Joseph Hasbrouck Frost

“ Some pages of the journal are missing, but Frost's activities at this time may be learned from Lee and Frost's Ten Years in Oregon. On September 1 he left Astoria with Dr. Tolmie and Calvin Tibbetts to visit Solomon H. Smith. By crossing Young's Bay in a canoe, going up the Skipanon River to within a mile of the plain, crossing the plain on foot to the ocean and walking along the beach they reached the mouth of the Necoxie Creek. Here they found Smith, who was living in a log cabin, 15 feet square, without roof or floor. ”

“ Left Vancouver with my family, and all my effects for Fort George this afternoon.
4. Spent the night at an Indian village just below the upper mouth of the Walamette, where, being obliged to lodge in an open boat without any tent, we found the mosquitoes so anoying that I was obliged to sit up nearly the whole night and keep them off of Mrs. F. and Emory while they slept.
7. We arrived at Fort George on the morning of the 6th. Here we met with a kind reception from Mr. Birnie and family. Had all my goods safely stored, and put up our bed. ”

“ This is a stormy morning. The Ocean is very rough, but we ride safely at anchor, having, through, the mercies of God escaped the dangers of the mighty deep. Cleared up in the afternoon and became very pleasant. Brs. D. & J. Lee left in a canoe with all the Indians for Vancouver.
23. Very pleasant morning. The wind being favourable, orders were given to get under way, so at 11 Oclock A. M. hoisted anchor, and bore away for the river. Mr. Berny [4] from Fort George, and an Indian of the Chenook acted as pilots. ”

“ Today we recd a pilot [10] from Vancouver and a note from Br. Lee, informing us of his safe arrival, and kind reception. Doct. McLaughlin sent us some fresh bread and butter from the fort. Quite a treat. Today we reached Pugets Island.
30. Today we succeeded in ascending the river as far as the Willamette river. We passed near the shore in one place, where there was an Indian burying place. They bury their dead in the following manner. The corpse is laid in a canoe, and the canoe is placed on the steep bank of the river. In that place there was 10 or 15 canoes in sight. ”

“ Being satisfied that the man was not as near his end as they imagined, she endeavoured to persuade them to desist from their purpose to bury him, at least until morning, when if he died they would bury him. ”

“ I cannot but utter the prayer of the Psalmist in this place. "Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end."
29. This morning Dr. McLaughlin came down from pillar rock with his men, bringing with them an Indian who was with the slave, one of the murderers who was shot on the 27th, and as there was no doubt that this Indian was as deeply implicated as the slave he was consequently adjudged worthy of death according to the laws of Great Britain & America. ”

“ Well, they are professedly gentlemen, and will not refuse, if it is possible for them to render the assistance required, but by accommodating the missionary they are straightened in carrying forward their own plans, and say to themselves, and to one another, these men are professing to do much for the Heathen, but surely they are very lame in all their operations; they can effect nothing with out our assistance ”

“ A canoe arrived this morning from the party of men who are in search of the murderers, bringing in it a slave girl wounded, a ball having entered her arm between the shoulder & elbow, and lodged under her shoulder. ”

“ Myself and family to Chenook, Several families left for Willamette on friday last. We had preaching today by Br. Richmond from Matt. 11.29 and by Br. Hines from 2 Cor. 5.12.
11. All hands busily engaged in making preparations for their departure from Vancouver except my family and Br. Abernethys. Today Br. D. Lee and Miss Ware were joined together in the bands of matrimony. [11] And in the afternoon the most of our company left, some for Willamette, and others for the dalls. I joined the company for the dalls. Our fleet consisted of two canoes, and a large row boat. ”

“ She is beyond the reach of her heathen masters, and although she has died in heathenism, yet her case is far preferable to that of those who die under the full blaze of gospel light, and whose hearts have, notwithstanding their superior privileges, remained unsanctified through the truth. ”

