Willamette farmer. (Salem, Or.) 1869-1887, November 26, 1886, Image 1

Willamette farmer., November 26, 1886, Image 1

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Newspaper Page TextV ite i IV. 2rr &X t. VOL. XVIII. OREGON PIONEER HISTORY. SKETCHES OF EARLY DAYS MEN TIMES IN THE FORTIES Hy DY S. A CLARKE. 'Cap) rljlit applied far. All lights r Jicri o J AN, NUMBER XLtll. . Rcminlsconcss of Ono of Orogon'g Territorial Governors, Jonn P. Oalnos. Thoso of us who wcro hero in tho early territorial days will remember that, tho torrltorinl olllcors umlor tho Taylor administration lrmilo tho long voyngo around by tlio ocean in tho U. S, store ship "Supply." There wcro on board tho family of Governor John P. Gaines of Kontucky, consisting of wife, two daughters and two sons, only ono of tho lattor now remaining in Oregon Abncr Gaines, Esq., of Linn county ; also tho families of Surveyor Goncrnl W. 13. Trcston, Secretary of State, General Hamilton, consisting of wifo and daughter, tho latter of whom is now Mrs. Lloyd Rrooko of Portland, thon a young lady in her toons ; also Judgo "Win. Strong and wifo. I think all thoir living children wcro born in Oregon. VOVAHE OF THE SHIP "SUPPLY." On tho voyngo down tho Atlnntio thoro was ovidently a postilonco on board tho Supply, for tho two daughters of tho Galnos family died of yellow fevor and were buried at St. Catherines, in Hrnzil, in tho year 18G0. Judgo Strong can roadily supply any details that may bo desired concerning this un fortunnto occurrence, that must havo seriously saddoncd tho party voyaging to Oregon. Tho following correspondence, that comes from our Stato department, re calls tho facU of that momontous voy ago and shows vory pleasantly tho kind ness that Americans abroad foel towards their own countrymen : I). Pedro I. Railway, ) Santa Catharina, April 5, 1885. j Thomas A. Osborne, Esq., Minister Plenipotentiary of tho Unttcd Statos of America, in Rio do Janeiro Dear Sir: During tho prospecting of this lino my cnginoers camo across ilio two gravos of tho daughters of Governor Gainoa of Oregon. A Email house, with brick walls, and tiled, had boon erected, and contained besides tho two graves abovo mentioned a nioimmont to tho memory of Consul Cathcart, many years ago Amoricnn consul at this port. As tho wlinlo structure and surroundings woro rapidly falling into ruins, wo took upon our solves to havo it repaired and tho ground again cleared. I subsequently took n photograph of tho tombstono erected to tho memory of Governor Gainos' daughters, and think ing it probablo that thoir rolatives in the States would liko ft copy I herewith beg to oncloso a prtut. May I ask you to do what you can in tho way of forwarding it, and with apologies for troubling you in tho matter, I remain, dear sir, yours faith fully, A. L. Alexander, Clu'ef Engineer. Tho following letter explains itsolf : Department of State, ) Washington, Hay 28, 18S5. $ His Excelloncy Zenas F. Moody, Gov ernor of Oregon, Salom Sir: I havo tho honor to encloso n copy of a letter from A. L. Aloxandor, Esq., chiof engi neer of tho "Dom Pedro I, Railway," sont from Santa Cathenna to our minis ter at Rio, and a photograph of tho tombstono erected "to tho memory of tho daughters of Governor Gaines of Oregon," at that place, to which it re lates. Tho department will thank you to transmit tho enclosure to tho family. I havo tho honor to bo your excellency's obedient sorvant, T. F. Hayard. The governor's privato secretary forwarded tho samo to tho Gaines' family through tho hands of Norris II. Looney, Esq., of Jeflerson, brother-in-law of Mr. Abner Gaines and on tho way I secured copies. Tho tombstone reads : Sacred to the memory of tho two daughters of Gov. Gaines of Oregon in the U. S. store ship Supply, in 1850. Ground cleared up and re-enclosed by tho U. S. steamers Metacomet and Powhatan in 1859 and 1SC0. Tombs repaired and ground cleared by English residents in Desterro, Santa Catharina, 1885. SALEM, OREGON, FRIDAY, From tho last clauso of tho inscrip tion it would nppoar that Mr. Alexander and others who accomplished tho recent renovation aro "English residents of Dcstorro," which is placed on tho map of Brazil ns tho capital of tho provinco of St. Catharina, whilo noar tho coast is on island of somo sizo also named "St. Cntharinus." Desterro is a port soverol hundred miles southwest of Rio do Janeiro. EARLY TERRITORIAL DAYS. Thcso facts recall to mind tho early days of territorial government iii Ore gon. A generation has pasEod and Governor Gaines is no more. General Hamilton has fulfilled an honored old age, and has also gono; tho actors of that early timo aro among our very aged men if yet living. I havo a pleas ant momory of Governor Gaines, who was a