Oregon spectator. (Oregon City, O.T. [i.e. Or.]) 1846-1855, July 22, 1847, Image 4

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Jjr't Drcfos 9pctutor.
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And that tale heps aessnuwa gives
, That k will he fa Mw.
1 watMslattakwerWof pain,
Aai UH kai can. a4 ifa,
ShaaM a mbefafli joy tpceire
Or al Mr kv BMid win.
I waaMMt tab sBmartal mind
WMeavieM. m each eeHght,
SbeaM be diaw-Teaaaasear popart
WiOinfata fa realm of Uj-bt.
1 woulcl ast tkat the powers af, mag-,
Oraaaicli, or kjre'e careea,
Or aaaatifr ekarator eleaneace,
'Tab earth afcae saoaM Uem
Taa great that aUatatta which wo UMo
Ta bo esaaacM bora,.
Oa ttoaoar, pukytey af aarth;
TInt better Meat aaaaU cheer.
I waatlaet whoa, heagbi law with pain,
As4sjBtCsa4atIaa,
Bo i in fijiir Wf lae SriaiM tlwagfct
IKoTaMeUlalo. - '
?V 'MtfltWhoao,aaUoiUoLorJ
M, J. B.
r " i. i '. i i ii ii'n i in i i i i
for (at Ortgn Sptctfmr.
. Clatsc Plains, Junk 27, 1847.
To Yds EDITOE OF THE OxEGON SPEC
TATOB. r- H
Sia-Doubttees the events that have oc
curred in tbii county during the past week
will be of sufficient interest to most of the
people of Oregon to induce them to read a
particular account of them, should they find
them in the eolumns of your paper. I will
not pretend to give more than a simple state
ment of .facts as they came under my own
observation and within my own knowledge.
On the 28th of June, I received the -tol-
lowing1 aeaa'-from D. Ingalls Esq., as fol-lows---
' - Astoria, Jcne 18, 1847.
W. H. Gray Esq. Sib I now write a
few lines on the state of the (Union.) We
have a liquor Jealcr hero Georgo T. Geer,
at ShtwfcsVDle -who is doing a land office
hmiaass Wyig salmon. I am told he bought
18 gallons of Spanish brandy from tho ship
Brutus, which is very lafrong and fiery. He
says he "will do just as he pleases in Oregon
and no one sliall hinder him, and if any one
comes to disturb him ho will give all his
liquor to the Indians to induce them to pro
tect him and themselves, and he will have
the satisfaction of getting somo of tho Clat
sops killed." A little war has broke out at
Chenook already. It seems that the Che
nooks have intended to kill some two or three
jieople, for (as they say "potlatching tomana
ava") giving medicine to the young ttee
girl that lately died, so they gave their vic
tim as much liquor as he would drink till he
was" helpless, and then stabbed him in many
places.
Old Ramsey took his daughter and two
more girls up to tho' ship, last night they sent
a canoe after him. This morning they pur
sued bjm down about ShortcssYs and shot
throe balls into him but did not kill him till
after they brought him to Bulls an Indian
hut -where he died. Before ho- was shot,
Jio offered to give his girl and a slavo for his
life, but his girl would not go, allcdging sho
would not be a slave and did not think they
would killher father, so they shot him.
They, still threaten, to kill old George and
the old Doctor at old Sally's. Tho Indians
are much afraid, they only want mora liquor
and thoy can soon do tho deed.
I do not know that wo are in any danger
hero more than usual, but it is very disa
greeable The law is useless in my hands
lor want- of people to back it. I shall not
pretend to. put my life in danger of Indian
liialicu without a commuuity to hack mo.
Yours, , DAVID INGALLS.
P. S. Iipresu'mo that J. Strang. John
Champ, S. C. Smith, Benj. Wood, and Mr.
McGunlgale lire witnesses in this caift.
Tiis letter was immediately presented to
it number of tho oltizens and a consultation
had on the subject as to w,hat was best to be
done, and the. following notice sent to each
porspn within reach.
";To te Citizens of Clatsop County.
The undersigned respectfully notify you
that the laws of Oregon are being set at do
ilanceat Astoria, in trading and giving ar
Jent spirits to tho 'Indians, with throats to
continue setHn and' rivirur Iri'th violation
of the Uw, as nor letter of D. Io'galls Esq. ao-
VUnilMMTUlg IIUStl.tyMCC.
