WARD
r:r.oo:nr
trcxa
&
roraneramtmrw
tato and Territorial.
t of Walla tt'alla is SIG.nOO.
is said to lie doing Mull in Lake
ilns havo raised tlio streams in South
jn. 1'atho has been Mvlna off tlio troo:3
itll.
ii scarce mid stock is Hot in good con-
(5) --ii iinuKsuu uuiiiib,
K.TrMlttur,ot Tinit!uti,litalcciia1Ju(!ucil
.Si I s"t to K.ist 1'ortlaiid.
Iati ctrtick good paying iuarts in the
;fcllov lodge, Jackson county.
, & (.'. Stave Cnininnv are ruitockina
3 between Heading and Hoiobur,
hundred and twonty bluo ribbons, of
lurancu league, now tluttcr at Kiigeoa.
Itoork is to bo rcliarcd immcdintolv
. Nickcrson, as Indian agent at Klaiu-
NOT
lictod meetings at l'lia-nix, Jackson
i have caused 3U accosilons to churches
C'lllnlouf
fwi"''-". H. Collvor, on Coos river, raised 2.V)
n'rii'i'in a fruit which has mostly boon dried by
.T&.'BY'" i,roccM-
i Hi ii i..r's ferry boat, at tho mouth of Kvans'
ii"jMi'iacross Iloguo river, broke I0030 and
.r Irrilj,... I08J ISO.
rilloim. i J ,
lid iniM ladies voted at school meeting at
i'A iii!Val!a, but destroyed their influence by
"jaainst each other.
t"j snow now lies on tho n.ouutalin be
cmbu. "JVVnldo, Crescent City and Happy camp
) Jt CO. a' ever before known.
ilr Hoi, a negro, tho Itopublican siys, has
Clilms,;,! for ahnotins without provocation, at
g g, a.lunction saloon keeper.
UM MlCTxtcniiiiinting war has been niadvazaiust
imstihtoIj in Wnlla Walla county, W. V., nt
itMimtiii;it a heail, and good wajjui made.
'2JS V Uramatio Times says Mm, !. M. Mc
'RIDl'i'11'' t'lu 'dsfortuuo to break her arm
irwi.ij,'-'0 wrist by a fall on tho frozen ground.
jJflKj'H Wiilla Wnlla Union says there is a
V that tho railroad will bo cxtunduil to
I
'ii, ninl engineers w ill immediately sur
c route.
wifo of Kldcr Martin Peterson, of
GA!
jmvilic, had tho misfortune to Ixs so
j, but not dangerously scalded by upict-
inickvi ol not water.
i Davtou News savs that Mazill. charged
a:j.
'arson had been liberated after prcliniiu
.' amiimtimi. No proof against him and
ill rejoicing at ins cnargo,
ns
hroat proportion of tho whoat in Coluiii
tinty, W. T., abovo Walla Walla is still
nds of producers, who wait for rise in
II Mai:
r- s
l.c Korl
aim licpcc times aro tiara ana money
- George, of Dayton, W. T., cooled off
ler of a belligerent Siwash, who wanted
tho jef
ii. itf
I noli nioncv for wood sawlnif. bv snatminff
" h'f. .t-i.i... 'ri. ...... .n,i.,' .... ir i..f i.2
unl-li lh' """ " bu" "'"" 6" "" "" "'
qcilltAU mil.
S. Hicitins, of Coos river, raises turnips
weigh 23 pounds.
in wuvmiicss men at hcattlo aro talking ol a
'ti o ulii r ' comn,crc,J
ftny Mora skating last Saturday on tho
Pi lutir tho Dalles.
. ox. ! ray sold ICO acres on Mill creek,
OMHtho Dalles, for W.0O3.
fjreo ateameni, tho Coos HayNcMs says,
.ctwecn tho bay and San Francisco.
UJ Mountaineer learns that 100 now build-
'ill lo put up at the Dalles (ho coming
fn
""jics Klynn, n rcspoctod citizon of Wasco
rf-y, is demented oil tho subject of building
t W" house, and is in tho asylum.
Kirlutina is prevalent nt Snohomish.
"" tftlfax, W. T has had two narrow escapes
t.'io I'mi tiros.
