ing employment. He had been taught by his father to set type at the age of twelve, and hence had five years' experience. He had applied at the printing office at Oregon City and at The Times office in Portland without success. The job of bartender had been offered him, but this was not to his taste. Finally, he called at The Oregonian office one morning and asked for work. Mr. Dryer was rather brusque in his manner, and said, "What can you do?" "Set type," was the reply. "Well, see what you can do with that," said Mr. Dryer, handing him a composing stick and a piece of reprint copy, and directing him to a case. The article was soon set and proof taken. Mr. Dryer was surprised to find it correct, and at once regarded the youth with favor. He said, "Have you any money?" "No," was the reply. Tossing the boy a $5 coin he was bidden to call again. This he did and Mr. Dryer soon found him a most industrious workman—always on hand, and willing to work early and late. Before many months elapsed this young man was advanced to the position of foreman. Soon after that he overhauled the subscription books and began introducing more careful business methods. Thus it was that Henry L. Pittock became connected with The Oregonian.
On November 8, 1856, he and Elisha Treat Gunn,[1] an accomplished printer who came from Connecticut, and had worked on the paper a number of years, were admitted to partnership by Mr. Dryer. This continued until November 20, 1858, when Pittock and Gunn withdrew. On November 24, 1860, Mr. Dryer transferred his interest to Mr. Pittock, but retained editorial control until January 12,
- ↑ Mr. Gunn was born in Connecticut about 1827, and went to California in 1849. Early in 1851 he came to Portland and was a compositor on the Oregonian for a time. In 1854 he went to Olympia, Washington Territory, and on May 19, 1855, he begun publishing the Puget Sound Courier at Steilacoom, the first paper there, and continued until its suspension in April, 1856. On November 30, 1867, he started the Olympia Transcript, and continued it until his death in 1883.