“ Mr. Birnie, Smith, and myself went across to Young's Bay to find a place on which Mr. Smith could make a farm. We found a very good place on Youngs Bay near Point Adams, after which we returned quite fatigued with our ramble.
11. Commenced getting the Chicalish and Chenook languages. Last Saturday Mrs. F. commenced a school consisting of Mr. Birnie's children, [16] and our Emory. Today Br. Smith's two children attended. There is disturbance among the Indians in this region at present, there has been several killed of late. ”

“ The men in the canoe also informed us that one of the murderous slaves was shot, and another woman was slightly wounded in the arm. However necessary it may be to avenge the death of the white man, and to prevent these savages from shedding more blood, yet it is painful in the extreme to be a witness to these scenes.
28. Most of the party returned this morning without having effected anything farther relative to the to the apprehension of the Indians after whom they were in search. ”

“ Birnie's family and my own. But we would not despise the day of small things.
17. A young man at this place expressed great anxiety on Saturday last, and also on yesterday morning, for the welfare of Kenneth McKay, who was near the pillar rock, five or six miles from this, salting salmon. And having obtained leave of Mr. Birnie, he set out yesterday morning to see him; but to his astonishment, when he arrived at the place, he found McKay murdered in his bed, and he also found an Indian boy that was with him lying dead out side of the tent. ”

“ So stupid and superstitious are these poor Indians. When the moon rose we put out from shore and on the
18. We arrived at Vancouver. Found Mrs. F. in health. But Emory has the simptoms of the ague & fever.
19. Sabbath. Br. Lee preached in the morning from 2 Tim. 2.11-13. I preached at 3 Oclock from Rom. 10.17.
26. I preached from Isa 45.22. Br. D. Lee Preached in the afternoon from 1 Cor. 9.24.25.
AUG [UST] 2. At Vancouver during the week past waiting for a boat, which returned from Walamette falls on friday. This morning at 1⁄2 past 10 I preached to the people from Prov. 3.6. ”

“ Oregon Historical Quarterly, XXXIV, 314-23. couver as we anticipated when we left the mission, we were only 15 miles, across land from the place we left on thursday. This being Saturday, we determined to pitch our tent and remain until Monday morning. Mr. and Mrs. Kone took up their lodgings at Mr. McKay's and Br. Hines and myself abode in the tent. On sabbath Br. Hines preached from thes-e words, "We love him, because he first loved us." On Monday we set out with two canoes leaving some of Mr. K's goods in the care of Dr. Tolmie, to be sent down to the falls in the Companie's boat. ”

“ All this time I was looking to God for assistance, and was truly thankful that, although I could not in concience ask for one man, the Lord was disposing the hearts of those gentlemen to assist us, when they saw our neces sity. ”

“ Dunkin. [5] Cast anchor at Fort George. Mrs. Frost & Emory with others of our company went on shore. A number of Indians came on board to trade baskets, Beeswax &c. Mr. Berny very kindly furnished us with some very good milk for tea & coffee &c.
24. Weighed anchor and proceeded up the river. We went but a short distance however before the ship ran aground. Preaching at 10 by Br. Judson from 2 Peter 3 & last. at 2 by Br. Kone from Ps. 2.8.
25. Through this day we have made about 3 miles up the river. The Bark Columbia & a schooner [6] are coming down, both in sight. ”

“ Birnie had six daughters, five of whom were pupils of Mrs. Frost; Lee and Frost, 269. ↑ McKay was a half-breed Iroquois. For full account of the murder and punishment of the murderers see Lee and Frost, 270-74 ; Hines, Oregon, 390-91. ↑ The first of Captain Couch's vessels to enter the river. ↑ Frost was the only white man present who did not take an active part in the hanging of the murderer; Hines, Oregon, 391. ↑ Hines' trip to the Umpqua proved to be so dangerous on account of the hostility of the Indians that the plan for a mission there was abandoned ”

“ Tolmie from Vancouver, who came down with a party of men to avenge the death of McCay, and several from on board of the Maryland which is lying at this place. Text Ps. 16.8. Mrs. F. is afflicted with the ague & fever at present. Emory not well.
24. This morning a party of men left in a large boat, and canoe to cut off the Indians who instigated and committed the murder of McCay. ”