0 LaGrando Gazctto says 10 elk wero
1 near that town.
:m Idaho Statesman advartisos apples for
illVgciicap, ?-j to si per pox.
r, furtr. Win. II. Goddanl, acd II, died lately
'Mjl'larko county, W. T., of consumption,
cut nt Four Iako City, ralouie, tho Winter
told to bo hard on stock and on emigrants.
i'JJlio Vancouver Independent says tho city
Uli:itgucil has granted loavo for tho building of
um new reservoirs tnero.
nlio l'livallui) Tobacco Company has iticor
I itod to test the practicability of raiting
Ii , manufacturing tobacco.
"JPigcrs on the 1'nyallup reservation aro at
Syerhcads with tho Indian ient, but thoy
go all tho Indians on their side.
Jgcarlet fever at Lwbanon. Three Siltmarsh
t?''" 'invo '""' 'ncr8' H. h. Applegats
(o romavo his family to Albany.
iT.rJ
C. Jacobs, of 1'alouso City, says tho
'ctte, was utruck by i falling treo ami
do iimcnaiblu. Injuries not couitaervil
il.
ames II. Kennedy writes tlio I'alouio
etto that two voiiinanies of militia arc en
led there, coutaiiiiiu ISO men, reaJy to
it Indians.
iVilliam Miller, nt work in Hound's mill at
ion ltidto. Clark county, W. T., had hi
id caucht in tho machinery, and it wai
iti
rfullv crushed, and lias hopes of avoiding
" "Jiputation, but ill bo partially crippled in
fa; vtvut. ..-
f
Gonoral Jackson's Death-bofl.
Oftllfs. Wilcox was present at tho Oen-
urn ilentli, one Imght nnil U'liutitul
i'xbbath inorii'iit' ill tho Juno of 1345,
'id hIiu di'scribo.s it as u bcuno never to
) forotttn. He b.ulo them all adieu
the temlb'est terms, and enjoined
fiom, old and young, wliito and black,
tt meet him in heuveiL All were in
Baivj, ami when he hud breathed hi
n.i .i .1 i. -a :f ... ,.!...,ha...,!
!Jl 1110 OlllUlllTil Ol Bo " lllvJMl-n.il-
e. Tho conares.Uion ut the little
reidiyterian church on the jiluntation,
latch the General had built to gratify
deceased wife, tho morning service
er. came llockin to the mansion as
in eye3 wero closing, and addetl their
owailment to the genenii sorrow.
hortly after thU event Mrs. llcox
ncountered an old servant in tho
itchen, who was sobbing as though
iier heart would break. "Ulo missus
J ... 1 . , 1 L L - 111.
rn cone, sno oroKeniy saiu mj me ciiuu;
klone, anil dey was our best frens. An'
r".ln ...nr.A ..nt ontlcfAjl IntinVlin' US llAU'
!o live, hits now teached us how to die."
lie pool, unlettered creature urn not
now that she was mrunhasins one of
ho most beautiful passages in Tickell's
leg)' upon tho "Death ot AcMison:
He taught us how to live, anil (ob, too h!h
lue prir ir Knowledges muuui u uu iu
uie.
i i.i . M
Mr. Grant's house in Washington,
hich cost 25,000, has been sold by his
kgent for f 18,000 to an Ohio lady, who
how occupies it. I he noiue has been
: wcnij
r.tnllprijtft,,
Knls ,ttt S. rid
ftiro'tia.tl
i-lIrii-.lPifl
.. t.. ... u
ti- iiiiiil
'i r.m-tt i
VAUI) J
01k:: rX
Trii
WiikMI
mXw2si
, PUnu, tlia
Detroit
long unoccupied.
Supreme Court.
.'Ki).vnsDv, Feb. f.
Dean A: Co., appellants, vs D. Law
linn, respondent; opinion of tho court bv
Kelly, Chief Justice.
Held that when; two contracts of
S'Uiie d.itd between the name parties re
fer to each other and white to the samo
subject matter they nhould bo construed
together ns forming one transaction.