This is to request your personal services
and presence at the house or Joseph Chamni.
on aUho mouth of tho Skepnoin, on Tues.
brmging with you such arms, aud twenty
fire or more toads of ammunition, as each of
you may have or be ablo to obtain for the oo
casion, &c; to proceed from thenco as may
bo deemed expedient and proper in the case.
Respectfully, yours,
W. H. GRAY,
CALVIN TIDBITS,
S. H. SMITH.
-P. S. Wo have this instant received a noto
from George T. Geer, which accompanies
this. v "
The note of Mr. Geer is as follows it
was unsealed and directed on the outside
"To Josenh Cenlcsor whomsoever i. mav
concern, Clatsop Plains." Inside it reads) J
"Ft. George, June 20, 1847.
To Mr. Joseph Caplos. or whomsoever It
may be that has said that they will ootno
over tomorrow and pour out somo liquor that
there is here, if you think that there is any
here you had better come and see, 1 will in
sure that you will bo received according to
your profession and you will be well paid.
Please call as soon as possible or you wo'nt
find any.
Yours, Aic. G. T. GEER.
These several papers were sent to tho citi
zens on the -1st inst.
Tuesday morning, i!2d June, a warrant,
subpena, Are. was put into tho hands of tho
sheriff, Mr. Cuples, nnd before 9 o'clock
thirty.onc men were assembled at the house
of Mr. Champion. Mr. Robinson was call,
ed to preside over the deliberations. On
motion, Mr. Thomas Owens was unanimous
ly chosen to command the company, on the
present occasion and to accompany tho slier
iff in the discharge of tho duties of his office.
A small canoe was dispatched with only two
men it, to land opposito Astoria in GrayB
Bay, and request. McGunigalc to go over
with them to the Fort and to watch the move
ments of tho Indians and of Geer till the
sheriff and a part of his possec could Cjpefc
over. A boat and some men followed and
in a short time the remainder of the party
proceeded ; two boats landed below Sharks
ville, (the houses built by the crow of tho
Shark,) on the point below Astoria a canoe
with fivo men proceeded directly on to the
usual place of landing. On rounding the
point they found Mr. Geer pninting his
launch, which-thoy-vcanic along.side of.
Mr. Geer soon bethought himself that, ho
wanted something from the noinchc wns'rc
quested not to go, but still insisted, on going
to tho house and jumped into his hkiff for
that purposo. tyno of tho men on shore,
who by this time had arrived at their station
bchindtho house, called tc those in tho ca
noc not to let him come ashore. By this time
Mr. Geer found that he had but one way of
escape and that was to put into the Colum
bia ; ho accordingly gavo a specimen of his
aquatic abilities and made off into tho rivor
with the canoe in close pursuit. Ho was
soon so unfortunate as to break or loso one of
his oars, which left him but one wing to his
flight. Tho canoo being well manned with
five paddles soon came along side of him ;
hero ho displayed skill worthy of a better
cause, for ho kept tho canoe and men all at
bay (though I think ho was unarmed and a
nart of tho men in the canoe had their stssl
arms) by pushing ott the canoo and nearnr
upsetting it till a second, canoe came to their
assistance which by manouvoring so as to
como up under or against tho stern of his
skiff while ho was in tho bow fending off, he
was shoved directly across the bow of the
first canoe. Seeing his position, ho at onoe
rqado a pass at tho bow ot the first canoe, In
which tho fivo men wero, attempted to jump
into it and Rink the canoe, men and all. Esq.
TcbbitH who was in the canoo und could not
swim at all seeing him jump at his canoo ev
idently with the design to sink it, caught
him by the hair of tho head and both went
into the water together. Geer went under,
Tibbrts cuught the skiff and wont but partly
undor. Geer came up und attempted to up
set tho canoe, but was prevented and taken
in. By this timo the skiff in the affray had
swamped, and llio canoo was half full of wa
ter. Geer mado ono attempt whllo in tba
canoo to upsot it and was ordered to desist
or ho would bu shot instantly, as there were
several lives depending on tho safety of tho
canoe, thoy all being from half a milt to a
mile from shore, and the swells from an ebb
titlo were strong.
