Latest news with #TheDailyMorningAstorian
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
In One Ear: Fruit tree fraud
From The Daily Morning Astorian, March 20, 1885; • It is alleged that A. A. Stewart has been victimizing unsuspecting parties who desire to purchase California fruit trees. Capt. George Flavel is among the victims. The captain ordered a bill of choice trees, which cost $260 (about $8,500 now), that were to come from Fox's nursery, near San Jose, California. Stewart went to Luelling's Nursery, at Milwaukie … and purchased the cheapest trees he could buy, consisting of cherry, pear, apple, etc., paying for the whole lot about $60 (almost $2,000). Then he put on fancy labels, christening the poor stock with the names of the choice varieties contracted for, and delivered them to Capt. Flavel's agent. Note: Well, the people of Milwaukie wouldn't appreciate the dig at the Luelling nursery's reputation for fruit, as the nursery's founder, Henderson Luelling, is known as being the 'Father of the Pacific Fruit Industry.' Not to mention his brother, Seth, developed the bing cherry. Fruit trees aside, Capt. Flavel made his botanical history mark with the nine surviving trees at the Flavel House in Astoria, which are part of theOregon Heritage Tree Program: 'The grove consists of a giant sequoia, ginko, Camperdown elm, bay laurel, pear, and four cork elms.' And, the captain's 'love of such trees was inspired from his many voyages to places all over the world. The family gardener, Louis Schultz, planted these trees at the request of Captain Flavel.'
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
In One Ear: Millionaire prince
Financier John Jacob Astor III, 67, grandson of Astoria's founder, died unexpectedly on Feb. 22, 1890, in New York, of heart failure. According to The Evening World, America lost its 'chief of millionaire princes.' It's estimated he was worth around $200 million at the time of his death (about $6.9 billion now). A glimpse of the man's character shows in a story in the Feb. 23, 1890, edition of The Daily Morning Astorian: ' ... Several years ago a distinguished Astoria clergyman, on a visit to New York, called upon the millionaire, told him of the city by the sea founded by his grandfather of precisely the same name as himself. He suggested (Astor) fund or endow an institution of learning in the city that will perpetuate the name and fame of the Astors, when their scattered millions will have been forgotten. 'The millionaire looked coldly contemptuous at the reverend gentleman when he had concluded his kindly plea, and told him he would give him an order on his cashier for $100 (about $3,500 today). The Astorian disclaimed any desire to pecuniarily embarrass the munificent patron by the acceptance of so princely a sum and bowed himself out. 'The millionaire lies dead in his marble palace this morning, and his millions lie idly in the massive vaults, as cold as the clay that so lately clung to them.'
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
In One Ear: First mate rules
The Daily Morning Astorian of Feb. 13, 1884, worried about the fate of Capt. Frank Worth, who had friends in this city, after the wreck of the Umatilla on a reef near Cape Flattery, Washington. The same day, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer ran 'The Umatilla Crew Safe,' as told by second officer Edward Greenleaf. Sailing the Umatilla during a blinding snowstorm, Greenleaf thought he saw breakers ahead, but it was too late, and they ran hard aground on a reef. They were supposed to be at least 12 miles off the coast at the time. The ship started filling with water quickly, so Capt. Worth ordered full speed ahead to keep the ship firmly on the rocks until lifeboats could be lowered. The captain and most of the crew boarded two boats, while first mate John O'Brien, with the remaining men, boarded the raft. Fortunately, while the two boats were struggling in the water, two large canoes approached, with several Native Americans aboard willing to help. Greenleaf wanted to help those left behind on the raft but was outvoted. Their new friends helped land the boats, and led them to the village of Ozette, where they were 'treated kindly.' Once the storm lightened up, the ship was visible from the shore and was drifting. Greenleaf, ordered to take a boat to the ship, noticed the distress flag had been raised and realized that O'Brien and his raftmates had reboarded the ship and were setting sail. Greenleaf couldn't catch up, and returned to Ozette. After a message was sent to Neah Bay, a tug arrived and brought the stranded men safely to Seattle. Meanwhile, on Feb. 12, the Daily Alta California noted that O'Brien and the raft crew had sailed the Umatilla to Esquimalt Harbor (on Vancouver Island, British Columbia), where it promptly filled and sank in 40 feet of water. Even so, it was salvageable. And, because Capt. Worth essentially abandoned his ship, O'Brien and his cohorts were given the salvage rights. (Painting: Antonio Jacobsen)
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- General
- Yahoo
In One Ear: 'Wrecked on a reef'
Welcome news from The Daily Morning Astorian, Jan. 30, 1887: The bark Diana left Port Gamble, Washington Territory, in July 1886, bound for Sydney, Australia, and vanished. Presumed lost at sea, the Diana was officially listed on the maritime registers as 'missing.' News received in late January from Sydney revealed that the Diana had actually wrecked on a reef near Kiribati, in Micronesia, on Aug. 11. After constructing a raft, all aboard safely reached the shore. On Oct. 11, eight men, including Capt. Meyer, sailed away in two boats saved from the ship. Lacking room, the other four men were left behind. On Oct. 30, the two boats landed safely on Manihiki, an atoll in the Cook Islands, where they were picked up by the schooner Jerfalcon and taken to Melbourne, Australia, arriving Dec. 19. 'Steps were at once taken,' the Astorian noted, 'to rescue the four unfortunates left on the island.' (Painting: Antonio Jacobsen)
