Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Willamette farmer. (Salem, Or.) 1869-1887 | View Entire Issue (April 23, 1886)
i ..xxtjyrb . VOL. XVIII. OREGON PIONEER HISTORY. SKETCHES OF EARLY DAYS, -MEN AND TIMES IN THE FORTIES. I1Y S. A CLARKE. Copyright applied (or. All rljhti marred NUMBER XIV. Much interest will always attach to tho first effort of whito women to cross tho continent, a journoy that many mon could havo hositnted to undortako at that early day, and that only bravo wo men, actuated by tho highest motive?, could havo uttemptod. Tho first women to uttompt this re markablo journoy woro tho wives of tho throo missionaries, Spalding, Whitman and Gray. All woro woll educated. Mrs. Whitman was naturally vory firm in character and fino looking in appear ance, as also was Sirs. Gray. 'Mrs. Spalding was vory quick in learning a language Sho rapidly learned tho Nez Forces tonguo and acquired a strong influonco over tho Indians. In 1835, in company with Row Samnol Parkor, Dr. Marcus Whitman started for Oregon. But tho two mon wcro bo radically different by nature that they mutually agreed, at tho great Rocky Mountain rendezvous on Green rivor, that Mr. Parkor should go on and estab lish tho Nez Forces mission and Whit man return, report to tho mission board and conio again to tho rendezvous tho following year with associates to carry out their plans. It so happened that at tho Grcon river rendezvous Parker and Whitman mot a band of X z Fcrcos In dians undor tho lead of tho well-known Indian chiof Lawyer. Tlioso Indians, hearing of their arrival, mado earnest ro quest to havo theso missionaries locate in their country, to which tlioy acccdod. Mr. Parkor was to go undor their caro to tho Columbia river and they promised to bo at Grocn river tho following year (1830) to tako chorgo of Dr. Whitman And his associates. Mr. H. Spalding and. Dr. M. Whitman and their wives, and W. II. Gray, secular agont, and his wifo, formed tho mission party that arrived at tho Rocky Mountain rendezvous in tho summer of 1830. They had met no stirring incident or advonturoup to that timo, and woro surprisod at what (hoy found there, or rather a littlo boforo tlioy arrived, as woll as after arrival. Two days boforo reaching Grcon rivor thoy wero ularmcd by tho appcaranco of a party of nearly twonty Indians and whites who could not bo told from savages by their look a. Yolls woro utter ed and bullets went whizzing over their heads as tho mad crowd caino rushing toward them. But an ozporionccd plains man had discerned a whito ilag that meant poaco. So thoy manifested no alarm. Horses and ridors soomed crazy with oxcltmcnt as they camo hooting and yolling, running and jumping over sago brush or whatover interferred. This was tho wild otiquotto of tho plains, and tho party reciprocated it as woll as thoy could with cheers nnd gun shots. Tho now-comors passod to tho rear, and sur rounding thorn, rushed back to their camp as madly as thoy came. That night thoy found a company of Xoz Forces with a letter from Mr. Parker, announcing his safo arrival and good feeling existing among tho Indians. Wo will stop a moment at that moun tain camp, because its altitudo was re markablo and its surrounding woro worthy of mention. From that groat mountain plateau tho waters of tho continont diverged in all directions. Some coursed north and east to feed tho Saskatchewan; othors flowod towards tho Missouri; to tho south and east went streams to feed tho lower Missouri and Colorado, while springs that flowed northwest gavo birth to Snako river, the greatest sourco of the summer floods of the Coumbia. It was truly a significant spot whereon to hold a council as a be SALEM, OREGON, FRIDAY, ginning of a now life on tho other sido of our groat continontt It was closo undor tho s ummit-land of tho continent that our travelers offorod hospitality that evening to tho friondly Nez Porccs who camo half a thousand miles, at least, to wolcomo them and es cort thorn to thoir far wostorn homes. They Bproad tho modest foast upon tho mountain sward, with snow-capped sum mits at hand for a July tokon. Pattered iron platos and wooden handlod knives, and forked sticks (if ono proforrod not to uso tho fingers) and well worn tin cups sot off tho cuisino. Tho venison roast was toothsome, and so was tho broiled buffalo steak toasted ovor tho coals on a forked stick. Such was tho bill of faro, soasoncd for onco with toa and sugar and spiced with a littlo salt and sand and dirt nd libitum. It was effective, despito tho lack of dessort and tho scautinoss of courses, for twonty-soven years after tho great chiof, Lawyer, assorted that thou and