You may bo assured that this cold water
bueincs is a splendid coolotive toHhe fires of
alcohol, especially as cool a draft as Geer
had on this occasion, ho was soon landed
and mado for his houso, which by this timo
was surrounded or at least guarded. Ho
called for his arnw and threatened to shoot
some person in tho canoe. I afterwards
learned that it was tho ono who told him to
not upsot tho canoo, ho was arrested and put
undor guard. Tho sheriff was ordorcd to
proceed with his search warrant to see if be
could find any liquor about the house, taking
two witnesses with him he did so and found
two kegs with liquor in them, nnd a bottle of
Spanish brandy. During the time Geer was
bVinglarrcstcd MoGunnigale said and sworo
hiwhtiU irofand act tho Indians to rescue
Geer and send his arms to him, saying he
would use them if ho was in Geer's place.
McGunnigalo was immediately arrestee ana
put under guard a writ issued and served
upon him forthwith to appear beforo W. II.
Gray in Clatsop Plains.
Search was made wherever there was any
.in In nnnrohnnrl llinnt WB finV lintlOr
abour the premises, and tho question was
asked by the xiicriii on taxing ino uotuo into
his hand "Whose is this V No ono made
any answer. No one claims. this, we will
pour it out. Ho accordingly opened the bot
tle and handed it to his witnesses to know
what it was. Thoy decided, Spanish bran
dy of the best quality, or at least very strong.
lie then placed his hand upon ono of the
kegs and enquired whose it was and wax an
sworedby Mr. Gcor "mine by G ." The
sheriff was ordered to take care of it till the
cose was decided ; ho then inquiicd tutting
ins liana upon mo sccona Keg "wnoso is
this 7" Was answered by Gcor, "that is Mr.
Welch's." (Geer moant tho kt-g only was
Wcleh'n. tho iinuor was Gcer's aa he after
wards stated. Ho had borrowed tho keg of
wcicii.) no was orucrou 10 lane careoi u
for further proceedings.
At this moment somo person mqved that
tho liquor be disposed of now, that it shodld
do no mote harm. . I second that motion,
was heard from all quarters, with the remark
"let the sheriff turn it out upon tho ground.
" Well," said he, " if you nil say so, I sup
pose I must do it," nnd out came the bungs
of tho casks, nnd I should think somo ten or
twelve gallons of liquor went into the earth.
(Concluded in our next.)
Association ok American Geologists.
Tlui Moon. At the lata Convention of Amcri.
can Geologists in this city, Mr. J. D. Dailtt
read a paper on tho geological features of the
noon. About two. thirds of the lunar sphere
is composed of volcuuic mountains. Out of
101)0 heights, 0 are almost 120,000 fuct in
altitude, and -.! exceed 15,700 feet. Broad
truncated cones aro its most common clcva
tions, and aro among tho loftiest. 'Die pits
between are of all dimensions ; 100 miles
wide, and near 20,000 feet deep. The era
tor "Bailey" is ascertained to Ito 1-10 1-2
statuto miles in diameter. "Clavitis," 143,
&c. fcc. Tho depth of "Nowton" 2aM
feet. These pits aro generJIy circular.f
Sometimes they seem almost artificiultlMrcg.
ular with' ridgy walls, and sometimes large
openings. Not uhfrcqucntly with small cones
on the ridecs. Tho liaht ".streaks" form ra
diating lines around somo of tho larger cones
J --lH---ih it ihu Riilor." "Kptilr."
"Copernicus,'' and "Aristarchus," 100 to
.160 miles long, and cross ridges and depres.
ions, without interruption, as if they wero
bauds of liitht'comini; up through open fis
sures, and ccoalsscing about tho summit of
"Kepler;" so that the wholo surluco seems
nebuluswith light. Sir. W. Herschel first
published' an account of volcanic action in
tho rrioon.
Tho following remarks wero mado by
Professor Ren wick, after tho reading of Mr.
Dana's paper.
