Page:History of Oregon Literature.djvu/604

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HISTORY OF OREGON LITERATURE

document regarding some locality, then personally visit it, to find in the geography the full explanation of the records. In his study at Barrycrest he has about 1000 maps, books enough to fill 110 feet of shelves and a vast amount of miscellaneous material so indexed that any item may be located almost instantly. He points out that as an author he is a good student—"I am far more interested in learning for myself than in bothering to write." Neverthless, he has prepared about 40 articles for the Oregon Historical Quarterly and the Washington Historical Quarterly, has contributed extensively to other magazines and has written something like 300 newspaper articles on historical subjects. In addition, he is author of several pamphlets, including Fort William and The French Canadian Pioneers of the Willamette Valley; is joint author with H. M. Barr, principal of the Irvington School, of Redskin and Pioneer, 1932; and has two books scheduled for publication, one ready in manuscript and "material for a dozen."


The Site of Old Fort William on Sauvie's Island

Fort William was built upon the site of the former Cath-lah-nal-qui-ah village of the Multnomah Tribe....Wyeth reached the end of his long journey in 1834 at the same time that the May Dacre arrived after the voyage around Cape Horn, so the livestock and cargo were unloaded at Warrior Rock, near St. Helens, which was the first temporary site of the fort. The brig then went to the Sandwich Islands for additional supplies, while Wyeth looked about for a permanent site for Fort William.

He is said to have selected the beautiful spot which he chose, on the present farm of Mr. Don Moar, because of its being on ground above the high water, and because it was opposite the usual route to the Tualatin and Willamette Valleys, now known as the Logie Trail.

In the latter part of April, 1835, the brig had returned, while a boat 70 feet in length had been constructed, on which was a cabin. A canoe 50 feet long had been dug out from a single log. The cattle, sheep, goats, hogs and poultry were then brought to this new establishment. Various buildings were erected, residences for the officers and men at the trading post, a strong storehouse, and shops for working of iron