That where one is employed to cut
nnd deliver logs ut a mill ho is in the
rightful possession of tho logs until de
livered tint! can deliver tho same to
workmen employed by him to anslst in
cutting said logs and that such workmen
can hold the logs having a lieu on them
for their work.
Judgment of tho court below uf
firmod. IJoiso dissented with tho following
opinion :
Where two contracts aro mado on tho
samo day for the snlo of all tho standing
iimoe- on a tract ot lanu tor tho con
sideration of fifty cents per thousand
feet, to bo measured when the vendeo
shall bring the logs to the mill. Tho
timber to bo cut nnd removed to tho
mill by tho vendeo is an executed sale
so far as to rest the titlo to tho timber
in tho vendee, and such contract is not
modified by a it contract entered into tho
Mine day between tlio vendee and ven
dor, by which the vendor agrees to cut
the timber and deliver nt the plaintiffs
mill for SI 50 per thousand, tho vendeo
having the same right to employ tho
vendee ns any other person to cut tho
timber.
Where two contra ten nro made nt tho
same time between the sumo parties
they will not be construed together as
parts of ouo transaction unless such was
the evident intention of tho parties.
Where two papers nro made by tho samo
parties it is premimetl'thiit each was exe
cuted for some purpose; if n purposo is
nppnrcut from the construction of each.
Wlioro tho ownor of personal property
employs auother to preform labor on
such property to improve or repair it,
tho person so employed has a lien on
such property for such labor or repairs,
but other persons luvo not, whom ho
may have to assist him in such labor or
repairs.
lien Hollidav ct ul, respondent, vs S.
G. Elliot appellant; motion to dismiss
appeal. Taken under advisement.
Court ndjourned till to-morrow at 9
A. M.
Thursday, Fob. C.
Luld it Hush appellants, vs C. M
Cartwright, respondent; appeal from
.Marion county; argued and submitted.
Court adjourned till 9 o'clock A. M.
tomorrow.
Sut. Lovegood at a Candy-Pulling,
I had a heap of trouble last Christ
mas, and I'll tell you how it hapHHied.
Dekin Jones gave a candy pullen, and
I got a stool, as thoy say iu North Caro
lina, and over wo goes.
Sister Poll nnd I wont together, nnd
when we goi to Jones's tho houso was
chuck full.
Dog my cuts if there was room to turn
around.
There was Susie Harkin sho'ii as big
as a skinned home and six othor Hur
kins and HimmomuM, nnd Peddigrews,
and tho schoolmaster nnd his Rnl, be
sides tho old Dekin and Dekincss, nnd
enough little Dekinses to sut up half n
dozen young folks in the family busi
ness. Well, bimoby tho pot began to bile,
nnd the fun begun. Wo nil got our
plates icady, and put flour on our hands
to keep tho candy from stickeu, and then
we went to pulliiu
Wasn't it fun I I never see such a
lafliu and cuttiu up in all my born days,
I mado a candy bird for Km. Sim
mons. Her and mo expect to trot iu
double harm-as some of thesa days. She
mado n candy gooso for me.
Then wo got to throwing candy balls
into one another's hair, nnd running
from one side of tho house to tether, and
out into tho kitchen, till everything on
tho place was gummed over with cindy.
I got it pine bench find Km. Simmons
sot cloiu to me.
Suzo Harkin confound her picture 1
throwed a candy ball hock into one of
my eyes.
I mado a bulge to run after her and
heard something rip.
My stars plivo; wasn't I pickled ! I
looked around and there was tho gable
end of mv bran now britches sticking to
that pine bench.
I backed up ngin tho wall sorter era w
fishdiko and grinned.
"Sut," sez Bister Poll, "what's the mat
ter 1"
"Shut up !" sez I.
"Sut," sez Em, come away from that
wall; you'll get all over grease I"
"Let her greaso I" sez I, und I sot
down on a washboard that was lying
across a tub, feelin' worse than an old
maid at a wedding.
Purty soon I felt somethin' hurt, and
party soon it hurt again.
Ice whis I jumped ten feet hi, and
kicked over tho tub; out hopped old
Jones' Christmas turkey, and you ought
to see me git
I cut for tall timber, now, nnd jumped
stake-and-rider fences and mashed do vn
brush like a runaway herrikan till I got
home und went to bed und staid there
two days.
