Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Willamette farmer. (Salem, Or.) 1869-1887 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 4, 1887)
&A f. WL a- VOL. XVIII. OREGON PIONEER HISTORY SKETCHES OF EARLY DAYS. -MEN AND TIMES IN THE FORTIES DY S. A CLARKE. V Copyright uppMoJ for. All right I reitrvoil. BattlO Of the Ablqua Fully A Story nevor Before Told. Daring tho month of March, 1818, a largo proportion of nil tho ablo-bodied mon of Oregon wcro nway from thoir homos, fighting tho murdorors of tho Whitman family and others killed tho proceeding fall nt Wniilntpu. Tlioro was n gonoral fooling of unensinosa among settlors, bocauso hostilo rumors werocurront, and npprohonsion folt that tho Willninotto natives might call in tho aid of thoir southorn allies, to commit aomo atrocity. It may bo supposed, thon, that tho prosonco of a largo party of Klamaths in this valloy at that jnnct uro created suspicion nud caused no littlo oxcitomont. Airs. Jo Ilutchina, who is a very intolligont and progressive Indian, Bays that many of theso eighty Klamaths woro hor mothors family con nexion, and merely camo on a friondly visit to their kindred. Mrs. Hutchins is a daughter of tho Mollnla chief, Koostn, and is a nioco of Billy Chinook, so is highly connected from an nboriginal standpoint. Thero woro quito n number of out laws among tho Indians nhojonined this valloy in 18-18, and theymndo them solvos disgraceful in various ways. Many young men had takon up land claims and had left thoir cabins unpro tected whilo thoy wcro gono to tho cay uso war or to tho mines, a fow months later. Thoso desperado savages broko into theso cabins and stolo blankets, clothing and whatever was to bo found there. Thoy also killed stock on tho ranges, and so holpoi thomsolvcs to meat. In fact thoy transgressed against tho settlers bocauso thoy wero left in a monsuro helpless and most of tho men absent. Tho situation was considerably aggravated by tho appcaranco of theso eighty Klamaths on tho seono, nnd thoy may havo perpetrated much of tho crimo that wnschnrgcnblototho Indians. At least this was tho common belief of tho whito settlors nt that time. Theso Indians wcro especially afraid of "Dicky Miller" and had resolved to do something to him. They dressed in their war paint nnd wont about his neighborhood, whooping nnd yelling furiously, but mado no actual attack. Thoir actions alarmod tho community, and as many families had merely wo men and children at homo thoy woro frightened to know that Indians wcro marauding about in thoir war paint Many of tho neighbors took refugo in Miller's houso, for their common safety. It is natural enough for us who hear theso old-tales retold around our own safo nnd comfortable chimney corners, to smilo at tho apprehensions of tho pioneers. But their fears wero not mis placed or uncalled for. That particular section was a triilo remoto, for Koostn, tho Molalla chief, had his camp in a foothill valloy, nnd tho combat wo shall relate took place in tho wilderness be yond it. It is in such wild, rude dis tricts that tho savago hides nnd plans his raids, and whon ready for war comes down out of tho mountain fastnosses in full war costume. Tho Abiqua comes out of tho mountains and forms a wild and changeful valley. Many settlors had planted their homes and made sub stantial improvements on tho eastern edgo of French prairie. Howell prairie and Waldo hills aro close aboard. It may bo taken for granted that tho Abi qua debauched upon a grandly fertile region and that its confluence with other streams formed a key to (he rich hill and prairio country we havo already alluded to, including tho wido country ' from Oregon City to tho Santiara. To do justice to the settlers' fears, remem ber that they were already distracted by tales ot Indian massacres, that tho story of tho death of tho Whitman family SALEM, OREGON, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1. 1887. and tho tcrriblo nrtrocitics porpotratcd on tho living, was yot a horror that shocked their souls ; that fathers, sons and husbands wcro absent in far distant regions, answering tho call for justico and vongoanco on thoso murdorcrs, loaving but fow nym in all western Oro gon, and you will begin to rcullvo that tho fears of thoso sottlcrs woro not alto gether groundless. Our story occupies throo days of ex' citing interest. On tho first day tho fnct was known that KlamathB and other SiwnshcB, horridly painted to indicate thoir threat of war, woro coursing through this rango of hills nnd prairies and making threats of murder. Such nows spread fast. It is not necessary to ropeat it many times