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About Willamette farmer. (Salem, Or.) 1869-1887 | View Entire Issue (May 14, 1886)
VOL. XVIII. OREGON PIONEER HISTORY. SKETCHE3 OP EAM.Y DAYS MEN AMD TIMES IN THE FORTIES. y UY S. A CI, AUK E. Ojpjrtlicht applieJ tit. Alt rIA-ht marvel. I - SUMDKIl XVII. J. H. Elgin, who now lives in tho Bod hills, south of Salom, on tho road to Buenn Vista, not far this sido of tho Ankcny fnrm in Snntlnui bottom, gives mo a very interesting skotch of tho Gas endes fight ns ho Htiw it nnd pnrtlcipnt od in it, narrating somo facts ontiroly different from others who havo written of Into nnd hnvo given points tlint hnvo not boon montioned by provious writers. Tho statement comos in very clovcrly to round out nnd complete tho story of tho Indian bnttlo nt tho Cascade. Mr. Elgin needs no assistance for ho has n plain, graphic way of using words that cannot bo easily improved. Ho writes: "Thinking this account will interest you in my poor way I writo as best I can, mostly from memory. It wns on Wed ncsday, tho 2Cth of Mnrch, 183G, just thirty years ago, fori writo this on that date, 18S0,thnt tho Yakimn3 mndo their attack in largo numbers, upon tho dif ferent parties employed nt tho Cascades. Thcro wasno intimation of troublo nnd ho threat of war wns visible . Tho Cos cado Indians wore ponccablo nnd tool: no part in tho fight. Indians enmo nnd wont frequently, ns tho Cascades was n favorito fishing ground, and tho time for spring running of salmon was at hand. Thorn was a great deal of improvement going on at tho Caecados. and tho hostile attack commenced that morning just ns tho men had all gone to their various oc cupations. I was working with tho bridge carpentors, and thoy numborcd fifteen persons. Tho first notice wo had of tho presence f hostilo Indians was tho crack of their lilies, nnd sov oral of us felt tho sting of tho balls thoy sent. Thrcoof us wcro hit by their leaden messengeis on tho first volloy that was fired, and thoy woro only somo forty yards distnnco from us. I looked up quick as I felt tho sting, to seo from whorotho shot was fired, ond saw n great number oi siwashes riso from behind their hiding logs, for tho hill sido lay thickly covered with fallen lim ber. Thoy woro leveling thoir guns on "us for another shot whon I yollod In dians'.' and, jumping down from tho trestlo work, ran for Bradford's store. All but three of tho fifteen bridgeiuon followed mo.and wo all reached thoBtoro in safety. "Wo woro undercover of tho railroad embankment, which was built on n hill sido. By running along tho lower sido and stooping in tho most exposed plncos tho causoway gavo us protection from tho firo of tho Indians, who linod tho top of tho bank for two hundred yards, on ronching tho store, just as I was about to mount tho railroad grado and run into tho house, Mr. Sinalnir, a gon tleman connected with tho Hudson's Bay company, who wns stopping thero waiting for his supplies, or something of tho kind, temporarily, was killed as ho stood in tho doorway. Ho probably went to see what tho firing meant, and tho Yakimas did not rccognizo him, for no attack was mndo on mon of tho Hud son's Hay company. Mr. Lawronco Coo who was cler,R for tho Iiradfords, was coming to tho door as I rushod in. I shoved him back in a hurry. Ho im mediately took in tho situation, and as sumed command in a prompt, business liko manner, and from that moment ho commanded in fact, and scomod to bo possessed of nil his faculties. Ho began oy ordering all doors barricaded, hav ing port holes cut in all places necessary sending men to tho upper story by cut ting through tho ceiling. Tho stairs being on the outside, wo could not use yi?ssv I "L. n JD v mrQs(t'A 'y jjv. SALEM, OREGON, FRIDAY, thosi. I slmll always think tho energy and presence of mind of Capt. Coo wns our salvation, not forgetting Cnpt. Alcr- nndor's good work. Ho climbed to tho garret nnd mndo n iort hole through tho roof, but an Indian got tho first shot through it and slightly wounded him. Alexander novcr loft his port for wounds, or sleep or mealu, but stayed right nt his rat hole for forty-eight hours. And ho got his Indian, too, which made tho Yakimas n tlillo moro cautious now thoy enmo too near. It provented thoir coming to tho edgo of tho bank, which was only ten feet high er than tho houso. Thorn wns a sink or low plnco near tho edgo of tho bank. Hero tho savages mndo a firo and from that olovation thoy would throw bundles of burning pitch wood, firo brands or whatovor thoy could uso to set tho roof on fire. Thoy oven heat ed iron red hot nnd throw that on tho house. For a timo wo tried to