"It may bo suggested in reply to tho ques
tion of Professor Silliman, that it is not sur
prising lnBt wa-or n8a not been detected on
tho surface of tho moon, for if aqueous mat
ter exists thero, it must under tho circum
stances have tho solid form. It is woll known
that much of tho heat experienced nt tho sur
face of tho earth is duo toiliowessurooftho
air, and as the moon hasfnoappraachablo af
mosnhcrc. its surfaco will bo in thcr-samo
condition as tho tops of tlteJiU'hcst moun
tains of the earth. These aro altove the lim
it of perpetual congelation, which, were then
no atmosphere, would be as low as tho lewd
of the eea. Tho moon, therefore, having
little or no atmosphere, tho aqueous matter
which, from analogy, wo may iiffor to cxit
thoro, must exist at its surfaco in tho form
of ioo and snow. Ex. Paper. ,
Mental Cultivation. -What stubbing,
ploughing, digging and harrowing is to tho
land, thinking, reflecting, and examining is
to the mind. Bach has its proper culture :
and as the land that Is suffered to He waste
and wild for a long time will be overspread
with oniMiwood, oramiHes, thorns, and sucn
vegetables which have neither use nor beau
ty, so there will not fail to sprout tip In a
neglected uncultivated misd a great number
of prejudices and absurd opinions, which
owe their origin partly to the soil itself, tho
paastoaa and imperfections or the mind ni
man, and partly to those seeds whieh diaacu
to be scattered in it by every wfnsVef doc
trine which the cunning of statesmen,, thn
singularity of pedants, and the superstition
of fools shall raise. Berkeley.
FobinstoFun. Tho New Orleans Picay
inn in lirinht mirror rt-flectimr for oarr aainh
nil ttw fun and frolic culminated around it.
"We havo often heard in our day af legal
m.!kU. nu. that wiltv iflUIMl. "a-nt If 11
Philadelphia lawyer can beat the following.
lately urged to a jury in ims city ; ne can
take our not, aye, and our corduroys. The
iiriHmer on his trial for enlcrine a house
in tho night time with intent to steal. Tho
testimony was clear that ho had mauo an
opening sufficiently lnrgo to admit tho upper
nnrt ,,f liiM lxwlv. and through which he pro-
truJod himself about half way, and it retch
ing out his arm committed the men.
Mr. Obfusticato Brief addresses the jury :
" What an outrage," (looking horrified and
with outstretched aud trembling arms)" I re
peat what any outrage upon your intelligence
aud common sense is it for tho Stato'a At
torncy to ask at your hands the conviction of
my client upon such testimony ! Tho law i
agninst entering a house and can a man be
said to rssra nouso. wbcq only omtyhalf of
htsKidy is in and tho other is out t Gentle,
men, look at tho Divine law on this point
God commanded Adam and Eve not to cut
tho apple i. c. tho whole of ihu apple. And
all the commentators agree that if they had
only eaten onchalf they would never have
been expelled from the blooming Garden of
Eden."
The jury brought in a verdict of "guilty"
as to ono half of his body from tho waist up,
and " not guilty" us to the other half.
Tho judge sentenced the guilty half to one
year's imprisonment, leaving it to tho oris,
oner's option to havo the innocent half cut
off or tukc it ulong with him. Bos. Trans.
CorrRf. Bag Skirts. Tho ladies of New
Orleans it is said, are in tho habit of using
coffee bags, instead of grass cloth skirts,
and Intrlv a vory dashing spinster, passing
tho ruins' of un old building, her light dress
waB caught by a nail, and was torn almost
entirely oil', revealing to tho astonished spec
tntors tho well known commercial phrase,
"Primo old Java," written in largo charac
ters upon tho skirt, underneath. Tho mor
tification of tho lady may be imagined ; sho
immediately hurried into a cab, and drove
homo in a stato of distraction.
Punishment of a Suicipu. Tho follow,
ing story is told of a member of tho Indiana
Legislature, who is the butt of his associate!
on account of Mb ignorance. Opposito thn
member at a tablo, sal a siiifuiwng, who af
ter (mining forward, and saying something
about rovising tho laws, asked him vory
gravely "Mr. , what, in your opinion
ought to be dono with a man who would do
liberatcly commit suicido?" Tho learned
law maker clapped Ins hands upon his crani-um-to
nupKrt his brain whllo ho was resolv
ing this intellectual difficulty, and wisely re
plied, "Why, Sir, I'd go for making the ras
cal pay five hundred dollars to tho stato, and
marry tho girl I"
(KrA Luimtio onco informed a physician
who was classifying cases of insanity, that
ho lost his senses by tyatohing a politician,
whoso courBO was so crooked" that it turned
his brain.
&
l-'f.--