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About Willamette farmer. (Salem, Or.) 1869-1887 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 5, 1886)
VOL. XVIII. ZOREGON PIONEER HISTORY. SKETCHES OF EARLY DAYS. HEN AN, TIMES IN THE FORTIES DY S. A CLARICE. Cjpyrlght applied for. All right! reiervcJ NUMBER XXXX. How Colonol T. R. Cornelius and Fartjr Croitod the Plains. MARCIIINO NORTH THEY FIND WATER. At this juncture tho Adams mul Cornelius wagons indcpoiulontly struck north, whero they saw tho Blue moun tains in tho distance- and knew that water from their western slopes fed tho Doschuttcs river. It was not long until night, but thoy pushed on northward. "All night long till break of day" and all day until two hours beforo noon thoy drovo on and then thoy found n small strcnm whero thoy camped and rostcd. Thoy had been going south west beforo they turned north. Meok was with thoso who wont on for water and tried to mako himself useful. Thcro was talk on tho desert of taking tho back track to Snnko river us thoy waited for thoir return, but that was abandoned. It is natural to ask why thoy had not turned back long before. Tho only answer is : Thoso men wcro mado to go ahead and not to turn back. Thoy re lioved thoir minds occasionally with a mnttorcd threat that Judgo Lynch should hold a court beforo thoy reached Tho Dnllos. Tho stream thoy struck must havo boon tho head of Crooked river. Two days later niuo mon started for Tno Dalles, thinking rightly that thoy wcro now on tho waters of tho Columbia river, as tho stream main tained a northerly course Thcso nino mon took only thrco or four days' supply of provisions, thinking thoy could not bo far from tho Columbia. Tho teams kept on slowly, as it shows now. Thoy followed tho uproad divido between tho John Day and tho Deschuttes going down morning and night with pack animals to fill their kegs for camp uso and driving down tho stock to tho river to drink. It nvoragod two milos from tho camping places to tho watering places. A LONO ROAD TO TUB DALLES. Tho nino men who went on to Tho Dalles had rather a destituto timo of it Thoir supplies grow short whilo appe tites held out full measure. Nino long days passed beforo thoy reached Tho Dalles, and only that thoy found an Indian camp in tho Tygh valley, whero tho natives gavo them somo salmon, thoy might havo had to kill a riding animal. Arrivod at Tho Dalles they found Father Alvin F. Waller in charge, and procured a supply of good food from him. Thoy also met Dlack Harris, a noted mountain man, at Tho Dulles, and ho returned with them to aid in caso tho company needed assistance They wero gono in all twenty days, and very fortunatoly mot tho train as it wound over tho upland plains. Thoy wero afraid tho teams might tako their way on somo other route, and they would miss them entirely, and know that many families wero in soro distress. It is hardly possible to understand tho horror of tho bituation, whero all tho evils woro aggravated by painful cir cumstances. Thoy had wearily driven on, making tha best of what force and what food they had. Their supplies ran so short that they killed a cow or steer occasionally, though they wero too poor and oxhausted to make wholesome food. When weeks woro on and their own travel failed of finding any sign of civilized life, tho train people despaired of e;er seeing their nine messengers sent on in advance. They feared they were starved by tno way, as their stock of food was so light Almost famished and perishing as they were, and frenzied with selfish SALEM, OREGON, FRIDAY, fears, thoy yot had an unknown terror stored up, comprising this haunting distress and apptchensiou concerning their absent friends. Words cannot tell tho joy with which tho advanced guard tho Cornolius wagons always led saw. TUB IIKTUUNINO MESSENOERS. That thoy woro como and wcro safe, and that thoy wcro on a road that led somowhoro, for n moment overshadowed tho stomach hunger that had boon so clamorous. Laughtor and tears wcro unbidden companions at thnt hour, and tho banishing of doubt and apprehen sion mado tho sago plains a haven of rest beyond tho work of words to say. Thcro was excitement without noiso. It was too serious n timo for boisterous show of joy, and tho sick and dying wcro too noar thorn. Thoy camped where they met, and gradually thoso strung behind for miles camo up and camped with thorn. Food was eont back to thoso farthest from tho front, and all had thoir share. Somo woro so far behind thoy could not closo tho gap beforo tho first train started tho next morning. MEEK