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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (June 23, 1907)
THE SUSDAT OKEGOXIAX, POKTLAXD, JTfXE 23, 1907.' 5 Mnn GEO-H- AN ACCOUNT OP CROSS ING THE PLAINS IN '53, AND THE FIRST TRIP VIA. NATCH ESS PASS FELLOW-PIONEERS, Ladies and Gentlemen: For the thirty-fifth time we have assembled for the purpose of holding our annual reunion, and at no period in our past history as pioneers have the conditions of our Nation, our state and this beautiful city been more auspicious than at the present moment. But time must not be taken to review these conditions now. For the twentieth time we find ourselves in this city in re sponse to the most cordial standing Invi tation of its citizens, large numbers of whom think that there is "nothing too Rood for pioneers." And T am sure that I voice the sentiments of all present when I say that "there is nothing to good for the people of Portland." particularly the pioneer ladles and their numerous friends. Before proceeding with my address I hope you will pardon me for Indulging in a little reminiscence. There is a gentle man in this city, and I expect he is in this audience, who was in Oregon City just sixty years ago. He was at church there one Sunday, and after the service the minister said to htm: "Chauncey, there is a little village or hamlet down the river fourteen or fifteen miles, called Portland, and I wish you would take my horse and ride down there tomorrow morning, look over tlie place, get ac quainted with the people, and, if you think it advisable, make an appointment for me to preach there two weeks from today." Accordingly, "Chauncey," who is Rev. '. O. Hosford, of this city, a pioneer of now In his 88th year, rode to a point on the east side of the river opposite this settlement, was conveyed across- the stream by "Uncle" Jimmy Stephens in an Indian canoe, and landed at what is now the foot of Stark street. Ascending the bank, he entered what he thought was the finest body of timber he ever saw. and he says he has never seen anything finer since. Looking southward he eaw an opening in the woods, and he went to it, crawling under and climbing over logs. There he found scattered about fourteen log cabins and a number of families, among them the families of Pettygrove, Terwllllger and MeNamee, names fa miliar to us all. Representatives of the two last-named families are at this re union today, and one of them is Mrs. Charlotte Terwllllger Cartwrlght, who has been chairman of the Woman's Aux iliary for a number of years, and who la Recognized as one of the most devoted among pioneer women. Mr. Hosford railed upon every person, asked permis sion to read the Scriptures and ofTer prayer, and, finding" that a religious ser vice would be appreciated, made an ap pointment for Rev. William Roberts, su perintendent of the Methodist Mission on the Pacific Coast, to preach on the second Sunday following, and that was the first religious service in Portland. What the Journey Meant. Tn these latter days the experiences that were encountered by those who "crossed the plains" can hardlyv.be un derstood. Even to many of those who made the arduous Journey the events of the trip, when reviewed from the dis tance of 50 years, seem like a series of dreams. Especially is this true when the won derful development In transportation fa cilities during the Intervening years Is taken Into account. Then. Indeed, the pioneer says to himself, "rid I really cross the plains? Can it be true that it took six months for me to come from the Mississippi River to Oregon?" But when it is remembered that to "cross the plains," even as late as 1859. and for some time afterwards, meant this in the larger number of cases: To leave home, friends, society and all the surroundings and Influences the hu man heart holds most dear, with the strong probability that the separation would be final; to provide teams and pro visions for a continuous journey of five to eight months' duration, with one's ob jective point more than 2000 miles dis tant from the base of supplies, through an uninhabited region, occupied by wild beasts and wilder Indians; to be without protection other than that afforded by the Immigrants traveling together In or der to render mutual assistance in any emergency which might arise; to cross unfordable rivers in wagon boxes caulked and tarred for the purpose; to srale mountains, frequently almost Impassable: to depend upon the country traversed for subsistance for teams, it being impos sible to carry feed so long a distance; to be subject to the extremes of storm and sunshine, without the necessary protec tion: to be subject to all the diseases human flesh is heir to, without the pros pect of relief, as a rule, from the skilled physician or the trained nurse; to loss of teams by stampeding, poisonous wat ers, poisonous food, and theft by Indians; to the endangering of lives of women and children by starvation; to endure un speakable sufferings from thirst entailed by many weary miles of travel through a brazen atmosphere over burning sands; to endure all these trials, and many more: the whole combining to tax the powers of human endurance to the ut most, then a faint Idea may be formed of the experiences that the greater pro portion of those who came to make homes In Oregon had to undergo In the early days. It was by the overcoming of such conditions on the part of the pio neers, thus