flno typo of ft Kcntuckinn, and camo to Oregon to rcmovo his family from tho ovils of slavery. I was well acquainted with him and visited occa sionally his beautiful homo in tho hills, about seven miles south of Salem, where ho tried about tho very first ex periment of introducing Short-horns, or Durhams as thon called, into this region. It is unpleasant to know that his ontor- priso was uhoad of tho timos and so premature that ho was n heavy loser. His lifo in Oregon was a disappointment, for ho failed to roalizo results from his caltlo importation, and as his means wcro limited it seriously crippled his finances. But tho Gaines hord is to day tho foundation stock of many good Jiving uerus, anu mo enterprise of Gov. Gaines was of groat bonofit to Oregon cattlo interests. Our stockmon will re cognizo that fact and unito with mo in rondoring duo justico to an early enter prise that rewarded tho public rather than iu public-spirited projector. A KENTUCKIAN ON THE KTI'MP. John P. Gaines was of cxcellout fam ily and a thoroughly excellent man and kind noighbor. Ho was a man of prin ciple and had many traits for leader ship. Tho whig party was in a lament ablo minority in thoso days, with a foiv pillars liko Dan Waldo and Josso Looney, tho Applogatos, and many othor good citizons, and they willingly conferred thn barren honor of nominations on Governor Gaines, who bravely took tho stump, as bravely backed up by Tom Dryer nnd tho Orcyonian. It is doubt ful if there over will bo such public gatherings again, hero, as responded to tho call whon Gen. Lnno and Gov. Gaines claimed a hearing. They turned out on masso and each party was satisfied with and proud of their champions I remember whon onco hore iu Salem thoy had an intolloctual encounter when wo thought Gainos was decidedly, tho best man. Ho capped his argu ment with n story of an old farmor who watched a hen trying to sit on too many eggs,. "Old Speck! you'll havo to spread yourself," said tho farmer. Tho application was nindo when summing up tho multitudinous promises Lano had mado in tho oponing speech, and tho homoly wit and humor of it took tho crowd, so that tho Lano adherents and tho old general himself had to join in tho laugh at his expense. Governor Gaines was a good debator and mado somo very remarkablo canvassis when tho fact of democratic supremacy being so absolute is taken into account. lie was tho subject of most undeserved and very persistont abuse in tho days when tho "Oregon stylo' of journalism was prevalent, i rememuer mat tno vory weok that his wifo was killed at Clatsop by an accident, when riding, the oppo sition press gave him its usual dose. Gaines was a man only to bo known and appreciated by thoso who knew him well enough to understand him well. Owing to newspaper prejudice, those opposed to him no doubt believed him cowardly, dishonest, dishonorable and bad, whereas he was brave, honor able, chivalrous and far abovo uverago men in true principle and moral and religious sentiment. Even at this lato day, I tako pleasure in doing honor to tho memory of a true man, who left slavory behind him and sought n homo lor ins cumircu uoyond Us reach. His son Archibald roturncd to tho East and settled in Arkansas, whoro an older brother lived. Ho was a most ox collcnt man, of tho highest principle and my personal friend, so that I know him well as n worthy son of a worthy siro. Mr. Abncr Gaines married a daughter of Jesso Loonoy, and has raised a largo family in Linn county, nil of whom hnvo reason to bo proud of thoir connection with Oregon's curly governor. The Oregon City Club of 1846. Among tho vory early arrivals in Oregon of whito mon was Dick McOary, a reckless adventurer, who probably led a lifo in tho mountains until tho beaver becamo scarce, whon ho emigrated to tho beautiful Willamette, with his In dian wifo and tho customary bolongings. Dick was ft "oard enso." 1 lo had moro cntcrpriso than practical industry, nnd, scarco as population was, ho tried to livo by his wits off of tho few whitos nnd numerous siwnshos of that time. McCary's enterprise followed illicit courses, and ho riggod up u still of vory primitivo design, to manufacture somo intoxicating ilutd to feed tho vicious appetites around him. Dick's liquor was distilled from vory raw molasses and enough brnn nnd middlings to givo body to tho spirits. Somewhere ho nro- cured nn anolont kottlo of sulllciont sizo, and managed to secure a coil of tin piping to distil through, nnd with this primitively original outfit ho com menced his manufacture. THE ORIOIN OF IILUE RUIN. Whatever tho quality of tho spirits that camo from tho "vasty deep" of his cauldron, it managod to mako drunk como and upsot tho equilibrium of tho convivinliets who partook