LEAVES IIY N1QI1T. Thoro was a vory angry feeling towards Stophon Mock, and a low tono of conversation porvaded tho camp that meant harm for him. Thoro is no doubt that a ropo had been kopt ready for any emorgency, that could seal his fato. Meok was not blind to this fact, and, indeed, tho ruling sentiment de manded his punishment. Thnt night Stephen Meok and his young wifo, and his traveling companion, Nato Olnoy, quietly slipped out with their pack ani mals and novor wcro heard of again by that company. It was still ovor a week's journoy to Tho Dalles, mul thoy pushed on with incrcaso of confidonco, becauso thoy know something for certain. Tho horror of doubt waB removed, but thoro was a great fact undiscovered by them that would havo mado their side track far moro memorable than it has ovor become. If they had only known that it was gold Hen Cornelius ham mered on his tiro, tho world would havo rushed to Oregon in 1810, as it did to California in 1819. Hut Whittior says: "tiaddeit of all, it might havo beeu." Tho after adventures of thatdistrosscd crowd woro not memorable Thoy all got through to tho Willametto and many of them settled in Washington county. Colonol Cornelius becamo of age, so ho could tako up land undor tho donation act, and located tho claim on Tualatin plains which ho retains to-day. Tho boy grow up to bo a man of in fluence A hearty old ago finds him still living in Washington county. He has often represented that county in tho councils of State, and was elected a colonel in tho Indian wars that raged thirty years ago, by tho votes of his fellow soldiers ; so ho has no sham mili tary titlo, but earned it through a cam paign in tho wilderness. I'caco suits his character well, and peaceful walks of com mere o involve his lator years. Tho siro lived to a good old ago, and tho son bids fair to rival Grandjiro Adams in keeping tho records of a century in his own memory of events. I'ADDY ROLAND'S STILL. In early days thero was an ingenious and eccentric character who someway drifted into this Columbia region, named Paddy Itoland. l'addy some how managed to mako a still, and com menced thomanufacturoof whisky out of borries. He mannged this so quiotly that Old ICesno first saw something wns wrong with his mon. They had crazy streaks and wero plainly intoxicated. Now, tho old chief did not object to a taste of gool liquor himself, but ho couldn't stand to see his peoplo going wild without his help over Paddy Itoland's liquor, so he hunted the matter down. He soon found out from tho Indians what was tho trouble, and who was tho manufacturer and went after Paddy with all tho authority of a Multnomah chief. Paddy was captured and takon to Vancouver in custody. His still was smashed and his liquor confiscated. Dr.McLoughlin was rather puzzled to know what to do with this ingonious, whisky-mnking Irishman, as thero was no exciso law to govorn Oregon. Ho finally told him to go and sin no moro, and thoro is no record that ho ever broko tho promiso givon. Brltlih Naval Offlcorsla Oregon. During tho year in tho harvest of 18-15, tho British sloop-of-war Modesto vlsitod Oregon and ascended tho Colum bia river. Ono of her officers was Lieutenant Pool, son of tho premier of England. Mr. Miuto mot this young man at Mathony's, Whoatland. Tho lieutenant was charmed, and said this was tho most boautiful country ho had ever soon in its wild state. Ho was only afmid "wo'' (tho British) would not bo ablo to hold it. A ball was givon at tho finishing of McLoughlin's mill, at Orogon City, whou Pool and Captain Bailey of tho Modosto woro proscnt. l'col mado a bet with Dr. Newoll (Ilobort Newell), reprcsontativo-clcct from Cham poeg county, os to tho loyalty of tho majority proscnt to great Britain. Ho lost, and thon pointed to Willnrd H. Hoes, who waB prcsont and a stranger to him, and said : "I will mako tho sntno bet on him ;" but Bocs answered his question: "I fight under tho stars and stripes myself." Lieutenant Pool talked up British interests as ho travolod through tho country to sco what it was like. Quito a wordy war was waged in tho Spectator between Sam Parker and Mr. Douglas, of tho Hudson Bay Company, about tho breaking of tho Oregon liquor law. Douglas said tho Hudson Bay Company was not responsible for liquor used by tho ofllcors of tho Modesto. Tho officers of that ship had been at Charley McKay's place, on tho Tualatin, and in coming away saw a beautiful liltlo animal thoy worn not acquainted with. It was beautifully striped, os pcclally on tho tail. Ono of tho mid dies went for it anil was