faintly outlined, which .saved the Pacific Northwest to the Union, and laid the foundation for its future great ness in preparing it to become the abid ing place for numberless millions of our rsce. Motives That Prompted Settlement It has been my privilege, as well aa duty, to interview thousands of plo Beers since I was first elected secre tary of this association, 22 years ago. and one question invariably asked is this, "What induced you to come to Oregon?" In general the reply can be summed up In a sentence or two, "We came to better our condition; we came on account of health." And in o do Ins the pioneers saved the "Oregon Country" to the nation. In the earlier days of the life of this association it was the rule that the speaker should conflne himself to giv ing an account of the Immigration of some one year: hence, since I crossed the plains In 1S55. what I have to say will relate mainly to events of that year in connection with the company of which my father family was a part, particular reference being made to the latter part of the Journey. In order to show how my father first became Interested In Oregon, I may state that In 18.".8-9 he heard Rev. Sam uel Parker, of Ithaca. N. Y., lecture on uregon In Troy. Bradford County. Pa. In this he became deeply Interested. A little) later these lectures were printed in book form and quite widely circu lated. One of these books was secured by him and read with great care. As a result, he determined to go to Ore gon as soon as he could. Not until 1846, however, was he ready lo begin the Westward march. He then had a wife and one child myself. He went to Illinois that year, expecting to re sume the onward Journey In 1847, but sickness Intervened and prevented him from doing so. After recovery he tem porarily gave up the Idea of going to Oregon, and made a home In Stark County, Illinois, and established him self in the shoemaklng business. As early a 1860. however, he decided that he never would be satisfied to remain permanently In Illinois, and according ly began planning to start across the ptains not later than 1852. In connec tion with these plans he counseled with a number of persons from the vicinity of Monmouth, Warren County, among them Rev. John E. Murphy. William Murphy, his cousin, Albert W. and Thomas Lucas. Ira F. M. Butler and Mr. Roundtrer all members of the Christian Church and the feasi bility of establishing a college in Ore gon was suggested and often dis cussed. -The first personal recollec tion I have of Oregon was In connec tion with hearing that embryo college talked of by thee men. A large Mitch ell's atlas lay open on the table in our house, end the route to Oregon was pointed out. Frequent reference was made to Dr. Parker's book In order to clear up some point relating to the cas!bility of the Western trip and the desirability of the country in respect to home building. ' The plan for es tablishing the college, in brief, was this: That all who Joined this party should, upon arrival in Oregon, take donation land claim as nearly togeth er as possible, and then set aside a certain number of acres to be reserved as the nucleus of ai. ndowment fund. The entire party taking part In these discussions, with the exception of our family my father being unable to close up his business matters In time to Join the company came to Oregon In 1852 and settled at or near what is now Monmouth. Polk County, the name "Monmouth" being given to the settle ment in honor of Monmouth, 111. The arrangement to set aside a certain por tion of land for college purposes, as above alluded to, was substantially carried out in 1855. and a school begun at Monmouth a year or two later, which. In process of time, has become the present State Normal School at that place. Rev. Samuel Parker. Since Rev. Samuel Parker has been re ferred to, it is proper that a -brief state ment should be made concerning him. In company with Dr. Marcus Whitman, he started west in 1835, for the purpose of Investigating the question of estab lishing missions among the Oregon In dians. Upon reaching Green River, Par- ker and Whitman were met Jsy a com pany of Flathead and Nez Perces In dians, and were so Impressed by their friendliness and willingness to learn about the white man's God, that it was agreed that WTiltman should return to his home In New York, spend the Winter In arousing Interest In the projected work, and prepare to start westward early in the Spring of the following year, with the needed reinforcements, to carry on the missionary work successfully. In the meantime. Dr. Parker came on to Van couver, arriving there on October 1ft, was received by Dr. John McLoughlln with many expressions of kindness, and Invit ed to stay for the Winter. Accordingly Dr. Parker made his headquarters at Fort Vancouver, and was very busily en gaged In exploring the country and mak ing notes about the conditions he found, until June 18. 1SSS, when he left for Sand wich Islands, being conveyed thither without cost by the kindness of Dr. Mc Loughlln. After remaining long enough to gain a comprehensive idea of affairs In the islands, he again took ship and arrived at New London. Conn., on May 17, and at Ithaca. N. Y., on May 23. 