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Tillamook Passage
Far Side of The Pacific
Brian D. Ratty
©2011 Brian D. Ratty. All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.
First published by AuthorHouse 6/17/2011
Published in eBook format by eBookIt.com
ISBN-13: 978-1-4566-0390-8
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For my loving wife Tess of two score years.
Love brought us together
as husband and wife
and gave us each
a best friend for life
And for baby Roan Elizabeth, our newest grandchild
Introduction
TILLAMOOK PASSAGE IS MY THIRD BOOK AND a departure from my first two novels. The seeds of this story started many years ago, when I read about Captain Robert Gray and his discovery of a pristine Pacific coastal bay that he named, after the local Indians, as Tillamook. Then, some years later, the story took root after my wife, Tess, and I found an out-of-print book about the culture and rituals of the Tillamook Indians. These two events forged the general premise of a story that is steeped in history while rich in adventure.
Writing historical fiction, in this age of political correctness, can be a tricky enterprise. Some readers wish to overlook the past, pretending that our forefathers were without fault and that the world was always a peaceful, gentle place. Unfortunately, that isn’t how history works. Remember, for example, that the very first ‘cash crop’ shipped back to Europe from the fledging colony of Jamestown, in the seventeenth century, was tobacco. America’s early financial foundation was primarily built upon the growth and sale of tobacco. Then, immediately after the Revolutionary War, ships were sent to the Pacific Northwest for the taking and trading of pelts. Essentially, the Pacific coast frontier was opened because of the skins of small animals like the otter and beaver. At that time, the local Indians, thousands of them, lived peacefully up and down the Pacific coastal plain. Most of them had never seen a ship or a white man, and they had no concept of guns or money. They were a simple people, living off the land and raising their families just as their ancestors had done for over five hundred generations. These Indians became tragic victims of the fur trade and the opening of the frontier. Within a single generation, the culture and lives of these people would be changed forever. No, history isn’t always pretty, but it’s always fascinating, and it is a window to what has already been. For if we don’t truly come to understand our checkered past, we will be doomed to repeat it.
Tillamook Passage presented other challenges, such as working with eighteenth century language usage and the many seafaring terms of the day. And finding resources that could shed light on the culture and jargon of the local Indians was an even more daunting task. But as Tess and I undertook extensive research trips, we found clues to the Indians’ lives that helped me to depict a civilization rich with courage and strong in faith.
Tillamook Passage is written in three voices. At the beginning of each chapter, a brief narrative highlights the history of the time, while the story itself is told through the voice of my main subject and, later, his son. As to my characters, many are historical, some arise from folklore, and still others come from my imagination. Their development and my plot will hopefully take the reader back to a savage wilderness of endless forests, rugged mountains and bountiful waters. In this land of long ago, they will discover Indians with proud spirits, steeped in savaged traditions. These natives must now face their fate, dealing with white men and their ships that spit fire. Tillamook Passage is a thrilling testament to the iron wills, brave hearts and sharp wits of the gritty explorers who came before us. Two worlds… one destiny.
Acknowledgments
WRITING HISTORICAL FICTION IS A REWARDING ENTERPRISE for anyone who loves history. Once the general story line is set and a rough outline has been written, the leg work begins. For the first of many research trips, my wife Tess and I visited the Tillamook County Library in search of information on the coastal Indians of Pacific Northwest. We were pleasantly surprised by this modern library and the many valuable research documents it had to offer. It was here that one of the librarians told us of an out-of-print book which contained rare information on the rituals, ceremonies and culture of the Tillamook Indian nation. Soon, an old, dog-eared copy of this book was found in a local bookstore, and it proved to be invaluable.
The first part of my story is about tall ships and sailors. Being only a fair-weather power boater myself, I needed much guidance regarding sailing terms and the lifestyles of the jack-tars of the seventeenth century. For help, I turned to my old friend, David White, who is a world renowned sailor in his own right. David was one of the first to sail solo around the world, and became one of the founders of a world famous sailing competition. I thank him deeply for the time and effort he gave to each of my chapters.
Many thanks to Scott McBride who, over the past two years as the manuscript took form, read my story and provided enthusiastic support. His questions were always thought provoking, and his positive input encouraging.
During our extensive research trips, we often were joined by family and friends. On one such trip to the Garibaldi Maritime Museum, I am grateful to my cousin Lori Olson, for pointing out the work of a fine maritime artist. Visiting this artist’s website, I found the perfect image for the cover of my book. This artist is Gordon Miller. For more information on his outstanding work, go to