lucky (?) enough to catch it. Ho caught a groat deal moro than ho had bargained for when wo count in tho scent bag of tho polo cat. Ho caught it rather bad, and had to chango his clothes, whilo tho suit ho woro went through a couroo of purification. Tho story was told in tho Spoctator and amused peoplo hero vory much. Rev. J. L. Farriih on Indians. Mr. Pnrrish was for somo years an Indian sub-agent on tho lower coast, and has had many opportunities to learn tho belief ontcrtalncd by different tribes. Ho says that tho coast Indians believe in a supremo being called Ivkah nio, who resides abovo and mado all things, but thoy havo no tradition of nny revnlations from tho supremo being to man. Beforo tho coming of salmon thoy had a great porformonco that was intended as a worship of E-kah-nle, begging him to bo bencficient and como to them with tho usual ubundauco of fish to givo them tho year's supply of food. Thoy woro so dependent on this food supply that thoy mado it tho sub ject of a religious rito. Evory poreon had a Ta-man-a-with, or guardian spirit, that attended and be friended him. Thero was also an evil genius called Ex-cla-ton, who always engaged in doing harm and had to bo watched. Thoy wero always imploring tho great spirit, K-kah-nio, to protect them from tho devil's influence. A rich Indian had several wives, and a chief would havo two or three. Tho coast Indians received the first teach ings with wonder, and finally embraced tho Christian religion. Somo Calipoolas who wero converted becamo teachors among their own people. Tho tribes in this valley had vaguo ideas of tho su premo being, not so cleur as tho Chinooks and Clatsops bad. NOVEMBER 5, 1886. In 1831 a mission log houso was built. Jason Leo bowed tho logs and Mr.Parrish has got tho broad-ax that ho used in that work. Tho houso was only 20x30. They gathered in children to bo taught. In '35 that houso was added to. In 1810 they had soventy-fivo to eighty persons in tho mission school and they learned ns fast as whlto children do. In 1810 thcro woro children in at tendance from twelve or llftcon French and half-breed families. When their homes wcro distant tho children boarded at tho eohool. Thcso grow up bright, intelligent and useful pooplo. When Bishop Blanchctto enmo ho told thorn they did wrongs that missionaries wore all bad; that they must bo Catholics to bo saved. Thoso educated thcro mado valuablo citizons. Ho remembers among tho French settlers with half-breed families, Joseph licrvais, Lataront, Do lors, Lucie, Dorion and llillagus. Thcso quit tho Hudson Bay Company's scrvico at an early day to mako homos in French prnirio and raise whoat for tho Hudson Bay Company's mill. That cxtensivo plain got its namo of French prnirio from tho fnct that so many Canadian Fro n eh woro among its first settlers. Mr. Parrlsh camo out horo as smith for tho mission, and his circuit was very largo. Ho worked for all tho sottlcrs on French prairie, as tho first mission homo was on tho south edgo of that region. Ho worked for tho mission farm and for tho missions at Clatsop and Tho Dalles and other places. Ho worked for all who camo and his anvil rang a merry tuno tho week round. Whatever may bo said of missionaries in gcnoral, it must bo conceded that tho mission black-smith was a blessing to all that region. Land Locators Hunting Wives. It is rather amusing to inquiro into tho matrimonial markot during tho "Pioneer Days." Mr. Minto sayH that in Grande Hondo vnlloy thoy met sov oral settler from tho Willnmctto who mado no secret of thoir object in travel ing out to meet tho emigration. Thoy wanted wives and woro equippod in very comfortable shape, so as to mako a good impression. Somo would go out to mcot their families, hut younger men woro out looking up good looks and agreeable manners in girls who had crossed tho plains. For many years It was a custom for marriageable 'men to go forth and look for tho wives who should mako their homes brighter for all future years. The preponderance of marriageable men was so great that it stood tho bachelors in hand to bo alivo to tho business of hunting good wives. Down in tho Willamette thcro wero a scoro of young men to every marriageable young lady. A man had to bo wido awako to socuro a wife at all Lovo at first Eight was no uncommon thing on tho highway to Oregon, and as soon ns thoy struck Fort Boiso emigra tions looked out for wifo hunters, who wero on hand to pick out tho most at tractive girls. The Prohibitory Liquor Law. l'eter H. Burnett was tho author of a stringent liquor law that passed tho