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About Willamette farmer. (Salem, Or.) 1869-1887 | View Entire Issue (May 21, 1886)
7. $ . t! rP j 1 11 - -! a VOL..XVIII. OREGON PIONEER HISTORY. SKETCHES OF EARLY DAYS. MEN AND TIMES IN THE FORTIE3. nV S. A CLAIlKE Copjrlelit nillf 1 (or. All rljhti rciervod. xt'.Min:u xvm. C&Kcado Massacre- Concluded from Last WooU. At tlio smno titno the nttnek wns mndo on Bush's nnd Bradford's, mi assault wns attempted on tho Htcamoi' Mury. Sho wns tied up nbout four hundred yards abovo Bradford's, The firornnn, Hardin Chonowcth, hnd just tilled tho boilor with cold wntor whon tho Indians wcro scon running townrda her, firing ns thoy cnuio nt difioront mon who hnd cntight tho nowij und wcro fleeing townnls tho lont. All of them rocoived wounds Hint wcro moro or less sorious. Buckministor, tho engineer, had no Ilrcnrms hut n common fivo-shooting pistol. This ho brought to bear on (ho Indians, who by this tinio hnd readied tho gang-plank and wcro riiBhing aboard. It was very oloso quarters, but tho fivo-shootcr drovo thorn back mul kopt them back until Hardin Chonowcth split up tho hatch door and got up steam. James Lindsay, nnothor flroman, whilo trying to push tho boat off, was shot through tho khouldcr. Capt. Dan. Ilaughman and James Thompson, tho mato, wontashoro to looso tho lines. This thoy accomplish ed, hut tho firo o( tho Indians was now so iucossnnt that, having no firearms, thoy ran for tho woods mul fortunately escaped. A colorod man namod Dick Turpi n had tho only gun. II wn nithor shot and thon fell overboard into Uio river and drifted away, or through fright jumped into tho river, hoping to escape, and was drowned. A twelve year-old boy named Johnny (Jliunoo got hold of an old horso-pistol ; loading this ho climbed to tho hurrieano deck and shot an Indian with it. In turn tho bravo follow got n shot in tho leg. Jcsso Bomp ton and a half-breed mimed Bourbon both got on board tho Mary. Bourbon died on tho boat. Having by this timo rnisoda littlo steam, tho cugincor start- od tho wlicols and sot hor in motion. Hardin Chcnowoth was tho hero of tho attempt. Ho climbed to tho hurrieano dock, a shower of bullets hurling around him, gained tho pilot housa without any injury, thon laid down on his back and turned tho wheel as the onginoordircctcd. That soon took them out into tho foam ing water. For some time thoy had not enough steam to mnko headway, but hold thoir own against tho current. As stoam in creased thoy woro soon ablo to toot tho steam whistle, which causod a joyful cheer in tho bclcaguerod houses on tho shore On her way up tho chuto sho stoppod and took on board Jim Her mans, Woodward and a Mr. Thompson, -then crossed tho river to tho Oregon sido, and "wooded up" by using Mrs. Atwoll's rails. Tho stoamor Wasco also lay thoro. Tho two boats wero got un der way and took on board all citizens who wanted to go to Tho Dalles. A Mr. Iman lived a quarter of a milo above whoro tho steamar Mary was moored. Ho saw tho attack on Bradford's, and with tho courago of a good man ran oat to whero two mon woro chopping for him Mr. Gilo and a Mr. John Givons and informed them of tho danger. Tho thrco returned, carried up wator, cut port holes and mado preparations to tight. On tho Indians making their ap- poarance, Iman shot onoof them. Thoy concluded to cross tho river and did so, taking tho sick wife of Mr. Iman, two children and an old lady that was stay ing thcro named Kiel, a sister-in-law of "Dr. Kiel, of Aurora. We saw them from Bradford's. The wind was vory high, and tho wind blew very hard down stream. Wo expected every moment to ec tho boat swamp, and all on board of it drown. They woro 6een from the other SALEM, sido and n boat was sent to keep them from tho Oregon sido. Shcpurd, who lived about a milo farther up, saw tho battlo raging nt Bradford's. Ho took his wifo and chil dren and crossed tho river in his boat. Soon afterwards wo could soo from tho Bradford'rt storo both tho housos thoso of Iman and Shcpard, (favoured by Haines. Thoy had escaped just in timo. About a milo from Bradford'! at Mill creek, was tho saw mill of tho company, whoro a half dozon men woro at work, also James Wntkins, a splendid littlo boy, who was driving the team. All theso woro killed. A Mr. Brown, who livod at tho mill, had been married only a low wcoks Dcforo that tunc. Sho escaped somohow, and almost reached Bradford's. Her body was found nenr tho store, pierced through by an Indian spenr. Sho was strippod, and her hair was shorn ofT by tho murderer, who was afterwords found and killod by tho soldiers. Thoy found her hair with