Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1845-07-30
The Oregon Territory and the Big Fight il


hearing him read the Frccman's Journal aloud.
hit spread out the paper with an air of proud i'm
porance. folded it back in mysterious silence,
smoothod it carefully the table, cof' d cmphat-
cally, and lesure!y scanned his auditory with his
single optic. TO SEQ if all were properly attentive.
a low w h!sh-t!' ran round tho circle.
I'll 90 bail to the Queen is bringing over Re-
pale to on'd Iroland,' whispered Tom holly to big
Phil Doyle. the blacksmith.
More power her elbow, anyhow!' replied
! Phil.
There's going TO DO war between England and
Amoriky. said tho school muster in an elevated
voice.
'Taro an on, ,osl is Thereof and what are thoy
going to fight for?' inquired Ned Costello, the tai
! Tor.
What for! Why for fun, YOU apeon, what
else would they fight for.' replied tho blacksmith,
with slap of his Ia rd heavy hand upon the di-
minutivo taor's, shoulder, that caused it to ache
/ for week.
'Aisy, Msther Doyle; interrupted the reader:
heres the rights OF II printed III the paper; and,
according to my wake comprehension, it seems
that the row is all about place called tho Oregon
territory. that Polk an American is trying
! to get possession of.
AMI whereabouts is this Oregon territory,
Hlsther Donnel!an!' asked of tho party.
! 'Nhcroabouts7' SAID Kit, scratching his oar
with puzzled air. why, according to tho
latest onacrcoctic, investigation it's situated i'll
handy by tho town of Constantinople, on the Dor
doris Of paris and not far from tho Isle Of Man in
tho Propontic Occan-that's whcro tho Oregon
territory is.
Brother! exclaimed Tom Regan, who had
been listening quietly in tho corner Il know tho
Oregon territory better than any of yces; and
why should mt amt ono Of the ra!c ouId Orc
gan stock myself!
A general asson, was given to this family claim
, by tho party,
30 the sano token too continued Tom Il re-
member It was twenty years last Easther since
the big fight about tho O'Rcgan territory. Och!
that was an lillgant scrlmmagc; and beautiful
sight it was TO half the congregation with their
heads bandagod up at chapel on the next Sun
day
An unanimous request being made bv the par
~, Tim Regain consented to rotate the particulars
of tho big fight.
well ,hon,' said he, Il must toll you that
thero was littlo b, Of barren knocks lying
between Paddy l1ogan's Potaoe strip and my un-
clio Dan O'Regan's Garden which both Of them
claimed. 1t wouldn't give grazing to goose,
but that's nothing whero tho family pride and
honor IS concerned. Neither Of Thorn would givo
il up, it lay bctune them like a bone botuno
two dogs, that is afraid Of the othor to touch;
for, though tho Hognns had tho biggest faction in
the parish, tho O'Regans tho wickedest
hghtors. Things wont on peaceable enough in
) this way, barring small and ngin
at q fair or patthcrn, just to koop tho boys
hand in practice md saison their heads till, ono
; fine Easter Monday. Pady Hogan's pig took no.
ton into his head to stroll into tho knock It
wasn't long till my uncle Dan heard of the thrcs.
pass. and running out, he mot Paddy Hogan up
on tho road. Drive your pig out of my land;
Paddy logan, says no, COR III take tho curl out Of
his tail'.-'There isn't an O'Rogan in the barony
! could do that answered Paddy. Isn't there!'
says Dan, quito fair and aisy, and at the same
time hitting him crack with bit of a twip that
made Paddy's skull sound like an Imply taycan-
nlsior, and left hira kickinga daisy quilt. Oh!
you numbering villain, you've massacrayed nv
husband screeched Biddy Hogan, coming out Of
her cabling with n stono tied in the cornor of her
apron, and running at my uncle 'sho'd have made
an ugly dins in his noggin, if he hadn't chuckod
his head to avoid it. We'll, tho cry Of murther
was Tiz, md the boys came gathering from
all pa,tys:-of coorse no one asked what tho row
was about but all began to leather away for the
baro hfc-men, women and children-with sticks
and stones, spade, and pitchforks, or any thing
that came handy to thom.
{, The ould men and women and tho young chill
dhcr that wort abo to fight wore standing on the
bitches, scroeching and capping thoir hands and
shouting for their faction-'Whoo! the ORGANS
for ovory!' Whoo! limits he Sort Ned Hogan.
hit him again mo bouchal Honnom an daou! tho
days our own leigh for tho kilmany bovs!'
WHO'D for tho ORegan!' Tho young women
and girls mixed IN the thick Of tho fight trying,
, poor things, to keep their husbands and sweet
hearts from harm, and when Of those thoy
loved got blow that brought him to the ground.
throwing themselves on tho body and protecting
it with thoir own. Howsevor, to bring my sto-
ry to end, tho fight lasted till ovenin' for thero
was mono Of your dirty polls to hinder our divar-
sions in these times; and at last we fairly bato
the Hogans till they darn't wag tongue or q
finger. OF course Dan O'Regan took pcaceblo
possession of tho knock next day, and that's tho
way the dispute about the O'Regau territory vas
settled
A small hill oversrovn with ffuz or brush
wood