Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 5.djvu/298

 Jss PETER H. BURNETT. from the serious expression of his face, that he was an old friend ; but, for the moment, I could not place him or call his name. He was so much affected that his eyes filled with tears, and he could not speak. I shook his hand cordially invited him to sit down, and sat down by him, looking him full in the face one moment, when it came into my mind that he was my old friend, and I exclaimed, ' ' Applegate ! " and we embraced like brothers. We talked about one hour, and in this conversation he gave me his history since I left Oregon. He removed to the Umpqua Valley, where for a time he had fine lands, stock, and other property. At length he determined to go into the mercantile business, for which he had little or no capacity Said he: "To make a long story short, I did business upon this theory. I sold my goods on credit to those who needed them most, not to those who were able to pay, lost $30,000, and quit the business." Any one knowing Jesse Applegate as I do would at once recognize the truth of this statement. It was just like the man. His fine intellect and his experience in life said no; but his generous heart said yes; and that kind heart of his overruled his better judgment. In his old age his fortune is gone ; but his true friends only admire and love him the more in the hour of misfortune. In starting from Missouri to come to this country in 1843, Mr. Applegate announced to his traveling companions, as we have been credibly informed, that he meant to drive the Hudson's Bay Company from the country. To reach the country independent of them, he had sold or mortgaged his cattle to get supplies at Walla Walla. On arriving at Van- couver, he found Dr. McLoughlin to be much of a gentleman, and disposed to aid him in every way he could. The doctor advised him to keep his cattle, and gave him employment as a surveyor, and credit for all he required. This kind treatment closed Mr. Applegate 's open statements of opposition to the company, and secured his friendship and his influence to keep his Missouri friends from doing violence to them. He carried this kind feeling for them into the legislative committee. (Gray, pages 421-422.)