to mako n wholo settlement act. Ono niter another thoso pcoplo had hitched up oxen or horses nnd taken their way to Dicky Minor's, whero thoy could ot least bo togothcr nnd net in unision. Thoy enmo in faral- lios and squads. Mothers with their children, sturdy lads shouldering tho old man's rifle, or whntovor weapon ho left bohind him when ho bocamo n crusader; women wcro thero who carried thoir own arms of defoneo and whoso looks showed that tho pioneer mothors of Oregon would dofond their bairns in tho nbsonco of tho pioneer fathors. Tho eccno grow dramntic as tho day woro on and tho gnthoring at Dicky Millor'a becaino mot loy but not timid in its comploxion. As to "Dicky Miller" himself, whoso log wnllB claimed so many peoples hom age ho was "thnr or tharabouts." Mil lor was no moro braggart or blowhard ; he mado all wolcomo as thoy arrived and exchanged bravo greetings. If ho didn't undervalue tho seriousness of tho occasion, noithor did ho cxaggorato tho needs of tho hour. Ho was cool nnd resolute nnd encouraged nil by his presoncc nnd words. Itwns March, nnd blistering March at that. Tho season did not forget its old traditions, and gnvo romindora in occasional equah of snow or rain. Tho promises woro crowded, both room for man and beast was scant for tho de mand, but all poHsiblo hospitality was shown. Imagino that March day and its fitful weathor, tho throng of pooplo seeking safety, nnd tho glowing firos of kitchen and main room, around thorn gnthorcd oxcitod circles that wcro hun gry for tho latest nows. Tho boys thnt sworo they would fight liko mon, and tho mothers that plainly looked as much I Tho eccno could not bo half told if it had beon fully eecn. A mail routo hnd been established through tho length of tho Willnmetto valloy, nud Mr. Knox hnd started out that very day to mako his trial trip. It was a new ontorpriso nnd very satisfac tory to tho Bottlers. As ho went up from Oregon City to tho Santiam ho gathered items of far moro interest than ordinary mail matter can often possees. He mot on his way a hidooiiB ly painted crowd of savages, whoso war whoop rang in his oar for many n milo thereafter. Ho was informed of thoir numerous outrages and saw many fami lies packing their cherished valuables their household ponatea to seok rof ugo for them and for themselves at Dicky Miller's. Whon ho reachod Mil ler's he found tho veteran armed "cap a pied," or fixed so ho could instantly bo so, to encourage tho bravo and put heart into tho timid among women and children. Ho lingered awhile at Mil ler's to take in 'tho dramatic interest ot tho surroundings. Thereafter ho sounded tho "tocsin of war" and bore tho "cross of firo," as tho ancient lords sent their messengers to call tho clans to arms. All over Upper French prnirie, Howell and Salem prairies, and among tho beautiful vistas and chang ing landscapes of tho Waldo hills, and upon the delightful Red hills nnd rich bottoms that Ho south of Salem though not much of Salem was there in '48 went tho news of a possible In dian outbreak and rising. Whore Knox couldn't go no messongor did go nnd carry tho "fiery cross" to wako tho clans. It was midnight whon Knox reached tho Santiam nnd tied, his panting stood at tho gato of Jesse Loonoy. Ho had mado tho circuit ncodful to call out nil tho help that could roach tho scono of action tho ensuing day. Ono day of tho tlirco is ovor, and tho braggart Klam aths and a fow renegados besides, al most n hundred in all, hnd paraded their insolenco and shouted their threats for tho last tlmo. Tho United States mail, or rather its carrier, had sounded n war-whoop that was comparatively noiseless, but liko n groat human mag net it called out thrco scoro of bravo men who mot tho emergency boldly, and sent tho Klamaths homo again with loss of, n chief and half n dozen warriors. Whon tho second day dnwncd it saw scores of rosoluto mon, gonorally young men, too, woudiug their way townrds Dicky Miller's houso. Thoy started at dawn, nnd formed squads as thoy came. Thoso who couldn't go thcniBolvcs ecnt guns, and thoso who hadn't guns went thomselvcs. Sundry yeomen whoso famo as hunters was woll ostnblishod, nnd who had "lockod horns" with In dians beforo that dny, took down tho good old picco from over tho rough mantel and slinging it ovor ono shoul. dcr, saddled old roan nnd started for Miller's. Thoy know thoro was hazard in it, but thoy novor sounded n quaver as thoy gave tho parting directions to wife nnd children. Thoso mothers wcro too Spartan-liko to griovo over possi bilities, but not too strong to sond n prayor on tho rond to Millor's. But most of them woro young mon who wore homeless, in n practical senso. Theso cloanod their riilos after a lively fashion, whistled a camp song of tho plains as thoy saddled Tom or Jorry, nud wont galloping towards Millor's with nil tho abandon ot our pioneer youth. A siwnsli in war paint had no businost in rango of that boy's riflo bar rol not just thon. Undo Dan Waldo and Ilalph Gcer woro young in '18. "Undo Dan" has loft us but Ralph is horo vol. Thoy lived even thon in thoir Waldo hills homes nnd thoy did not bring up tho rear of tho clausman who answered tho "Fiery Cross." Tho render who sees not tho high, patriotic motives nnd gallant boaring of tho Oregon settler of tho for. tics has read history in vain and has small appreciation ot mon and civili zation. Wherever thoy woro put thoso men who mado "pioneer days" illustrious proved equal to overy omorgonoy, Early in tho foronoon sixty yeomen ot tho Homo guard wero assembled at Dicky Millcr'd. and with tho sclf-possaes- sion nnu connuenco peculiar to our frontier, thoy proceeded to organuo for action. Dan Waldo was elected colonel and commander-in-chief; ltalph Oeor and Dicky Miller captains, and minor officers in proper proportion. Having organizod thoy moved rapidly up stream towards KoosUvs camp. Tlioir inten tion was to drivo out of tlio country tho marauding Klamaths aud any other foreign si washes: to toacli thorn and tho Willamotto Indians as well as all intruders that disorderly conduct or sav ago performances intended to alarm women and children would no resented promptly and seriously. Thoy had a small prairio to cross on their lino of march, on tho north sido of which thero was a thicket of brush. On tho odgo this of thicket thero was a foot log across a small stream. Tho whites hnd sent a party into this brush to look for ambuscades. When thoy came in sight of tho Indians, who had crossed into this thicket, disposed themselves in hos tile attttudo, and when tho opposing forces mot there tho shooting com menced. Tho Indians, howover, soon concluded to get out of that "neck of woods," and loft it by way of tho foot log tha. crossed tho stream, which had quito a current, as will soon appear. As thoy wero crossing this foot log ono red blankot was seen to fall into the stream, at the very moment that Churchill's gun wont oft". It was supposed that hero was a man killed, bnt Mrs. Hutch ins says tho Indian who was shot fioatod down stream a ways, thon got out and went about his business. Mrs. Hutchins is undoubtedly correct in hor version. orrcuaniltnc Ohio Correspondence. Leonardshuro, 0. Jan. 18th. Editor WllLrunotto Farmer! Good pooplo of Orogon, how docs your weather God trent you? Tho sec ond wcok of December was n marvel of loveliness, sinco which, thrco sleet storms followed by snow oach timo nnd stern nnd sovoro wonthor raging, but lit tlo intensity has boon tho rulo nnd not tho excoption. Wo nro now in tho em brace of ico nud traveling is rendored nn impossibility, savo with horsos shod for Icy going. Many who had purchased feed and from nccossity nnd suffering, bocauso of tho inability to transport IL To-day, Tuesday tho18th,nmost;;turbu lont windy night mixed in tho (mow, is tho coldest day of tho yonr, with a swooping wind nnd drifting biiow. Judging from tho breezes wo uro gotting from tho south, I would not think Jit Btrango thoy wero putting up ico on tho Equator, hut chango and nltorntlou form tho cssenco of all things. In n work I havo lately boon perusing, it states scientifically thnt thrco hundred and forty,fthousand yoirrfj ago,; during tho advent of tho Mastodon nnd "Ncnn nudorthal man, thnt Greenland wns a gnrdon spot appropriately namod. It also said Bomcthing about tho drying out process, but makes no montion of tho fishery question or whother Chnillco trnvclcd thero, which thoy could havo assorted with equal truthfulness. Tho objoctof tho work is to walk ovor the blblo with scientific pants on, nnd is nothing moro nor less than n ronewod attompt of; infidelity to get nway with tho book that gnvo us nil wo havo, nnd mado us whnt wo nro, nud from its In IIuoiko wo nro nil too smart to pay five hundred dnllnrs for a wooden God, or fnll down beforo it out of doors with tho wonthcr ns it is now. Soienco without moans cannot stop hungor or pay n debt, nnd nil tho Paynes' nnd IngorsolB' who spenk or writo, bo thy over so olo quont could bo brought to vote tho biblo in or out of existence, would say, lot it stay, if its removal is to bo permanent. John Waters Jit. Weather Report for Jmnary, ie0. Kola, Jan. 31, 1887. During Jnnuary, 1887, thoro wore 10 days during which ruin foil, nud an nggrogatu of 0.80 inches of