Dry weather a fine breeze from the N. W.
Continued our journey at a little past 3 oclock with a nice sail wind
and reached the lower end of the Dalles about two and got boats & foods
about half way across the portage. We were detained more than two hours
at breakfast below the portage, as Mr. McKay left his boat with two
men, and the pieces had to be put in the other boats. On approaching
the Dalls the current was very strong and the boats being deep laden
it was difficult getting them up. My boat was caught in a whirlpool
and very near sunk, she was wheeled around three times before the men
got her out. There are a good many Indians on the portage we reckon
from 400 to 500, however they were very peaceable. Gave them a little
Tobacco to smoke and bought as much salmon as we required at equally
as low a price as at the Cascades.
Satd.y. 25
Clear very warm weather a little wind up the river in the morning but
calm afterwards.
Recommenced carrying at 1/2 past 2 oclock, had everything across the
portage[94] & embarked at 6, and were across the Chutes by 11. The
portage at the Chutes was short on account of the high water. Encamped
at 6 in the evening a little below Day's River,[95] to gum the boats.
We lost nearly 2 hours at breakfast below the Chutes. We reckoned 150
to 200 Indians at the Chutes, they were very quiet. Gave them to smoke
and also about an inch of Tobacco each when we were coming off. Mr.
McKay & Mr. Douglas,[96] with the convoy men left us at the upper end
of the Chutes to return to Fort Vancouver.
Sunday 26
Clear weather little breeze of wind from the N. W. in the morning and
evening, but calm and very warm in the middle of the day.
Continued our journey a little past 3 oclock and encamped at 7 in the
evening. Were detained 2 hours gumming the boats,--had the sails up
while the wind lasted in the morning and evening. A good many Indians
along the river.
Monday 27.
Clear, a fine breeze up the River in the morning but calm and
insufferably warm afterwards.
Embarked a little before 3 oclock, passed the lower end of the Big
Island[97] at 1/2 past 4 and encamped at 6 to gum one of the boats, we
were also detained 1-1/2 hours in the day gumming.
Tuesday 28
Clear very warm weather, a little breeze of wind down the river which
prevented the heat from being so oppressive as yesterday.
Continued our route before 3 o'clock and encamped late a little above
the Grand Rapid.[98] In ascending a piece of strong current doubling
a point in the evening, two of the boats got aground and sustained
some injury, one of them put ashore & gummed, the other went on to the
encampment, & had not time to repair. Traded some beaver from the
Indians along the River.
Wed.y. 29
Clear weather and notwithstanding there was a nice breeze down the
river the heat was oppressive.
We were detained gumming the boat till hear 5 o'clock when we embarked
and proceeded to Fort Nez Perces[99] where we remained at 12 o'clock
and had boats immediately unloaded, and the cargoes examined. These
were landed here from the five boats independent of the gentlemen
and mens private baggage 262 pieces, viz. (Laments) boat Mr. McLeod
passenger 47 pieces.--Ignace's boat J. Work passenger 52 pieces.--P. La
(Course's?) boat, Mr. Dease passenger 53 pieces.--Grosse (Chalon's?)
boat 55 pieces and Thomas Tagouche's boat 55 pieces.
Thursday 30th.
Notwithstanding it blew strong from the N. W. the heat was oppressive,
the sand, and wood about the fort were absolutely burning. In the
evening there was a great deal of thunder and lightening with heavy
squalls of wind and a few drops of rain, the wind sometimes quite hot.
Mr. McLeod occupied the greater part of this day separating the pieces
belonging to the different posts.
July 1825 Friday 1
Blowing strong from the N. W.
A party having to make a trip up the South branch[100] to trade
horses, (150 if possible,) the forenoon was occupied in making up an
assortment of goods for that purpose and a 1/2 past 1 o'clock Mr. Dease
accompanied by Mr. Dears,[101] myself and 28 men, embarked in two boats
and proceeded to a little up the South branch where we encamped for the
night.--Several Indians were about the entrance of the river, purchased
a few salmon from them, mostly small ones at about 2 inches of tobacco
each.--Our boats are very light laden, and the men well armed.
Mr. McLeod & 10 men remain at the Fort.
Satd.y. 2
Clear, and notwithstanding a pleasant breeze from the N. W., very warm.
Embarked at 3 oclock and pursued our journey up the river till past
6 when we encamped for the night. Made a good days march, as the men
worked constant and very hard.--The current was uniformly very strong,
and the water high, though it has fallen at least 1-1/2 or 2 feet from
its greatest height this season.--The shores are generally high, some
places steep rocks, at others undulating hills, the vegetation on which
seems to be burnt up with the heat and has a barren appearance. Here
and there along the river, bushes and grass appear green, having not
been deprived of moisture.
