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About Willamette farmer. (Salem, Or.) 1869-1887 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 11, 1887)
T ". k Mm if UAH i 1 r kX vfSBii8HBF,v- VOL. XIX. OREGON PIONEER HISTORY. BKETCOES OF EARLY DATS. MEM AND TIMES IN THE FORTIES . DV 8. A CLAIIKK. y Copyright applied (or. All right, reterred. Battlo of tho Abldu A Story never Before Fully Told Tne Second Day'a Bttle. Tho IndianB run away to nbovo Koos ta'e camp nnd tho fight of tho drat dny ended without serious damago on oithcr side Tlio whites, somo of them, went homo to look after thoir families nnd do thoir choros, but tho young mon all camped on tho battlo ground. A coun cil was hold after tho battlo nnd a fu turo courso determined on. Next dny they followed tho Si wash trail up stream nnd finally found tho Indians in n strong position in tho woods, but thoy retreated as tho whites ndvnncod and sont back arrows at thoir punuors as thoy rotircd. Ono of thoso struck James Stauloy, who fortunntoly had a thiol: woolon coat on and tho morning being damp mndo it nil tho easier for tho coat to resist tho weapon. Tho barb just touched tho skin nnd did no harm. At tho next opening of tho woods eomo good marks man drow a bead on that Indian and shot him dead in his tracks. As ho was tho chiof of tho marauding baud it was decided a fortunato shot. As sovoral fired at tho sauio timo it wob not easy to decido whoso bullet did tho work. After a whilo they camo to whero n ledgo of rock put into tho stream. It was steep, and afforded no protoction to tho Indians or thoir pursuors. Water trickled over it. Tho whites staid bo hind in a thicket; somo of tho Indians climbed tho lodgo and got nway, whilo others stood togothcr nnd fought val iantly for their lives, To mako tho af fair especially uncomfortable, snow and rain foil during tho wholo day, and many of tho gunB wouldn't go off. A fowguns wont clear all tho timo and did considorablo oxcontion. Sovon Indians wcrolcft on tho battlo ground. Thoy all fought bravely, but thoy couldn't compete with thoir arrows against pow der and ball. Finally tho Indians scat tered and got away. Tho desiro of tho settlors was not to cxterminato thorn, bnt to tench thorn a reliablo lesson and drivo thorn out of tho country, in which thoy succeeded. Considorablo criticism has been ut tered at ono timo and another, concern ing tho "Battlo of tho Abiqua," nnd somo young fellows who wero not fortunato enough to "flash their mnidon swords" in thnt combnt vented their jests becauso womon wcro killed. It woh a sharp combat and n crisis in tho affaire of Western Oregon might have boon reached suddenly if thoso Klamaths had boon permitted to commit outrages and incite tho Calapoooias to similar acts. Tho settlers turned out promptly and acted bravely, and cty beneficial results camo from it. Tho Indian womon fought as well as their braves. One of them was killed with a drawn bow and arrow in' her hands. Two women were also wounded and tho whites mndo stretchers and carriod them oat Ono lived and one died, but thoy received tho best treatment to bo had. Thero were serious reasons At that tjmo to believe that efforts were making to bring about an Indian outbreak in this valley. Many foreign and somo Calapooia Indians were acting badly, and this "Battlo of the Abiqua" taught them all to respect the whites and fear them. The day before the first fight a small party of Indians of strange na tionality wero seen under suspicious cir cumstances and fired upon by settlers, who considered their conduct very threatening and dangerous. Those proved to be Warm Spring nations, and it was thought they wero inciting onr Willamette and Calipooiae to commence war. Molallas and Klamaths had intermar ried for a long time and sustained very intimate relations together. The Mo Tyir2?WI4, . . , SALEM, OREGON, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11 , 1887. lallas occupied tho mountains nnd foot hills from tho Columbia river to tho Klamath in California, a distnnco of over throe hundred miles. Tho battlo of tho Abiqua was mainly fought on tho part of tho wbitos, by young mon. Tho country was shortly filled with distorted accounts of tho combat, and tho fellows not in it took pleasure in ridiculing those who wore, so tho participants in tho af fair didn't caro to bo known in connec tion with it, in fact shunned tho sub ject. Tho result was thnt a truo version has scarce over been given of a matter that showod promptness and bravery on tho part of tho whites, and was impor tant in itsconscquonccs by