Ef old Jones' barn burns down noxt
Winter, and I'm anest for it, nnd if
anybody 'pears us witness agin me, I'll
but his doggoned head I Them's my
sentiments.
m , '
Repentance U the hurt's sorrow, and'a
clear life ensuing.
THE HEAVIEST CHARGE IN THE
MODOO WAR.
Tho patriotism of tho American peo
ple shines out iu war time. All the
patriotism in Oregon comes to tho sur-
faco then nnd rushes to the charge. Tho
Modoc war was ouo of tho tragic epi
sodes of our history. Then our bravo
voluntccra wero on hand to do their
duty, und no doubt did it well, but tho
heaviest charge made in that memorable
struggle, was by Abrahnms Uros., of
Itosoburg, general dealers, or clso they
aro belied by ono J, N. Darker, who
then boro tho enigmatical title of "Q.
M. Gen'l 0. S. M.," and as such bought
supplies, he Bays, of Abrahams Bros.,
though Hint brotherhood do affect to de
ny that they ever sold "a medicine chest"
for tho Modoc war. As tho "chest" is
loss couscqucnco than tho medicines let
us soo how ho sold drugs nnd fixtures.
Not being oxperts in this line, wo
called on the heaviest drug houso north
of San Francisco for information, and
from them wo havo figures to show what
thoso drugs ought to have cost tho Stnto
if ordered from a wholesale houso in
Portland. Wo givo below the price tho
goods wero worth, nnd the amount
charged for them to the State, as pub
lished iu the Statesman :
I.liuorlco root.
uxiillo HCld
I'UKMIt lint
Curb. iiiHiivnla
Tannic Mid.......
li'sliuul moss....... ,
CloviM ........
Cuoulu ...
K.rnlrn flowers. .......
I'rencrlptlon scnles ....
Htnilcrfcopo
Klccirlo battery.........
Toolli lorcrps ,
Hmnil mortar ,
8-ot Krwluate ......,
AUIiealvo ptattor
WORTH. (VST.
m $i no
o oo
i i s mi
-:s i ;a
:n 1 12
...., M 11 (Ml
......... i nt a w
....... :cl iiti
io a -i
. SO) (0
7) ! Ill
n ej iwoo
2 5 ' ') o
. ..7 0) 6 00
74 3 Si
....... 1 V 7 U)
M S 00
40 n 73
-siM i M
40 4 12
THrutrin nam
Hulph. Hub . ..
Osrb. Iron ,
rropiirrd cbalk
Ilromlde ikiUimIh...........
Ill-esrb polls'
Willie wax...........
71 8 71
ID 4 00
70 4 7J
'4J 2 75
'Jl S 00
(M 310
,.... 30 S 00
........ 10 1 00
1 00 12 OH
...... no io no
. ........ 0) IU 00
, co io oo
....... 0 S 00
Ulnzer...
(lenllnn...
K. IS. l'rlDcos pune..
I'. K. liops....-. ......
Juniper omits.......
K. K. Itll !......
Golden Hosl ...
Yellow docit...
Mm. Unci. Iron.
Cathsrllo pills....
Wo tako thoso specimen bricks from
tho structure of Modoc war patriotism
for tho beuolit of tho dear peoplo who aro
under bonds (nt least, the State is) for
tho payment of this charge, that rivals
tho chargo of Dalaklavn in destruction
and stupendous folly. Abrahams Bros.,
if thoy sold this bill, rushed to tho
assistance of tho Stnto with n vengeance.
It looks very much as if they had un
saleable drugs on hand, and took this
way to reduce stock.
Now as to tho sum total of cost and
valuo of the drugs und materials. Their
cost is verified by Abrahams Ilro's. bill
oil tile, and the certificate of J. N. Dark
er, was $032. That was a transaction
which cents did not count, (nor sense).
Tho actual valuo of tho goods, if they
had been purchased at wholesale or job'
bing rates, w:ts $33 1G and tho State
was charged over seven times actual
wholosalo rates for the goods. Let us
sup io io tho wholusalo merchant, lookiti
at probability of deferred payment, had
added fifty por cent to his rates, oven
th;n the State could havo bought of him
nt one-filth this amount, and would have
saved about 300 on a bill of $Q'i'2.
