The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1913-05-01
NOTES ON FIRST
THINGS OF OREGON
(By W. G. Kennedy
The Sinking of the 0rO6nO

romance II duuluaAt'
The Orofno was built in one OF our
eastern shipyards and made the voyage
around Cape Horn in IS49. Thence on
Il was engaged in the Pacific coast
trade. Its run was between Portland
and San Francisco. The ship was a
strong one, though not pretentious.
Still. in that early day" she was
queen of the Pacific waters. Many a
cargo Of freight and gay cargo of pas
sengers had the Orofno carried between
the two ports.
One afternoon in the fall of 1857 this
vessel lay at the dock at Portland. 1t
required a long time to freight ship
at that time. Portland was small
town; produce was meager from all
sources-felds, pastures, mines and
6sheries-and a week was often neces-
sary in which to laden an ocean steam
err The Orofno's cargo had been gath
cred a passenger list made up and the
ship would sail at night down the Will
annette and Columbia rivers to Astoria
and in the morning out over the bar
and to sea.
Never was there a dag more lovely.
The beauty and glory of forest and
prairie blended with the glaciers of the
mountains and made picture rare and
charming. The majestic river was not
distributed by even a ripple. A calm
ness and quietude seemed to reign ev-
erywhere which seemed to prophesy
"bon voyage" to this sailing ship.
The first mate of the ship, a Mr..
Kellogg, lived in Portland. Sometimes
his family would accompany him but
generally remained at home. His only
son was u years old. Monterey Kel-
logg was a lively, lovely boy and
greatly petted by the ships crew. He
was the only boy belonging to the ship
and Monte, as they called him, was
a Captain" He was not always with
them but he loved the ocean. He
learned fast from his self-appointed
teachers. 1t was not the intention tC
take the family on this trip, but Monte
plead SO hard to be allowed to go that
bis father yielded against his better
judgment and let him go. AYE. | feal
some disaster, my boy | had strange
forewarnng last night. | don't know
Just how or when, but | fear that some
misfortune will attend us. enc
storm could wreck our ship, papa just
think of what she stood last spring
The 0ronfo is as strong as a whale anC
as much at home in the sea, so Ole
Don told me after that storm wa!
over. He runs the engine like {
clock. " AYE. boy, stronger ships
than ours have gone to the bottom oi
the sea. -
The 0rofno loosened from the wharf
at sunset and was soon making rapiC
progress in the current Of the William
ette. In an hour she was ahoat on th(
broad and beautiful Columbia. By
four o'clock in the morning she lay
alongside the wharf at Astoria, waiting
for day and the pilot 10 convey hel
over the bar. When daylight came {
heavy fog was on, making it impossible
to proceed until it should lift. Every
one about the vessel was idle. The
officers walked about the town. Tht
pilot allowed the wheelhouse door opeI
to allow some paint to dry and walke'
out for an hour to visit some friends
Monte was left to himself as his fathe
had retired to sleep awhile in prepara
tion for a night Of vigilant service OF
the sea.
Seeing the door open the boy con
cluded to explore the pilot house. Ht
knew the compass was there and he of
ten wondered how that "Mysteriou
thing was rigged. There was tn
compass box and through the lid h
coudl see the magnetic needle pointing
to the north. A boys curiosity mus
go deeper into things. Down goes hi
hand itno his pocket and out comes hi
jack knife. Under the case went tn
blade. A sudden lift of his stron
right hand and the blade snapped of
close up to the handle, and was lef
almost touching the needle. Aroused a
this misfortune and the thought tina
someone might discover him in thi
mischief, but not beginning to comprC
hend the possible ruin that he ha
wrought, the boy ran down the cabi
deck and was soon amusing himse
with other things or chatting with th
sailors.
Mid-afternoon the fog lifted and tn
Orofno cleared from the dock an
made for the sea. Crossing the bf
safely she headed south and right upo
her usual track. ''Who ever saw S
fine a sea?" said the captain as he wa
about to retire for the night. He wa
weary with the responsibility of I'll
start and getting the ship safely owe
the dangerous bar Now he couI
leave the first mate, Kellogg, in charp
and get little sleep. Keep her sou
west for four hours until we get we
off the shore but you know this ship
path as well as you know any COW ira
about your fathers farm, back in oil
| York state. " AYE, aye, sir" sal
Kellogg. "Should any danger threate
| | will trumpet down to you. " Soon a
were in berths and asleep except fe
Of the officers and crew.
One hundred passengers sIel
soundly Mr. Kellogg kept a ceaseles
| vigil-a dreadful apprehension was G
his mind. Occasionally he shouted L
to the pilot "How is she headed?
! "Sou west, sir. " This was repestf
over and over after dark fully set il
1t was a very dark night. There W,
cloudy sky, although it was calm
Kellogg went forward leaned out ovt
the bow, looked and listened. n
thought he could see a great dan
shadow in front like a steep mOuntat
| cliff What could it beY' In a m
ment he heard the sullen slush of d
calm waters on the projecting rocks
long reef only half mile off Il
Oregon shore. Reverse Revers,
Stop her motionw % shouted the mat
| We're right on shore; old Neutuf
couldn't save US now.
A laundering crash came. The sh
was fast upon the rocks. The wat,
began pouring in. Every boat W.
lowered. The vessel would fin in
few minutes. Passengers and ere
fled to the boats and were soon safe Z
| land.
Myteries of all mysteries "Wbi
! sank the ship?' was in everybody
mouth. Of course a Sleepelss nigl
: was passed on shore, but wood WI
abundant and soon great blazing FIR,
drove away the chill of the night.
Kellogg talked with the captain abol
his apprehension of the disaste
Monte was terrified. Self condemne
although he knew not why. Wht
/ morning came the vessel cgula he sst