The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1917-10-11
"SCOTTY" GILLESPIE Is
NOW In ARGENTINA

Ten years ago A. ]. Gillespie, di-
minutive Scotchman, who had sailed
the Seven seas on windjammers, drop
ped into the Hood River valley and re-
mained for several years because, as
he declared, he liked the scenery. Mr..
Gillespie was gifted as an artist, and
he had won more than passing note
with his brush, but he could never re-
sist the call of the sea long enough to
apply himself to his natural bent.
The little sailor man, who weighed
but 80 pounds, won warm spot in the
hearts of many Hood River families
because of his sunny disposition and
his tales of wonder told to the chill
dren. And while a resident of the
Hood River valley he won the distinc-
tion of being the champion strawberry
setter of the Northwest. Many new
tracts of berries were being planted
then. Mr.. Gillespie's average days
work was 5000 plants. The next best
ever reported from any Northwestern
district fell several thousand short of
this figure.
The sailor. artist left Hood River
about seven years ago. Except by
few he had been almost forgotten in
Hood River until last week when let
ters for Mr.. and Mrs. W. A. Lockman
arrived from Buenos Ayres, Argentina,
where Mr.. Gillespie states he is now
engaged in business. He has married
and thriving, having recently purchased
more than $1,000 ($2500 gold) worth of
Argentina bonds.
The following excerpt from his let
ter relates some of his experiences af-
ter leaving Hood River:
when | left Hood River | went to
Portland and shipped on little Scotch
barque, wages five pounds per month.
We had a fine fair wind all the way
down to Cape Horn. When we reached
the Roaring Forties' on the south side
of the Horn, there my troubles started.
One Sunday morning while we were
| checking in the foreyard the barque
shipped a sea that washed two of us
overheard into the ice cold water. One
young apprentice was washed out over
the rail, but no such luck for me. |
went out through a scupper door. My
head struck, and wound four inches
long and an inch deep was cut over my
left eye. | still held the forebrace
and all the powers of the Universe
| couldn't have detached me. was in
the water half hour before the crew
got me back on ship. While the cold
water kept me from becoming uncon-
scious, / keeled over from loss of blood
Immediately they had me in warm
cabin, and | remained dead to the
world for IL hours. The captain soon
had the wound we'll fixed however.
''In the region of the Azores /
washed overheard again, but this time
no cuts or bruises.
AFTER four months and 20 days |
arrived home. Then joined steam
er in England. After four days at sea
fell 80 feet down hold and was un-
conscious for three days. Such were
| few of my little trials.
Mr.. Gillespie declares that the peo-
pie of Buenos Ayres are experiencing
terrible times from the shipping and
railway strikes.
ut is all the work of the Hidden
Hand" he says, land no doubt you
know what | mean by that express
sion."
Mr.. Gillespie declares that he hopes
when the war is over to return to Ore
gon and purchase place. He writes
that sight of occasional boxes of Hood
River apples on display make him
homesick for the beautiful valley.