Passed several Indian lodges and traded 42 fresh and 9 dry salmon for
1-1/2 yards of Tobacco. The salmon are all of a small size.
Sunday 3
Clear excessive warm weather though there was a little breeze of wind
from the N. W. the heat was oppressive.
Continued our journey at 3 clock and encamped at the Flag River[102] at
2. There are a few lodges of Indians here who have some horses two of
which were purchased from them at 15 skins each. these are the first
horses we have seen in this river.
The general appearance of the river the same as yesterday, the shores
high and clearer. The general course of the river from its entrance to
this place may be about N. E., a little above its entrance it takes a
considerable turn to the Eastward and thus bends back to the Westward a
little below the Flag River.--From this place to Spokane[103] is about
1-1/2 days march on horseback. Nez Perces is about the same distance.
Monday 4
Clear very warm weather, the heat was suffocating.
Expecting that the Indians would bring some more horses to trade we
delayed embarking till 8 oclock when we proceeded up the river a short
distance where we put ashore at an Indian lodge and bought a horse,
which detained us a considerable time.--Two men rode the horses along
shore--made but a short days march. The heat and plenty of musquitos
which were very troublesome, allowed us to have but little sleep last
night. Encamped past 6 oclock.
The current still very strong, the general course of the river from a
little above Flag River a little more to the Eastward. Not many Indians
on the river and but few horses to be seen.
Tuesday 5
Clear a good breeze of wind up teh river which made the heat more
supportable than these days past.--The current very strong, course of
the river nearly E., the shores high with some times a low point, all
parched up with the excessive heat, here there some bushes that are
green are to be seen along the shores and in the little valleys or
creeks.
Embarked at 3 oclock and encamped a little below the La Monte. Made
a very short days march as we delayed a good deal along the river at
Indian lodges, bought 3 young horses at 18 skins each.
The Indians inform us that a large party went off to Spokane yesterday,
and that the Flat Heads and (Pendius?)[104] have been with the Indians
above and bought a number of horses from them.
Wed.y. 6
Stormy in the night and blowing fresh all day, Wind N. W.
In order to get some salmon from the Indians, delayed embarking till
8 oclock when we proceeded up the river, to La Monte[105] where we
encamped at 10--This is a place of rendezvouse for the Indians but only
one lodge is here at present, the others are all off in the plains
digging camass. Some Indians were sent off with Tobacco for the Natives
to smoke & to apprise them that we were here & would remain a few days
to purchase horses from them, and that we would then proceed to the
Forks[106] so that such of the Indians as are in that neighborhood may
be there to meet us.
Thursday 7
Cloudy blowing fresh from the N. W.--pleasant cool weather.
Several Indians of different tribes arrived at our camp from whom ten
horses were traded, 15 to 18 skins each. The most of these horses are
young not more than 3 years old and some of them very small. It would
have been desirable to get ones of larger size, but the great number
required renders it necessary to take such as can be got and not be too
choice.
Friday 8
Weather as yesterday.
Trade going on very slowly. A few Indians visited the camp, but only
6 horses were traded one of which was a wild one and was immediately
killed for the people. The Natives seem not eager to part with their
horses.--Generally young small ones are offered for sale, yet some of
those purchased today are good stout horses.--The articles generally
paid for a horse are a blanket, 3 pt, 6 skins, 4 or 5 skins, 1 yd. each
of green beads, a few skins of ammunition, a skin of Tobacco, a knife,
and sometimes, Buttons and Rings a skin or two.
Satd.y. 9
Cloudy Warm weather, Wind variable, not blowing so much as these days
past.
A few more Indians visited us but only 4 horses were traded & two of
these are young ones not broke in. We learn from the Ind.s. that the
natives above are collecting on the River to meet us.
The Indians at our camp occupy the most of their time gambling. The
River is falling very fast, the water is lowered four to 5 feet
perpendicular since it has been at its height this season.
Sunday 10
Though a fresh breeze from the Eastward the weather was very warm and
sultry.
In expectation that the Indians would trade some more horses we delayed
embarking till one oclock when we proceeded up the River, seeing that
nothing further was to be done. Stopped at the Indian lodges as we
passed and bought two unbroken in young horses one of which a beautiful
animal, lept so when he was haltered & the man not managing him
properly that he tumbled on his head & broke his neck.
The current continues very strong the course of the river from E. to S.
E. The appearance of the country continues much the same, the bank very
high & mostly rocky, the smooth summits & sides of the hills clothed
with dry grass, burnt up with the heat, here and there along the water
edge and in some of the deep valleys or coves tufts of willow and
poplars, and a few bushes of other kinds. Though the hills and valleys,
except on the faces of the steep rocks are well clothed with vegetation
nearly dried up, the country has altogether a barren appearance.
