The
final stop on the Trail for many of the emigrants was Ft.
Vancouver--the massive British outpost on the north bank
of the Columbia. Most of the emigrants were now very low
on supplies and completely exhausted.
Emigrant
George Currey:
"A large proportion of the outfit has been consumed
by the disastrous journey,and the well-to-do thrifty-looking
citizen and his family have been worn to a tattered band
of hungry petitioners--begging his brothers of the earth.
But there was one thing that was not diminished; our appetites."
Explorer
John Fremont:
"Their thin and insufficient clothing, bareheaded
and barefooted children attesting to the length of the journey."
Without
help here, many would not live through the winter. But help
was exactly what they found--from a most unlikely source--a
man named John McLoughlin.
McLoughlin
was head of British Ft. Vancouver and his orders were to
discourage the American emigrants--but he did just the opposite.
McLoughlin offered the weary travelers food and medicine,
and he even organized rescue parties for emigrants in trouble
along the way. They affectionately dubbed him "The
Father of Oregon."
A
few emigrants had the opportunity to visit McLoughlin's
house at the fort; a rare dose of civility for the weary
travelers.
Emigrant
John Boardman:
"Well received by Dr. McLoughlin, who charged nothing
for the boat sent up for us, nor for the provisions; but
not satisfied with that, sent us plenty of salmon and potatoes,
furnished us house, room and wood free of charge, and was
very anxious that all should get through safe."
Emigrant
James Nesmith:
"Dr. John McLoughlin, from his own private resources,
rendered the new settlers much valuable aid by furnishing
the destitute with food, clothing and seed, waiting for
his pay until they had a surplus to dispose of."
Long
before the first wagon trains arrived, McLoughlin had built
Ft. Vancouver into the center of culture in the west. Convinced
the fort should be self-sufficient, McLoughlin had his men
plant over 2000 acres of vegetables, oats and wheat. The
first orchard in the west was here too, providing apples
and pears.
But
McLoughlin was interested in more than just the necessities
of life. The fort had a church, school and library, even
a theater--all quite astonishing to emigrants who had not
seen a city for nearly six months.
In
1845, a bastion was added, but not for protection against
the local tribes--it was a response to threats from the
American government. But no battle ever came. The boundary
dispute with Britain was settled peacefully. However, the
treaty put Ft. Vancouver on American soil. Trade diminished--and
by the 1860s, the fort was gone.
Across
the river from Ft. Vancouver came the final stop in the
2000 mile long trail--Oregon City.
From there the emigrants fanned out in all directions to
stake their claims and begin their new lives. They had reached
the promised land.
Ft
Vancouver National Historic Site
Official site of the National Park Service
