Characters of the Melodrame
Reference has been made to the two copies possessed by the library of the Oregon Historical Society. In both of these the dramatis personae have been identified in the persons of prominent Oregonians of the period, by a different guesser for each copy. The following chart shows the cast of characters and the Oregonians they were supposed to represent, as figured out for the first copy by Sam Clarke and for the second copy by Eugene Semple. According to George H. Himes, the guesses of Sam Clarke for the first copy are the “nearest correct.”
| Characters | First Copy | Second Copy |
|---|---|---|
| JUDGE | O. C. PRATT | SAME |
| CHICOPEE | A. BUSH | SAME |
| Rex (Log-Roller) | COL. KING | SAME |
| ARNOLD (Federal Officer) | J.QUINN THORNTON | J. ANDERSON |
|-
|BLACK; BLACKINSTOS = — .veeee
Dick (Spies) - = - opevirp ee
Grus (Town Proprietor) - DR. WILSON SAME
Unc ie Nep (Councilman) - FRED WAYMIRE DEADY
Peter (A Portland Patton) - WATERMAN SAME
HOTSPUR - - - NESMITH LOVEJOY
GUMBO - 2 = = + VAULT WAYMIRE
PARK - - - - + + SAM PARKER SAME
A SCENE FROM THE MELODRAME
Runner. (Handing the judge a paper)
Here, read this Oregonian, and you'll see, Whether our foes, are yet prepared to flee, Or stand up bravely for the people’s cause, And battle for their rights and sacred laws.
JupcE (after reading the paper, spitting upon st, stamping st violently under feet, and frothing at the mouth,) opens thus—
Blood! thunder! fury! big devils and imps! Volcanoes and cataracts! earthquakes and Hurrycanes! whirlpools and breakers! blue laws And coon skins! h—1l] and damnation! Dryer! Dryer!! Dryer and Gaines! “Skookum” and Nelson! !
RuNNER.
Gumbo! for God’s sake hand him a chew of tobacco— then stand from under.
