East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1905-01-25

making of a few resting places, is
about the only Interference with ma
ture's handiwOrk.
At the end Of one OF these cross
walks is the Narrows The Narrows
is very narrow channel of deep wa
ter where English bay end and where
Buzzard inlet begins, and though
which all the shipping which reaches
this port must pass. Ocean liners,
launches, fishing smacks, and every
variety of craft follow each other
here, and at this point pass so close
to shore that the onlooker almost
thinks he could take jump and land
on deck; 1t might not be safe to try
it, however.
The Beaver, the first steamship to
navigate the North Pacific was
wrecked at this point, past which,
when the tide is going out, the water
rushes like Ito quote a local author
ity) the mill tail of --.
The Hudson Bay Company.
Mention has already been made of
one powerful corporation represent
ed here; but here, also, are the
stores and warehouses of another
company which, at one time in the
country's history, exercised an influ-
ence and reaped profits which, in
proportion to the capital invested,
would make the dividends of the first
named corporation look silly, and
what a page of ancient history 1t re-
calls to find ones self facing win
dow i'm which the goods bear the le-
gend: Hudson Bay Company. The
governor and company of Adventures
of England trading into Hudson's Bay.
Perhaps a word or two about the
formation of this company is as
good a way as any to close this let
ter. The first Europeans coming to
this country, says the historian, found
it in possession of a people who made
their living almost wholly by hunting,
and these Indians were willing to sell
for very small payment, the furs of
the animals thus caught, which We're
eagerly desired in Europe.
A sagacious Frenchman seems to
have been the first to perceive the
advantages to be gained by system
attic prosecution of this commerce. He
proposed the enterprise to his coun-
trymen, but it failed to command their
support. The baffled protector made
his way to England, and laid his
scheme before Prince Rupert.
A quarter of a century had passed
since the fierce charges of Ruperts
cavalry swept down the troops of the
parliament at Naseby and Newark,
since he himself ha dbeen chased
from Marston Moor by the stern
Ironsides of oliver Cromwell.
The vehemence of his youth had
mellowed down to a love of adven-
ture, and he lent a willing ear to the
ingenious Frenchman.
Started With $4,000.
His influence with the public pro-
cured the formation of company,
whose paid up capital was a little
over $4,000. His influence with his
cousin, King Charles IL, sufficed to
obtain a charter, the liberal monarch
/ bestowed half the continent upon
these spectators, on no more burden
some terms than that they should pay
| two elks and two beavers to the SOW
ereign whenever he visited their ter
ritory.
Thus largely privileged the adven'
turers entered upon a career of un-
usual success. In a few years they
| paid a dividend at the rate of 80 pei
cent. A little later they trebled their
capital out of profits and paid to
shareholders 25 per cent upon the in
creased amount. Still later. the cap
ital was once more trebled from the
same source without diminution OF
the rate of dividend.
The savages who overthrew the Ro-
man empire had introduced to South
ern Europe the beautiful furs of the
north. Great ladies sought eagerly
for purposes of ornament, such furs
as those with which the northern
savage clothed himself and his chill
dren; sought eagerly but often un-
successfully. for demand outstripped
supply. The fur trade became one
of the most lucrative which the world
has ever known, which explains the
origin OF the legend found in this
window today. "The Governor and
Company of Adventures Trading into
Hudson's Bay" C. f. M'LELLAN.