USA > Oregon > Pioneer days of Oregon history, Vol. II > Part 18
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25
Sir George Simpson came annually to see how the laws of the wilderness were observed, and such laws were in ac- cordance with the cast-iron, hard-hearted policy of the great corporation. Many writers have claimed that the officers of the company ruthlessly carried out this policy, and some of them may have done so, but there was a deal of humanity in the souls of most of the chief leaders. Beyond all ques- tion of discovery or of treaties, the ultimate of title came to be the fact of occupancy and settlement. The great cor- poration had grown confident that they could settle the
611
The Oregon Title
country and own it-or at least own all that lay north of the Columbia River.
The policy of detraction worked well, for a number of emigrations had been planned-as that of Hall J. Kelley in 1828-that had been dissuaded by mountaineers who de- clared it impossible, represented the savage tribes as im- placable and the mountains impassable. The Indian dele- gation that visited St. Louis in 1832 sounded the knell of the past and prepared the way for caravans to follow the route they came. In response to that appeal missionaries ventured, and where they led settlement followed. Elijah White learned the way on his first journey, and when he re- turned to Oregon in 1842, as United States Indian Agent, he gathered on the border the first immigration of true Americans who crossed the plains for purpose of settlement. This came as result of missionary venture and was the open- ing wedge that broke the isolation and destroyed a monopoly that had ruled and barred entrance to a region destined to become homes for millions.
The immigration of 1843 settled the "Oregon Question," and succeeding emigrations ratified the decree of fate. Whitman brought news of the safe arrival of those who crossed with Dr. White in 1842, and published on the border facts as to the value of land in Oregon, and as to climate and conditions, to interest intending settlers. He also gave his personal assurance that wagons could be taken through to the Columbia, and his promise to see that they were so taken. Thus it was that Providence, that shapes the des- tinies of nations as of men, through inscrutable ways opened the mountain gateways to admit the population that should Americanize the wilderness of original Oregon.
612
Pioneer Days of Oregon History
IS OREGON WORTH HAVING?
This was the question that occupied the mind of men who thought they were statesmen for a quarter of a century, from the time when Floyd, of Virginia, first introduced the question in the house in 1820, to 1845, when the value of our Pacific possessions became a fixed fact on the minds of Congressmen. It seems strange now, within the memory of some who were active then, to look back on Congressional debates that were participated in by men who were famous leaders in their time, and who defeated all measures looking to occupation of Oregon, denouncing them as Utopian schemes, mere fancies of diseased imaginations. It is not within the purpose of this work to argue the Oregon ques- tion over again or discuss it fully, but it is permissible to re- view it briefly. It will interest the present generation and that to come to know how little the value of this coast was appreciated so lately as half a century ago.
The matter of title is not what we wish told, but to show the idiosyncrasies of men who were supposed to be progres- sive, and certainly were influential, because they kept back legislation and made the majority in Congress believe that the United States never could be great enough to extend to the Pacific; nor that identity of interest could ever exist between the Atlantic and the Pacific. Floyd, of Virginia, believed in the occupation and settlement of Oregon. In 1820, and again in 1822, he urged the value of this region, its extent, its relation to the commerce of the Orient and of the world, the fur trade being the chief consideration for local value and immediate realization. But Congress was not informed, and was unwilling to realize as true what
613
The Oregon Title
seemed hyperbole with regard to the future of the nation's greatness. The distance was too great for a member of Congress to journey back and forth to attend sessions ; the mountain ranges were inaccessible and ordinary travel would be impossible. Speculation was wasted in discussing possi- bilities for journeying back and forth ; possibilities of sea and land were quoted, and urged, to make the matter more objectionable; the bar of the Columbia River was used as a hindrance to successful commerce. A writer, who pre- tended to know about the region he told of, pronounced all the Inland Empire, from the Cascade Range to the spurs of the Rocky Mountains, to be "a region where forest trees totally disappeared and nothing larger than the common willow is to be seen. The whole interesting tract is one of gravel and sand, with just soil enough to sustain a scanty covering of grass. On the Willamette, a tract of country of moderate extent is found, which affords some advantages of soil and climate superior to those which have just been mentioned; and it is here, and here only, that the least prospect for an agricultural settlement can be found." The same writer had the grace to own that "there were places along the Columbia where a few families might set down to- gether." Yet to-day those spots along the Columbia and Snake Rivers ship hundreds of car loads of fruit to cities of the East; the beautiful uplands, that were so scant of soil in the older time, ship to the world's markets tens of mil- lions of bushels of the finest wheat the world knows, and have helped to change the lately scant supply of bread for the world to vast abundance ; that, too, on soil that is so deep that ploughshare can never reveal its depth. And to clinch his assertion with more positive assertion, the same author
614
Pioneer Days of Oregon History
concludes : "The God of nature had interposed obstacles to this connection" (of the Atlantic with the Pacific) which neither the enterprise nor the science of this or any other age can overcome!
