Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (June 20, 1907)
THE BlORlim OTCEGOXIAJr, THURSDAY, JUNE 20, 1907. PIONEERS HOLD Two Things III 10 1 f i i 1 1 i im iihi iipiiiini urnrmn f t - i . i Ilium . . III J . ' -" "J" """" """."ii " 1 t HAL REUNION v - . ; -r of Which Portland May Well Be Proud The Finest Men and Women Who Traveled Oregon Trail Meet in , Portland. . FEAST AND TELL STORIES Long Day Devoted to Much Merrj' Making and Modicum of Busi , pess Joaquin Miller, Poet, Speaks at the Campflre. The (food, gray army of Oregon pioneers came down upon Portland yesterday and the city capitulated gladly and without question of terms to the men and women whose valiant striving in the trying times made the present greatness of the com monwealth possible. It was the annual reunion of the Oregon Pioneer Associa tion, which consists partly of business ses sions, but more largely to social sessions, for the purpose of exchanging reminis cences of the long ago and partaking of good cheer provided by the younger gen eration for those whom Oregon most de lights to honor. A little older, a little more bent, but nearly as full as ever of the zest of life, the pioneers came again to re count among; themselves and' to their children and their children's children the brave stories of the heroic epoch of Oregon's history. There was no lack of enthusiasm nor energ-y dis played, however, and the impression left with those who mingled with them that they are marvelously well pre served and energetic, and that for many years the pioneers' reunion will be an annual feature. Twelve hundred and twenty-two of them sat down to the banquet spread in the Armory yesterday, and more than that number attended the ses sions of the day. In point of yeas they ranged from a fine old patriarch vho lives at Astoria and was born .1 813. to the "kids" like T. T. Geer and fieorge H. Himes, who are still com paratively young- men. One old lady who boasted of her 81 years did a very sprightly double-shuffle for the benefit of a few friends while they were waiting- for the regular proceed ings., Features of the Reunion. , The campflre last night was perhaps the most interesting affair of the kind ever held in the state, the principal features of which were the appearance Tn the platform of Joaquin Miller the "Poet of the Sierras" and candidate for t'nlted States Senator, who made an address and sang a missionary hymn In Chinook jargon, and the plea of Cyrus H. Walker that this Jargon be revived as an untversal language. According to Secretary Himes there was a larger attendance than ever be fore In the history of the organiza tion, which is remarkable considering the fact that the average age of the pioneers must be above the Scriptural limit. The Indian War veterans were there in force and ocasionally one found the bronze button of the G. A R. It was significant of the fact that the pioneers are old beyond the average expectancy that these men who served in the Civil War were all decidely of the younger element and appeared al most youthful beside most of the men who came here In the 40's to carve a state out of the wilderness. The mothers of the Pacific Northwest were there in force also, most of them hale and hearty old ladies whose ap pearance might well shame that of the preBent-day leaders among their sex. All who came, whatever their story and whenever they came, were ac corded the heartiest welcome by their fellows and everybody had a good time. First Session of the Day. Shortly after the noon hour hundreds of members of the association began to assemble at the Armory. At 2 o'clock nearly 3000 people were seated in the big hall. Chairman Joseph Buchtel, of the general reception committee, Sec retary George H. Himes, Mrs. C. M. L'artwrlght. chairman of the women's auxiliary, and the women's reception committee received the pioneers and their wives as they arrived. They were assisted by members of the general reception committee. Cheery greetings were tendered the visitors as they entered. The pioneers gathered in knots about the hall and fxchanged greetings. Cordiality was expressed on each countenance. President George Is Absent. Vice-President J. D. Lee called the association to order in the absence of President M. C. George, who is ill. His gavel fell at 2:30 o'clock and the pro gramme was opened with a prayer, for those nearlng- the sunset of life by Rev. John Klinn. of Portland, formeryl chaplain of the association. Rev. I D. Driver, the chaplain was unable to be present, Mayor lane was introduced, and In his address gave the pioneers a hearty welcome to the city. The visitors had been sweltering In the heat of the poorly-ventilated room, and the May i or also appeared warm. "I am of the opinion that more pio neers will perish in the heat of this ungainly room than succumbed to the beat of the desert in the trip across the plains years ago," he said. "I re Fret the use of the building for your entertainment, and hope to see Port ' land erect a suitable structure soon for such a large gathering as the an nual reunion of the pioneers. I con sider it a sacred duty on the part of the city to provide a decent building. Mayor Lane's Address. "This gathering occupies a unique position. No people in the world took such a trip and terminated their trav els In so grand a country. There is ; nn end to the romantic Interest In the pioneers, because