him, and ho hold a bloody spear. Ho also had a keg of whiskey ho had c.npturod some how and was quito drunk when found. Ho was very desirous that tho Foldicrs should holp him empty the l:cg, but whon thoy satisliod thomsclvos that ho was tho miscreant who -slow Mrs. Brown thoy gavo him n saluto of lead that scttlod hisfntoaltogcthor too respectably. His head was out ofT and Btuck on a snag whoro it was loft until carrion birds carried it off. Mrs. Brown was n pretty littlo Gorman girl, a nicco of Dr. Kiel's, of Aurora. Tho second dny came and tho Indians renewed tho attack on tho storo, with efforts to burn in out. Thoy often had tho roof in a bliizo and as often wo would put it out. The Indians did not bother us very much at night, owing, I presumo, to their superstition. Soiuo of them would slip to tho edgo of tho bank and shoot arrows at tho windows, bocauso they gnvo no indication of tho direction thoy came from. In the morning thu window casing would bo stuck full of arrows and many wero insido tho homo. Hut instead of watching nut of tho windows wo had ort-holes besido them, for fear thoy might think wo woro standing nt tho wind ws nnd shoot there. Somehow we didn't get vory much hungry. I nover heard any ono growl for tho wholo threo days about dinner not being rcadr, nor supper nor break fast either. Some of tho boys pitched into tho nln and drank enough to quonch their thirst, but thero woro only a fow bottles of that. As night approached wo begun to expect the stcamor to return with relief, but uono hovo in sight, so wo wcro doomod for another night. Just aftor dark, tho second day, they fired Bush's house, which mado ovory- thing as light as day all around us. Our vigilance was doublod, for wo expected somo now ideas had struck thorn and in what direction it would como on us wo wcro at a loss to know. All tho firearms I had was nn old rovolver. Tho cylinder would not rovolvo of itself, so I had to turn it as I ompted tho chambors, by my hand. What guns wo had woro in tho hnnda of mighty good men ; thoy weren't afraid to stick their snoots to a port-hole to look out for au Indian for fear of getting thorn shot ofl'. A fow of that kind of mon go a long way in that kind of a scrape. By tho socond night wo woro somewhat dosparinc of tho Mary's return and tho Wasco. But tho night passed without any unusual danger, as tho proceding ono had. Tho third morn ing, however, brought a beautiful Bight, for early in tho day wo saw tho two 6teamcrs Mary and Wasco, and n Inrgo scow towed by them, all loaded with soldiers, citizens and horses. As thoy camo sweeping around Wind rivor mountain, ton miles distant, then wo shoutod that hideous yell that no ono over hoard who has not been on tho battlo Hold. The Mary wns soon at her old landing place. The Indians fired rapidly into OREGON, FRIDAY, tho crowded boat from the thick timber, not over a hundred yards distant. It was wondorful that many wero not kill ed and wounded. Probably thoy woro too excited to tako any aim. Tho boat soon unloaded its froight of cit.ons and soldiors, who began fighting and follow ing up with a bravo churgo that soon sent tho savages (lying. When tho Indians woro all routed The Dalles pooplo camo running to tho house to soo who wero dead and who wero living, for thoy know every ono of us. At that timo tho population was not so numerous and tho pooplo in tho upper country .voro all nioro or less ac quainted with each other. Thou the doors wcro unbolted nnd bars takon down for tho first timo in several days. Whon thoy camo in it was liko a big re vival meeting. I don't know that I over felt bo good, before or ninco that timo. All ho ivst scorned to enjoy tho good timo as well as I did. It was a mighty rejoicing, you may well boliovoj but thon I don't earo for any more for it. A littlo of that kind will furnish spico for nu ordinary lifetime. After tho soldiers had scoured tho woods in all directions, nnd especially round tho house, wo started down tho wagon-road for tho block-house. At tho middfa landing, iv friend of mine from Tho Dalles gavomohiH gun, ho keeping his heavy rovolver. Six of us started down tho railroad track for tho middle Inuding, getting thero it littlo in ndvanco of tho Boldicrs, to find a most distressing sight. Thero wob n boy, boh of Mr. Kiol, who had been shot and his brains wcro beaten out with rocks. A soldior had been killed whilo outgotting wood. Ho was hung up and wood piled around him, preparatory to burning him. Mr. Gcorgo Griswold was shot (load; Flotcher Murphy was wouudod in tho arm. H. Kiol, n German, a brother of II. Kiel, Mr. MolTat, 1'. Snooks, and