thero his heart becatno ono with Americans. No doubt tho famous Indian becamo interested thon in ,tho two Amorican wives who wcro to livo among his pconlo and bo their instructors in a better lifo. Tho influonco of womon was greatly felt in the history of those missions. . At tho Great American rendezvous on Giren rivor tho missionary party found a city of at loast.l,G00 population, mado up Of various races. Tho fur company had buildings nnd equipages for trains as well as trading station. A sort of oruor was obsorved in building this strange and trnnsionl city of tho plains, so as to permit passago to and through it. Ingress and ogross was a matter of doubt, howovor, though a spaco beside tho rivor answorod for a gonoral high way. Difforont quarters wcro allotted to various interosts. All tho whiter con gregated around tho company's quarters. Huntors and trappers of various dogrcos mado up this dopartmont, Tho different Indian tribes had each their allotment of ground, thatstrotchod for throe milos along Hor'so crook and Groen river, whero Snakos, Bannocks and southorn trlboi woro camped. Tho far northorn hordes spread six miles up Green river, whoro Flathead and Blackfcct had emoted thoir lodges and various camps. Each band or tribo was so dispoaod ns to bo ablo to defond its own promisos and protect its stock, for thoy had great wealth of horses and brought thorn to tho rendozvous for trade. It so happened that all tho savago Inland Empire was at pcacn in 1830, but tho Indian's motto is: "In timo of poaco preparo tor war," ana all tlio camps manifested tho etornal vigilanco that makes peaco among Indians possible. Tho city at Bridgor's was a military camp, or rather a succession of camps. Stealing was n constant crimo, nnd tho only law was thut of might. Tho horso thiof was shot down whore found. Tho quickest shot decided questions of law and fact at times. Thoro was say ono hundred Americans who woro hunters und trappers ; about fifty French ; a fow traders; twonty outsiders, and tho re mainder wcro natives of tho plains. By arrangement tho Indians got up a grand display to interest their whito visitors, nnd especially to honor tho first appoaranco of civilizod women on tho sago plains. Tho procession begun to form at tho Snako and Banuack en campment. Thoso wero joined by Noz Purees and Flat I rends, and ovory war rior was dressed and paintod in the gaudiest stylo of Indian haber dashory. Thero was not so much of actual cloth ing as of personal adornment. Tho warriors had only a single cloth about their loins, painted their bodies elabor ately. Head drosses of feathers set off tho cavaliors, and their weapons of war woro carried with pride and ostentation. They hod many rude instruments of music that contributed sound in as tounding variety. There wcro probably six hundred warriors in this grand cal- valcadc, and tho ladios as well as eomo of tho husbands, wero roliovcd in mind when thoy woro told tho demonstration had no hostilo intent, but was a person al compliment. It cannot bo said that under tho most agrccablo conditions thoy found tho sound of tho war-hoop, tho savage yell and tho Indian drum soothing to tho norves or quieting to civilized sonscs. Mr. Qray nlludos to tho potent influonco tho prosenco of re fined womanhood oxorcisod ovor tho lately rudn mountain-men, ovon thero on tho summit of tlio Rocky MountaiiiH. 'Tho rough, votran mountain hunter would touch his hat in a maunor abso lutely rodiculous, it was so foreign to his ovory-day lifo and conversation. At Grcon river thoy mot Captain Nnth aniol Wyoth, who was returning from tho Columbia river, on his way bnck to tho States. With him wcro John Mo Lcod and Thomas McKay. Wyoth gavo thorn excellent ndvlco to govern their conduct when thoy reached Ore gon. Thoy also mot Jo Mcok, who on tortaincd them with yarns that to say tho least woro clastic. In all thoro woro eight of theso mountnin-mon, hunters and trappers, who oarncd a reputation as frco lances in days preceding ovon our"pionoor days." Tho Indopondcnt trappers wcro a class of mon tho Hudson Bay company did opt tolorato any far ther than thoy couldrpossibly help, thoy woro too independent and as thoy usual ly woro married to Indian women thoir influonco ovor tho natives was vory oft- cd a sourco of troublo and dilllculty. Dr. Whitman bad persisted in bring ing his wagon through tho Rocky Mountains, and it rolled on whon thoy started west from that great rendezvous after six days rost. That wagon was a sourco of infinite labor to its heroic owner, but ha stayed with it in many difficult places, and with tho nid of tho over-willing Noz Porccs, it was safely brought