Timo and space do not cnabli-Jus to do
tho subject justice, und wo leavo it for
jthn taxpayers to think of at their
ekuro. Portland Dee.
THE FATE OF JOHNSON AND
nitow.v.
Thoro should bo no rcsh criticism of
the action of tho Governor of Oregon in
tho matter of granting a repriovo to the
condemned men, Drown and Johnson.
Ho must answer to his own conscience
iu deciding their fate, and no morbid
sentimentality, or unw i.so leniency should
bo in. untested, nor should they fail to
receive tho fairest consideration of their
clainu for commutation of sentence. The
best element of society here and else
where, while it shudders at their fate,
recognizes that thoy hud fair trial; that
timo had elapsed for the publio mind to
bo calm and reasonable; that the verdict
was just. People who know tho enndi
tion of affairs und understand that our
State is being mado the Ultima Thule of
villainy, and overrun by deseradoes
from California, recognizo that somo de
cided notion is needed to turn back thus
tido of transgression und prevent the
highway robbery so constant in this city,
and which has invaded tho country.
Tlio safety of tho community is in tho
keeping of the law, and tho Executive,
as the last arbiter of its judgements,
owes much more to society, to law, order
and progress, than to mere consideration
of sympathy for tho transgressor. If
this was an isolated caso and no recur
rence was to bo expected; if vice did not
flaunt itself in our faces and threaten
inroads from abroad more to bo dreaded
than influx of the heathen Chinese, this
matter would be more seasonable for the
exorciso of clemency. Vice pauses on
the threshold, waiting to know what
mercy is shown its nvant cou.iers, before
it ventures hither. Tho immense ex
penso of our. criminal courts and police
organizations is a grievous tax upon the
people. Shall this expense bo wasted
and tho protection of law become a farccl
If theso men nro to bo executed it is no
kindness to them to prolong a fato that
can only grow more mUerablo when an
ticipation and hopo tiro strengthened
nnd tho hold on lifo made dearer.
It is supposed that all aro amenable
to law, and thaVjusticc is impartial ; but
there aro indications that wo save jus
tice, without stint, for Chinamen, In
dians nnd half-breeds, and deal rucrcl
fully with tho greater criminal of our
own race, and whom opportunities make
tho worst sinner. Wo hear no voico
raised for the classes wo have named.
Why do not somo of those tender-hearted
petitioners remember them 1
Ono thing is certain: Tho best cle
ment of this community deprecates
mistaken clemency and tho worst element
claiaorj for commutation of sentence.
Granting that many good peoplo depre
cate their fate, wo challenge contradic
tion of the statement that they were tho
very ones who would havo visited sum
mary vengeance on the olVendeiM if it
could have been executed nt tho time.
They are generally excitable nnd sympa
thetic iu temperament, while those who
now stand by the law and recognize that
stern justico should be meted to theso
wretched men, nio the ones who would
have remonstrated nguinst popular ven
geance and havo demanded that law
should take itacourso nnd tho miscreants
have fair trial. At this timo of so much
excitement, the Governor should bo dc.
cided in his action and cither commute
tho acntenco of those murdorors or ap
point tho day for its execution. Hesita
tion and doubt aro not what tho peoplo
cx(ect of him. Portland Dee.
HAXF THE HUMAN RACE NOT
WANTED.
WhenTownsond championed tho cause
of tho Chinese in tho House, iu opposi
tion to tho Restriction Dill, he declared
that the effect of the measuro would bo
to closo our porta against ouo-half of tho
human race. Tho natural sequence of
hU remarks is that wo should welcome
tho whole human race to our short's, nnd
tho cpiestion naturally arises: What
shnll we gain by it 1 Tho Asiatics nro
possessed of it continent peopled from
the earliest annals of time. It was thoro
that the human family was born and
cradled, and when wo view them after
thousands of yearn of possession what do
wo see that they havo achieved 1 The
continent of Asia represents tho enlight
ened heathenism of tho world; enlight
ened by education that has mado no pro
gress in two thousand years; posscssipg
no government that recognizes tho rights
of tho people; from east to west tho abode
of idolatry or Muhomcdanism, of caste,
bigotry and superstition; neither availa
ble ns citizens or desirable hero us work
ers if their presence hero is to displaco
whito laW. If tlio presence of tho
hordes of Asia is desirable, whoro rhull
emigration cease 1 Tho hives of Atia
could swarm our continent and outnum
ber, and perhaps overpower u, without
diminibhiug to nuy perceptible extent
tho home population. If unrestricted
they could fill up all tho hind and leave
no place for our children, much less fir
our children's children. Our civilization
could fade into nothingness before the
practices of heathenism, and tho follow
ers of Christianity b jfow in comparison.