of it. It was a rathor romarknblo product, and its color describod its character, for its comploxiou was bluo. Tho witty spirits about Oregon City, of whom Nesmitli was in tin load, guw it tho significant name of "llluo Ruin," a namo thnt was origiual with that time and that special beverage. The early legislators hud parsed a stringent pro hibitory law, and tin piiplo saw (hut it was actually unforced. Noithor M.iino, nor Kansas, nor Iowa have over begun to enforce prohibition as did the people of Oregon at that early time. Even the Hudson Uny Co., despito the immense profit in this uofarious trade, dared not to sell liquor commonly. Tho respect able sottlers all know that t disponso liquor to tho savages would bo to invite massacre and ruin of thoir hope. Dick McCary was not respectable, neither was his liquor; tho first notico tho peo ple had thai "bluo ruin" was mado in tho country was sooing tho results iu tho acts of thoso who partook of it. DR. ELIJAH WHITE ON 1118 MUSCLE. Dr. Elijah Whito, Indian nirent, recognized it as his duty to prevent such manufacture in tho Indian country, and following tho many clues of "tanglo foot" that woro visible, ho captured tho still and abolished it iu a summary way. Hut "bluo ruin" was in circulation, and in tho absonco of anything moro invit ing convivial spirits mado uso of tho ex isting circulating medium. Our story has not so much to do with Dick Mc Cary's liquor as with a select coterio of good fellows who used it, moro Iwcauso it was against law than for it intrinsic excellence, but I will stop to givo a littlo episodo that occurred when Whito was on a "still hunt" and had finally got po8es8ion of tho concealed outfit. Said jicuary: "un, yes, ur. wiijto, you have a little authority back of you, and put on a sight of airs, but if it wasn't for tho law I'd knock out of you right hero I" Dr. Whito was a slight mado man of a highly nervous temperamont, and he wasn't to 13 blurted oasily by uny such outlaw as Dick McCary. Ho knew tho valuo of oihcial character, anu mado tho most of it. So he answered Dick's bluii" with "Dick McCary, sir; Dick McCary, sir; I can tie my left hand bohind my back, sir, behind my buck, Bir, and whip you liko a dot;, sir!" All of which was very edifying to the intelli gent bystanders. NOVEMBER 8(5. 188(. JC .. ... .1 inuniC'i.'iuuiiiMiL'c. Avoid Trcspmors and raako Wild Gamo Profitable. Couvallm, Nov. 10, 18S0. Editor Willamette Farmer t I soo in your issue of tho Gth instant n good lottor from Mr. Matteson io garding gamo and trespass laws. Tho system of making nil game on a farm er's land his- property is a good ono, though I would amend it to conform somewhat with tho existing gamo Iiiwb. Tho trespass law ought also to bo moro 60vero; it is altogether too absurd that a farmer Hhould food gamo on his land simply to havo them shot by somo city shootist who perhaps ho docs not know from Adam. Think, however, Mr. Mat teson is rathor hard on tho Jnpaucso pheasant, ho is a fine gamo bird, and if ho is found to bo really injurious can bo easily enough killed oil"; anyhow, for tho present, ho is wclcomo to all ho can get on my littlo place. I dure say I'll get oven with him by nnd bye. Tho Eng lish pheasant, which is n precisely simi lar bird iu habits to tho Japanese, docs not injure tho local game. I havo seen over a hundred of them in ono field and in tho snmo Hold havo scon two or throo covoys of partndgo lions, also found wood-cock, snipo and wild duck iu the samo wood that the pheasants live in. What wo want are laws to enablo us to protect the game ou our lauds if wo wish to do so, and with such laws a good hoad of gamo in n placo would represent (if tho owner did not euro to shoot him solf or ask his friends todo so) a snug littlo sum of money paid to any fanner who choso to preservo his lands. Evon now I nm sure there nro plenty of city sports men who would gladly pay for tho right to shoot over a farm where ho was sure of having n good spot. Iu England nnd on tho continent ol Europe, and I urn informed in many of tho Easlorn States, largo Bums aro paid for shootings ovory year. Ono can hardly blamo tho city shootist for roaming over tho land ; tho majority of tho farmers don't mind him going over thoir land as thoro is hut littlo gamo on it for him to get nnd tho aver ago farmer docs not care to protect that, Givo tho fanners strong enough laws to punish trespassers and prctorvo tho gamo, which will quickly increaso nnd become valuable, and inasmuch that it cannot be shot without tho owner's pop mission sportmen will be glad to obtain that permission, and if necessary, pay for the samo to the ultimate benefit of both city sportsman and country fuimor alike. Geo. A!imtronj. Do not Exempt Money and