Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 19.djvu/36

26 R. A. BOOTH made repairs to the vessel, left some of the crew to their fate in the new wilderness and then sailed away. Further credit is given the story because of stumps, apparently a hundred or more years old that were said to have been found by Scott and his party. This legend, or fact, if it is such, is mentioned in Walling's history of Jackson, Josephine, Douglas, Coos and Curry Counties. With this bit of background the story must end. The imag- ination of the reader will supply the picture of the beloved Umpqua Country, once the "Umpqua Mission" in which Father Wilbur went in 1853. The happenings since give ample justi- fication to his vision. He labored in a fertile field. Upon it he left his impress. Without what he did and the opportuni- ties he made, many a boy and girl would never have opened the heavy educational gateway that led into the big world and many a life big with results would have been barren of culture. He built moral courage and a sturdy sense of right into a thousand souls. He believed in a divine ambassadorship that caused him to "speak as one having authority" and his hopes and their fruition truly magnified his faith. He and his contemporaries were worthy forerunners of the best that we can hope for our children and our beloved state. It is related of him that while soliciting aid for the building of the first academy he met a captain who was hurrying from his schooner lying at Scotts- burg, to some interior point on an important mission. Being no respector of persons Father Wilbur sought his aid. The captain replied: "No, why should I help build your school? I never expect to be here again." "Then leave your mark and let it be known that you have passed this way," said Father Wilbur. Thereupon the captain pulled from his pocket a "slug," a coin of California mintage, worth $50, and gave it with apparent wonderment to himself. He had met a man with a mission. What finer message was ever given to a man? Leave your mark let it be known that you have passed this way.