kcop their fires out by punching tho roof with poles, but that wa9 not n sue- coss. Wo had no water and nono could bo got. A lucky thought suggested that thoro was briuo in governmont pork barrels, so tho heads wi-iu knocked in nnd tho brino was poured on tho shin glos from insido tho houso. This gavo us n very good firo oxtinguishor. Whon it became dark wo partly covorod tho roof with dirt and carried up a good supply of water. Thero was a Spoknno Indian trnvcling with Sinclair, and on our insisting that ho could do so ho finally volunteered nnd ventured to bring water for nil our needs. Ho would disrobo himself entirely, Ihon jump from tho door thnt fronted tho river, and in less that a minuto would bring back n bucket of wator. Under cover of tho darkness ho was not seen. The body of Mr. Siuclair becamo of fensive, so it was lowered down to tho outside. t'p to this timo tho ladies hnd been quiot and silent, but whon ono snid tho Indian woro tomawnwing Wntkins and thoy got tho idea that it was oxpoet od thnt tho savages would como in upon us with tomahawks and butcher knivos (or scalping knives) quito n commotion was created among thorn for a few min ute.''. Mr. Wntkin4,acted most gallant ly in saving tho lives of her little child ren whon tho shooting bogan. She told a Gorman lad who was stopping at her hou'O, ho hnd been quite Inmo from a badly cut foot, to step to the door nml kcq whnt tho shooting meant. As he opened tho door ho received n shot and partly fell. At the samo timo sho saw through tho back window, thnt tho Yak imns woro rushing for thoir houso. Quickor thnn it can bo told sho gathor- cd hor littlo children and rushed out, tolling thorn to run for Bradford's houso. Tho littlo flock wcro running in tho load, and eha followed with her babo in her arms. Tho German boy triod to follow, but was ngnin shot down, nnd thcro met his fate. As Sirs "Wntkins was coming around tho point of tho hill toward tho store, driving hor child ren beforo hor, an Indinn, who had a po sition on tho top of tho bluff that com manded Bradford's stoto, seeing this now gamo coming toward him, forgot himself just a momont to long for his own good, but to hor salvation. In his anxiety to get n good shot at Mrs. Wat kins ho exposod himself a moment, see ing a hostile in plain viow,Mr.Bush, who had just roach od tho upper window, took quick nim, and was lucky enough to get tho drop on tho Indian, for ho dropped beforo ho had got a correct sight on Hrs. Wntkins. Sho had a very narrow escape. Bush saw that ho had no timo to loosa to save her, and took quick aim. Undor tho oxcitement causod among tho natives by thu futo of their fellow savage, lira. Wntkins and her littlo ones minus tho German lad found their way into tho store, whcio they received a warm and hurried welcome. Tho next nan to reach the house, or store, was James Finloy, who was work ing with Wntkins on Bradford's island. Ho consequently ran directly through nnd fncing tho Indians, nnd n showor of bullets whizzed around him as ho wont. Ho got to tho houso in snfety, nnd nftorwards showed his courngo and hu manity by trying to savo Wntkins. Tho next nnd Inst of thoso who reached tho storowns Mnrtin Bniloy, now n resident of Marion county, nenr Jefferson. Ho saw no possibility of reaching tho store for beforo him wns n solid lino of hostile snvnges. They were rushing up behind him. So, rnthcr thnn they should hnvo his hair, ho dortcrmined to swim tho Cnscndo fall", or drown in tho nttompt. This wns ns desperate nn undertaking as facing a hundred leaded londcd guns. As ho enmo round tho point of tho island that is just above tho Cnscndo falls, tho Indians wcro in full chase, and kept up a constnnt fiio on him. llo received two wounds, in tho nrm nnd leg, llosh wounds, rinding thero woro no bonos broken, ho plunged into tho river, and with great difficulty succeeded in reach ing tho shoro nonr tho store. Watkins yet romaiucd on tho inland with a shot in tho arm. From loss of blood, ho bo camo so weak ho hnd to lay down be hind n rock, near tho water's edge. Ho often would feel faint and roll down tho hank into tho cold water. This re vived him, and ho would watch his chanco to crawl back to his hiding placo. Ho romaiucd thcro until tho troops camo from Tho Dallos. All this timo ho was in sight of his wtfo'nnd littlo child ren. Too often wo who wcro with that poor woman, could hear hor piteous moans. Tho nobbing children would ask hor: "Is papa dead t" "Will papn como bnck to us ngnin?" To hear theso piteous questions would start tears from men who had tho stoutest hoarts. Thnt wns tho only awful timo I over saw. No doubt others