teaching tho natives tho power and manhood of tho sottlors. If this skirmish la viewed as an cpi sodo of tho Cayuso wnr times, wo can claim for it consideration and n totality far oxcocding in results somo of tho ef forts of that timo. Its successfully quiet od all tho Indians nntlvo to this valloy and sent to their homes maurauding outlaws whose motivos undoubtedly was to test tho pationco and courago of tho settlers nnd incito all surrounding tribes to action, in case that united action could bo secured. Tho Klamaths wore hero in force, and tho warm Springs band was duly represented. No man need doubt thnt n strong forco of thorn could have been summoned at short no tico to do desporatn deeds in caso circum stances woro considered favorublo to an outbroak. Thoy wcro wild and untamed peculiarly so at that time. Imagino thnt organized Indian war hnd come upon our eottlomont; that a forco of southern Indians wcro camped on tho passes over tho Calipooin mountains on tho south; that Klamaths and Snakes wcro ready to descond on our peoplo by tho Thrco Sisters, and that Warm Springs savages woro waiting liko an nvalnncho at tho foot of Mt. JofTorson that whon signal fires should blazo theso savago hordes should como down with firo and sword and pour all the horrors of savago strifo on an unsuspecting, unguarded and unarmed community. Tho suggestion is not fur-fotched or imptobable, for Indian runners wero constantly going from tribo lo tribo on mossnges of penco or war, and bad tho Cnlipooias proved treacherous nnd baso, ono of tho nioit fearful episodes of all our history of Indian wars might havo been located in this valley. Only five years' Inter thu settlor of Uoguo river experienced all the borrow no havo surmised and with gtoatcr organization tho samo desolation and atrocity that marked Itoguo river's charming valley with blood and firebrands in 185!), could have dcnlated tho Willamette alley in IS 18. Immigration ot ISM. Among the old cottiers of Linn county must bo counted tho Kirk family, who aro found at Brownsvillo, whero they located almost forty years ago. I recently met my friend, W. II. Kirk, and "salted down" soma points of hii own and the family history. lie was raifed partly in Indiana which Stato his father left when tho lad was ten years old to tcttlo in Missouri. Nino years later ho came with his father and It. C. Finley, his brother-in-law, who lives in Crawfordsvilb, for the journey across the plains. They had four ox teams in their crowd, and left St. Jo, Ma, on tho 4 th day of May, 18-1G. Thoy were tho first of that emigration to get through to Oregon City, where they arrived on the 13th of September. They reached The Dalles August 31. Being in the lead, they had good grass and water, and so were able to make excellent time. They had another advantage, for as thoy were in advance of tho time usually made by emigrants, tho Indians were not on the lookout for them, so they had no trouble from Indians, and had no stock stolen. After they were acquainted with travel on tho plains, thoy becamo far mora in dependent. Their small company felt tho ndvautago of being in tho lead, nnd pushed on to keep tho advantage, so gained. Ono result was that as only six or eight wngons woro in company and drove together, there was no cumbrous organization or attempt nt discipline But thoy took no chancos and stood guard regularly. Thoy saw Indians oc casionally, but tho savages hadn't got ready to plunder nnd didn't caro to havo tho wholo emigration aroused against them by reports of trouble in tho lead. Thoy wailed for tho Inter trains, and ''played havoc," if thoy didn't "tot slip tho dogs of war" on thoso bo latcd travolcrs. By this timo tho In dians hnd lenrnod to lull apprehensions by quiot conduct nnd good behavior, but to lovy heavy tribute on uusus- peeling ones who brought up tho rear, and had no ono to fall back on. Tho inducement to cmigrato that was held out to tho Kirk familv was tho liopo of making thomsolvos homes in a plcasnntor climato thnu Missouri pos sessed, nnd of cstnblhliing good health instead of enduring tho malarb that was terrible and almost deadly in thnt west. Oregon, with Fa cilia sea breezes and mountain air, with gushing springs and fountains, rolling bill) and fcrtilo prnincs; with tall forrcsts and every thing clso tall in proportion that was tho stooping dream and tho walking problem. They started with hop's at 111311 pressure, mndo a delightful ptoaB tiro jnunt of tho journey, and rolled into tho Willamette valley in early autumn, whon their first bur vests vcro red and Nature indicated