The Indians live (in) sort of houses or lodges constructed of drift
wood split & set on end, they are generally high and very large and
inhabited by a great many Indians. I counted upwards of fifty at one
house the dimensions of which were 40 yards long and 10 wide. These
houses are generally high and flat roofed, the one side is occupied by
the inhabitants who sit and sleep on the ground, and the other side is
appropriated for drying fish which are hung up generally in two tiers
the one above the other the lower ones so near the ground that one has
to stoop to get under them.--The air has a free circulation through
these habitations from the openness of their walls, which makes them
cool & comfortable when there is the least air of wind, but in case of
rain, from the openness of the roof, very little would be excluded.
However, this is an article that seldom troubles them.
The Natives along the River now are generally employed curing salmon
and collecting camass.
Monday 11
Cloudy but occasionally very warm Wind Easterly.
Waiting till the Indians would bring us some horses to trade deterred
us from embarking till 8 clock when seeing that only one horse could be
traded, we proceeded up the river and as usual stopped to smoke at the
most of the lodges which we passed which made our progress very slow,
however only one horse was purchased till we encamped in the evening
when four more were traded, making in all six today.
The appearance of the River and country much the same as yesterday.
The course from E. to S. E. The hills along shore appear less elevated
towards evening. The Indians near whom we are encamped offered a
sturgeon for sale, which shows that these fish ascend this high.
Tuesday 12
Cloudy blowing fresh from the Westward.
The Indians traded two more Horses which detained us till after
breakfast when we proceeded up the River till 11 oclock when we
encamped a little below the Forks at the lodge of an Ind.[107] called
Charly where a good many Indians are expected to assemble. About 70
men collected to smoke in the course of the afternoon. Two horses were
traded from them which makes 4 today.
Charly is considered to have a good deal of influence among the
natives. A present was therefore made him and he afterward harangued
the Indians from which good effects are expected tomorrow.
Wed.y. 13
Though cloudy part of the day, the weather was very warm and sultry.
A brisk trade of horses commenced in the morning and 15 were purchased
during the day, the greater part of which were bought before breakfast.
They are much finer horses and the prices rather lower than those
procurred below.--Horses are more numerous and much better here than
in the lower part of the river.--There were not so many Indians with
us today as yesterday, but they had more horses. The Indians who
visit us are of four different tribes, Chapoples[108] or Nezperces,
Pelooshis,[109] Carooris and Wallawallas. They are very peaceable but
a good deal of Tobacco is required to keep them smoking.--They amuse
themselves gambling in the evening they had a horse race.
In the course of the day a message was received from some Indians
further up the river, requesting us to go to their place, and more
horses would be procured. It seems a kind of jealousy exists among
the natives and the one party does not wish to sell their horses at
the camp of the other, or that they wish to have the honour of being
visited at their own camp.
Thursd.y. 14
Very little Wind, excessively warm, where we are encamped on the stony
sandy beach we are literally next to be roasted.
The trade did not go on so briskly as yesterday, only 8 horses were
bought, one of which was an unbroken in lame mare to kill, as she was
fit for nothing else.
Friday 15
Sometimes a little breeze of wind from the S. E. yet it was clear and
so sultry that the heat was oppresive.
Embarked at half past 5 oclock proceeded up the river and in 2 hours
arrived at the Forks[110] and encamped on the E. side of the North
branch where a few Indians are encamped shortly after we arrived about
40 of them with the old chief Cut Nose at their head visited us in
form, smoked, and were presented with about 3 inches of tobacco each.
A trade of horses was immediately commenced and 8 very good ones were
soon bought from them, though these people have plenty of horses yet
they say they have none, they mean probably that they can spare. This
is not Cut Nose's camp, it is farther up this branch.
In the afternoon a party of upwards of 100 men and a good many women
on horseback with the son of broken or cut arm, as chief at their
head, arrived down the S. branch, the Chief immediately on his arrival
presented a horse to Mr. Dease, and received a gun, 6 yds. of Beads &
Tobacco and ammunition 27 skins as a present in return. After smoaking
and getting about 3 Inches of Tobacco for each of his people, a trade
for horses was opened and 5 very good ones were soon bought which with
the one presented and the eight bought in the forenoon make 14 that
have been procured to day. These are the best horses we have got yet,
they are 18 to 20 skins each.
There is a little short of 200 Indians about our camp now, several of
those from below accompany us as we advance up, and those encamped here
with the band that arrived from the S. branch make about the above
number. They are very quiet and peaceable for so far.
The country about the Forks is flatter and the hills not so abrupt
as farther down. The South branch[111] falls in from the Southward,
and the North one from the S. E. the waters of these latter are quite
clear, while those of the other are white and muddy the North branch
seems not so large as the other, nor does not discharge such a body of
water. It may be about 250 to 300 yards wide.