hnvo seen much worse. Fortunately about nn hour beforo this attack was inado at tho Cnscados, nine V. S. rillos with cartridgo boxes nnd amnnitinn, woro loft nt tho store. This providential ntipply of arms was our salvation. Dan Bradford nnd Smith, tho cook, woro in tho upper story when tho attack wns mndo. Tliey enmo down in luutu nn hearing tho shooting, and that story was entirely vacated. Tho Indians would have taken possession of '.hat pait of the house, no doubt, if thoy euuld havo got don n off tho bluff, but them wns no .vay oil' but by a lnddor. Bush piopiscd to mount this lnddor nnd charge the Indium to drivo them uwiiy. I, for one, opposed this plan as too haz ardous. Wo should hnvo bcon shot as fast as fast as wo mounted tho bluff. Afterward, this little butto was cleared, and a largo blockhoiiBO built, which tho citizens had ueked for, beforo tho out break'. (To bo continued). A carload of cotton seed oil, says tho Oregonian, arrived in Portland from tho East latoly. This is tho first largo ship ment of tho kind over received in Port land. Just what use it is to bo put to is not known ; but at the cast it is exten sively used for cooking, in tho placo of plivo oil, for which it is often sold whon clarified. A Spanish physician Jecommends for car-ache a linimont composed of cam phorated chloral, two nnd a half parts, nnd oil of sweet nlmons, ten parts. This is to bo well mixed and preserved in u well-corked bottle. A plodget of very soft cotton is to bo soaked in tho lini ment and then introduced as far as pos sible into tho affected ear, two applica tions being mado daily. Frictions may also bo mado each day wtih tho prepar ation bohind tho ear. Itisclaimod thnt tho pain is almost nn mediately roliovcd, nnd in many cases ovon the inflamation is subdued. Too til hruidies. all kind .it Imtlmn prices at Port's 100 State street. MAY 14, 1886. IHSE0T3 AND THEIR ENEMIES. Tho Rotations of the Farraor Thereto. now they Orlgln&to ana How to Deposo Thorn. 11Y 1'. S. MATTKSOK. Tho tigor bottle, bo named bccatiBO ho plays tho tigor among insects, is very useful to us. I cannot do better than to borrow tho description of him, by J. Henry Comstock Government otomolo' gist. "Tho tigor beetles nro characteriz ed by having largo bends, broader than tho chest, long curved jaws, and long slender legs. They aro always metallic grocn or brown in color, with purplo ie tloctions in different lights, and aro usually mnrked with dots and stripes. They aro to bo found in sunny pathsand sandy places. Thoy fly nnd run very swiftly, and nro very difficult to capture Their lnrvno mo curious in appearance mid interesting in hnbits. Thoy inhabit cylindrical holes in tho ground, and mnintnin thoir places at tho mouths of their pits and provout thomsolvos from being dragged forth, by means of two hooks which onch carries upon the ninth segment of its body. Tho heads of these larvae aro largo, flattened, and carry formidable jaws. Stationing thorn solves with thcro jnws nt tho mouths of thoir burrows, they lie in wait for ap proaching insects, which, when near enough, thoy seizo and retreating to tho bottom of thoir burrows, dovour. They transform in their burrows, the mouths of which they eloio, for thnt purposo and wheu tho perfect insect comes forth, ho proceeds to play havno with other insocts according to his in creased ability. Thero aro a number of varieties, only two of which, tho brown, and tho green, I havo soon hero. Ground beotlos, a largo and various family of bugs is comprised by this name. And Mr. Comstock, quotod above, says thoy nro all carmiorous, and do nn immense amount good by destroying uther injurious insects. These booties nro described by Pneknrd, as "generally oblong, broad, with tho terminal ring armed with two horny hooks, or longer filaments, and with a singlo fulso log bonoath." Thoy usually hide by day under sticks and stones and tho hark of trees, and sally forth at ni'it, like nnti Chinese "agitator," in sonu'i of prey weaker than themselves. "Tlu lnrvno livo in similar situations, and am also nearly always predacious," says Coin stock, hut I cannot describe them. Do not kill tho black bugs found as nbovo dcrtcrilx'd. Last hut not leat in useful ness, are the little I idy birds. How this beetle obtained his fancy name I am not proparod to say; but as to his usof illness I can, and will hoar, emphatic witness. Last summor wo had a visitation of npplo treo lice, (aphis mili,) such as I havo novor before known in Oregon. My young troes woro loadod with them. I fought them in every way that I know of, nnd gnvo my littlo orchard up ns ruined. In Juno enmo the lady