Note 26 — Chapter XV · INCIDENTS ON THE RIVER (1845–50).

The original journal is silent about this affair, but the facts were suppressed, says Captain La Barge, by clerk Finch, of the American Fur Company, in order not to expose the questionable conduct of Campbell and Matlock in regard to the annuities. La Barge himself wrote the following marginal note opposite the entry for June 9: “The Indians fired on the boat while we were lying there and killed Charles Smith, deckhand.”