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.