Miss Snooks now Mrs. Bcllion, had n littlo strip of hair cut abovo tho ear by a bullet. Wo thon wont to Palmer's store, undor tho hill, nnd found tho door fast, but full of bullet holes. Wo went around tho hotiso and found in the middle of tho house, under tho lloor, a keg of pow der, with a trail of powder renching to the door. Thoy placed a box of littlo coins directly on thu keg of powder. They expected tho Indians to break into tho store nnd crowd round the money box, when they intended to touch oil' tho Miwdur and blow tho crowd of In dians to their happy hunting or fishing grounds. But during the ovuning other housso wero fired around tho neighborhood, nnd tho light of thoso blazing buildingH hept tho back in tho woods, out of sight and out of roach of tho besieged guns. So tho two Palmer boys crawled along tho odgo of tho water to tho Indian dead houses, nnd thorn took to tho woods. Thoy know that no Indian would fool about n doadhouso at night. So thoy oscnpod to Capo Horn mountain, where the stoambont picked thorn up. Wo waited at Palmer's until the soldiers nil camo up, when wo Htarted for tho lower landing. Tho six of us kopt thirty or forty yards in ndvanco of tho soldiors until wo camo opposite to Bradford's islund. The road followed tho water's edgo to this place, then turned up tho hill and camo out on a level prairio nt Chonowcth's farm. But just hero Phil Sheridan demanded our attention by shouting to us from across tho rivor. Wo had not seen him up to his culling to us. Tho river is vory rapid hero und keeps up a continued roaring liko tho sound of tho breakers; so wo could not tell what was said by .Sheridan or his men. Thero wero about two hundred In dians on thin Chenoweth prairie. Most of them wcro hallooing back to Phil and his men. Wo also shouted at him, but wo being under tho hill the Indians could not distinguish our voices from thoso of Sherdian'H mon across tho river. Nor could we tell tho' difference betwoen J MAY 21, 1880. tho voices from across tho rivor and tho Indians abovo uh on this side. Which wcro tho most completely surprisod, our men or tho Indians, I don't know. Tho first thing that tho soldiers did was to sound tho buglo when thcro was a grand rush for tho top of tho hill. After re covering from our surpriso wo took a flying trip down tho prairio whero wo saw nu Indian in a stooping position with gun in hand. Quick at thought we turnod our rilles loosu on him and ho was no nioro a warlike savaga but suddenly became a ''good Indian." Tho infantry ilred suvoral volloys into tho woods, then charged through tho timbor. Thoy had ono man killed. The dragoons wero of but littlo use. Whon wo got to tho lower landing wo found nbout 1)00 mon thoro. Thoy had mado sovcrul attempts to como to our rescue at tho upper landing, and got Hovornl of their men killed nnd wounded. Hero I took tho boat for home, having had enough of that sort of life. It was a docided variety from the dull routine of n bridgo builder's life, to jump suddouly into nu Indian fight and sco men mid womon killed and mutilated, but it is not necessary to one's huppi ness to Hco such tilings. Following are tho names of tho killed and wounded : James Wntkins, Henry Hagnr, B. W. Brown nnd wife, Gcorgo Griswold, Jnck Kiol, Jacob White, James Sinclair, Bourbon, Caldorwood, Dink Turpin, throe V. S. Boldiors not known, Norman Palmer and Jacob UoiibIi woro killod. Those wounded wero : II. Kiel, Moffat, Flotchor, Fletcher Murphy, John Chance, Martin Balloy, James II. Elgin, Philip Snooks, James Linsloy, Tom Pcarcc, I. Kcmpton, Joseph Bobins and two U. S. soldiors. I gavo things as I saw them, says Elgin. Notk In Mr. Elgin's report of tho Caendo war wo said that it was only the Ynkimas who woro in thu fight. Tho Cuscndo Indians assisted nnd n numlicr of them wore afterwards con victed nnd hung for participating in that mufsnero. Enrrou. STRAWBERRIES-TUB BEST. Citosros, April 11. 1881!. Kdltor WilUtiitttttt Kirmeri I promised to Htntn in tho Kaiimimi this spring how the plants had borne, how thoy went through tho winter, ote. Tho rihnrpless has on my stony clay laud, passed through tho wintor bettor than all others. Next to this is I he Mi ner, Bidwell, and Finch's Prolific, the Captain Jack, Diinman. Jersey Queen, Princo of Borrics, Manchester, Old Iron Clad, Glondalo, Cindoriallia, and War ners Prolific, I shall disgnrd ns having too many faults. This Sharploss is not a wot weather plant liko tho Bidwo'l, Minor nnd Finch's Prolific, becnuso tho Htalks and berries Ho on tho ground, rot and got dabbled up with dirt. Tho Bidwoll is a splon ded plant in u wet or dry Boason. Tho