they struck into the unknown and opened up the fair est and greatest section of the United States. After 50 years, the world has discovered what we have here." The Mayor then again extended a beartv welcome to the Pioneers, Chair man Leo responded In an equally heartv manner. "A Matrimonial Ptory." a recitation. was rendered by Miss Delia Bradley, as the next number on the programme. Parsons' Orchestra played a few appro priate selections. Professor Parvln and Mrs. Julia Kamsey ana cnoir, com posed of Miss L.ucy A. Latourette, Miss Nrrxent and sister, iHiss anaemar, Messrs. G. T. Howard, E. A. Fairchild and Alvord sang "Columbia s Banner." The annual address of George H. Vtlmes secretary of the association, was not read, owing to its length. It Klves a graphic description or tne trip west in the early days and will be printed in the Annual Transactions. Pioneers Honored in Song. After another sons: by Professor Par kin and choir. Miss Newgent and choir rendered a song written lor tne occa -P' 'mss : aA " J: THE BAIET HILL AT THE ARMORY, SHOWING THE- TABLES SPREAD FOB THE PIONEERS' FE AST. l m l m a m m m t mm slon by Rob Roy Parrlsh, of Indepen dence, Professor Parvin composing tho music. It was "Our Good Old Pio neers," and was received with applause. After the rendering of "America" by the orchestra. Rev. Jonn Flinn pro nounced the benediction. The programme was shortened some what on account of the overheated hall. After an hour's chat in the corridors and outside the building. Chairman Joseph Buchtel and the general reception committee conducted the pioneers and their wives to the banquet hall. In many ways It was a remarkable banquet that was served to the members of the Oregon Pioneer Association by the Women's Auxilliary of that organization In the small hall of the Armory. Proba bly nowhere else in the world than on the Pacific Coast could 1250 persons bound together by such peculiar ties and or such extraordinary experiences, stretch ing over a period of half a century or more, be assembled around one board. Scenes at the Banquet. Many of those who sat down to the feast were over SO years of age. and there were few under 60 grizzled old trail-blazers and their aged wives, all hapDy and smiling and all served with the choicest os viands by their daughters and granddaughters, and in some in stances their great-granddaughters. They were the empire builders of the Pacific Northwest, and for the hour the hon ored guests of their children and their children's children. To these men and women who half a century ago, more or less, toiled tediously "across the plains" with "prairie-schooner" and ox-teams, cooking their Bcanty fare over camp fires, an elaborate feast of six- courses was brought, part of it in a honking au tomobile, direct from the big ranges of a modern hotel, and while they ate. In stead of the redskin's blood-curdling war- whoop or the dismal howl of the prairie wolf, they heard the sweet strains of a modern orchestra. Their feast was spread in a great hall that stood -where many of them had seen standing the great trees of the primeval forest, long since hewn away to make room for a -metro-Dolitan community, and they had just come from a splendid building of marble and sandstone, tne capitoi or a city some of them helped to found when they cut away the first trees and built the first rude Qablns. These were some of the thoughts that mingled with the reminiscences of the pioneers as they sat at the flower-adorned board. But to those who viewed the' scene from the Armory balcony, and saw the 1250 guests seated, splendidly served and sent on their -way rejoicing, the gal lant old men. each with a rose in his coat lapel, and the smiling. snowy-haired women, each with a cluster of roses in her girdle, all within the period of less than an hour, there was much to marvel at In how It was done. Moves Like Clock-Work. . To serve more than a thousand people with a dinner of six courses is at no time a small undertaking, and had there been a less perfect organization, or a whit less of fond eagerness to anticipate every wish of the old folks, on the part of the girls and women who served them, there must have resulted much confusion. So thor oughly, however, had the women who had the arrangements in charge thought out all the details and planned against every emergency, that the multitude was fed without the slightest hitch or halt. There were 19 long tables, each with a seating capacity of 72. Upon each table were scattered flowers, and at every plate lay o rose: tall vases, each with its bou quet of blossoms, were placed four feet apart on each table, each table having its own pretty color scheme, and great bas kets of flowers and ferns hung from the celling. At ten different booths the viands were dished up systematically, and four girls, under the supervision of two women served each table. Long before the hour for the banquet the pioneers were gathered In the big hall way leading to the banquet hall, and when the rope at the double doors was dropped, at a signal from George H. Himes, secretary of the association, there was a merry rush for the tables. Within a few minutes all had been systematically seated and the big feast was on. Boys carried in great boilers of steaming coffee. and pretty (Iris in white, with many pleasantries, served It from pitchers. Twenty big Chinook salmon, which had been rushed from the giant oven of the Oregon Grill range, baked " whole and steaming hot. had been carved into indi vidual portions, and soon were on their way to refresh' the Inner man of the pioneers.