water; thoro wcro (5 fair and 1 cloudy days, other than which rain fell. Tho mean temporaturo for tho mouth was -10.00 deg. Highest daily mean tcniporatiuo foi tho month, 52 deg. on tho 13th. Lowest daily menu tcinjiorutiiro for the month, 33 deg, on tho 8th. Mean tempemturo for tho month at 2 o'clock r. M., 11.23 deg. Highest tcmiKiraturo for tho month, 5-1 nt 2 r. M. on tho 11th. Lowest tempcraturo for tho month, 28 deg. nt 7 A. M. on tho 17th, Tho prevailing winds for tho month wero from tho northwest during 1 day, north, 0 days, southwest, 21 days. During January, 1680, there woro 11 rainy days and 0.10 in. water; thero woro 3 clear, 5 fair, and -1 cloudy days. Mean temperature for tho month 30.01 deg. Highest daily mean tempcraturo for tho month, 51 deg., on tho 20d. Lowest daily mean temiwraturo for tho month 21 deg. on 17th. ' T. Pearce. Information Wanted About Fruit. Division ok Pomolooy, ( Wabiiinoton, D. C, Jan. 7, 1887.J Editor Willamette Firmer! Although Oregon is ono of tho far- off States, I know that it has great ad vantages for fruit raising, and I want to put this division, so very recently estab lished, in working relations with your fruit-growers. I wish to know if you have a Stato Horticultural Bocioty, and it so, who is its Secretary, or the Secre NO. 52, tary of any other liko society in tho State. I hnvo thought you could toll mo. I wish you would plcaso put a noto in your paper asking Oregon or olhor frnit growors to scud mo thoir names nnd nny information thnt may havo on fruits. When I havo n list of such persons, I will call for moro Bpccifio information. Kcspcctfully, H. E. Van Deman, I'omologist U. S. Dopt. Agr. A Lance Fruit Farm In Lone County. Eugene, Doo. 20, 1880. Kill tor Willamctto Farmer! To-dny I visited tho fruit farm of Dr. Sharpies, nnd to eny he has a largo ono is drawing it very mild, for ho has already out and in process of growing, 70 planted acres, aB follows : 1,7G0 trees, winter npplcs; COO chorrios; 3,000 pears ; 0,500 prunes ; total, 10,750. Tho situation is good, being nil bot tom land, protected on nil sides oxcopt tho west by oithor big bluffs or heavy bolts of timber. Tho land is n rich nluvinl soil, nnd in very high wntor will back up from tho river, depositing n heavy cont of tho vory richest of fertilizing matter on it. Tho selection of varieties nro of tho very bcHt, showing that tho Doctor has given tho matter inuoh study nnd fore thought, nnd you havo only to convorso with him n fow minutes to bo convinced that his wholo bouI in enlisted in tho ontorpriso ; and tho next best fcaturo is that ho has got tho moans to carry out tho project, nnd push it to n final suc cess. Liko ninny others, ho mndo nno'mis tnko in tho commoncomont, by putting out n largo number ot peach plums. Whilo thoy nro n fino plum, still thoy nro not n commercial fruit, nnd his mon nro now toii-grafting thorn into silvor prunes. Ho has n good man, two good tennis, n largo barn full of feed, plonty of good improved machinory, nnd is working tho ground, nnd intonds to wngo n wnr of extermination with weeds nud grass tho coming season. Among other good things is nn applo paror, that pares, bHcob, and coros 100 bushols of npples per day. Also, n chcr- ry-pittor thnt will pit ten biiBhols por hour, nnd n fruit-dryer thnt will dry tons por day. And now wo como to n picco of ground whoro ho tins had that wondor ful stump-puller to work that you hnvo hoard mo spenk so much about, nnd to tell what I eaw tho immenso stumps with thoir great long roots sticking up in tho air, woll, I am afraid I had bet ter not Bay anything; bull will risk it just n littlo, nnd say that I saw stumps two nnd n half to throo feet through lying all over tho ground, that had boon pullod out bodily with npparontly no trouble at all. But of this stump-puller I will speak again. H. W. Palmes. Letter From Lane County, Pleasant Hill, Jan. 22,1887. Kilitnr WiUmette Farmer i I will try and sond you n fow items from horo. On the 10, wo had a snow of about ono inch that lasted about twouty-four hours. That is tho first snow, worthy of tho namo, that wo havo had this year. Mr.Thos.Barbro is m old tried friend. Wo h-nrtily endorso Undo Thomas' best wishes to Aunt Hotty nnd tho Farmer. Is your Downing's work on Fruit Cul ture of tho latest edition? If so plcaso lot mo know through tho columns ot the Farmer, and oblige Yours, Traveller. Note. Tho copy of "Downing on Fruit Culturo" that wo advertiso is tho latest and best edition, l'rlco $5,00, and we givo it frco for ton now subscribers at f 1 PQ each. Who wants It? Ed. Oregon Kidney Te cure when all other tmediea foil, Try it. ,
