Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1894-01-26
TIE STAR OF OREGON.

TIE STAR OF OREGON.
The Flrst Weasel Ever Built in Oregon
Was 1.-The star Of Oregon"
From the Portland Oregonian.
In the proceedings Of the session of the
Oregon Pioneer Association for 1891,
there is published letter written many
years ago to Hon. j. w. Nes.nith by
Joseph Gale, commander Of the schooner
"Star OF Oregon" the first vessel built in
the Willamette valley. The letter de-
tails in full the reasons for un-
such difficult enter
prise and the incidents connected
with it. The settlers wanted cattle, and
az all the cattle in the valley was owned
by the Hudson Bay Company, the Meth
odist missionaries, or Ewing Young, who
had driven q band from California in
1887, they determined to build this vessel,
sail her to California and exchange her for
stock. Jos. Gale was an old mountain
Ger Of the class to which Meek. Newell and
Ebbetts belonged, but he was also q sea-
man and possessed knowledge Of ship
building and navigation, and was given
charge Of the enterprise. A site ON Swan
island was selected and work begun in the
fall OF 1910, and May 10, lS4l, the Star Of
Oregon was launched. This WAS before
a single tree had been cut to clear the
site Of the present city of Portland.
Through the influence OF Captain George
Wilkes, then in the Columbia on his ex-
ploring voyage round the world, abso-
iutely necessary things, which the Hud-
sons Bay Company had refused to let
them have, were secured from that Com
pany. Captain Wilkes also gave Gale
papers necessary for the commander OF q
vessel to have.
After launching, the "Star" was
worked up to the Willamette falls, where
tho work Of fitting her for sea was com.
pleted. August q she started down the
river on her voyage, and two days later
cast her anchor in front of Fort Vancou-
yer and flung to the breeze for the first
time the American flag Captain Wilkes
had presented her. This was done in
spirit Of bravado, to show that
Uncle Sam had vessel and flag in
Oregon wsters, and that the settlers were
able to take care Of themselves. A few
days later the same courtesy was ex'
tended to Fort George (Astoria) ut the
mouth of the Columbia. There Gale re.
NAMED about two weeks, giving his green
crew a chance to learn seamanship, and
while doing 80, entertained Captain John
II. Couch, who had entered the river In
the brig "Chenxmus."
The final start was made September
IL. This was formidable undertaking
an ocean voyage of nearly 1000 miles
along q rocky coast, without Q chart, IL
q little vessel only fiity-three feet long
and with crew OF four men and boy
not one of whom was q sea
man, yet Gale boldly sailed ou
upon the Pacific, trusting to hi
own long experience on the ocean Il
carry them through. The weather wa
stormy, and the crew we're seasick, ant
for thirty-six hours Gale stood at tn
helm without relief. In the morning o
September II, the "Star" dashe,
through the Golden Gate and droppe,
anchor before the little town Of Verb
Buena (San Francisco), it's owners hav
ing performed feat such % American
pioneers only have shown the coursg
and resourcefulness to omplish. Tn
history Of the Anglo-Saxon in Amer
lea is replete with such exhibitions Q
self reliance and courageous en-
terprise. The vessel was sold
and in the spring, Mr.. Gale havin
preached the gospel OF Oregon incessantl
through the winter, a company Of 4
men started north by land. driving wit
them 1850 head of cattle, 600 horses an
mules, and nearly 5000 sheep, arriving i
70 days with but little loss. Stock mt
nopoly in Oregon was at an end.
Joseph Gale was, as is here seen, on
; of the leading spirits in the early an
trvinv dava Of OyQuou In 1S43 ha wit
Alanson Beers and David Hill, const
tuted the executive committee OF the fri
provisional government, periormin
: jointly the functions Of governor. II
settled in Washington county beyon
Forest Grove, and his name is perpetl
ated in that section by the well-know
landmark, Gales peak, and the stream
Gales creek. He died in Wallow
: county few years ago. Felix Haiti
away, the master mechanic of the vesse
. was q gunsmith. He was not an own'
nor one of the crew. He also was prom
inent in the early governmental affai
Of Oregon. The movers in this ente
prise were Ralph L. Kilbourn, Pleasal
, Arms rong, Jacob Green, John Cana
Henry Woods and Charley Mats, Il
= last two abandoning the enterprise
= fore it was completed. The others, vii
2 an Indian boy, were the crew. Pleasa
Armstrong was killed In the Rogue riv
Indian war ten years later. This 10 b
:. one OF til, many incidents that show
: what sterling stuff the Oregon phone
= was made, and why, In spite Of negle
! at Washington, an American governme
g was set up and maintained and Il
u country won for the VnitAd Statea