The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-05-22
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ROSS ADvENTgREs on THE OREGON
Although nearly forty years have elapsed
since Mr.. Ross embarked in the service Of
John Jacob Astor to aid in establishing the
"Pacifc Fur Company" and underwent the
experiences this volume narrates, much
earlier appearance might not have added
greatly 10 its attractions. The disputes on
the Oregon question have drawn degree OF
notice 10 the country and its occupation, that
would not have arisen from its natural lea
lures Washington Irving's umivalled COM
pilation, astoria, has made the general rea-
der familiar with the large speculation Of Mr..
Astor, and the general adventures Of the
persons who embarked in it, so that there is
ready interest on the subject. Mr.. Ross,
indeed, is much more literal and prosaic than
his predecessor but we have the other side
OF the case, with greater freshness in some
things than the most skillul compiler could
attain to with a commercial correspondence
as his main authority. Mr. Ross narra-
tive, too, has often an inherent interest, aris-
ing from the story Of the formation Of the
settlement and the adventures Of the fur
traders, which exhibit the life OF that hardy
and not very scrupulous race
Mr.. Ross appears to have parsed his life
in the fur regions. His preface, of August,
ls46, is dated from the Red River Settle
ment, the only pretence to colony in the
Hndson's Bay territory. Except for rather
nervous anxiety and needless suspicion about
the Oregon Indians-which, however, might
have arisen from the novelty Of The adven-
ture and geographical position--we should
infer that lie may have had something to do
with one Of the British fur companies before
he entered Astor's service, and was tempted
from It by the promise Of future "partner-
ship" lie was one of the patty that reach
ed the Oregon river by sea passage round
Cape Horn; and he places the disputes be-
tween Captain Thorne and the partners or
directors in a different light from Irving who
seems to have heightened with his humor the
captains story. We hear nothing OF the
fuil-dress visits in kits and scarlet to the po-
tentates Of the Sandwich Islands, or Of the
marshalled pilgrimage TO the spot of Cook $
death the attempts at the interference Of
the "directors" with the ship are incidentally
denied; though they did demonstrate when
severe discipline was screwed up into cruel
ty or disregard Of life, or when the captain
persisted, at starting, in sending the "me-
chanics," who were also engaged to act as
junior clerks, among the common sailors.
This was the first ground of offence; and out
Of revenge the directors talked Gaelec, and
the Canadian French, neither Of which
tongues the captain understood In return
and frightened them thoroughly at Falkland'a
Islands. His making sail on the ship, when
some Of the civilians were disporting them
selves on ahore, if only piece of maugaise
Piaisdnterie, Seems to have fully effected it,
authors purpose.
While we were thus eagerly employed,
little did we suspect what was going on in
another quarter; for, about two o'clock in
the afternoon, one Of our party called out,
"The ships of!"--when all Of us, running
to the top Of little eminence, beheld, to
our infinite surprise and dsmay, the Tonquin
under full sail, steering out Of the bay We
knew too well the caous and headstrong
passions Of the Maynard captain to hesitate
moment in determining what to do; with
hearts, therefore, beating between anxious
hope and despair, some made for the boat,
while others kept running and firing over hill
and dale to warn Messrs. M'Dougal and Stu
art, who had not yet returned. In half ar
hour we were all at the waters edge the
ship by this time was three miles out at sea
We We're now nine persons on shore, and we
had to STOW, squat, aud squeeze ourselves
into trumpery little boat, scarcely capa-
bic Of holding half our number. In this
dreadful dilemma, we launched on a rough
and tempestuous sea, and against wind and
tide, followed the ship The wind blowing still
iresher, and fresher, every succeeding wave
threatened our immediate destruction Oul
4 boat already half full of water, and ourselves
as may be supposed, drenched with the sur
ges passing over her, we gave up all hope
Of succeeding in the unequal struggle and
q momentary pause ensued, when we deli
berated whether we should proceed in the
perious attempt orreturn to land The ship
was now at least two leagues ahead Of US;
and just at this time the man who was bail
ing out the water in the boat unfortunately
let go and lost the pail, and one of our oars
being broken in the struggle to recover it,
our destiny seemed sealed beyond doubt.
A second deliberation ended in the resolve
to reach the ship or perish in the attempt
The weather now grew more violent the
wind increased and, what was worst Of all,
the sun had just sunk under the horizon, and
the fearful night began to spread its darkness
over the turbulent deep. Every ray Of hope
no vanished but so short-sighted is man,
that the moment when lie leasts expects il
relief often comes from an unseen hand and
such was our case for in an instant ourhope-
less anxiety was turned into Joy, by the ship