Delaware inquirer. (Wilmington, Del.) 1859-18??, 1859-10-22
ROSS ADVENTURES ON THE
OREGON RIVER,

ROSS ADVENTURES ON THE
OREGON RIVER.
Although nearly forty years have elapsed
since Mr.. Ross embarked in the service OF
John Jacob Astor TO aid in establishing
the Pacific Fur Company, and underwent
the experiences this volume narrates, a
much earlier appearance might not have
added greatly to its attractions The dis
putes on the Oregon question have drawn
degree of notice to the country and its
occupation, that would not have arisen
from its natural features. Washington lr-
wings unrivalled compilation. Astoria, has
made the general reader familiar with the
large speculation of Mr.. Astor, and the
general adventures Of the persons connect
ed with it, so that there is ready interest
on the subject. Mr. Ross, indeed, is much
more literal and prosaic than his predeces-
sor; but we have the other side of the
case, with greater freshness in some things
than the most skilful compiler could attain
to with commercial correspondenceas his
main authority Mr.. Ross narrative, too,
has often an inherent interest, arising from
the story of the formation Of the settlement
and the adventures of the furtraders, which
exhibit the life of that hardy and not very
scrupulous race.
Mr. Ross appears to have passed.his life
in the fur regions. His preface Of August
1916, is dated from the Red River settle
ment, the only pretence to a colony in the
Hudson's Bay territory. Except for a
rather nervous anxiety and needless sus-
picion about the Oregon lndians-which,
however, might have arisen from the novel;
ty Of the adventure and geographical
position--wc should interthat he may have
had something to do with one Of the Brit
ish fur companies before he entered AS
tors service, and was tempted from it BY
the promise Of future partnership. -
He was one Of the party that reached the
Oregon river by scu-passage round Cape
Horn; and he places the dispute between
Capt. Thorne and the partners or directors
in different light from Irving, who seems
to have heightened with his humor the
captains story We hear nothing Of the
FULL-DREss visits in kits and scarlet to
the potentates of the Sandwich Islands,
or the marshallcd pilgrimage to the spot of
Cooks death the attempts at the interle-
renee of the g directors with the ship are
incidentally denied, though they did re-
monstrate when severe discipline was
screwed upinto cruelty or disregard of life,
or when the captain persisted, at starting,
in sending the mechanics" ," 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 Gaelic, and the Canadians
French neither of which tongues the cap
tain understood. In return, he made them
as uncomfortable as he could, and fright
cned them thoroughly at Falkland's Is
lands. His making sail on the ship, when
some of the civilians were disporting them
selves on shore, if only a piece of MAUv-
AIsE PLAIsANTERTE, seems to have fully
effected its 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 the party called out,
"The ships off !''-when all of us, run
ming to the top of a little eminence, be-
held, to our infinite surprise and dismay,
the Tonquin under full sail, steering out
of the bay. We knew too well the callous
and headstrong passions Of the wayward
captain to hesitate moment in determin-
ing what to do with hearts beating, there
fore, between anxious hope and despair,
some made for the boat, while others kept
running and firing over hill and dale, to
warn Messrs, McDougal and Stewart, who
had not yet returned. In half an hour We
were all at the waters edge, the ship by
this time was three miles out at sea. We
were now nine persons on shore, and we
had to stow, squat and squeeze ourselves
into trumpery little boat, scarcely capa-
BILE of holding half our number. In this
dreadful dilemma, We launched on d rough
and tempestuous sea- and, against wind and
tide, followed the ship. The wind blowing
still fresher and fresher, every succeeding
wave threatened our immediate destruc-
ton. Our boat already half full of water,
and ourselves, as may be supposed
drenchcd with the surges passing over, we
gave up all hope of succeeding in the un-
equal struggle and a momcntary pause
ensued, when we deliberated whether we
should proceed in the perilous attampt Of
return to land The ship was now at least
two leagues ahead of us; and just ut this
time the man who was bailing out the boat
unfortunately let go and lost the pail, aud
one of our oars being broken in the strug-
gle 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 fear
full night began to spread its darkness over
the turbulent deep. Every ray of hope
now vanished !; but so short-sighted is main
that the moment he leasts expects it, relief
often comes from an unseen hand and