The Dolores star. [volume] (Dolores, Montezuma County, Colo.) 1901-current, 1910-09-02
CHAPTER XVI.
The Debated Country.

The world was sad. the garden was a
The man, the hermit. sfghed-tiil woman
smiled! Campbell
Our army OF peaceful occupation
scattered along the more fertile parts
q the land. principally among the
valleys. OF course. II should not be
forgotten that what was then called
Oregon meant all of what now is en-
braced in Oregon. Washington and
Idaho, with part Of Wyoming as well.
IL extended south TO the Mexican pos
sessions Of California. How far north
II was to run. It was my errand here
TO learn.
settled near the mouth OF the WI.
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 connecting roof This fur
nished, as did my neighbovs their
similar abode. with a table made of
hewed puncheons. chairs sawed from
blocks. a bed framed from poles. ON
which lay rude mattress of husks
and straw.
From the eastern states I scarcely
could now hear In less than year.
for another wagon train could not
start west from the Missouri until the
following spring. We could only
guess how events were going forward
In our diplomacy.
The mild winter wore away, and !
learned little. Spring came, and still
no word Of any land expedition out If
Canada. We and the Hudson bay
folk still dwelt In peace. The flowers
began to bloom In the wild meads,
and the horses fattened on their ma.
tive pastures.
Summer came on. The fields began
to whiten with the ripening grain. !
grew uneasy, feeling myself only an
idler In 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 Orego. was ours.
Il WAS Mt this time that there occurred
q startling and decisive event
was on my way on canoe voy-
age up the wide Columbia. not far
above the point where II receives its
greatest lower tributary the VIII
lamette. when all at once heard the
sound Of a cannon shot. turned to
zee the cloud Of blue smoke still hang.
Ing over the surface Of the water.
Slowly there swung into view an
ocean going vessel under steam aad
auxiliary canvas. She made q gal
liant spectacle. But whose ship was
she? ] examined her colOrs anxiously
enough. caught the import Of her
ensign. She flew the British Union
Jack!
England had won the race by sea!
Something Of the ships outliSss
seemed to me familiar. ! knew the
set Of her short masts, the pitch Of
her smoke-stacks. the number of her
guns. Yes. she was the Modesto Of
the English nayy-the same ship
which more than year before ! had
seen NJ anchor on Montreal.
News travels fast In wild countries,
and II took us little time 10 learn the
destination Of the Modesto. She came
to anchor above Oregon City. and well
below Fort Vancouver. Al once. of
course. her officers made formal calls
upon DIR. Mclaughlin. the factor at
Fort Vancouver. and accepted head NJ
the British elements therenbonts. Two
weeks passed In rumors and counter
rumors. and a vastly dangerous ten.
sion existed In all the American set.
Elements. because word was spread
that England had sent u ship 10 GUST
Ms, Then came to myself and certain
others ut Oregon City messengers
from peace-loving Or. Mclaughlin.
asking us to Join him In n little cello
brati0n In honor of the arrival Of her
majesty's vessel.
Here nj last was news: but n was
news not wholly to my liking which
soon unearthed. The Modesto was
but one ship of i5' A fleet of i5 YES
sells. 400 guns. then lsy N Puget sound.
The watch-dogs Of Great Britain were
at our doors. This question of mon
archy and the republic was not yet
settled. after all,
] pass the story Of the banquet nj
Fort Vancouver. because II In un.
pleasant 10 rccite the difIiculties of =
kindly host who finds himself with
tarrinx elements nj his board. Prs.
ciseiy this was the situation Of white
haired Dv. Mclaughlin of Fort Van
couver. u was an inconxruous ~
sembly In the nrst place. The ofIcers
Of the British navy attended In the
splcnd0r of their uniforms. giitteriag
In bratd and gold. Even Dr. MclAuEh'
lin made brave display. M was bis
wont. In his reKnlia az DARK blue cloth
and shining huttons-his noble fea-
lures and long. snow.whits hair ms
king him the most lordly nsurc II
them all. Al for M Americans. lean
and brown. with hands hardened BY
tell. our wardrobes scattered over .
thousand miles II trail. buckshin
49, A.. -.