provisional legislature. Thero wero in this country unscrupulous men who would do anything for gain or for lust. Theso mon would sell liquor to tho Indians and invent ways to manufactuto it. Tho sottlcrs were alarmed at tho danger that would attend ihein if tho Indians should bocoino inflamed with liquor. This wns a constant cause for droad and apprehension, so tho provisional legisla ture passed a stringent prohibition act. Near Cathlamet a man named Follows was engaged barreling salmon. To get fish cheap of the Indians ho resorted to any sort of trade, and liquor selling was most profitable of all. Tho Indians would do moro for poor than for good provisions, This fact becamo known to Captain Morrison and other settlers on Clatsop Plains, who made up a posso that included young men from Hunt's NO. 39. mill, somo of whom wcro John Minto, E. X, Evcnman and James Hunt. Thoy wont up to Cathlamet and ar rested this man Fellows and took him to Astoria, whero ho was kept "in duranco viln" until ho promised to discontimto his nefarious trade. Whilo thcro woro a few lawbreakers, tho great majority wcro law-abiding citizons. Tho diffi culty hero was that there was no juelico of tho pcaco nearer than at Orogou City, and thoy could not afford tho timo and expenso to go thcro for a warrant and then executo it. In thoso days thoro woro ono hundred Indians to ovcry whito man, and tho danger wns tcrriblo to think of. Thoy sturdily took tho law in their own hands and compollod obedlcnco to it. Thcro wcro others besides Fellows in tho enmo business, and thoy worked togothor and defended each other wherever possible, so it wns rather a oouragoous matter for law abiding citizons to assert thomsolvcs. DlverttnK Oregon Emigrants to California. Thcro is no doubt from tho reports mado by sovcral emigrations, that Grant, Hudson Bay Company's agent at Fort Hall, did all that was possible to turn travel to California, Mr. Minto shows that that worthy, aided by tho famoiiB and rather not soPeg Leg Smith, tho mountaineer and trapper, almost per suaded Dan Clark to turn thnt way by their false Htatemonts. Ho found his companions wcro not affected by thcso stories, so plucked up courago to como along. Thoy wcro artful in running down tho country and exaggerating tho dingers that besot tho way. Thoro was no company going to California, and for that reason Clark had to kcop on, but ho soon found that Grant and "Peg Leg" had spared no oflbrt to mako mis statements. Thoy no doubt did impress tho minds of many and iuducod somo companies to take tho road to California, who otherwise would havo como to Oro gon. National Thanksgiving Proclamation. Washington, Oct. 31. Following is President Cleveland's proclamation des ignating Thursday, November 25, as a day of thanksgiving and prayer: A PROCLAMATION By tho President of tho United States It has long been tho custom of tho peo plo of tho United Slates, on a (biy in each yoar especially set apart for that purpose by tho Chief Kxccutlvo, to ac knowledge tho goodness and mercy of God, and to invoke his continued caro and protection. In obsorvauco of such custom, I, Grovor Cleveland, Prosidcnt of tho United States, do hereby desig nate and set apart Thursday, tho 25th day of November, instant ; to bo observ ed and kept as a day of thanksgiving and prayer. On that day lot all our people forego thoir accustomed employ ment and assomblo in thoir usual places of worship, to givo thanks to tho Huler of tho Univorso for our continued enjoy ment of tho blosslug of free govern ment, for a ronowal of business prosper ity throughout our land, for tho return which has rewarded tho labor of thoso who till tho soil, and for our progress as a people in all that make a nation great. And while wo eoutempfato the Iuliutto power of God, in earthquake, flood and storm, let tho grateful hearts of thoso who imvo Ixren shielded from harm through hit mercy bo turned in sym pathy and kindness toward thoso who have sulTcred through his visitations, Let us also, in the midst of our thanks giving, remember tho poor and needy with cheerful gifts and iiIiiib, so that our servico may, by deeds of charity, bo made accoptabio in tho sight of tho Lord. In witness whereof 1 havo hereunto set my hand and caused tho seal of the United States to bo affixed. Douo at tho City of Washington, this first day of Novemlwr, in the year of our Lord ono thousand eight hundred and olghty-six, and of tho indepondonco of tho United Statos of America ono hundred nnd eleventh. GllOVKIl Cl.PVKLANlJ. By tho President. T. F. Bayahu, Secretary of State.