This was uttered by one who pretended that he had reli- able information, gathered from those who knew the coun- try well, and was published to the world as fact concerning a region that has over a million population to-day and will make a home for ten millions in the not distant future. There was much effective support; Linn and Benton, in the Senate from Missouri, earnestly and ably seconded and advocated all measures proposed in favor of Oregon. It was in vain that successive Presidents in their messages urged action for occupation ; that the friends of Oregon advocated the same; that the wealth of the region was proven ; the mass of Congress was so inert that no possible momentum could affect it; so incapable of taking in the scope of the argument were they that it was waste of time to argue; it required so much grasp of mind and breadth of enterprise to imagine a nation reaching from ocean to ocean that years passed, a quarter of a century went by and little was done. But in the meantime facts accumu- lated so that it was no longer possible to be sarcastic, as was Senator Dickenson of New Jersey, in treating of this mat- ter of inaccessibility.
So far as that American Congress was concerned, all that was Oregon would be the possession of Great Britain in our day, for all the interest that was taken by Congress prior to the time when Americans took up the line of March with "Westward Ho!" for their motto, and proved the title of occupancy beyond question. The people of the United
615
The Oregon Title
States showed more interest than did their Congressmen. The pioneer was not a politician, but he heard the motto of the campaign of 1844: "54° 40' or fight !" and before that election was consummated he, in his collective capacity, had settled the vexed question, for he had possession of the promised land.
CHAPTER LVIII
PIONEER SHIP BUILDING-STORY OF THE STAR OF OREGON
AN interesting incident of early time was the building of the schooner Star, in 1840-41, for the purpose of sail- ing her to California to there trade her off for cattle, of which the few settlers then in the valley were in great need, as is explained in the statement of Captain Joseph Gale, that follows :
Joseph Gale may have been, as he says, an uneducated man, but surely possessed graphic powers of description ; this statement he wrote at request of Senator J. W. Nesmith, who took much interest in all that related to pioneer history. It is admirably written and preserves in most authentic shape the story of the building of the schooner Star under cir- cumstances that seemed to be almost insurmountable.
Only for the fortunate presence of Commodore Wilkes, who was then making the exploring voyage that leaves his name historic, and was at the time surveying the Columbia River and Sound waters, it would not have been a success ; but the commodore had great influence with Governor Mc- Loughlin, so secured for these adventurers the needed ma- terial. Only practical seamen can understand the courage of Joseph Gale, in venturing to sea with a crew who had no knowledge of seamanship; but it is doubtful if more credit is due to Gale for so venturing or to the landsmen who so confidingly trusted themselves to his guidance. It was a pleasing incident and consistent with the heroic character
617
Story of the Star of Oregon
of that time. It was by such effort as this and such un- daunted courage that the handful of settlers who were in Oregon in 1840 secured stock for their farms ; as also, that recruits were secured for the struggling colony, for Joseph Gale brought back quite a company, who also increased greatly the number of stock driven to Oregon.
Gale had had previous experience on the sea, but later had been a free trapper and mountain man, one of the six told of by Squire Ebberts, who located together on Tuality Plains. When organization of the provisional government was ac- complished, he was chosen as one of the three executive com- mittee who acted as head of the new government, so must have commanded the respect of the people.