1837. after an nbsence of over two years and two months. Dr. Whitman and wife and Rev. H. H. Spalding and wife came out in 1836. as planned on Green River, ar riving at Fort Vancouver on September II. While my father was greatly, disap pointed in not being able to start in 1852 with his old acquaintances, he was ready the following year and left Lafayette, Stark -County, 111., on March 21, with wife and four children, three hired men, and one boy, the son of one of the men; also John Dodge, wife and five children, three of them adults. Waiting; for the Ferry. Nothing occurred outside of the ordi nary routine of the emigrant's dally ex perience until we reached Council Bluffs. There we had to wait several )aya be fore crossing the Missouri, the ferry boat having been washed away. At length a steamboat hove in sight bound up stream and was hailed and the captain appealed to to take us across the river. This he refused to do, but said that he would return within two days, and that if there were 500 wagons ready to cross he would stop and ferry them over. The two days passed, and on the morning of the third day a dim column of smoke was observed by the .lookout Indicating that a- steamboat was com ing down. Everybody was on the tip toe of expectancy. A courier was dis patched to the landing and all arrange ments for crossing perfected. The price was $2.5.0 for each wagon and $1 for each span of horses or yoke of cat tle. We had two wagons, five yoke of oxen and two span of horses, hence our bill for ferriage was $12. The day passed and the night was far spent be fore the last of the emigrants were transferred from Iowa soil to the then eastern edge of the Indian country. It was the good fortune of our own little company to have had our turn on the ferry about the middle of the after noon, hence we drove out two miles or more from the river to a small stream for the first night's camp. As we ascended the Muff from the river, near what is now the present site of Omaha, Mr. Dodge and father were riding on horseback, I was walking alongside the road in the tangled grass, and the teams were a little way ahead. Among other things, Mr. Dodge said, "Hlmes. do you think this country will ever be settled up?" Father replied at once by saying, "Yes. I think it will be. I should not be surprised to see a fine elty here Inside of 25 years." Dodge, In reply, said. "Well, If I thought that I'd not travel West another mile." Father then said. "Well, if I knew It beyond a doubt. I would not stay here. I started to Oregon In 184S. but was taken sick In Illinois and had to stay there nearly six years: but now I have got started again and I am going through to that country If I live." We narrowly escaped having trouble during our first night in camp after crossing the Missouri. A number of Pawnee Indians came about, to see what was going on. and one of their number, bent on pilfering, was badly bitten by our dog "Frank" a thor oughly trained watchdog one that would not molest any one. nor even an Indian, unless he tried to steal. The other Indians threatened to shoot the dog, being armed with bows and ar rows, but father stood guard and saved the dog's life. A similar experience occurred when wa i . .5.i" i A. i GEORGE were about 200 miles out on the Platte one day at the noon camp. At this time 20 or more Sioux Indians, with a lot of squaws and pappooses, rode up and of fred to trade buffalo robes for tobacco and beads. W'hile the barter was going on a stalwart young Indian stealthily slipped around to the rear end of our freight wagon and removed a cup from the top of a can of milk which was stand ing there. Instantly the dog jumped up on the Indian and bore him to the ground. As he went down he yelled fearfully, and his companions drew their bows and were about to let their arrowrj fly at the dog. whepeupon father grabbed his rifle from the wagon bows, and with finger on the trigger aimed at the foremost Indian, not more than 30 feet distant, who bad his bow drawn taut, and with his eye gleam ing along the barrel gave the savage to understand that If he let his arrow fly at the dog he would be shot instantly.. The result was that the Indians, upon a signal from their leader, unstrung their bows. Then father called the dog off. and the tin cup rolled out from under the Indian's blanket, indicating that the dog knew what he was about. The Indians then sullenly mounted their horses and rode away. Through an Awful Storm. After this incident nothing occurred out of the ordinary course until the latter part of June, perhaps four or five days before Fort Laramie was reached. Then one night we were overtaken by a terrific thunder storm, followed by a cloudburst, which came near wiping our little com pany of 16 persons nine adults and seven children out of existence. The condition of our company on the morning after this disaster cannot be adequately described. The sight before we had camped In a broad, most beautiful valley, where wood and water were abundant, with luxuriant grass for the animals. About 10 o'clock It began raining with Increased violence, as the night advanced, and by midnight was accompanied by lightning until It seemed as if the heavens were on fire, and the rapid peals of ear-splitting thun der made the earth fairly tremble. About 3 o'clock In the morning Joel Risdon. one of our men. who was near the door of the family tent, said: "Something has broken loose in the direction of the hills I hear an awful roaring." A few minutes later he again said: "This is an awful night. That roaring is surely more dis tinct! Surely something must have broken loose!" And then looking toward the hills from the tent, he