If we aro to nccept the' theory of Mr.
Townsend wo havo a right to carry it to
its ultimate conclusion, and when so rea
soned it must be evident that tho pres
ence of such a foreign population is not
desirable, but would blight and curse tho
American continent as it has tho lauds
of theOrient.
We, ,f tho Occident, nro a different
race, with different sympathies nnd
higher und purer iispirationn, The na
tions of Europe are of similar race and
feeling, and auimilnte with us nstiually
and easily. Wo are generous to open
our doors as wide ns wo do to them, but
no stretch of courtesy or sense of broth
erhood can place the Asiatic upon similar
footing. Tho limits of our nation are
not so wile that we need hasten to fill
them up to ovei flowing with the refuso
ef races. Wo aro nearly fifty millions
to-day, and a century ago wo wero but a
handful, scattered along tho Atlantic
seaboard. Another century will see our
descendants jostle each other iu the race
for life, ami a century is but a drop in
tho ocean of time. We aro of the dom
inant race that controls tho destinies of
humanity. Our influenco must in time
spread over all the earth, but what will
America bo if wo welcome tho Asiatic
occupancy instead of claiming the Amer
ican Continent as tho birthright of the
Caucasian race I
Self preservation is a primary law.
Wo should prcservo this Continent for
tlio Anglo-Saxon, and feel prulo m know
ing that if tho power and grandeur of
tho British empire shall ever wane, nil
that is notnblo and immortal of its his
tory, its literature, its constitutional
liberty and its imperishable fame, will
survive and be perfected in tho United
States. Tho "half of tho human race"
that lies to tho westward of us can ren
der no nid iu the accomplishment of this
great future.
Tho EmisratiorToF 1845.
Mean's Cat Off -First Discovery of
UolU.
Mr. W. J. Herrcn, of Salem, who was
in tho emigration of 1845, furnishes tho
following facts from tho recollections of
his own family, nnd derived from other
sources, to be used in connection with
H. H. Bancroft's forthcoming history of
tho Pacific States. That emigration was
an event of great importance to Oregon.
The suli'eriiijH iu Meek's lost route and
tho fact gold was discovered on tho
head waters of tho Mnlheur rivor, ren
der it valuable as history:
A largo emigration crossed the plains
to Oregon in tho year of 1845. Tho
exact number of persons in that emigra
te unknown. It is estimated by persons
that had u good oppoitunity to know, that
not less than six hundred wagon loads
were driven across tho plnins that year.
Assuming that the number of persons to
the wagon, including children, was five,
it would mako tho wlwle number of per
sons three thousand, which is probably
not far from the correct estimate.
STEPHEN' MEKK'h IMtl'OSiriOX.