Credits. Invi.vo, Or., Nov. 22, 188(1. K.litor Willamette Farmer i I notico in your issuo of Nov. 10, that tho citizens of Aunisvillo havo had the subject of assessment and taxation under advisement nnd especially the bill proposed by the tax commission. I nm astonished at tho comments of your correspondent : That "tho general drift of opinion was that money and credits should not bo taxed." Hut from what promises such conclusions can bo reached is moro than I can surmiso. Surely not from justice or equity. Whyshoull a banker who may havo tiO,000 in monoy, notes nnd accounts, and clothed in royal apparel and fares sumptuously every day, bo oxetnpt from taxation, and at tho samo timo resorts to our courts to protect his property ten times as often as ten farmers of equal assessment ? I find ou pago 81 of said report that iu 188. the assessed valuo of land was 11,101,908 and money notes and no. counts was $ 1:1.707,781 or very nearly one third ns much. What recompense is projwsed to land owners if their taxes are to bo increased iu tho proportion that money and credits may go free? This proposed bill has been under con- side-ration for some weeks and taken as; How to . "4 NO. 43 a whole is considered as a very unfair bill nnd would bo no better thnn tho present law, of courso there nro somo good points, but they aro fow and far between ; ono'cspecinlly unfair proposi tion spoken of is in tho deduction of in debtedness from the item of credits alone. 1 bellovo tho public sontimont of tho country is in favor of taxing all property including money and credits, with nn exomption of from SfiOO to $1000 to every housoholdor and deduct all indebtedness within tho Stnto. Respectfully, A. 0. Jenninub. Letter from folic County. Monmouth, Or., Nov. 22, 1880. IM I tor Willamette l'nrmon Sinco writing my Inst notes from this busy littlo village, your correspondent had an attack of homesickness, n din enso quito frequent among school boys and girls. Happily it seldom terminates seriously. Hut in tho enso of your scribo ovon old Don Quixoto's cheering declaration, is "Thoro is no rcmoinbrnuco that timo will not oblitornto nor pain thnt death will not terminate," fell on listless cars, nnd liko Sanco, comfort was not, and the consoquoncea were that Miss May Woodbury and tho writor gave Marion county a short call last weok. Tho trials of tho baoholors nro many. The ono of bread making is probably his greatest. Ho usually puts almost equal parts of baking powdors and flour, and insists ou a quart of yeast and n pint oi water, whilo ho kneadu iu flour until a slcdgo hammer will hardly dent his artistic loaf whon baked. But, boys, keep on kiuJading, and for your special oncourngemunt, I will quote two old proverbs, "A setting lion novcr grows fat," and "A rolling stono gathors no moss." It will bo well to remember them. Prof. Yates, of Independence, a former toucher in tho Normal, lectured in tho chapel last weok. Tho nudlouco wow appreciative, and his hints on tenacity of purpose, woro wiso and well tuned. Havo a purposo in view, and work to Ihat point. Do not skim over too many books, bo porfoot, and yet bowuro of tho mini of one book or idea. The young Indies athletic association is organized with Miss Millio Dougher ty an president. Tho ladies tako groat interest in this new movement and hnvo about 10 members. The Ilesporinns guvo tho Utopian nnd Vchportiuoi un invitation to attend their society last Friday. Tho exercises were quito intonating, showing considerable skill and care Tho young men uro do ing a good work. Tho Normal had pictures (akoii of its sovoral rooms which nro only passably good. Some faces nro so dark that a remembered position is all that will tell us iu tho years to como "who stands thoro." Tho young men who aro aspiring to lawyership and strifo iu tho political arena of our young State, had n mock trial Saturday. Tho jury could not ngreo so tho case will bo carried to a higher court. Tho new bell gives satisfaction and the ring of its iron tongue calls "come and go" every forty minutes, from !) A. M. until 1 P. M. President Stanley has returned from his business trip to Salem. During his absonco Prof. D. L. Camuboll dolivercd a scries of lectures on tho Classics. Miss Grace Ulackerby, of Silvorton. arrived horo Saturday and entered school to-day. Several other now stu donts have also arrived whoso names wo hnvo boon unnblo to ascertain. President Stanley loetured in Indc peneonco Friday evening. U. A. H. Vegetables of uny kind, and esjiecially onions, aro relished by fowls of all ages. Onions choppod fiuo and placed in tho soft food acts as a stimulant and tonlo. Tho top aro particularly good. Our experience is that tho onion flavor taints tho eggs of tho laying fowls.