said, "I see something white coming this way! Get up!" And we all sprang to our feet, and a wave of water more than two feet deep, filled with hailstones as large as good-sized cherries, swept through our camp. Guided by the lightning we sought refuge In the wagons. My sister, 7 years old. was missed, and father sprang out Into the flood to find her. If possible, and she was recovered through the aid of the faithful dog. Thus we awaited the approach of daylight, and then a scene beggaring description appeared. Not a blade of grass, not an animal In sight. Every person was chilled to the marrow, and not a splinter of wood of any kind to be had to build a fire; and father had a severe attack of pleurisy, caused by exposure during the night. The men decided that probably the animals had taken to the foothills, apparently threo or four miles distant, and accordingly went in ,that direction, and luckily found them In a few hours. By 4 o'clock the teams were ready to move, and we traveled about four miles and camped near a large company of peo ple, who. seeing our distressed condi tion, vied with each other In affording relief, and It was not long before we were enjoying the luxury of a warm meal as a result of the neighborllness of a number of Kentucky. Indiana and Missouri families, some of the children of whom are represented In this thirty-fifth annual reunion, among them Mrs. Laura B. Bartlett. Mrs. F. A. Knapp, Professor L. H. Baker, prin cipal of the Woodstock school of this city, and Mr. John W. Baker. Cottage Grove, present State Game Warden. It is needly to say that the acquaintance formed under such circumstances ripened Into lasting friendship on the part of those who were heads of fami lies at that time. . Upon examination it was found that several sacks of flour, and a considerable quantity of sugar and salt had been damaged by the flood of the night before. From the place where these families were Joined under the circumstances above described, and on westward to the Umatilla River, they traveled to gether for the most part in the main under the leadership of James Biles, al though C. B. Baker. William R. Downey, William M. Kincaid and my father were often counseled with when ever especially difficult conditions were encountered, and these were of frequent occurrr nee. In due time the Grand Ronde Valley ft H. HIMES was reached. This was early in Au gust. Here we were met by E. N. Sar jent, who came from the Puget Sound region to meet his father's family, who were 4n our train. lie urged all to go to Northern Oregon (Puget Sound), the conditions there being better for set tlement than in the Willamette Val ley, according to his judgment; and he said, as an additional Induce ment to go thither, that a wagon road wras being made by the settlers from Puget Sound to the Columbia River by way of the Natchess Pass. While It had been the Intention of the greater num ber of this company to settle- in the Willamette Valley, the conditions por trayed by Mr. Sarjent were so alluring that most of the company decided to go thither. In the case of our family there was urgent need that we should go with some one or more persons upon whom we could depend for sup plies In case of an emergency, as loss of stock and other untoward circum stances had caused delays which had not been contemplated; hence there was a prospect that our supplies might give out. Mr. James Biles, learning of the condition of our family, said to my father:""! have decided to go to Puget Sound: If you will go along I will see you safely through, and you can pay me when you get ready." Such an of fer, under existing conditions, could not be passed by lightly; hence, after due consideration. It was accepted. The company pressed on over the Blue Mountains and reached the Umatilla River about August 15. Two days lat er 133 persons, with 36 wagons, left the Umatilla a little ways below the site of the present city of Pendleton the place was called "Swift's Crossing," if I am not mistaken and drove direct to old Fort Walla Walla (Wallula of today) on the Columbia River. We ex pected to find a Hudson's Bay Com pany flatboat at this place, but ' did not, and cherefore had to stop to whip saw plank out of the driftwood to build -t boat. I do not remember how long a time this required, but think It was four days. After crossing the Co lumbia River, we made for the Yakima River, followed up that stream for some distance and crossed It eight times. Then we struck out for the point where the Natchess River emerges from the mountains, and after a number of toll some days' marching through sage brush as high as the top of a covered wagon It frequently had to be cut out of the way we arrived at the edge of the timber bordering the mountains about September 17 or 18. Mot Noted Indian Chief. At the last camp on the Blue Mountains before reaching the Umatilla River, an Incident happened which I will mention. While preparations for the evening meat were under way a number of Indians rode up, all well mounted on a number of the most beautiful ponies that I ever saw up to that time, all dressed in gay cos tume with feathers and fringes abound ing. One of the Indians, the leader of the rest, whom we afterwards found out was the noted Walla Walla chief, Peu-Peu-Mox-Mox, came near our camp, and seemed especially interested in my baby sister, then 10 months old, who had beau tiful golden hair. I was taking care of the little