Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-05-17
CHAPTER XXVI.
The Debated Country,

Our army of peaceful occupation
scattered along the more fertile parts
of the land, principally among the
valleys. OF course, it should not be
forgotten that what was then called
Oregon meant all of what now is en-
braced in Oregon, Washington and Ida
no, with part of Wyoming as we'll 1t
extended south to the Mexican pos
sessions of California. How far north
it was to run, it was my errand mere
to learn.
settled near the mouth of the Will
lamette river, near oregon City, and
not far from where the city Of Port
land later was begun; and builded for
myself a little cabin of two rooms,
with a connecting roof. This l furnish
ed, as did my neighbors their similar
abodes, with a table made of hewed
puncheons, chairs sawed from blocks,
bed framed from poles, on which lay
a rude mattress of huSks and straw.
From the eastern states l scarcely
could now hear in less than year, for
another wagon train could not start
west from the Missouri until the fol-
lowing spring. We could only guess
how events were going forward in our
diplomacy.
The mild winter wore away, and l
learned little. Spring came. and still
no word of any land expedition out Of
nd hn
still dwelt in peace. The flowers began
to bloom in the wild meads. and the
horses fattened on their native past
ureS.
to whiten with the ripening grain. l
grew uneasy, feeling myself only an
idler in a land so able to fend for itself
| now was much disposed to discuss
means of getting back over the long
trail to the eastward, to carry the news
that Oregon was ours. 1t was at this
time that there occurred a startling and
decisive event.
l was on my way on n canoe voyage
up the wide Columbia, not far above
the point where it receives its greatest
lower tributary, the willamette, when
all at once l heard the sound of a cam
non shot l turned to see the cloud of
blue smoke still hanging over the sur
face Of the water. Slowly there swung
into view an ocean-going vessel under
steam and auxiliary canvas. She made
a gallant spectacle. But whose ship was
she? l examined her colors anXiously
enough. l caught the import Of her en-
sign She flew the British Union Jack!
England had won the race by sea!
Something of the ships outline SEEM
ed to me familiar. l knew the set of
her short masts, the pitch of her
smokestacks, the number of her guns.
Yes, she was the Modesto of the Eng
lish navy-the same ship which more
than a year before l had seen at an
chOr off Montreal.
News travels fast in wild countries,
and it took up little time to learn the
to anchor above Oregon City, and well
below Fort Vancouver. At once, of
course, her officers made formal calls
upon Doctor Mclaughlin, the factor at
Fort Vancouver, and accepted head of
the British element thereabouts. Two
weeks passed in rumors and counter
rumOrS. and q vastly dangerous tension
existed in all the American settle
ments. because word was spread that
England had sent a ship to oust US.
Then came to myself and certain 9TH
erS at Oregon City messengers from
peace-loving Doctor Mclaughlin, ask
ing us to join him in a little celebra-
| ton in honor of the arrival of her
majeSty's vessel.
Here at last was news: but it was
news not wholly to my liking which
soon unearthed. The Modesto was but
one ship of fifteen A fleet of fifteen
vessels. four hundred guns, then lay in
Puget Sound. The watch dogs of
Great Britain were at our doors. This
question of monarchy and the republic
was not yet settled, after all!
| pass the story of the banquet al
| Fort Vancouver, because it is unplcas-
ant to recite the difficulties of q kindly
host who finds himself with jarring
elements at his board. Precisely this
was the situation Of whitc-haircd Doc
tor Mclaughlin of Fort Vancouver. II
| was an incongruOuS assembly in the
| al hn If
navy attended in the splendor nf theil
| uniforms. glittcring in braid and gold
Even Doctor Mclaughlin made brave
display, as was his wont. in his rcgalia
of dark blue cloth and shining buttons
his noble features and long snow
| white hair making MIN the most lord
| ly figure of them all. AS for us Amer
leans. lean and brown, with hands
hardened by toll, our wardrobes scat
tered over a thousand miles of trail
buckskin tunics made our coats. ant
moccasins our boots have seen some
noble gentlemen so clad in my day.
| 1t was, as may be supposed. late II
| the night when our somewhat diScord'
ant DanQuetlnS party DI"he UP Wv
were all housed. as was the hospitabl'
fashion of the country, in the scattered
| log buildings which nearly alway'
hedge i'm Il western fur-trading post
The quarters assigned me lay across
the open space, or what might be call
ed the parade ground of Fort Nancou'
yer. flanked by Doctor Mclaughlin
| four little cannon.
As | made my way home, stumbling
among the Stumps i'm the dark. | pass
cd many scmi-drumkcn Indians an'
vuyagrurs. tu whom special lih"rt!
had been accorded i'm view of the "cca
sion. all of them now engaged in sing
ing the praises Of the King George
men as against the "B"st"ns.
was almost at my cabin door at th'
edge of the forest frontage at the r"a
of the old post. when caught glimpS"
i'm the dim light. of Il hurlying tEur"
| which i'm some way seemed To- be diff
| L., Il a,