Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1895-11-08
Old TINE GAlE
Finest Ball on the Coast Of the
Pacific Northwest.
OVER HALF A cENTURA AGO
The Bali Was Given in Log Cabin and
Attended by the Entire Pop.
ulation.

Fifty yeas ago last Thursday Cap
tain j. III. McMillen. well known cit
izen of Portland, arrived in Portland,
says the oregonian. OF course, the an
niversary made the captain reminiscent
and when seen by an Oregonian report
er he said:
AS stood this afternoon. watching
the people come and go at the intersec-
ton of Third and Washington streets,
my mind reverted back to scenes of
comedy days. AS I thus contemplated
the past, the question was uppermost
In my mind: How many of these peo-
pie realize the fact that it is Just SO
years since this fair city of Portland
contained but two log cabins, and they
of the most primitive architecture,
having nothing but mother earth for
the floor? Probably. not one.
Fifty years ago. myself and others
bade long farewell to our friends
and companions in Wayne, Du Page
county, Illinois, and headed for the far
northwest, with the hot plains before
us. The many dangers incident to our
journey will not attempt to enumer-
ate.
1T is not generally known that at
that early date Vancouver, Wash, was
fortified trading and distributing
point, extending east to the Rocky
mountains, north into British Columbia
and south into Umpqua and Rogue
river valleys.
AT Vancouver 1 had the pleasure Of
making the acquaintance of DR.. Nc
Loughlin, Peter Slxeene Ogden and Mr.
, Douglas. Mr.. Douglas was, for a num-
Der OF years, governor of British Col
unbia. AT my first introduction to
these gentlemen DIR. Mclaughlin was
chief factor for the Hudson Bay Com
pany, which office he soon afterward
resigned, to take charge of his milling
and other interests at Oregon City.
He was succeeded by Mr.. Ogden. At
ter the death of Mr.. Ogden, Mr.. Doug
las took charge of the affairs Of this
great and influential company.
Through the kindness of DR.. Nc
Loughlin / obtained pass to Oregon
City. The journey was made in boat
manned by seven Sandwich islanders,
consisting of a captain and six oars
men, who were making the trips for the
purpose of securing boatload of -four
This was the only means of transpor-
tation at that time.
ION the last day of December. 1S47,
1 arrived in Portland, the bearer of
dispatches to Governor George Aber-
nethy, at Oregon City, from Captain
Lee, then in command of small force
of volunteers at Dalles City, on the
Columbia. On my arrival late IN the
evening, and my mission being known,
1 was invited by no less a parsonage
than old Charlie Mckay, better known
as 'Old Scissors" that being his only
swear word, to attend a house warm
ing in the then elegant and commodi-
Gus house of Captain Nathaniel Cros-
by of the barque Toulon, No. 1871, on
Fourth street. On that occasion Char
lie being master of ceremonies, was in
his glory. Half-breeds and emigrant la
dies were about equally divided In
numbers All united to make the ball
the finest ever known on the North
Pacific coast at that day. J. L. Nor
rison, for whom Morrison street was
named constructed that building. The
lime used in plastering was burned
from coral rock, brought from the
Sandwich islands. OF late years, when
ever 1 pass that old house, pleasant
memories of the past come to my mind.
Very few, If any, of that gay party,
are living today"