girl at the time, and noticed that the Indian eagerly watched every movement I made in trying to amuse the child. Nothing was thought of the In dian's visit that night, but the next morning in some unaccountable way, hundreds of Indian ponies were found grazing near the camp. What this meant no one knew at first, but the mystery was soon solved. E. N. Sarjent, who was out early that morning looking after his father's teams, discovered that Indians were driving the ponies towards the camp under orders from Chief Peu-Peu-Mox-Mox, who proposed to trade them for the little red-haired girl. This in formation was conveyed to my mother by Mr. Sarjent, and the offer of the great chief was respectfully declined, much to his apparent sorrow, as he rode away followed by his body guard, meanwhile striking his breast and saying. "Nlka tum-tum wake skookum!" Meaning that his heart was very very sick. It Is possible that if some of the old pioneers present upon this occasion were to recall some of the heartaches experi enced during the first 20 years of tbeir lives, they would have a grain of sym pathy for this untutored son of early Ore ton. Crossing the Cascades. After the first night's camp in the pine timber at the edge of the Cascade Range, we began to realize that all previous ex periences in crossing mountain ranges were Insignificant as compared with those which we were about to encounter. The "road" which we expected to find was scarcely more than an Indian trail; but there we were, and the Idea of retracing our steps could not be thought of for a moment. We must go forward: there was no other course to follow. Sarjent himself was disappointed. He knew the settlers bad started to make a road across the mountains and was at a loss to un derstand why It was not finished; and since his relatives m-ere tn our company it was clear that he did not intend to deceive us. But now was the rime for action. Hence we pushed on as best we could, following the bed of the stream part -of the time, first on one bank and then the other. Frequently we came to Impassable places, and then recourse was had to high ground, where we cut our way through the dense timber, frequent ly not advancing more than three miles a day. Altogether the Natchess River was crossed 8 times. On this Journey there was a stretch of 50 miles without a blade of grass, the sole subsistence of the horses and cattle being browse from alder and maple trees, not very filling, to say the least. Every person, from 10 years old and upwards, women Included, assisted In making the excuse for a road more passable. There is where the speaker had his first lessons In trail making, barefooted, at that, but In no worse condition than others. It certainly was a trying time for the women of the company, and much speculation was In dulged in as to the probability of reach ing the settlements. One woman with two children Mrs. Abraham Woolery, "Aunt Pop" she was called would break down and sued tears every little while: but frequently, in the midst of her weeping, she would rally, and with some quaint remark or funny story, caused everybody to laugh and forget their troubles. In spite of their misery. On the Pacific Slope. At length Summit Prairie was reached. We were In sight of Mount Rainier, that mighty peak looming up only twenty-five miles south of us. Here we spent the night, and It was bitter cold, the time be ing about October 1st, and snow, abound ing In all directions, although there was none in our Immediate vicinity. The next morning, an early start was made, and in less than an hour the company halted. My mother, the younger children and I were somewhat in the rear at this time, and as we came close enough to discover the cause of the delay, she exclaimed, "Well, I guess we have come to the Jump-ing-off place at last!" And no wonder, for there we were confronted by a bluff fully thirty feet high, almost perpendicular, and for a thousand feet farther it was so steep that an animal could scarcely stand up, and there was no other way to go, as careful examination demonstrated. It was soon decided that the wagons should be lowered with ropes,, and the teamj driven single file by a circuit ous trail to the foot of the mountain. Accordingly a long rope was stretched down the hill, but it was not long enough to lower a wagon to a place where it would stand up. Then James Biles: "Kill one of the poorest of my steers, make p. rope of his hide and see if that will be long enough. If not, kill another." Three animals were killed before the length of rope re quired was secured. After each wagon was lowered to the end of the rope a yoke of oxen was hitched to It. and by- rough-locking. and attaching small logs with project ing limbs to the rear it was taken down about a quarter of a mile and across Greenwater River, where we camped that night. It required almost two days to make this descent. Two of the 86 wagons were hopelessly wrecked on the hill, and a small quantity of pro-" visions lost. The loss of the wagons did not matter, but not .so the pro visions, as the company suffered tor want of food before supplies could be secured at Connell's Prairie, probably 40 or 60 miles southwest of the pres ent city of Tacoma. After leaving camp at Greenwater River, evidences of road work were a little more apparent, and hence better progress was made. Complaints were rarely heard, for the main reason that "growling" over our forlorn condition