EXPLORERS OF WESTERN AMERICA. 407 
November 14. — Line working very weak this morning. Circuit is growing 
stronger toward noon. 
ABSTRACTS FROM JOURNAL OF MR. J. P. O'kEEFE FOR 1 88 1. 
January 29. — Heard lower office call but was unable to break. 
June 23. — Thunderstorm. Lightning snapped at the lightning arrestor and 
exploded with great force. 
July 4. — Heavy thunderstorm. Lightning snapped on the lightning arrestor 
and exploded with great violence in the office. Several times during the evening 
I was certain that the station building would be struck and demolished, as the 
lightning was almost continuous. 
HISTORY. 
EXPLORERS OF WESTERN AMERICA. 
G. C. BROADHEAD. 
I. British Explorers. — The main object of the Spaniards in exploring 
hitherto unknown countries ■^z.'&gold; that of the English, trade. For this purpose 
in 1669, the Hudson Bay Company was organized, including Prince Rupert and 
one hundred and seventy Others. To this company Charles II, of England, gave 
and granted in fee as lord of the soil, all the territories on the coast and confines 
of all seas, lakes, and rivers within Hudson Strait, not actually in the occupancy 
of any other province or State, together with the sole and exclusive right of trad- 
ing with all inhabitants thereof. The chief aim of Charles in this, was the dis- 
covery of a northwest passage. The trade of the company amounted to but 
little for a long time, and in fact was exceeded by that of the French in Canada, 
and quite a war raged between the rival companies. The charter of the Hudson 
Bay Company did not specifically limit their territory. 
In 1774 the Northwest Company was formed. Among their chief men were 
MacKenzie, MacTavish, Frazier, Frobisher, and MacGillivrey. They soon be- 
came powerful, pushed trade to the Arctic Ocean, and in 1789 MacKenzie dis- 
covered the river bearing his name. In 1794 he crossed the Rocky Mountains 
and discovered Frazier River, and on the 25th of July reached the Pacific Ocean. 
In 1772 Sam'l Hearne, of the Hudson Bay Company, reached the Copper Mine 
River, and followed it to its mouth. In 181 2 the Hudson Bay Company dis- 
posed of a tract of land on the south shore of Lake Winnepeg to Lord Selkirk, 
who started a colony there. This was resisted by the Northwest Company, and 
their agents and men actually warred against its settlement, killing some and in 
1 8 14 driving others off. These differences were brought to the British ParUa- 