tho fullness of frui tion. It is safo to say that tho hopes of 1810 havo worn well through tho two scoro yenrs that havo passed away. Tho Kirks havo enjoyed and well used what Oregon had to givo. Ono would bo gifted, indeed, to bo ablo to depict tho beautiful valleys of western Oregon us tho sunlight of thoso pioneer days caught up thoir Loauty and loveliness. Thoy wcro nil that pioneer fancies had painted thsm, tho groat troubla of our lives was to d;cido whero to locato tho magnificent donation of 010 ncres that was proposed in congress nnd that was a few years thereafter actually granted lo pioneers and thoir wives. Kaoh val loy was more beautiful than nny other ; tho hill ranges wcro as attractive ns tho valleys, broad prairiod nnd sloping foot hillsnil formod vistas of beauty that lingered and waited for them to choodc. At Green rivor they went to mako a raft and found tho livor fordablc. Tho Indians there wcro saucy but not savago, though they had somo occasion to re sent tho acts of emigrants. As tho whitos woro corrnling for tho night nn Indian on a wild horso ran against Frank Beclor and rushed insido tho cor ral with his fractious beast. Thero was little doubt that he did it for roischiof, as a trifling annoyance. IIo almost knocked Beeler down ns he was taking off a yoke, but ho dropped tho yoko, seized his ox gad and hit Mr. Havago half a dozen licks with tho black-snako lash. Tho bono reared and plunged as ho did so, but he got out of there, as Bcclcr's lash instructed him and his dusky friends hugely enjoyed tho ucrapo ho got into. At the cracks of tho lash thoy echoed, "Oh I Oh I Oh!" ami there was no indication that thoy resented the whipping bis impudenco earned him. Had tho blows been given with out cause his brethren would have re sented itperhaps fatally. Tho only invalid in their company was Mr. Munkers, the elder. Sho was a littlo unwell, but their company usually had uncommon health. All had ox teams, but cloven wagons on tho Flatte went ahead to mako bet ter timo. At Sandy, this side tho ltocky mountains, eoven more wagons left them to push ahead. After that only nine were left in the company the Kirks made part of. On the Boise Jonathan Kccnoy ovortook thorn, and thoy after wards traveled togothcr. Tho company thcnccforwnrd consisted of, viz : Alok Kirk, wifo and four childron, 6 ; W. It. Kirk and his young wife, 2 ; It. 0. Finloy, wifo and two childron, i ; Hugh L. Brown and family, G; Preston Munk ors and wifo, 2; James Blakcly, wifo and four children, 0 Frank Beeler, nnd a man with him, 2 ; Win. Martin, wife and family, -1 ; Frank Martin, wifo and family, 5; Wm. Burnett, wifo and fam ily, 0 : Green McDonald, wifo ond fami ly, -1 ; John Ladd and Qibson, 2 ; a total of '1C persons. Ten wagons crossed tho Cascades, and after opening thoir way paid their toll as follows: Jonn Kconoy, 1 wagon ; It. 0. Finloy, 2 ; tho Kirks, 2 ; Brown, 2 Ladd and Gibson, 1. Most of theso peoplo settled in Linn county and sovcral noar Brownsville. In 1810 (tho spring) W. It. Kirk wont to California and rcmninod thero for somo timo, mining, with variod sucocss. His partner was ill, and ho camo homo again. Tiio Itoguo river Indians woro hostile Ho hnd a horso shot by them, but not killed. orreg0titlefu:f. The Wlnterfiiet of the Mountain!. Wasco, Or. Fob. 2, 1887. 1'Jllor Willamette Farmer: Our winter has begun with n light full of snow and has slopped our plows, though, if it woro not for tho snow could plow, for thero is no frost in tho ground. Thorn was not a day in Janu ary but when wo could plow, and n good many havo n portion of thoir fallow ground plowed, nnd tho spring season wilt havo to bo oxUcmoly short if thero is not n Inrgo amount of ground fallow ed for tho next yenr. Thoro will bo n largo amount of grain sown hero in tho spring, and this with the extremely largo acrcngo already sown, givo us hopes for an abundance of grain to sell next fall. Wo learn that there will bo mora Eastern horso buyers here in tho spring and wo nro truly glad, for wo can eparo a lot of our ran go horses and can find places to put all tho money (hit thoy will bring. Our littlo burg is still going abend. Barnctt it Burnett have a lino of agri cultural goods and there has been a new hardwaro store started with a nico lino of goode, nlso, Mr. A. H. Jory, formorly of Salem, lias opened a brokorri ofllco, nnd seems to bo doing well, nnd if ho hns monoy enough to last him till har vest wo do not know why ho cannot do well. What wo do want is a harness shop, it is tho best field for tho business we over saw, nnd is open for any