This statement of building the Star of Oregon was found among papers of Senator Nesmith, after his death, and was furnished to the Pioneer Society for publication by his daughter, Mrs. Molson.
THE SCHOONER STAR
AN ACCOUNT OF HER CONSTRUCTION AND VOYAGE TO CALIFORNIA
It was not until the latter part of the summer of 1840 that the spirit of American enterprise began to manifest itself in Oregon. Previous to that it appeared to be dead; but, instead, it was only in- active for the want of something to arouse it into action. Among the desiderata of the country were horses and cattle. It is true that there were quite a number of cattle in the valley, and these were held by Ewing Young, the Methodist Mission and the Hudson's Bay Company, and with such tenacity that it was next to an impossibility to purchase them at any reasonable price. The want of these were severely felt by nearly every settler in the Wallamet Valley. How to better our cases by supplying ourselves with such animals was a question that troubled and puzzled us all.
Consequent upon our deficiency was the question of the practica- bility of building a vessel and sail her to California and there dispose of ber for stock. This proposition was favorably received and
618
Pioneer Days of Oregon History
thoroughly discussed pro and con. The result was an organization of a company of the following named men for that purpose, viz .: John Canan, Ralph Kilbourne, Pleasant Armstrong, Henry Woods, George Davis and Jacob Green. These men secured the services of Felix Hathaway, an excellent ship carpenter, to lay out, assist and superin- tend the work generally. They all shortly after got their tools, pro- visions, etc., together and descended the Wallamet River to near its junction with the Columbia, and there, on the east side of Swan Island, selected a site upon which to build their vessel.
Now in regard to myself. In the first instance I did not join the company. My reason for not doing so was owing to the fact of having agreed with five of my old mountain companions to form a settlement in Tualatin plains. These five men were Robert Newell, George W. Ebberts, Caleb Wilkins, William Doty and J. L. Meek. But, never- theless, I had given the company my word, and all the advice in refer- ence to the model and general construction of the vessel they were about to build, that I would join them as soon as I saw a sufficient amount of work done on her to insure the completion of the remainder, and all that I possessed that could be converted into funds should be invested in the enterprise.
Now, as I have said, they selected a site on Swan Island upon which to build their vessel, and went to work like men who are deter- mined to accomplish their purpose. The first work done was to find a stick sufficiently long and sound for her keel. This was found on Sauvie's Island, i.e., Wapato Island, and cut down and found to be forty-eight feet and eight inches long, which was roughly hewed and transported to Swan Island, and there dressed to its proper dimen- sions, and put in place; and from that time the work went rapidly on, notwithstanding the opposition of the Hudson's Bay Company, which had been anticipated-in fact, no piece of work ever met with more discouraging prospects. Even Felix Hathaway became discouraged and quit the work when it was a little over half completed. This was owing partly to the company not having the means to pay him for his work and partly on account of scarcity of provisions.
The vessel, however, was nearly planked up to the waterways, and in that condition she was launched. The launching took place on the 19th day of May, 1841, and without the slightest accident. From Swan Island she was worked up to the Wallamet Falls.
While they were getting her to the Wallamet Falls I was waited upon by two of the company, John Canan and Ralph Kilbourne, to
619
Story of the Star of Oregon
remind me of my promise, and at the same time offer me the command and also a full share if I would gratify them in that respect. This, of course, I willingly did, for my heart and well wishes were with them all the time; and from that time until the final consummation of the undertaking I was closely engaged in the work. I sold my farm and farming utensils to Courtney Walker, removed my family to Cham- poeg, and went down and took charge of the whole concern.
Kilbourne and myself did the remainder of the work. Kilbourne was a good mechanic. It is not pertinent to this narrative to dwell upon the treatment of the Hudson's Bay Company to us; suffice it to say that they did all they could to deter us from the work; but it went on until completed in spite of them. And had it not been for Captain Wilkes, in all probability we would have been obliged to lay the vessel up on account of not being able to procure cordage and canvas for rigging and sails.