- More than 60 gallons of po tato salad went for the same purpose, and heaps of three varieties of cold meat, including 35 large hams, also disappeared. Sweet Tooth Is Left. Manv big scoops of bon-bons and 60 gallons of plnk-and-whlte striped ice cream went like the proverbial hot-cake, attesting to the "sweet tooth" of those who had shed all others. Pies, cakes and other goodies - were devoured with- like alacrity, and when all was done there remained little to be cleared away save the dishes. The business session of the annual meeting commenced at 7:30 o'clock in the upper hall of the Armory. Vice-President .Lee presided. The annual election re sulted as follows: . President, J. D. Lee, 1S48. Portland; Vice President, J. E. Magers, 1S52, Port land; Secretary, for his twenty-third con secutive year, George H. Himes, 1853, of Portland; Corresponding Secretary, Rob ert A. Miller, 1854, Portland; Treasurer, Charles B. Ladd, 1857, Portland. ' Directors Cyrus H. Walker, 1S38. Al bany.; P. H. D'Arcy, 1868, Salem; Jacob Gulllford, Dufur, Wasco County. The ' resolution offered at the last an nual meeting by Joseph Buchtel, giving notice of an amendment to the constitu 7 '::,,;' , I 1' I - V'i 'fc x 7v - sfTii ' J ' ihl ' X'tZi :: j- - NM'- ' w - ' j - i'Ja l ' ' PIONEERS GATHERING FOR THE ANNUAL REUNION AT THE ARMORY. tion of the Association changing the man ner of keeping the records, was called up and after considerable discussion adopted by a vote of J41 to 31. This closed the annual meeting. Sons and Daughters. Elect. More than 150 members of the Sons and Daughters of Oregon Pioneers were pres ent at the various meetings yesterday. The old officers were re-elected for an other year, as follows: President, Judge M.J C. George; vice president, John W. Minto; secretary, Mrs. I. W. Pratt; treasurer and cor responding secretary, Mrs. Elizabeth Hamilton. Mr. Mlnto and. Mrs. A. B. Crossman were elected for five years to fill two vacancies in the board of directors. The pioneers held a "campflre" in the dance hall of the Armory at 8:30 o'clock last night, closing their annual reunion. Over,-1500 people attended. The evening was ispent In a most en joyable mannerV Joaquin Miller was a visitor and the -pioneers Insisted that he take a place on the platform, where he was in great demand' to participate In the pro gramme. Robert A. Miller, 1854, pre sided. After a selection by Parson's Or chestra, "Vive La America" was sung by G. T. Howard and chorus, the music being by Professor Z. M. Parvin, Joaqmin Miller, Poet, Sings. . Joaquin Miller was called upon, and was introduced by President Lee in "Chinook wawa,' He made a short address, then sang- "Kah-o-kah Mitlite Moses," in the Jargon that was used by the Hudson Bay Company's trad ers In dealing with the Indians. All the pioneers understood the language, and prolonged applause greeted the poet's rendering; of the selection, which. In English, -is called "Where Now Is Good Old Moses," etc. - Miss Minnie M. Bode then gave a recitation of her own composition, called the "Pioneer's Dance." It dealt with the social side of early Western life; and was a pronounced success with the audience. Mrs. Abigail Duniway told the audi ence of Joaquin Miller's poems and recited a verse of his "Mothers of Men" In Chinook Jargon. In reference to the poem she made a short talk, saying- that the woman who did not like men was no good and missed her destiny, and the same about the man who did not like women. "Campflre talks" took up a portion of the evening, P. H. D'Arcy. of Salem, and others refering to the old days and the new. . Would Revive the Jargon. ' Cyrus H. Walker,' the oldest living native son, who was born at the Whit man mission In 1838. was a lively speaker. He made a plea for a revival of the Chinook jargon as an every-day language. Mrs. Fred L. Olson sang "When This Old Town was New." and the pro- gramme was closed by the singing of "Auld Lang Syne" by the audience. Must of the pioneers and those ac companying them to the reunion will remain over In the city for the Rose 1'iesta. The following resolutions . were drawn up by the pioneers yesterday: At this Joyous Reason we wish to re member with affection those who in for mer years Joined with us In these festivities, and in pioneer " reminiscences and good- fellowship, who since our last reunion hav passed to the realms of shade, but who re main with us as a fragrant memory that pervades all our hearts. Resolved. That the thanks of the Pioneers are due and are hereby expressed to Mrs. C. M. Cartwrlght and her able corps of assistants for the preparation each year of the magnificent spread In the dlnlng-hall, realising, as we do, the Immense amount of labor it involves, without charge or com pensation aside from a deslra to honor the state builders, to whom so much Is due for the development of the great common wealth in which we .live. Resolved, That the pioneers present hereby send greeting's to the pioneers of the state who arc not In the habit of attending these annual reunions, and extend to them an urgent request to attend the annual re unions hereafter, so that their old friends may meet and greet them, and a more In timate fellowship among all the pioneers of the ' state be established. Resolved, That we sincerely regret the Ill ness of our distinguished president, Hon. M. C. George, which made his presence with us today impossible, and he has our .united hope for . his speedy restoration . to good health. . .T.