One year Later...Cowlitz and Nisqually

June 2 1842

John McLoughlin:

… we hope that so favourable a report may be given by those settled there as will induce others to follow: this will not only relieve the Red River Settlement of its surplus population, but strengthen the claims of Great Britian to the Territory, and the increase of the British population in that quarter must operate to the benefit of this Nation whenever a division of the country takes place.

McLoughlin, John. The Letters of John McLoughlin, From Fort Vancouver to the Governor and Committee: Second Series 1839-44. London: The Hudson's Bay Record Society, 1943. Pg 71n.

John McLoughlin, Courtesy of Project Gutenberg

Fort Vancouver, Day 134

Oct 13, 1841

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.

James Sinclair, BC Archives

The Dalles, Day 129

4 Oct, 1841.



John Flett:

We crossed the lake where it is about one mile in width.
Here our first horse was stolen, while we were engaged in crossing. Here, also Joseph CLINE, in company with an Indian, went to Fort Colville for provisions. He rejoined the party at old Fort Spokane, bringing some mouldy flour, some bran and some dried peas. Here we left two families, who on account of sickness were unable to proceed further.


Flett, John. "Interesting Local History: A Sketch of the Emigration from Selkirk's Settlement to Puget Sound in 1841." Tacoma Daily Ledger, February 1885.

James Sinclair, BC Archives

Fort Walla Walla, Day 125

Oct 1, 1841

John Flett:


We arrived at Fort Walla Walla on the 4th of October. On the next day the fort was burned. Our party assisted the men of the fort to save their good. The Indians were so numerous that it was not deemed safe to camp there, but we traveled down the Columbia until midnight.

Flett, John. "Interesting Local History: A Sketch of the Emigration from Selkirk's Settlement to Puget Sound in 1841." Tacoma Daily Ledger, February 1885.

James Sinclair, BC Archives

Lake Pend D’Orielle

Sometime between Aug 5 and Oct 4, 1841

John Flett:

On the ninth day after we entered the Rocky mountains we emerged on the western side,
at the Kootenai plain, then through a belt of timber, and then over the Tobacco prairie. To avoid some marshy land which lay in our course we climbed the projecting point of a high mountain, said to be one of the Bitter Root range. Then our route lay through a flat, marshy country until we came to a deep, sluggish river, called by the Indians Paddling river. Then our course lay to the southwest, through a rich country with plenty of grass, until we came to Lake Pend d'Oreille. While traveling along a rocky cliff jutting towards the lake a horse, ridden by one of our women, slipped and horse and rider rolled into the lake, and were rescued with some difficulty.

Flett, John. "Interesting Local History: A Sketch of the Emigration from Selkirk's Settlement to Puget Sound in 1841." Tacoma Daily Ledger, February 1885.

James Sinclair, BC Archives

Whiteman Creek/ Bow River, Day 65

Aug 5, 1841

George Simpson:

The prarie had perhaps been selected by our correspondent as his post office from its being the place, at which the only two routes, by which we could have crossed the height of Land in this part of the country, happened to converge. The emigrants having been trecherously deserted, at Bow Biver, by their Guide, a half brees of some education [James SInclair] providemtially met an indian of the name of Bras Croche, who, being better aquainted with the mountains than Peechee[the Guide who took Simpson over the moutains], carried them through a little to the southward by a pass infinitely superior to ours; and the fell upon our track again near our present encampment.

Simpson, George. A Narrative of a Journey Around the World: During the Years 1841 and 1842. 2 vols. Philidelphia: Lea and Blanchard, 1847. Pg 81-82.

John Flett:

Crossing the South branch we entered the timber, sometimes following an Indian trail and sometimes with no trail made. On the second day after we entered the mountains James BIRD, our guide, bidding adieu to his friends and relatives, started on his return. Sir George SIMPSON’s assertion that he deserted us is a mistake. On the 5th of August we reached the summit, and found ourselves on a small plateau. Here we saw a huge snow-drift (August 5th) whose melted waters formed three little rills; one running east through a deep canyon, and finding its way through the Saskatchewan into Hudson’s bay; another running southeast into the Missouri, and at last in the gulf, while the third sent its waters through those continuous woods where rolls the Oregon.

Flett, John. "Interesting Local History: A Sketch of the Emigration from Selkirk's Settlement to Puget Sound in 1841." Tacoma Daily Ledger, February 1885.

James Sinclair, BC Archives

Fort McLeod (Rocky Mountain House), Day 64

Aug 4, 1841


John Flett:

We overtook our party encamped at old Fort McLeod, an abandoned post of the H. B. company, now known as British Pass, or Rocky Mountain. Here we were compelled to abandon our carts and pack our goods on the backs of the oxen and horses. After long debate about what should be taken and what should be left behind, we at last had our train in readiness and started on our way.
The oxen, however, were unused to this mode of traveling, and were frightened, and a stampede ensued. Then what a sight, oxen bellowing, kicking, running; horses neighing, rearing, plunging; children squalling; women crying; men swearing, shouting and laughing; while the air seemed full of blankets, kettles, sacks of pots, pans and jerked buffalo. At last the cattle were again secured, all our goods that could be found were gathered up and the remnant repacked and we again started.

Flett, John. "Interesting Local History: A Sketch of the Emigration from Selkirk's Settlement to Puget Sound in 1841." Tacoma Daily Ledger, February 1885.


James Sinclair, BC Archives