The Indians on the lino of tho road nt
that time wero generally peaceably dis
posed, and gave but little trouble to tho
emigrants, occasionally stealing a few
horse or cattle which were iu the most
instances recovered from them. This
emigration was divided into companies
of from 'JO to GO wagons each, most of
these companies had in addition to their
ox teams, a number of looso cattle which
wero driven along after the wagons, and
often made a train of n mile or more in
length. When they came to rivers or
streams, impromptu rafts were generally
constructed of logs, and tho wagons und
persons ferried over. Everything went
well and nothing unusual happened
until aFort glloiso was readied. At this
place ninny stories wero told to tho emi
grants by tho occupants of tho Fort of
tho hostile nnd warlike disposition of tho
Wnlla Wnlht Indians, which mado quite
a sensation among the emigrants. At
this place an old mountaineer, by tho
namo of Stephen Meek, mado his np
pearanco among the forward companies,
and proposal for n moneyed consider
ation to pilot the entire emigration
direct into tho Willamctto valley, on a
much nearer and (as ho represented)
better route than the old trail by way of
Wnlla Wnlla. At tho Mnlhour river,
twelve miles on this Bide of Fort Boise,
it council was called to consider tho prop
osition of this man Meek, who presented
majis and plats of the old trail by way
of Walla Walla, und also of tho pro
poso now route. After considerable dis
cussion, Meek's proKsition was accept
ed. It would not bo altogether charit
able or fair to supo) that men that
had braved every danger incident
to a trip of this kind up to this
time would now be influenced in their
decision by nny fear of violence from tho
Wnlla Walla Indians, and wo will only
say that several persons in speaking in
favor uf Mcek'u proposition und tho new
route said that this route would avoid
them. It matters not what influenced
these peoplo, it is sufficient for our pur
pose to say that the now route was
adopted ; all the preliminaries wero im
mediately arranged, und tho company,
under the leadership of Capt. Oweuby,
and Meek us pilot, startod to cross tho
Blue mountains mid to mako their way
into tho Willamette vulloy by a now
road that no wugou hud over been over.
This route followed up tho Mulheur river
iu it northwesterly direction. This com
pany was fo'lowed by Capt. Higgs' com
jony, and suveral other companies. It
is supposed that ut least one half of tho
emigration of 1815 took this new route,
or cut-oir, ns it Vus then called. Tlio
first two or threo days tho way present
ed no serious obstructions, and good
progress was made. After that the river
passed through a canyon, and roads had
to be made over difficult points of bin fin,
but tho experienced drivers and well
broken teams of the train were equal to
the difliculties opposed to them.
(iOI.U DISCOVKHKD OK THE MALIIKUK.
Near the head of tho Malheur river,
thoy were forced to leave the stieam,
nnd crossed n lold ridge to a small creek
high up in tho mountains. This stream
ran southwest and was supjwsed to be
a branch of the Malheur, n mistake that
has caused trouble and discomfiture to
many prospectors sinco that day. An
incident that happened (it this camp
possesses especial interest, Daniel Her
ren,acousin of Air. W.J. Herronof Salem,
was hunting stray cattle tho morning
after camp was mado here, and picked
up it piece ot sinning metal on the rocky
bed of the creek, carrying it back to
camp as it curiosity. Many remarks
were made and all wondered what the
heavy little nugget could be, not a single
one dreaming that they wero tho first
discoverers of gold on the Pacific Coast,
and that the time would comn when this
very stream would bo washed out to
search for tho hidden treasure. Another
nugget was found at that or some other
camp, and brought to Sir. Martin's
wagon, and they tested its quality,
a
Mrs. Mnrtiu says, by hammering it on
tho wagon tire. Tho nugget found by
Hcrren wns thrown into it tool chest and
ultimately lost. Among tlio specula
tions indulged iu was one supposing thnfc
somo of Fremont's company had lost
theso bits of metal when ho camped on
tho samo spot ono year before, as thoy
found his old camping spot nnd used tho
half buincd brands to kindle their fire.
Years after this, when Oregon prospoo
tors returned from tho gold fields t
California, they knew what theso nuggets
meant, und repeated expeditions wero
fitted out to search the head waters of
John Day river, when thoy should havo
visited tho waters of the Malheur, that
havo recently furnished tho richest
mines discovered in Baker county. No
history of gold discovery on this coast
should bo written without detailing this
early episode, when tho wenry emigrant
in theso mountain picked up treasure
that would havo driven them wild if
they had understood its value. If
Meek's cut off had opened tho era of
gold discovery, it would bo more famous
in history than it unfortunately is.
MKGK PH0VK3 A FAILUUI
Meek chowed singular inefficiency as
pilot of this expedition, and his conduct
was inconsistent with his reputation ns
it mountaineer. Mr. llerrcn has secured
for us tho diary of James Fields, a mem
ber of Cajit, Bigg's company, now owned
by 11. A. Uiggs of Salem, which gives
particulars of tho whole journey, and in
dicates that Meek acted less on his own
good judgment than on thu wishes of
the company, and yielding to them bo
cnitHo involved in trouble. They passed
on through the mountains, over a very
rough road, detained while repairing
their wagons and recruiting jaded stock.