He interviewed Dr. McLoughlin on the subject pretty roughly. The doctor excused himself by saying that he thought they were making a coffin for themselves, for, said he, "there is Gale at the head, who has been in the Hudson's Bay Company for several years as a hunter and trapper, and what does he or the rest of them know about the managing and navigating of a vessel at sea?" "Never mind," said or retorted the captain, "I have seen enough to convince me that he knows what he is about, and if you should have such things as they need, you will oblige not only me, but, I believe, every American in the country, by letting them have them, and should they not be able to pay you for them, and as I shall want a considerable amount of such things myself, you may charge the aggregated amount to me and I will settle the same with you." "Oh, well, well," said the doctor, "they can have as much of cordage and other materials as they wish."
So the store, through Commodore Wilkes's influence, was thrown open to us; but alas! the season was too far advanced for us to get the vessel in readiness to make the passage that fall. We, neverthe- less, while the chances of getting those things were so favorable, and for fear that after the commodore would leave the river they might shut down on us again, purchased an ample supply of all the neces- saries we needed, such as cordage, canvas, paints, oils, etc., etc., for which we paid the company in wheat and furs of different kinds, and returned thanks to Commodore Wilkes for his generous offer.
We continued the work on till late in the fall, and yet she was not in a fit condition for sea. About this time two of the six men, George
620
Pioneer Days of Oregon History
Davis and Henry Woods, became dissatisfied and wished to withdraw from the company. But one of the articles of the company's agree- ment stated plainly that if any person or persons should wish to with- draw from the company, he or they should forfeit all interest in the vessel. This, however, made no difference to them, for they withdrew, notwithstanding; consequently there were but five left.
Shortly after this I was taken down with the fever and ague, and reduced in such a manner that I was hardly able to do anything; and while lying in that condition I received a letter from Commodore Wilkes, in which he stated that he was on the point of leaving the country, and that he felt greatly interested in the successful issue of our enterprise, and as there was no port or town from which we could hail or clear, and that without such, or papers to show from and to what government we belonged, there would be the probability of having our vessel seized. And he further stated:
"If you can convince me that you understand navigation, I am ready to furnish you with papers that will be honored in whatever port you may enter, for I do not think it advisable for you or any other person to attempt it without an adequate knowledge of that science, it matters not in other respects how good a seaman one may be."
How generous and noble the old commodore. He was perfectly right. Now for me to wait on him in person was out of the question. I therefore called Kilbourne and told him to get his pen, ink and paper and write while I dictated. So we soon had the following letter written:
To Commodore Charles Wilkes, of the United States Navy.
DEAR SIR: I received your very kind letter and am very thankful for the interest you have taken in our affairs, but I am very sorry that I cannot see you in person, owing to being confined to my bed by the fever and ague. I acknowledge the propriety of your remarks in reference to going to sea without a knowledge of navigation, and also the entering of a foreign port without papers to show from whence I came. I do not, my dear sir, profess to be a consummate navigator, yet I have a sufficient knowledge of that science to take a vessel to any given port upon the globe, and as it is almost impossible for me to see you in person, you will very much oblige me by proposing such questions which, should I be able to satisfactorily answer, may con- vince you of that fact. With much respect,
I am your obliged and humble servant,
JOSEPH GALE.
To Commodore Charles Wilkes,
of the U. S. N.
621
Story of the Star of Oregon
This letter was dispatched immediately to the mouth of the Colum- bia River and delivered to the commodore. The next morning our boat started on its return, and in three days after I received an answer in which were a few questions regarding the science of navigation, which I answered and dispatched in a second letter to the commodore, and on the return of our boat I was highly rejoiced to find that my answers were satisfactory. In consequence of this I received a large document with the United States seal upon it, which was the papers alluded to by the commodore.