-.T. GEER, . . F. H. GRUBBS, J. " E. - MAGERS, Committee. ARE ROSE CITY PARK LOTS TOO HIGH? Arguments Which Go to Prove That , They Are Selling at Too Low a Price. Many people cannot understand how Hose City Park lots can be sold at the prices that are quoted, including all the Improvements that are con templated, and allow the owners to make any money. At the same time It Is true that there are those who be lieve that the prices quoted for Rose City Park lots are too high. This question develops an interesting point for consideration. . The entire 1000 acres of what Is now- known a Rose City Park were pur chased by a syndicate of the wealthiest men In Portland. An unusually low price was secured by them, owing to the exceedingly large purchase that was made. All the Improvements that are being made are contracted for upon a wholesale plan. As a consequence. the work is being done at prices that are far below the figures that could be obtained If the work had been pros ecuted upon a small scale. The result of this method of tran sacting business on a large scale has made It possible for the firm of Hart- man & Thompson to make a remark able statement. The cost of develop lng Rose City Park for residential purposes has been watched so closely that It Is safe to say that no acreage beyond Rose City Park could be pur chased now at any price that would admit of the Improvement work that Is being done in Rose City Park and allow the owners any profit. This fact alone ought to convince the skeptical that Rose City Park lots are being sold at a much lower price than they are really-worth. Probably tha secret of the whole af fair is that the syndicate behind the Rose City Park movement were more determined to make that section of the city a permanent and delightful res ldence district than they were to aug ment their fortunes by boosting the prices far above their normal worth The truth remains that the amount of Improvement work that Is being done la far out of proportion to that which Is being done or even con templated by any other addition now on the market In this city. in the SMMaTsSMaVHHMSSBSJ World and Columbia Tailoring Both are in the top - notch class undisputed v leaders ,Ly eg Grant Phegley,' Manager Elks' Building Seventh and Stark HIGHWAYMEN AT , WORK Two Cases of Holdup Are Heported to the Police. An unknown highwayman held up and tried to rob Le Kee, a Chinaman, on Stark street between . Eleventh and Twelfth streets, last night at ii:ju o'clock. Falling to secure anything, the thug assaulted the Chinaman, cutting- a deep gash on his right hand. Lee de-. scribes his assailant as being about 6 feet eight Inches tall ana wearing a oiacK mask. j. G. Turck reported to the police that he was set upon, beaten and robbed by two men at the corner of FYont and Mor rison streets early In the night by two thusrs. who relieved him of 138 In coin and a gold watch. Turck was consider ably under the Influence or liquor ana was unable to give a description of bis assailants.. K1REB FOB SOUVENIR PHOTOS. Northwest Scenery Imperial Hotel. EILERS WINDOWS FLORAL BOWERS UNIQUE AND LAVISH DISPLAY. FULL SIZE GRAND PIANO IN TLOWERS-EUSTIO BRIDGE WITH POOL OF SPARK LING WATER. Interior of Store Profusely Decorated With Thousands of the Finest Nat ural Roses One of the Handsomest Exhibits of the Fiesta One of the Sights to Be Seen by All Lovers of Floral Beauty. One of the most elaborate floral dis plays of the Rose Carnival has been made by Eilers Piano House, who, with their customary progresslveness, have spared neither time nor expense to pro duce something both beautiful and unique. The larKe corner window of their store has been turned into a veritable floral paradise, lavishly arranged with such a wealth of the most beautiful of Portland's famous roses and other flowers as to eclipse probably any thing ever attempted In this city of a similar nature. With appropriate sug gestion, the centerpiece is a magnifi cent grand piano, full size, all done in flowers, with a profusion of the most delicate and beautiful blossoms of every description, banked with a back- ? round here and there of splendid ems, and merging into still another unique conception, consisting of a most artistic rusiic bridge, with a pool of sparkling water -close at hand, with moss, rocks and natural evergreens. From hundreds of crystal vases hanging from the molding entirely surrounding the Interior of the store are to be seen thousands more of the choicest roses to be found in the city, transforming- the store Into' a most realistic garden scene. ... Altogether the decoration of the store and windows constitutes one of the best of the displays to be seen any where, and is well worth a special visit of all lovers of floral beauty. A large portion of the roses were con tributed to the display from -the gar dens of Mrs. A. R. Diamond, who enabled the firm to thus secure the very choicest productions from one of the best of Portland's famous rose col lections. The work of planning and arranging the display was carried out entirely by the firm's employes, under the supervision of Mr. U. A. Hoffman. 3s.