was unprofitable an-1 made bad mat ters worse. The teams suffered dred fully, however, for want of food, and not a day passed but that some of the animals droped in their tracks and were left to die alongside the rugged trail. Pathetic. Indeed, were these ex periences, in being compelled to leave faithful beasts In the wilderness to starve. But there was no help for it, grievous at It might seem, and the ani mals were shot to end their misery. There .was one exception to this rale which I cannot pass The C. B. Baker family had a blooded Kentucky mare, which became so exhausted as to be unable to get up one morning, and It was decided that she would have to be left behind. To this Mrs. Baker objected, the animal being, one that she thought a great deal of; and she told ner husband to go on. that she would work with the mare awhile, and would catch up with the teams in due time. .So she gathered leaves, fed the beast, gave her water, talked to her en couragingly, finally got her on her feet, started after the wagons and caught up with them at the noon camp. A little later this animal got down the second time, and was about to be abandoned to her fate: but the love, patience and determination of Mrs. Baker "Aunt Fanny," as she was known by all triumphed, and the mare was saved to become the dam of some of the best running horses known In the early days of Oregon and Washing ton. Last Day's Journey. The last day's journey before reach ing Connell's prairie cannot be forgot ten. It came near having a tragic ending. Several days before, the teams being so Jaded, It was decided that it would be good policy to drive to the prairie and let them recruit on the lux uriant bunchgrass. This was done and the women and children and wagons were left In camp. In a week most of the teams returned, greatly strengthened. The next day all started on foot to the prairie, and. notwith standing the fact that but few if any of the party had any breakfast, all were jubilant over the prospect of "getting out of the wilderness" to a place where food could be obtained for man as well as beast. All the food our family had that day consisted of a scanty supply of salal-berrles, picked as we trudged along. All the party were generally In the same condition. At this time our teams had dwindled down to two horses and two yoke of oxen. We had one wagon, the other having been abandoned. Joel Risdon was our teamster, and his entire load was the bedding, cooking utensils', and a scanty supply of clothing much the worse for wear. Father, having the horses in charge, did not return to camp because the animals were in such a wretched condition. My duty that day was to assist my mother as best I could In taking care of three younger children a sister nearly 7 years pld, a brother and the baby, already al luded to. 11 months old. I carried the little brother on my back part of the time, and when not so engaged did what I could to lighten my mother's burden by carrying the baby. Along In the middle of the afternoon one of the crossings of W7hite River was reached. At that point it was not ford able, and the teams bad to make a de tour of a mile down stream In order to GREOON '0NER AT THE find a safe crossing: then the route lay upstream to within a short distance of the place where the river was first seen. Here all on foot passed over on a huge tree which had fallen across the stream, reaching from bank to bank, a distance of 200 feet, and on the farther side it was partially submerged, the. current causing It to sway slightly. It so happened that all were ahead of us. and as we came to the big footlog, mother said she must rest a little before undertaking to cross. So I took my sister, brother and baby to the farther shore, one after the other, and then was ready to aid mother. At length she was ready to start, and after considerable effort to get up on the log she clutched my hand and we began moving. When we were ap proaching the further shore, the move ment of the log by the water caused her to exclaim, "I can't go. It makes me so dizsy." "Cling to me." ..said I. When almost across she suddenly exclaimed. "P. T am gone!" and fell into the water. Luckily I was in reaching distance of overhanging bushes which . were Instinc tively grabbed with my left hand, still clutching her left hand with my right. The cold water-brought her to conscious ness at once, and when she was safe on the land, and after wringing out her" skirts, we went on perhaps for about two miles, and then, fcfter asnding a steep hill and emerging from the timber, we saw lights a little way off. By this time mother was utterly exhausted, and said I must find father, as she could go no farther. I found htm in a few minutes, and we bore her to the fire, and after some nourishment only balfed potatoes without salt, however for that night she began to be herself, and was ready to move on the next day. After that we had a limited supply of provisions, and got on fairly well for a time. Settling on Puget Sound. And now a word about the wagon road. That had been cut through to Greenwater River. There, it seems, an Indian from east of the mountains, go ing to the Sound, met the road work ers, who Inquired whether any "Bos ton" men were coming. The" Indian said no. Believing the Indian to be' truthful, the road workers returned home, only to be greatly astonished by the appearance two weeks later of a weary, bedraggled, forlorn and foot sore