Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-06-23
ALEGRBD OF THE COLUMBIA

fg5r the RscoED-USIoS by Adair Welcker
Wneu tine little town of Astoria, which
lies beneath the hills on the left shore Of
the Columbia, was in its infancy, it was
even more picturesque than it is at the
present day. It was situated or a rsing
ground, aud close to the waters edge The
tall FRS hemlooks and spruce trees that
surrounded the village protected it from
the tempests Of winter. Seven miles
across the blue waters of the Columbia
were to be seen the tree-capped hills Of
what IL now the Washington Territory
shore.
TIE part Of this little town which was
formerly called by it's eight or ten inhabi-
tants the Lower Town, was originally G
trading post of the Hudson Bay Company,
and was Gr5t known by the name OF Fort
George Here, thousands of miles from
the civilized world, with the silence of a
vast forest to the right of them and be-
hind them the silence and deeper soil
tude Of mighty ocean to the left; with
the silence Of 6 grand river in front of
them here, all alone, lived few waits
from the great living world.
As may be well imagined, these beings
who had wandered far away to this west
ern world belonged to a class who might
be said to consist of the curiosities of hu-
mainly Frappers, men who had escaped
from justice, men imbittered by the strange
chances aad misfortunes of life-such men
formed this community. Amongst the
last class was curious old lawyer man
possessed Of profound ability. He had
been brought up at the Inns OF London.
he had striven for many years in that
great city, feeling, knowing his ability. In
his attends 70 obtain foot-hold he had
battled against poverty and misfortune,
and had felt She pRngs OF that hope de-
ferred which makes the heart sic. but
the rushing stream of misfortune was too
powerful Tor him with it's terrible tide,
and he lost his hold upon the world. He
sought the peace aud solitude of the great
forest.
This last gentleman was the oracle of the
little town, and many lecture did he give
to his audience there assembled as he sat
before the great stove in the Hudson's
Bay store, and pulled the gray tobacco
smoke from his meerschsum pipe in clouds
above him for it was around this stove
that the whole city assembled whenever it
rained. which happened at that time,
nearly every day IN the year. Around
this great stove in the old log-wood store
this whole city on these numerous oeca-
sions chewed aud smoked tobacco, and told
hideous warns.
And ali the while the Columbia, with
the rain ever failing on its smooth surface,
rolled on in grim silence to the ocean.
When such strange event as the APP
pearance Of q white sail on the ocean hap.
peaed, the quies little community would
be thrown INTO a state of enormous ex-
citement Then would the members OF
this community lay down their tobacco
pipes, their guide would be cast aside, the
people would pat on their rubber. boots,
their 0il-s6in hats and coats. and the whole
community, followed by the sheep COWS
and dogs Of the village, would 20 down 70
the beach she great life-bost that be-
longed 70 the company would be manned
aud the crew would prepare to pilot the
ship into p0rs. Bat such an occasion as
this occurred only at very long intervals
indeed.
There were Indians theirs in those days,
but not one is now left to tell Of the race
that 10 gone They were quiet, peacea-
BILE and idle race. They lived chiefly by
salmou-hshing, and were not of a warhke
disposition.
TIE little town Of Astoria had been
sleeping Ia the quiet manner which we
have described. disturbed only by the cry
of the panther and the howl Of the wolf
when great commotion was caused by the
report that there was to be an increase in
the population. \ young clerk was to be
sent out from England. The sale of blank
cts TO the Indians had increased of late
and the company had come to the couclu-
SION that an additional clerk was necessary
An old trspper had been seen coming
around Tongue Point" in a canoe. one
day. and be had brought the news from
another station placed by the same COM
pany far up the Columbia For many days
the community smoked more violently as
they discussed the news around the great
stove in the old low-roofed store.
One day sail was seen beyond Sand
Island, and at about o'clock in the af.
ternoon the ship anchored IN front of the
town, aud the new clerk was rowed ashore.
Il was not long before the town became
aware Of the fset that this gentleman had
been married to lovely Eaglish girl the
day before he left England. lie had left
his young wife in England, and had come
TO this lar lad 70 work for the company
for a few years until he had saved money
enough 10 20 home and live with his wife
in ease. Il vas hard trial to him, and q
hard trial 20 his young wife but poverty
was his master. lie had thought first Of
delaying the day OF marriage until his re