CHAPTER V.
THE OREGON MISSIONS.
Recruits for the Mission - Goes to Europe - Visits Rome - Sails for Oregon via Cape Horn - Incidents of the voyage - Visits to Chile and Peru - Crossing the Columbia bar - Activities in the Willamette valley - Visit to the interior - Winter among the KalispelsVisits St. Mary's - Return to the Willamette - Again visits the upper country-Starts in search of the Blackfeet - The Canadian, Morigeau - Failure to find Blackfeet - Passes winter at Fort Augustus - Perils of return journey - Extent of Oregon Missions - Return to St. Mary Mission - Sets out for St. Louis - Battle between Crows and Flatheads - Peace with the Blackfeet - At Fort Lewis - Voyage by skiff down the Missouri - Meeting the Mormons - Arrival in St. Louis - Survey of work in Oregon.
Father De Smet's enthusiasm and faith in his new work were unbounded. He inspired his superiors with his own confidence and they gave him a free hand to work out his plans. Early in the year 1843 he went as far south as New Orleans and as far east as Boston soliciting funds for his work. He succeeded in getting together a goodly supply of articles needed for the missions and three recruits - Father Peter De Vos, who was made Vice-Superior of the Missions, Father Adrian Hoeken, and Brother J. B. McGean. Father De Smet accompanied the little party on their way as far as Westport, going by the steamer John Auld. Near Glasgow, May 1st, they saw the distinguished naturalist Audubon, who was on the American Fur Company boat Omega with a party of scientists making an exploration of the Missouri. During Father De Smet's absence three more recruits arrived from Europe, but as they were too late for the expedition they waited in St. Louis until the following year.
Immediately upon his return to St. Louis Father De Smet set out for Europe and after a voyage of twenty-