John Flett:
When we reached the Cascades we found some boats on which the families, with some of the oldest men, sailed down the river, while the horses and cattle at Colville were driven to Vancouver, at which we all arrived on the 13th.
Here we met Sir George SIMPSON, P. OGDEN, John McLAUGHLIN, James DOUGLAS; and here Sir George informed us that the company could not keep its agreement. As I remember this was the substance of his speech; “Our agreement we cannot fulfill; we have neither horses, nor barns, nor fields for you, and you are at liberty to go where you please. You may go with the
California trappers; we will give you a fitout as we give others. If you go over the river to the American side we will help you none very sickly. If you go to the Cowlitz we will help you some. To those who will go to the Nesqually we will fulfill our agreement.” Of course we were all surprised and hurt at this speech. After some discussion the party divided; Joseph CLINE went to California, Pierre La ROQUE, St. GERMAIN, BERNEY, Jacques, GENEAU, La BLANC and Antoine La ROQUE went to the Cowlitz. The rest came to Nesqually, where we arrived November 8th, 1841, having travelled nearly 2000 miles without the loss of a single person, while three children were born on the way.York Boat with Sails
Flett, John. "Interesting Local History: A Sketch of the Emigration from Selkirk's Settlement to Puget Sound in 1841." Tacoma Daily Ledger, February 1885.
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