name. He was well educated and prepared himself for the ministry, but did not follow that profession because some doubts arose in his mind as to the inspiration of the bible. He came to Oregon in 1843, and spent the first winter at Wai-il-et-pu. He was a man of much more than average ability, but very reticent when speaking of himself or family. In December, 1847, he assisted in raising the first company of volunteers to punish the Cayuse Indians for the murder of Dr. Whitman and others, and was elected captain. Soon after he was promoted to major, and a little later appointed peace commissioner. Not long after that he was chosen colonel of the regiment to succeed Col. Cornelius Gilliam, who lost his life by an accident, but returned his commission because he thought it should be given to Lieut. Col. James Waters. When the war was ended he was appointed superintendent of Indian affairs by Governor George Abernethy, and rendered good service in treating with the Indians. After that duty was performed he went to the California gold mines, and was successful. Upon returning, he brought a stock of goods, and formed a copartnership with S. W. Moss, having already been married to his daughter. In the fall of 1850 he went to New York with a large sum of money to buy more goods, and on his return trip he had an attack of the Panama fever, which caused his death. If he had lived to return he doubtless would have figured largely in the political affairs of the then young territory.
In the Spectator of July 9, 1846, there is a full account of the first 4th of July celebration in Oregon, and probably on the Pacific coast. Thirteen regular toasts were given, and the last one is in these words: "The American Ladies—accomplished, beautiful and useful. If every Oregonian swain was possessed of one, we could exclaim, 'Oregon is safe under the stars and stripes.'" This was really true at the time, the treaty fully making Oregon a part of the United States, having been signed June 15th preceeding; but it was not known in Oregon until November 12th, following; and then the news was brought by Benjamin Stark on a sailing vessel from Sandwich islands. The oration was delivered by Peter H. Burnett, a pioneer of 1843, afterward the first governor of California, elected as such by the vote of Oregonians who had gone with him to the mines, and who held the balance of power there.
On September 17, 1846, reference is made to a memorial prepared by Capt. George Wilkes on the subject of a national railroad between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, presented to congress in December, 1845, asking the legislature to indorse it.
From August 6th to October 1, 1846, John Fleming, the printer, edited the Spectator. Then George L. Curry, fresh from St. Louis by way of the plains, having come by the southern route through the famous Cow Creek Canyon, being with the first immigrant party that ever entered the Oregon territory from that direction, was installed as editor. Among other things he proposed to do was to give the paper a "firm and consistent American tone." In this number the war with Mexico is fore-shadowed.
In the issue of September 5, Mr. Curry speaks in high terms of the many conditions of Oregon society, and among other things says:
"We feel unfeigned pleasure in announcing to the world that the social, moral, political, and religious state of society in Oregon, is at least as elevated and enlightened as can be witnessed in any of the territorial or frontier settlements east of the Rocky mountains."
He admits, however, that the people may be behind hand in the matter of good clothes. To offset this they are congratulated upon having but few real loafers among them.
For the next eleven months but little is known about the paper, except that Mr. Curry was the editor. The printer was changed, John Fleming retiring, and N. W. Colwell, who also came in 1845, taking his place.
In the issue of October 15, 1846, it is announced that a roll of the Spectator's subscribers was called, but as they did not answer paid, according to the neces-
