Willamette farmer. (Salem, Or.) 1869-1887, March 11, 1887, Image 1

Willamette farmer., March 11, 1887, Image 1

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Newspaper Page Textr I v 4 r : ? r VOL. XIX. X OREGON PIONEER HISTORY. SKETCHES OF EARLY DAYS. -MEN AND . TIMES IN THE FORTIES v BY a A CLARKE. U I A Copyright applied for. All rijhUreMrvcd Tbe WMUaaa Kaasacre VOnly afoir words is necossary in in troducing tho following correspondence, all written in timo of great oxcitcment, showing tho rumors that spread among all tho up-country tribes during tho winter following the masBAcro, and tho dangor that threatened tho Hudson Bay company poBts aa woll as tho Amorican missions at that timo, also explaining tho extremely friondly relations that prevailed botwosn tho missionaries and ' those in chargo of Fort Colvillo. Mr. