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About Willamette farmer. (Salem, Or.) 1869-1887 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 12, 1886)
i VOL. XVIII. OREGON PIONEER HISTORY. SKETCHES OF EARLY DAYS. MEN AN TIMES IN THE FORTIES BY S. A CLARKE. Cjpjrrlj'it applied far. All right! reserved. ' NUMBER XLI. Sketchci of the Free Trappers and Mountain Man of Early Tlmei. Ono of tho most rcmarkablo csenpos and terrific contests told by mountain men occurred in tho hiitory of Wilkins and Ebbcrt, and must havo happoncd about 1835, in tho Malad country, south of Boiso rivor, Idaho. A company of ilvo men nnd Fannio Ebbort wont trapping and hunting. Thoy purchased $150 worth of goods for trading. Thoy woro Ebbcrt, Wilkins, Ilichard Owens, John Durris nnd Fannio. Whoa out about a month thoy saw Indian tracks nnd stood guard. Ebbort had a very valuablo horso that cost him $175. Ho was on tho last watch ono night wlion a band of sixty or coven ty Blackfcot rushed closo to camp to stampedo tho horses. Snow lay six or soven inches deep in tho bottoms at this tinio. Owens and WilkinB fired nnd killed two men. Ebbort was shot through tho foot whilo trying to catch tho looso horses. Tho boys called to him to lot tho horses go, and ho did so. Thoy woro campod on a small crcok. Tho Indians killed all but two horses. Ebbcrt's was shot with two arrows, six inches doop. Tho enemy fired from tho hill and a bullot hit poor Woodman in tho neck, killing him instantly. Soma of tho Indians had guns. Tho mon mado a breastwork of saddles and other things nnd put Wood man in tho pile. Tho Indians camo so closo that their guns crossod ours (Eb bcrt said) over this rampart. Thoy mado a fort of our doad horsos, and tho fight lasted four or fivo bourn boforo daylight came. Owons know their language Wilkins said ho saw tho gleam of a powder horn. "Burst it!" said Ebbcrt. Wilkins fired and n tcrriblo yell went up. Owons said that ho understood that a groat chiof was killed, and knew that thoy would soon draw off; nnd so thoy did. Thoy found out afterwards that tho Blackfcot lost ten men in this raid. Thoy buried Woodman nn woll as thoy could, as it was shallow to water. AFTER THE IIATTLE. Tho last thing thoy shot was Ebbcrt's lino horso. Tho trappors found another ono, badly tangled up, but alive. Thoy got it on its feet and hobbled. It ran up tho hill nnd tho Indians after him, but it was saved. Thoy packed their Toluablo furs on this nag. Tiio bravo woman Fannio had dono her part woll. Sho had a dress with $150 worth of beads on it. Mountain men vied in fix ing up their wives bravely, and Fannio had tho best thero was. Sho walked twenty miles and thon had a leg "four sizos too largo." It was impossiblo for her to walk, 60 sho Eaid for tho rest to go on and sho would make her way to Fort Hall or somewhere elw in a week or so. Dick Owens owned the horse and eaid: "Cache tho things and put tho blankets and tho woman on tho horse." This was done. Ebbort remembered n cut-off that McKay discovered, though water was ecarco on it. All said go ahoadl It saved eighty miles. It was a torriblo hot day and no water! Burris gave out. Fannio went on a hill and thero saw a band of forty or fifty In dians, which inspired Burris and ho went on again. They pushed forward to a slimy lake, where antelope and mountain sheep frequented, and when they drank tho water it made them vomit ; it was full of dung and very filthy. They dug a well near tho lake and that improved the water a little. They pushed on ten miles farther to a prickly pear region, and as it was night bad to stop to avoid stepping on the v SALEM, OREGON, FRIDAY, prickly things. Fannio callod thorn at moonriso. Thoy found water at 10 o'clook tho next day in a rock-hole, and soon after reached Snako river. Burris staid behind, but Fannio carried him back wator to drink and ho managed to get down to tho rivor. TIIEY REACH FORT HALL. Wilkins killed an antelope, and thoy woro in comfort again. Thoy had to cross tho rivor to get to Fort Hall. Thoy saw nn Indian among tho rocks, nnd it proved to bo a poor Snako siwnsb, who said in answer to Fannie, who talked tho Snako language, that Blackfcot had tho previous, day killed nil hio family except n grown girl they carried olH Wilkins killed a fat buffalo cow noar horo, so thoy had abundance of good moat. Thoy mado a raft of drift logs nnd crossed tho rivor, nnd in duo time reached tho fort, whero news had already been hoard of tho fight through tho Blackfcot. It sooins thero was n villngo of this tribo in n mountain vnlloy near thoro, nnd n trader from tho Hudson Bay Company was with them. Thoy learned from him that this band of trappers woro on tho Malad, nnd mado n raid to rob them of horses, furs and goods. This man LnDuko was perhaps innocent of intention, nnd did not think tho Blackfcot would attack them, but thoy did do so, as n result of his information, and thoir villago was in mourning many days. This is n samplo of tho hardships and dangers that beset tho trapper's lifo, and shows how bravely tho trappers' Noz l'crccs wivos did their part, amid such dangers. This fight with tho Blackfcot was only ono of many escapes Ebbcrt and Wilkins had from great danger. Tho mountain man curried his lifo in his hand. Onco tho Blackfect and Creeks charged in at daylight. Two mon had been setting traps aftor dark and saw signs of them, so thoy placed n guard, but tho Blackfcot rushed in with a tcrri blo yell that stampeded tho horses. A fight followod but no ono was killed. Aflor tho fight was ovor tho Blackfect wanted tho whitos to smoko with them, but thoy would not. Tho Indians stolo a groat number of traps nnd tho beaver in them. It is rcmarkablo that tho mountain men escaped with so few losses of lifo. Tho Indians wcro not olton as woll armed, and felt that tho whitos woro tho best fightors, so woro at a disadvantage. When they took tho war path in groat numbers thoy would attack small parties, but usually lost tho day, as tho Blackfcet did in tho story told above, ten to one. War with tho Indians was not moro dangerous, somo- times, than tho rivalries and contentions between competing fur companies for tho trado of tho mountain regions. ACROSS THE PLAINS IN EARLY Bl'ItlNO. In 1818 Ebbert went cast at tho re quest of Governor Abornothy as an escort for Joo Meek, who went as n messenger from Oregon to carry nows of tho outbreak of tho Indians and tho massacro of tho Whitman family. The oscort consisted of n numbor of men who wished to return to thoir friends in "tho states." Tho company was com posed of Joo Meek, Squiro Ebbert, Leabo, Williams, Miller (who went back to Missouri), Nathan Bowman, John Owons, David Young and a character known as "Jack, tho Sailor." They got started in March and accompanied tho Oregon volunteer troops through tho Umntilln country to whero AVhitman's station used to bo. On tho way tho Oregon volunteers had two battles with tho Caynses and whipped them. At Whitman's they killed a fat cow and jerked tho meat and then went over tho Blue mountains. Thoy had an escort of volunteers part of tho way. They went to Grand Rondo valley through deep snows. John Owens took tho measles on Snake river and had to bo carried for a ways, but two days rest at Fort Hall inndo him well. Meek had an order on Captain Grant at Fort Hall for provisions but ho was at Salt Lake and Mrs. Grant rofusod to comply with tho ordor. Thoy only got a fow things thoro and pushed on. At Fort Ncuf, n fow miles boyond Fort Hall, a horso gavo out, so thoy killed it and took tho meat along. Thoy tried to kill gcoso on Boar river and failed. Ebbcrt thought ho saw buffalo tracks and wanted to follow thorn. Mcok said no, but finally thoy all wont. As snow wouldn't boar up animals, thoy loft their mulos and went afoot. Across Bear river thoy found a wagon train that proved to bo Pcglcg Smith and two Frcnchmon and their half-brcod families, with a band of American cattle. Thoy lived in their camp and traded for cattle. Thoy cookod tho Oregon men a good meal and mado nli fcol happy, l'eglcg Smith tradod Meek a fat heifer, which wbb killed and tho meat driod, and thoy wont on thoir way noxt day. Ho was to pay for it when ho camo back, but back ho novnr camo, so n fat hcifor was l'cglog Smith's contribution to tho patriotic fund. HARDSHIPS AND DANOER. So thoy mado thoir way, amid dan gers and hardships, through tho early spring, soraotimcH hungorod nnd al ways woariod. Mcok had his documents tied around his body, and in crossing Big Muddy, n branch of Bear rivor, his mulo was washed down stream, and hn and his personal belongings got wot, so thoy had to stop and dry thorn, which was difficult, as thoro was only brush to burn. Thoy woro troatcd woll nt Bridgcr's, who exchanged good mules for thoir worn out onos, and gavo thorn such meat as ho had, and sugnr and coffbe. Tho other sido of Laramie thoy found nsinglo buffalo bull, wandering tho frozen plains. Thoy killed it and had moat in abundance Yory noon thoy found plenty of bison, and killed all thoy necdod. At Sweetwater thoy obtained moro supplies, and Jack tho Sailor loft them thero. Whon thoy reached tho 1'latto forks it snowed and utorrncd ?ecrcly. Tho mules suffered from hunger, and all of them woro subjoct to great hind ship. Somo of tho mules gavo out at different times. On tho Blue rivers they mot a train of emigrant hound for Orogon. Thoy wero sufl'oi ing severely for want of food, and whon tho emi grants gavo them good food, thoy wero happy. So woro tho omigrnnts, who wcro anxious to hear from Oregon, ns many of them had friends thero. Thoy gathered round and asked for letters. Word had been sent around Oregon that an oxprcss was going "to tho states," and many had sent lcttors by thorn. Tho escort had saddlo bags full, so thoy got out thoir mail bag and called off tho lcttors thoy found thoro, furnishing mail for a great many of tho emigrants present. When thoy reached tho Kaw agency they expected to bo troatcd at least humanoly, but tho agent rofused thorn any hospitality whatever, though Mook explainod his mission and his purpose. Thoy wero turned away hungry. They camo at last to St. Jo and wont to a good hotel to get meals and lodgings, but tho landlord rofuscd thorn any accommodations. Ho had moro rosjwet for appearances than for purposes. Men of tho plains wcro too hard looking to suit the fastidious tastes of civilized lifo. Fortunately Miller's father mot them horo, and soon found for them a hostolrio whero thoy were well cared for. They had completed a journey through tho half winter months of oarly spring that entailed great hardbhip as well us danger. Tho advertisement of tho California Nursery Company, John Hock, man ager, Niles, California, appears in this issue. Their 6tock is comploto and re liable. They havo an immenso nursery, and from information received they are alluded to as perfectly reliable. Send for catalogue and mention you saw their advertisement in the Farmer. NOVEMBER 13, 1886. 1j) or licit IhtraL U0T-UEDS FOR WINTER. Now is tho best timo to get ready a hot-bed for wiutor or spring work. Cliooso n placo woll drained and sheltered from tho north and west winds, nnd sloping gontly to tho south or lovcl. Build a tight board fonco six fcot high, running noarlyoast nnd west, or southwest or northeast, so ns to havo tho bed fnco somowhoro botwoen southeast and south. Lot tho fenco post lean back eight inchos at tho top so thnt when tho mats from tho bod nro lonnod against tho fonco thoy will not readily fnll down with tho gusts of wind. As an additional pro caution it is well to run a small ropo along tho fonco about four feet high, securing it botwoen each second mat and tho noxt ono to a clcot mado fast to tho fenco ; this ropo will effectually provont tho wind from blowing tho mats down, a frcquout sourco of annoy ance nnd brcakago of glass. Tho rope, of courso, will havo to to bo coilod overy day when tho mats goon tho bed. According to a formula of tho Ameri can Cultivator, tho ground in front of tho fonco Bliould bo mado thoroughly fino and rich for a distanco of eight or ton fcot from tho fenco, throwing out nil stones nnd sods, and working in n liberal dressing of fino manure. Whon finish ed tho bod should slope slightly from tho fence. Now placo a row of 2x12 inch planks along tho bed two fcot from tho fenco; squaro tho ends so thoy will butt together without a largo cinck, stretch a gardon lino two fcot from tho fonco to guido tho driving of lxl inch stakes, which aro to bo drivon at tho points whero tho planks butt together, and at a distanco of about six feet between thoso points. Next hold tho edgo against tho stakos and nail through tho stakcH into tho planks with nine ponuy nails, boing careful to kedp the lino of tho planks parallel with tho sur faco of tho ground, which may slopo a littlo from ono ond to tho other if con venient or may bo quito level. Tho plank for tho other sido of tho bed should bo 2x0 inches, and is net just six feet outsido measuro from tho other by using a gaugo and four inches bolow it by n lovol on tho gaugo. This will givo tho glass n proper slope toward tho south. Tho height nt which tho planks uro to bo placed ia a matter of somo con sequence. Tho wide plank at tho north sido of tho bed is usually placed an inch or two abovo tho surfneo on beds which aro to bo run with a strong heat ; if for Itcxb to bo used with a mild heat tho planks should bo sctthrco or four or ovon six inches lower, in which caso narrower planks will answor as well. After tho planks aro in placo plough tho bed botweon them, and after freezing a littlo plough again, so as to mako tho soil fino and mellow. Then hank up tho planks on tho outsido with loam half way up, and cover tho whole bod with litter enough to keep out frost till you want to uso it, having first braced tho plank apart ovory ten feet, so ns to kcop them just six fcot outsido measuro. Whon you nro ready to uso tho bed you havo only to begin at ono cud and cart out tho loam from tho first six foot bo twoen tho planks and put it near the other ond of tho bed. Thon put in tho hole whatever manure your srop do uinnds. If for lettuco in severe weather thon supply ten or twelvo inches of strong heat, or if for radishes or lottuco later in tho soason, six or eight inches will bo enough. Then throw tho loam from tho noxt six feet on this manure, and repeat this operation till tho loam carted out in beginning is placed back at tho last end of tho bed. Two men with a cart can put down a bed fifty sashes long in a day in this way whoro tho ''heat is handy and tho men under- derstand their work. If tho weather is severo after tho bod NO. 40, is mado up it will bo necessary to bank .up outsido tho planks with coarso man uro or other litter quito to tho glass, but in spring this will not bo needed. Somo timos a newly mado bed will boat too Btrongly. In this caso it will nocd air ing judiciously, both by day nnd night, nnd for this purposs bits of lath placed flatwise by night under ovory second or third sash will answer. A good doal of judgmont and oxperionco aro needed to mako beds run well in winter, nnd it would bo quito impracticablo to run them at all boforo spring by tho direc tions often givon, and ovon thon tho labor would bo moro than double whnt is needed. Tho best heating material for hot-beds is fresh horso manure from n stablo whoro at loast six horses aro kept, so that it will not tako too long to accum ulate n load. Whoro tho supply of this material is short it may bo extended to good advantago by mixing with forest leaves nbout half nnd half, moistening tho loaves woll whilo mixing. Another good material is spent hops from tho browories, which, being very wot can bo mixed with dry horso manure or with forest leaves. Whon it is desired to ac cumulate n considornblo quantity of heat beforo putting down a bod tho ma torial should bo turned ovor ovory fivo days to provont oxcessivo heating nnd to mix tho materials woll. Ono or two turnings nro n decided advantago, but wo often throw tho mnnuro frosh from tho stablo directly into tho bed whon iu n hurry. A two-horso load of mnnuro will put down from ton to twonty-fivo sashes, according to tho timo of year and amount of heat required by tho crop. Ono heat is often enough to grow two cropB upon it, especially if tho sec ond ono is n crop that 1ocb not demand a high tcmporatuio, such ns radishes. But whero two crops of lettuco aro grown in tho snmo bed it is usual to renew tho heat beforo planting tho second crop. This is dono by throwing out tho old manuro nnd mixing about half of it with froth" manuro for a now heat. A good boat of twelve inches deep will run a bed in sovero woathor for about six weeks. Of courso tho wcnlhcr and tho quality of tho materials used havo much to do with this point and ono can never toll beforehand exactly how n bed will run upon manure heat in fiovoro wcathor, though in mild weather of spring thero is loss trouble in this direction. Weather Report for October, 1880. Kola, Nov. 2, 1880. Editor Willamette Farmer i During October, 1880, thero wore 11 days during which rain fell, and an aggregate of 3.12 inches of wator; thoro wcro 7 clear, 5 fair and 5 cloudy days, other than which rain fell. Tho moan temperature for tho mouth was '19.00 deg. Highest daily mean tcmiwraturo fot tho month, 02 deg. on tho 3d. Low cut daily mean temperature for tho mouth, 50 deg. on tho 30th. Mean tcmitoraturo for tho month at 2 o'clock i m., 53.03 deg. Highest temperature for tho month, 71 at 2 r. M. on tho 1st. owcst tcmiM-raturo for tho mouth, .11 dog. at 7 A. it. on tho 30th. Frosts occurred on tho 10th, 10th, 20th, 22d, 2:id and 30th. Tho prevailing winds for the month wcro from tho north during 15 days, south 11 days, southwest 5 days. During October, 1885, thero wcro 7 rainy days and 1.12 iu. water; tbeio woro 1 1 clear, 1 fair, 0 cloudy days. Mean tomicraturo for tho month 65.02 deg. Highest daily mean temporuturo for tho mouth, 68 deg., on tho 5th. Lowest daily mean temperature for tho month 60 deg. ou 30th. T. Pearck. All leading natont modiclnrs at Port Drug Co., 100 Stato stroet. "iiiiHE7-r ijuCTfA
