Offbeat Oregon History podcast

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Chinese smuggler saved woman and her baby, then vanished

In Gold Rush-era Oregon, the most skilled miners were probably the Chinese — but they were in constant danger. To avoid being robbed, they entrusted their gold to professional couriers who masqueraded as penniless vagabonds. This is a story from the life of one of them, a man we know only as 'Cheng.' (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1103a-secret-chinese-courier-saved-woman-and-baby-then-vanished.html)

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  Skipper’s refusal to leave ship angered rescuers

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  “Camp Castaway” was an inconvenient miracle

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  Bridge-building scandal aroused Portlanders’ fury

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  State government was ‘decapitated’ by crash

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  Rancher saved pioneer aviator's life on a stormy night

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  Pioneer aviator survived 5 crash landings in 2 days

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  Story of murderer Danford Balch still cloaked in mystery

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  Massive passenger liner won race with fiery death

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  Helicopter crash was devastating blow to Oregon journalism

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  Governor’s kindness led to fatal consequences for town marshal (Part 2 of …

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  Governor’s kindness led to fatal consequences (Part 1 of 2)

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  Circuit Preacher Tales III: Longshoreman’s Funeral

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  Circuit Preacher Tales II: Shanghaiing up a flock

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  Circuit Preacher Stories 1: The Rev. Wells’ wild ride

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  Lonely Oregon boy grew up to be a comics legend (Part 2 of 2)