birds, and thoy wont for thoso aphis liko a Seattlo mob nftcr Chinamen, and not an aphid ogg is now to bo found on my trees. And this is whnt both tho lady bird and his lnrvno livo for. Thoir only food is other insects, mostly aphids, As I am acquainted with but two varieties of lady bird bore, I shall do scribe only thoso two, only saying of tho othors thnt thoy nro nearly all of a pinkish color with moro or less black spots on tho wing covers. Tho one most numoroii3 hero is oval in form, about ono-forth of an inch long by two-thirds as wido; tho wing covors Jnro of a uni form pinkish brown color, while the thorax and head tiro black and yellow. Tho other 'aricty is a littlo larger, rounder in form, and shiny black in color. A littlo in front of tho middlo of each wing cover, is a bright red dot. This is tho "twico stabbed" lady bird, and is raro, but I think it is increasing. Comstock says, "tho eggs nro usually long, yellow, and oval, and aro laid In patches, often in tho midst of a group NO. 14. of plant lico which tho nowly hatched larvae grccdly dovour. Tho larvae aro long, soft bodied, rnthcr pointed towards tho end, and aro qulto active. When about to transform thoy attach thorn sovos by tho end of tho body to n leaf or twig; nnd thopcrfoct insect comes forth in nbout a week." Tho lady bird, both as larvao and perfect insect, destroy tho eggs nnd lnrvno of othor Insocts, but aphids nro his chief delight. (Sinco writing tho nbovo I havo found a specimen of tho uino spotted lady bird. Brownish pink in color, with uino blnckspolB on the wing covers. To bo continued. THE DIRD3. CitoKTOS, MayG, 1880. Killtor Wlllamotto Karmcri Tho birds nro horo. Tho jay, robin, oriole, sparrows, bluo birds nnd othors, scorn unusually plentiful. Tho jay and robin nro on tho trees in blossom nnd actually cat tho blossoms of plums and apples. I suppose for tho insects there in. Thoy jay is a very curso. Ho cats pens nnd com, nnd other seeds sown in our gardens and fields, using his loug, keen bill by thrusting it in tho ground and tluiH obtaining tho grains. Ho sucks hen and othor birds eggs. Ho eats npples, pears, plums, molons, etc. Ho doubtless cats somo insects. Ho is a mischievous and destructive bird, so is tho robin. Both aro, so far hh my knowledge extends, man's onomy. Thoy aro nearly 'oil on strnwberrics. , Tho robin, sparrows and other birds are "wuss'on 'ell on cherries." Tho fact ie, if not killed or scared away, will oat wholo orchards of chorrlcs. Last sum mor among fifty duo chorry trees I killed over ono hundred birds. It was a war who should havo tho cherries nnd strnwborrios. Hnd it not been for tho shot-gun my sharo of the delicious fruit would have loon "fow and far between." I urn willing to give tho birds somo portion of tho fruit, hut whon thoy want nil, I'll shoot -thnt's.ull. From the smallest insect up to tho man, all nro ntw.ir; nnd the best fighter gets tho lcst share. Hence, I shoot the birds whon thoy intrude ton much. Nevertheless, I think hi keeping up a balance Uitwcon tho vegetables nnd fruits nnd insects thnt birds are useful nro our friends. And in the woods, I ip vor shoot birds. Only in solf defence will I shoot them at all. Grouse, phoas iiutH, uud birds in tho (loop woods, I never disturb, because thoy kill hun dred", or ovon thousands of granlver ous insects, Grouse cut, hi harvest, somo grain, but thoy eat during spring mid summer, more insects thnn grain. And are, thoreforo, moro good than hnrm to us. Insects would ruin Holds of grain woro it not for birds. The cut worms aro coming nut nun , and thu birds oat a few of theso ; hut not many, as tho cut-worm does most of his work at night. Hens, if crmittcd, so do some birds, scratch thorn up from thoir hiding places in tho earth, under clods, loaves, etc. Still, tho out-worm is a most destructive littlo "varmint." I lovo to seo birds around ; I love their songs, for When tho fields are iwcet with clover And the woods ro gld with long, I always feol gloriously. I think, too, theso little warblers havo as clear a right to live, kill, ont, and sing as othor folks. But when they leavo tho (loop woods and fields, and steal our fruits, I said I'll give a share, but not too big a ono I'll shoot 'cm so I will. And so, "When the dear enoliAntlng summer, Toi.el leuti at our foot, She delight eicli weary vomer With her berries froth nd itveet.' Then I don't want the littlo warblors to tat tho "berries fresh and sweet." I am sorry though to seo so many littlo birds for their little feathered skins to adorn tho girls hats. Ono million killod annually to adorn tho ladies shawls, capes and bonnets. A. V. D.