company of people, all rejoicing THE BIBLE BY NO MEANS UNIQUE Humanity Too Broad, Too Great, to be Shut Within the Lids of - Any Book BY WALLACE YATES. rpHG BIBLE Is unique," says Rev. "T. Hiram Vrooman, and he pro ceeds to support the assertion by Intimating that this unlquity, to coin a word, resides in the -fact that the whole book agrees with the Swedenborgian sys tem of interpretation. But Swedenborg. though he uses the exclusive Pauline classification of the attributes of man Into the two realms of spiritual and natural, appears to reject the writings of Paul as being not "the Word" possibly because the mysticism of Swedenborg could not fathom the deeper mysticism of Paul. For similar reasons, no doubt, a council of monks rejected one of the grandest of biblical books. Esdras, which they declared to be "apocryphal" what ever that may mean. Further, it might be interesting to know how Swedenborg harmonizes antagonisms like that be tween the books of Chronicles and Kings, one of which declares that God tempted David to number the people of Israel, while the other states that It was Satan who tempted David on that occasion! Ormuzd or Ahriman which? But the Bible is not unique. In that It shares with the production of the camel driver of Mecca the horrid distinction of being the basis of one of the two great religious systems of the world whose de votees have reveled In persecution and slaughter. Since the edifying spectacle of armed Europe crusading eastward, with Jesus as its war-cry, -to slaughter Moslem infidels, the trail of blood has been broad and clearly marked. The boot in Scot land: the stake In. Spain; Bruno and Ser vetus; the myriads tortured on the rack and broken on the wheel wherever the cross was paramount; the sack of Magde burg; the massacre of Drogheda; and the eastward course of bloody persecution in the name of Christ only stopped by the equally determined fanaticism of the fol lowers of Mohammed. The Koran or the sword, said Mohammed; and modern Christianity, prevented, in enlightened countries, trom reporting to pnysical per secution, still offers the disbeliever the choice of Jesus or eternal damnation! Men have found authority for all these things within the lids of the Bible, and, as Byron puts it: "Christians have burned each other, quite persuaded That all the apostles would have done as1 they did." Upon my word, one can almost give Nero the credit of a marvelous prescience! "Could he have extirpated the Christian sect, for one pang Inflicted by him thou sands would have been thereafter saved! The Bible may be said to be unique in thta, that whereas common obsceni'iy is denied admission to Uncle Sam's malls, under the bar of heavy penalties, yet the Bible has ready access to the mail bagn. Yet even as prefatory to a Swedenborgian Interpretation, there are passages in. the so-called earlier books of the Bible that Mr. Vrooman would hesitate to read be fore a mixed congregation. One may Indeed marvel at the heredi tary religious bias, or whatever the mo tive Is. that Induces men of fair brain to demand for the Bible exemption from a criticism which is applied to all other books. Many a passage of Chaucer, for Instance. Is expunged from school edi tions, yet the Bible circulates everywhere uncensored. It is perhaps fortunate for Sunday school teachers that modern young America Is not given to delving very deeply into holy writ, though 1 have known schoolboy to hunt out de lectable passages for the edification of their chums! Why should priestcraft in eist on a dogma of plenary Inspiration which disgusts thoughtful men, when xa common-senee system of censorship would give the world several volumes of lofty Inspiration that for beauty and sub limity are perhaps- unsurpassed In liter ature? Men of discrimination pass over the grosser portions of "Don Juan," which might contaminate young minds, yet there are in . Byron sublime passages which, as Macaulay justly remarks, will be read while the English language en dures. Yet men steeped in sectarianism, Swedenborgian or otherwise, insist on our swallowing the chaff, with the wheat, forgetful that even the Jesalc prodigal son preferred the fatted calf to the husks that the swine Id eat. The doctrine of plenary Inspiration, backed by no matter whose cipher code is a medieval humbug and must give way before the broad en lightenment of progress. For my part, the more I study the deep spiritual In sight of the parables of Jesus, the more my admiration of the man Increases ffor his authorship of these Is at least as like 35TH. REUNION that, after unspeakable trials, they had at last reached the "Promised Land." When the Immigrant party came within six miles of Steilacoom It camped. Vegetables were glx-en by two settlers named Lackey and Mahon. Dr. William Fraser Tolmle. of the Puget Sound -Agricultural Company, a branch of the Hudson's Bay Company, gave some beeves. When- the meat was sent to camp Dr. Tolmle placed it In charge of Mrs. Mary Ann Woolery. "Aunt Pop." already alluded to, who Instructed her to keep It until the two oldest men In the company came In. upon whom should devolve the duty t dividing it evenly. Soon a man came with a knife and wanted some meat. Mr. Woolery said. "No, sir. you can't have any now." He replied. "I am hungry, and I am going to have some of it I can't wait." Mrs. Woolery re plied, "Tou will have to wait: I am as hungry as you are. and I expect to wait. So are