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.