through tho rough mountains this sido of Groon rivor, and overcom ing every dilllculty was safely taken to Old Fort Boiso. This ono incident illus (rates tho unyielding and positivo char acter of Marcus Whitman. It romaincd at Fort Boiso until Dr. Whitman could send for it, which I think was two years later, and was left there becuuso of tho general complaint that it delayed tho progress of tho company. Mr. Gray says tho Hudson Bay company fouud it usoful in connection with hauling that had to bo dono whifa it romaincd thoro. Tho throo ladios woro ferried ovor Snake rivor on u raft mado of hullrush- 08. llieir clothing was a littlo wet as thoy had to lio down on tho raft, but thoy scarco mindod this inconvenience. Somo timo was spent to dry and repack, and thon thoy pushed on townrd Ore- Bn . . . At last theso horoic women btood on (ho western and northorn bIojio of tho Bluo Mountains that overlooked tho broad valley of tho Columbia. Theso mountains brook down suddenly on that side, as all tho height gained in a long day of trnvel is ovorcomo by a sin glo bold and almost prociptous declivity On tho brow of this great outlook thoy stood and took in tho wonderful vistas that was spread in wild prolusion as far as tho sight could go. Yonder canyon is thronded by tho River of tho Wost, and its silver flow is visible in plucos. Tho rolling uplands of tho Umatilla valley lio below thorn and glisten with tho waving of tho hunch grass on a thousand hills. Now thero are wheat fields all over that fertilo scope and tho red-men of 1830, what fow aro left, nro gathered on a reservation, whilo civiliz ed communities have mado thoir homes over all tho broad domain east of Uma tilla river. Standing whoro thoy stood, to-day wo seo Pondloton, Conterville, Weston, Milton and Walla Walla, and along the desolato shore, rock ribbed to day as thon, tho iron horso courses on schedule time, while on tho broad river great steamers go to and fro. The sccno is beautiful more so by APRIL 33, 1886. far to-day than half a contury gone and yot thoro is a blur upon it that all tho charms of roflnemont and culluro cannot efface, for wo seem to sco whero Wnli-lat-pu was tho scono of massa cre that was enacted in 1817; wa scorn to hoar tho war-hoop and savago yells that rose when our missionaries became martyrs to a groat causo. Thoy died at tho post of danger rather than to seek safoty by abandoning it. Only n month boforo that fntnl day, returning from Oregon City, Whitman campod nenr tho Umatilla, closo by an ommigrant train in which was Judgo J. W. Grim, a woll known nnd honored citizon of Marion county, who has given me a sketch of tho doctor's epoccli at thoir camp fire. Ho gavo thorn much valuable information and good ndvico, nnd in allusion to himself ho said ho said ho folt iusecuro whoro ho was, as as inoro was u uostiio icoiing growing among tho nativos that might end in fatal results. Knowing this and patient ly doing all ho could to nvcrt it, thero was somothing moro than mora heroism in tho Bonso of duty that hold him thoro a waiting victim. Ono of thoso horoio womon livod to fulfill hor lifo work, but tho othorwas sacrificed with othors on that fearful dny of massa cre. INIKOTt AMU THMfc KIWIS. Tnt Rtlauont of tns Furmtr Tnrto.-How they OriiinaU and How to Dpois Thtra. 1IY V. H. MATTKHON. Tho ants, liko tho bees, aro commun istic living togothor in familios, or tribes, and carrying on thoir domestic and political affairs with patriarchnl simplicity. Their communities aro composed, liko tho domestic bco, of males, females and nouters, or work ers. Their females, howovor, do not ap pear to bo so oxnetingly jealous as the fomalo boo, who suffers no rival to re main in the samo cantonmont; but many males nnd fomalea livo amicably together in tho samo community with a multitudo of workors. Whothor tho ants practice poligamy, liko the Mormons, or polyandry, liko tho bees, I am not informed; neither does it matter. It is with their habits of living and mothnds of doinir business which chiefly concerns us. Iu this wo find much to commend. From tho birth of history, tho ant, togothor with the boo, has been ox tolled ns a pattern to be copied after "Go to tho nnt thou slug gard. Considor hor ways and be wiso," is as apnlicablo now as it was whon tho servants of Hiram were hewing the cedars of Lebanon Into timber for the great templo at Jorusalom. "Which having no guide, ovcrsocr or ruler, pro vldoth her meat in summer, and gath- oroth hor food in tho harvest." Ants mako thoir nosts in tho ground, in rotten wood, and somotimes in other places. Homo varioticH raiso a mound (ant hill), othors simply burrow. Thoso