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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 1879)
August, 1879. THE WEST SHORE. 237 planted there at the intimation that the California travel had money in it. Climbing the Umpqua mountains consisted of wading through Canyon ereek over a hundred times, at crossings, and marching up against the current for a goodly distance, with an occasional abrupt climb of one to four feet of rocky ledge, where the wagons and their loads had to be lifted bodily over the obstructions. Our party had increased as there had come back rumors of war ami travelers and teamsters bound south found it convenient to join forces. The Indians of Rogue River were on the war path, and our only safety lay in number, We wound our way up and over the dividing range anil came down into a beautiful valley on the other side, where the untrodden grasses were wav ing in luxuriance. The only Indian scare we had was just as we halted, but it was a false alarm. We waited there until other forces came up, enough to constitute a respectable array, then elected Pleasant Armstrong, of Yam hill, our captain, and with an organized company pushed on, making a detour down Rogue river, to prospect for dig gings, but passing by the rich placers that afterwards gave such great re wards ; and finally crossing Klamath, and driving our oxen in solemn proces sion past the grand presence of hoary headed Shasta. We had stood guard all the way from the l'mXtia, and night and day bad kept up the eternal vigilance nec essary to keep one's scalp on in an In dian country. The Indians had lcen engaged in cumbat with the dragoon, just K-fore we passed through, and we saw the battle field where the grave of C'apt. Stewart was made, in n sugar pine grove near the road. The journey was a summer idyl to me ; rich with romance and bright with an undefined hoK-ftilness. Stand ing guard in a rainy night, on the bank of Rogue river, was not much of an illusion, but came as an alloy to the pure romance of the excursion. I was young ami drank in the newness of the wilderness and the life of adventure with avidity, ami I have a delightful remembrance of brave mer. and good fellows who were in the company, of whom I'lcasant Armstrong was 1 11 tainlv fit to be captain, and Joe ftaily was the brave ideal of a gallant frontiersman, Both of these men after. wards fell in battle with Indians ; and Oregon sustained a great loss when they were killed. Mining life at what was afterward Yreka, but was then a great collection of tents and shanties known as Shasta Huttc City, partook of all the undiscip lined traits that made up the sum of character in the Golden Stale in the early times. We had all the excitement of the gambler's life, the occasional call for recruits to go after the Indians, anil the rumors of rich strikes made far and near. The only thing that win not a humbug was Humbug diggings that panned out marvellous fortunes. As long as the water lasted, we hauled dirt off the plain and w aslu-d it at our torn, in the creek, and when the creek went dry 1 packed up and started hack oil horseback. The journey out, with all its windings, counted Up miles that was made on foot. The trip was not profitable in anything but adven ture, though I sold to the haymakers of Scott's Valley a scythe and nath for $37.50, and could have got twice a much if I had asked it. On the way back I found Governor Gaines and Gen. Joe I. anecngaged try ing to make a treaty with the Indians, on the north bank of Rogue river, which was finally effected but did not prove very H-rmanent. In the summer of 1850 there was found to Ik- only about 6,500 people in what was then Oregon, and now constitutes Oregon, Washington and Idaho. During the few week I was absent, many run 01 cupauts and claimants had established themselves on the road. The .die v of Umpiia and Willamette were filling up. It is something to rcmcmhci tin time when the wide spread and divers ified land of the Willamette were only scantily occupied, and when the w hole I'mpipia valley, with very small ex ception, wa a wildernes ; when the oak -covered hillsides claimed a OBBtln ual remembrance of the orchards of the olden time in other land. Iteyond lay the beautiful Rogue river country, as wild as imagination could picture it ; and we read only a lew days ago, with amused interest that the Indians left of thoc who of old made ti ruble time for the settlers, who were con. uered ami then banished to Grand Monde reservation in this valley, have lately returned to visit the homes of Uwlr people, clothed with the attribute of civilization and o well Mated in thn progress of our times, that one of ihc first acts, on their arrival at Jackson villi-, was to telegraph to their relatives and fiiend among the Shasta, at or near Yreka, to come over and have a dance at Kanaka Flat. They certainly have improved uimiu the time when with torch and tomahawk they ravaged the newly settled country and wreaked their savage vengeance on the white. Many incidents of that journey were interesting but can not be given in de tail, and I have only aimed to sketch the early etoch and to give an Mr of the newness of the indication of that lime ; the scenes ami incident of the journey made ami the protccting done ; (he avage limes in the wilder lies ami the sialic less tavage fcalinc in the mining camp ; the meeting of soldier, 1 iiiens and savages to smoke the pipe of eai'c by the council-lire ; the wild life mid it lough peech and hasty actions, come to RJ memory a a panorama of earl) dais, ami mi miiid recalls nothing with nunc vtvW ness than the remembrance of being alone, on my return, in almost imliod ways, and far from ny settler's home, with a vicious ami halky horse thai re fused to lie a means of locomotion. I had Haded a fool. sot e horse on Rogue ill 11, and paid a big bonus for an animal, grey in color and rawhoiinl in structure, that proud stubborn to the last degree. On the Calaprx,! mountains he refused to mow foi whip or spur or word of mouth, I was all alone and had a weary lime leading htm, at his own gait, for he wa minded In go slow, and having got tired in my turn, I had mounted to try for anoihct tide, when a stranger came riding up w bo stopped to lake in the situation. I plied whip and spur, but old grey hail braced himself for a ret ami there he slood. The Vavclrr knew the horse of old, I'm bis first remark was : - It', d d lucky for yOV, my friend, llial that horse is thin in flesh ami prelly neat worn on 1, or he would throw you highrr than a kite." The Mitlrrilr have settled on the birthday of the editor of the West Shore (Nov. loth.) a attention day, but for men who cxcct to lie In h en on the l 11. .they hold hay arid grain up wonderfully stilT, and want thrlr cah down. When 1 man can'l rind an) thing i o, he h lived long enough.