The Exploring Squadron left the country a few days afterwards. The grand old commodore, before leaving, made us a present of a flag, an ensign, and also a compass, a kedge anchor, and hawser 140 fathoms long, a log line and two log glasses-14 and 20 seconds glasses. I bought a quadrant epitome and a nautical almanac from . Kilbourne, who was Captain Couch's mate, for which I paid him forty- five dollars. These were sufficient for all ordinary purposes. Now we lacked nothing; our outfit was as complete as circumstances would permit, and yet we were not ready to go to sea. It now being late in October, I advised the laying up of the vessel, which was done. We all, with the exception of one, who was appointed ship keeper, left for our several homes and employed ourselves to suit the occasion. I went to work for the Methodist Mission, running their saw mill at Salem, and continued thus employed until June, 1842. I then quit working for them and summoned the partners in the vessel to appear at the falls for the purpose of fitting our vessel for her intended voyage.
We all now set to with a will, so that by the middle of August our vessel was all ready, with the exception of getting our provisions in for the trip, to try her speed upon the ocean. It was generally pre- dicted that as soon as we saw the great Pacific our hearts would fail us and we would return. These predictions came very near being prophetic, for had I sanctioned in the least the propositions made by all except one it would have been done. But no, the die was cast, and so far as regards myself, I would sooner have gone to Davy Jones's locker (as the sailors say) than to have turned back and had the finger of scorn pointed at me ever after.
The following is a description of the schooner Star: She was forty-eight feet and eight inches on the keel, and fifty-three feet and eight inches over all; that is, from night heads to taffrail, with ten feet and nine inches beam in the widest part, and drew, when in good bal-
622
Pioneer Days of Oregon History
last trim, four feet six inches water. Her frame was of swamp white oak, her knees were of seasoned red fir roots, her beams and carlins were of seasoned red fir timber. She was clinker built and was of the Baltimore clipper model. She was planked with clear cedar planks dressed to plump one and one-fourth inches, which was spiked to every rib with a wrought-iron spike one-half inch square, driven through a three-eighth hole and clinched on the inner side; her tim- bers standing nine inches apart, a nail one-fourth inch square was driven between each timber. Her deck was double, first a three-fourth board and over which, so to break joints, a plank of one and one- fourth inches, which obviated the necessity of pitch and rendered her deck perfectly watertight. She was what is generally called a fore and after; that is, she had no topsails, but simply foresail, mainsail, gib and flying gib. Her spars were made of the straight fir sticks and consisted of foremast, fore topmast, mainmast and main topmast, bowsprit and flying jibboom; and thus equipped and painted black, with a small white ribbon running from stem to stern, she was one of the handsomest little crafts that ever sat upon the water. The most of her irons were made by the celebrated gunsmith, Thomas J. Hub- bard, a gentleman to whom more honor was due than he ever received for his services rendered to the early settlers of Oregon. But alas ! he is now no more.
Now came the command, "All aboard !" I had taken my leave of my wife and children and also of my friends on the 25th of August and embarked on the 26th. The 27th we got under way and descended the Wallamet to its mouth and came to anchor there. The next day, being in need of wood and some extra spars, we lay at anchor. The 29th we got under way and shot out into the Columbia, with the wind blowing a half gale. We worked up against it to Fort Vancouver, not because we had any need for so doing, but merely by the way of taunting the inmates and showing our little beauty to them. The flag that Commodore Wilkes made us a present of had not as yet been hoisted. The breeze was all that could be wished for. Our vessel was performing admirably, and just as we made the last stretch, with the flag in readiness, we ran so close to the bark Vancouver that we nearly touched her, then the word was given "Helm alee !" and as she spun around on her keel the Stars and Stripes were flung flauntingly in the face of those British tars. We proceeded about a cable length ahead and came to anchor, and so near the beach that we could plainly hear the comments passed upon our boat.
623
Story of the Star of Oregon
I penned the following note to Mr. Douglas, Dr. McLoughlin being absent:
James Douglas, Esq.
SIR: As I am now on my way to California, if you have any letters or command that you wish to send to Mr. Ray, residing there, I will, with pleasure, take them to him.
Very respectfully, JOSEPH GALE.
I received the following answer:
Mr. Joseph Gale.
SIR: As the schooner Cadborough, Captain Scarborough, will leave for that port soon we will not trouble you in that particular. [His very words.]
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.