nesting iu wood, bito off, and carry out Small bits, and thus form their rooniB. Thoy livo an active, industrious and en orgotio lifo during summor, and in win ter lio dormant. Thoy brood in thoir nests during summer, und carefully tond their young offspring. Whon the ucst is invaded, every worker engages cither in tho defonso of tho homo or in carry ing tho young ones to a place of safety. Ants aro indomitable, both as work ers nnd fighters. Whon one has moro than he can manage alone, others come to assist until tho united forco is miffi cient to accomplish the work in hand. Feeding principally upon tho bodies of dead insocts, worms and animal fats and juices-gcnerally,thoy attack and kill such as thoy aro able to overcome, for pur poses of food. Attacking in united force and great fury, insects ono bun drod times their size and strength, thoy stay with him like "original tin" until ho soccumbs. And woe to the insect or small animal that intofcres with thoir business. Tho ants attack him with NO. 11, such vigor and pcrsistanco, that ho dies or finds safety in flight. Do ants kill aphids? This question hao lately been in the Faumf.ii, pro nnd ante. I think thoy do, but novcr saw them do it. That is, somo varieties, and under cortnin conditions do. Ants nro canivcrous, or nearly so. Why thon not oat aphids. But ants aro very fond ofBwcots, nnd tho aphid ejects a sweet excretion much rolishod by thorn. It follows thoroforo that as Mr. Ant is a shrowed businoss manager, ho doos not caro to injuro his herd of docilo honoy combsj especially if ho has plonty of other food. If pressed by hunger, I havo littlo doubt but ho would oat tho aphids. Possibly ho has government regulations on tho matter, and may not oat aphids unless so ordered. However this may be, ant communities livo and work to gether in tho host of harmony, and thoy soom to understand each other, and never quarrel among themselves. Thoir labor organizations seem to bo porfect, and they novor indulgo in "strikes" or "boycotts," Yet tho ant is Ul-tomporod, quarrel somo nnd formiabtd'lns n fightor, and comes nearer to mankind in tho matter of regular wars, that any insect that I know of. But whon this diminutivo Spartan goes on tho warpath, ho novor snooks out at night with a gunny-bug over his head to attack tho holploss and dcforicolcss, burgoos in daylight, opon ly, and abovo board, strong in confidonco of his own prowost, with blood in bis oyo and battlo in his heart Whon hisonemy of invasion marohos forth to conquost, Valor goes before, Victory is borno upon his standard, and Doath and Destruction follow in his train. In common parlonco ho is called "Ant," and Ids habitation is callod an "ant-nest;" names in ovory way be fitting so industrious and enterprising n homo builder. But scionco has loaded him with n palysillabio nomonclaturo of tho most jow-breaking kind. How can an insoct only one-sixteenth part of an inch long bo expected to prcsorvo his oquadity undor tho cognomen of "mono-mo ri-am car-ban-n.ri'Uml" Who would quietly ondtire to bo stigmatized ai a "Uro-iiwto-gas-ler-lin-o-o-la.tal" when ho was only one-eighth of an inoh lonir. And to call a creature only one fourth nf nn inch in length a "Myr-mo-co-log-l-qucs," a "Do-ra-myr-mox-in-sa-miiH," or a "Po-go-no-myr-o-nox- bor-ba-tal" might woll rondcr him jurioUs. Yet tho ants wholo family is callod names that woiill boas sweet inconso to tho vanity of a Spanish hidalgo, us ''Form-i-cid-ao, Do-ll-cho-do-rid-no," otc., ami oven his humblo nest is tormod a "Form icary." But tho ant is only it mire, and not a Spanish grandco. I liko the ant for various reasons. He attends to his own affuirs. Ho destroy many noxious insects. His industry und pcrsovoranco is commondablo, and ono can but admire his grit oven If often compelled to condomu his judgment. I liko him also for tho miuiio reason that Josh Billings liked tho rooster, not only becuuso ho crowod, but heciuiBO ho hud "tho spurs to buck that kro up." FANCY CHIOKEM EQ08 CHEAP. To unyono who will sond us f I, wo will send tho Wii.umkttk Faiimkii one year, and a setting of 13 eggs of either of tho following brcods: Wyutulottos and Itoso Comb Loghorim. To unyono who will sond us $3.f0 we will sond tho Wim-amktti: Faumku and u sotting of 13 eggH of either of tho fol lowing breeds; Brown Leghorns, Ply mouth Hocks and IVkin Ducks. The regular prices of thoso eggs are $ land .152.00 respectively. This oiler is opon to all, whothor thoy bo subscribers or not. Ton Fekin Duck oggs aro a Betting. As wo only havo u limited number of jottings wo suggost that thoso desiring such eggn to act at onco. Tho first come, the first scrvod.