all the rest hungry; but that man said I was not to allow any one touch tt until the two oldest men came Into camp, and they would di vide it evenly." The man again said, "I can't wait for that, and will not, either!" "You will have to." she re plied. "By what authority?" he ques tioned. "There Is my authority." she said in a defiant tone, shaking her clenched fist (she weighed 100 pounds then, but her fighting weight was double that), "and If you touch that meat I'll take that oxbow to you," and suiting the action to the word she grabbed one and stood between the man and the fresh meat.. The man, seeing she meant business, then sub sided. Soon the two oldest men came to camp, the meat was divided accord ing to Dr. Tolmie's lnstructlons, and. with the vegetables that had been given by the settlers, the entire party had a good, old-fashioned "boiled din ner" the first for many a day and i was a most agreeable and welcome change from salmon skins. This was the last time that all the company camped together. From this point they went hither and thither, and soon found Winter quarters, all the men having families taking donation claims in Pierce and Thurston Counties. And so ends the first attempt to make a permanent record of the first direct American immigration into "Northern Oregon," now Western Washington, by way of the Natchess Pass. ly as any other historical fact of the long past centuries); but this does not lead me to worship him as a God. or as my only intercessor with a wrathful father, or indeed as endowed with any other divinity than Is shared In degree by all other sons of rmm. Swedenborg' . cor respondences can nj more save the full letter of the Bible than Ignatius Don nelly's famous cipher could save his Bacon. For a man "whose angels' talk like country parsons" has elements of weakness fatal to permanent respect: and Emerson, while giving full credit to Swedenborg's learning and research, ex presses also the opinion that "I some times think he will not be read much longer." Humanity, Mr. Vrooman. is tog broad, too great, too widely diversified, to be shut within the lids of any book, no mat ter how "unique" or tied In the leading strings of even a genius like Sweden borg. If one must have some one to lean upon why not study . our own Emer son, whose mysttc Inspiration, free from taint of devils or hells, and wide and deep as universality itself, might haply furnish spiritual food for the most earn est seeker after the oversoul. Oswego, Or. USE BIBLE AS A CIPHER A Verse From Solomon Tells of Her Marriage Engagement. New York Press. When she left her home tn the small town to come to New York to take up a special course of study, her pet sister was fast reaching the crisis of a love affair. The pet sister was a most winsome young lady, and had long kept a goodly train of suitors a-sighing. Was this affair to be the grand affair? The older sister hoped so, for she liked the young man cordially thought he was just the sort to make a proper brother-in-law. But the weeks passed and not a bit of definite news about the progress of the afTalr did the older sister receive in her city boarding-house. She became anxious. "Louise, she thought, must no go on reck lessly trifling In such Important matters. Then one night about 10 o'clock. Just as she was going to bed. came a telegram. The servant brought it up. The older sister was country girl enough to be thor oughly frightened by the pale manila, black inked envelope. How ominous it looked! At length she gathered courage to open it. This is what she read: "Solomon six three. LOUISE." Solomon six three! Whatever in the world! O. why, yes, stupid, it of course meant the Song of Solomon, sixth chap ter, third verse. But and her cheeks flushed with shame she had no Bible. There was a great scurrying about the boarding-house to find a copy of the sacred book. The girls were routed out In vain. On all sides the cry arose, "Who's got a Bible?" Just think of the sister try ing to sleep that night without knowing what that verse was! It would have been just like a woman to He down to pleasant dreams, content to know that she could satisfy her curiosity in the morning not! The landlady, good soul, came to the rescue. She was no heathen. She had a Bible. Up to her room with It flew the sister, and shut the door. Such a turning over of pages by eager, nervous firgers! Solomon six three. She found It. an then she cried "Hurrah!" and laughed, "for the verse was: "I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine." The Angler. Thomas Buchanan Reed. But, look! o'er the fall e th angler stand, Swing-lnff his rod with skillful hand: The fly at the end - of his s"oamr line Swims through the sun like a Summer moth. Till, dropped with a careful prciion fine. It touches the pool beyond the froth, A-su4den, the speckled hawk of the brook Darts from his covert and seizes the hook. Swift spins the reel: with easy slip. The line pays out, and the rod. like a whip, Lithe and arrowy, tapering slim, Ib bent to a bow o'er the broklet's brim. Till the trout leaps up In the sun. and fltngi The spray from the flash of his finny wing; Then falls on his side, and, drunken with fright. Is towed to the shore llk a staggering barge. Till beached at la?t on tbe aandy marge. Where he dies with the huea of the morning light. While his sides with a cluster of stars ais bright. Th angler in the backet lay! His speckled prize, and goes his ways.