ono who is willing to tako hold of it. Thero is talk of being a kiln of brick burnt here this summer, if so to be dono with struw, and we do not know why it cannot bo dono, as straw is excellent for Hteura engines. We want tho brick bad enough, for our brick cost hs $22 per thousand, and tho result is you can scostjvo pipes through moat all tho hoiiru top? We uro anxiously awaiting to tec what our legislature is going to do for us in the way of reducing freights on tho railroads, for it docs soem to us that if the talent was brought to bear on onr legislature, that in in theso water way conventions that wo could get relief, and .that without the aid of Congress, and this maybe why Congress docs not liitcn to our appeals, for this can be dono within our selves, and in our opinion our legislature can reduce freights by a legislative enactment a good deal cheaper than sh can build ship rail ways. " W. M. Bahnktt. Monmouth Correipondenc. Monmouth, Or. Jan. .11, 1887. Editor Willamette Farmers Mr. John Groves and wife, of Dallas, "j NO. 1, wcro visiting friends in this placo last weok. Tho monthly toaohcrs' meeting was hold at Dallas on tho 22d. Tho ques tions for discussion wcro how to secure tho bcBt study, Calisthenics and Friday afternoons. Tho reading given in this placo by Miss Stannus was well nttendod. Prof, l'owell and wifo ontortaincd a number of friends nt their Iioubo last week. All who woro present report having n good timo. C. II. Joius has sold his barber shop lo Mr. W. Atkins, tho latter always wel comes n customer who has plenty ot money. Miss Bertha Catrin has returned from Kugcno whuro sho has lccn visiting rel atives. Among tho now students thnt have arrived this month is Miss Evn Hovor, of Idaho. ThoVesbcrtiuo society denoted $18 to tho library. Tho library is under joint control of tho thrco litorary societies and is in a flour! thing condition. Miss Etta Waller was pleasantly sur prised by n numbor ot friends ono even ing bst week. Tbj topio of discussion in the mothod class is how to tench children to road. Tho majority ot tho class ngrood that a combination of tho different methods is best. It wns miggostcd by somo of tbo students thnt newspapers bo used in connection with tho toil book, tor tho purpo'.o of creating n desiro to read; it was also suggostod thnt tho teacher should inform tho pupil whnt part of tho pnpor was suitable nnd of intcrosL Thus training tho papil and directing his mind in tho right direction. Among tho visitors in tho cbnpol this week woh I'rof. T.F. Campbell, who ad dressed tho students on Tho Importance of Energy and Attention. Judgo Col lins, of Dallas, also favored the studonU with n short lecture. Tho fonior class will pass a final ex amination in February. Tho buzz about our 'Vo called Nor mal" school waxes warm, but lot the world as it will, tho Normal of Mon mouth still holds a prominont placo among educational institutions. Opposition to our school shows thero is weight. It is to bo hocd tho lagisla turo which has seen fit to donato $6000 to tho State Fair, will not grndgo to our Normal a few paltry hundred, when this same sum is to bo used in tho fur ther educational advancement ot Ore gon's own sons and daughters. MIsh Allio Hicks, of Woodburn.ro turned to her homo to-day. C. A, H. Stock Yards East Portland. Tho following is from the Orcgonian : "Fow of our citizens aro awaro of tho importauco of tho stock yards at tho depot, or ot tho amount of business transacted at them. Stock can uow bo shipped to these yards without tho own ers taking tho timo nnd cxponso ot com ing hero themselves. A stock raiser at any point east of the mountains, or in Southern Oregon, or in fact, at any point, can ship his cattlo, ship hogs and horses, have them fed and disposed of with pcrfoct safety. Tho advantage to tho country is apparent, and tho facili ties thus afforded are being employod by stock producors. Shipments aro cojBtuntly being mode. On tho 25th of January thoro were shipped to tho yards 7 ear loads of sheep; 20th, 1 car load of horses; 27th, 2 car loads cattlo; 28th, 2 car loads sheep ; 2 car loads horses; 2 car loadi cattlo. West snore. Mr. Samuels, with his well known en terprise, has issuod tho West Shore in magaziuo form Wo shall miss Uie old style but no doubt tho change is for tho better. The insido cover is vory neat and prettily cotton up. This mair. azino iscminontly a borne paper, for its pngun uro jiiiuu wiiu manor ui uumo in terests accompanied with home illus trates, which must cost a deal of money, Blue Vrnuou Cheapest at Tort Drue Co., 100 State street.