berries grow among tho foliage, and aro thus protected from tho ruin nnd scald ing sun, so of tho Finch and Miner. Tho Jucunda is, on stony clay laud, among tho best. Tho Wilson and Jamos Vick rusts in foliugo and havo too many littlo ones. I put out 1,000 Manchester and thoy aro nourly nil (load. They will not pay on clay land. On sandy or a loam thoy do better. But, with me, thoy aro unworthy. All must experiment on their own soils and locations for them selves. No one, two, or half dozen straw berries will suit all places, soils and climates. As the mutter now stands thu Shurpless, Bidwoll, Miner, Finch and perhaps Cumborlund Triumph, aro tho best on my stony clay land. Tho Jucunda I iitill grow nnd will con tinue td grow it. If I wuntod a vory good homo berry and had any very rich land, a fine loom I would tnko tho Jersey Queen ; but for profit, not. The enemies of tho strawberries aro increas ing so fust, us birds, insects, etc., with NO. 15, too much rain, or too much sunshine, woods, grass, ot cotra, that tho margin of profits grow small, smaller, smallest, and "beautifully less" ovcry year. How ever, ns wo must live somo how, I sup pose wo must fight lifo's battles bravoly, and by intelligent labor win tho day. Over production, or npoor market is our greatest enemy. Things will, or must rcgulato themselves. Too many fingors in the pio tmoils it. I nm trying somo ot tho nowcr kinds, uh tho Parry, Cornolia, Jewell nnd others. Tho Parry in vino or plant is a lino grower. Tho fruit I havo not yet grown; but will know this goason. Tho Cornolia is a poor grower; but I will try nioro thoroughly this season. Tho Jewell I havo on ttinl. Tho plant, thus far, is among tho finest. A now broom swoops clean, but I think sometimes wo had bettor uso tho old one n littlo longer. What our markot is going to be thoso good Democratic times I don't know. Democracy is not ft "king-cure-all" by a long shoot. Tho horti culturist, agriculturists and other professions aro passing nn ordeal which liko tho crucible, may soparnto tho flue from tho coarse. I havo all my straw- borrics plowed out nnd hoed over cloan. They look woll, nro in blossoms; but the future is sealed, nnd wo can only break the seal by waiting. A. F. D. Shall Wool bo Freo ot Duty. . AUMHVIM.K, Or., April 20, 188(1. Kdltor Willamette Vsrmeri III tho Faiimkii of tho 2Ild iust. article "shall wool bo freo of duty," you say, tho making of wool free of customs will ro il uco tho vuluo nearly a million dollars." Wool mon may "coutomplato thoir pros pect of loss with apprehension," but how about tho othor ninotcon-twontioths of tho peoplo? If tho wool mon nro now taking a million ot dollnrs out of tho pockets of tho Oregon pooplo and putting it into thoir own, have wo who do not raise wool, no rights whioh our law mikors will respect? Shall tho nino men of Oregon givo to tho othor ono a mlllon of dollara for nothing? Becnuso this is what tbn tarill' on wool means, if it moans anything. "Figures don't Ho." And in this, as in nil othor liko cubcb, the tiirilV simply orealcH a forward class who thus get mro than thoir shnro of the earnings of the whole. All tho wool a farmer rinses is so much olonr profit. It doesn't cost him a cent, thu bIiooji will pay their own way in othor ways : und Unit wo should pay mon n hoavy bonus to unable them to go ouUido of Hcttlomnut to raises wool alono, is a con founded imposition. That tho tariff is to protect, or that it does protect Amori- can labor, is n bald humbug. It is a tax upon tho many for tho bonefit of the fow. It has mado, and is still making, tho rich richer, nnd tho poor pooror, until labor is kicking "liko a bay stoor," all ovor tho country. That lalor is making somo mistakes, thero is no question, but that it will kick ofl' u ortIoii at loast of its load, is probable; and my sympathies nro with it. I can but admiro its "grit," whutovor may be othcrwiso said of it. Tho taxation of tho many for tho benefit of tho pou, should, nud will, covor tho excesses of labor in its attempt to rccovor its lights, with tho mantlo of that "charity which HiilTuroth long, nnd is kind." Mattkbo.v. Oregon 8Uta Oram . Kdltor Willamette Farmers The State Grungo will meet on the 25th iust. ut Grange hall in Salem. Daniel Flint and wife will attend the session as dologatcs from the State Grungo of California, Arrangoments havo been mude for tho accomodation of the momborsof the order at tho Clio mekota hotel, also for roduced rates on thoO.A. C. It. It. It. P. Boise, Mas tor. Bluo vitriol, sulphur and othor staples imnnrteil ilirnnt liv Hin Tnrt flnicr ?!n ami sold ut cloeo figures. 7 6