Thoy m-uln n camp on the marshy bor
ders of a big lake, which Porter McKay
thinks, from description, was Salvia
Irke. From hero tho Three Sisters wero
in sight, ncross a plain duo cost, and tho
Cascade range npjivnrcd across tho inter
val, forty or fifty miles distant. Hero
tho cattle could not got wator without
miring nnd somo of thorn strayed back,
ami wero found by tho company follow
ing. A consultation was held hero ami
as Meek could not describo camps that
wero nhcad and had utterly failed iu his
reckoning, thoy had lost confidence in
him, so concluded to abandon his project
tor crossing the Cascades direct to tho
Willamette, and strike direct for tho
Dalles. Meek ncnuiesccd and said ho
know tho route thither, thought thoy
would take too many chances in crossing
tho mountains lato in the Fall. At this
timo bread was scarce and provisions low
with most of tho wagons. Day by day
one nnd another would shako tho flour
out of tho lust sack. It was necessary
to reach somo depot of supplies.
TICKV CKANOK THE KOUTK.
So thoy turned north, ovor n dry Kago
plain, described in Fields' diary (which
is well kopt, well-oxpiessed and written
in n delicato and plain hand) as worm
wood. It is interesting to sit down by
a good winter fire nnd read tho "travel's
history" of thoso brave emigrants who
came to Oregon iu 1815, when it was, to
all intents a new and untrodden wilder
ness. Thoy followed a ridgo northward,
and of course found no -vator, though
the Cascades roso to the west and tho
Bluo mouctaius in the cast, nil pouring
down living streams. Thoy wero on tho
the dry ridgo between tho DcsChutes
nnd John Day rivers, nnd followed it
dny by day, peoplo and stock nil famish
ing for water, which they found in in
sufficient quantity. Tho stock wan
dered back on the trail. Mr, Herrcn
was then a young man, and then its now
always un active one ami possessed of
excellent judgment. He had gouo back
to drive linstock, and when he reached
Ihn miscrabhi camp, where tho whole ein
ignttionnf about 1,500 persons had now
caught up, he found old moil nnd chil
dren weeping iu despair, stout-hearted
men worn out; und tho bravest souls left
in tho women, who nlways comn to tho
front in times of self denial and emer
gency. To mako the matter worse, tho
alkali water had caused bowel com
plaints, nnd tho dysentery prevailed in
camp. One child died, and the teams
drove over tho now-made grave to oblit
erate it from the eyes of the Indians.
They ought to havo kept along tho edgo
of tho mountains, where water and grusu
wero good and ubundant. After somo
sufl'ering Wm. Herrcn and " Pack Horso
Smith" found water thirty miles distant,
on a branch of Crooked river, near tho
Mine mountains.
TK0UM.KS AHK OVKII.
They then found their wuy to the Co
lumbia without nurious trouble. Thoy
lived on poor beef, no game to bo had
but un occasional antelope. There went
few Indians to lie seen, though thoy
found ramp on Crooked river, and at
Ochnco, that gave them tho information
that they wero I CO'miles from tho Dalles,
Men were hont forwurd to tho Dalles,
where they obtained provisions of tho
missionaries, Waller and Brown, and
returned to meet tho weary nnd hungry
tiiiiu.
MEKK TAKES WENCH 1.EAVH
The half of tho cmi'Tntinn thnf. I.w.l-
l.the Old Emigrant Trail to Umatilla bad
nrmttini me wa'ies tiireo weeks in ud
vuiieo of thoo led by Meek. That
worthy might havo fared badly at tho
hands of the excited emigrants if hohnd
waited their threatened action of lynch
ing him. When ho saw how bitter thoy
were, ho und liN family took luwty uuii.
unannounced leave und wont on in ivl
vauco to tho settlement. It is not to ba
supposed that Stephen Meek intended to
tuko this cinlgrution into such peril, bub
it is certain that he Wamn ilmnernli..L
ana lost tils urojence of luin.! ....,.
Ji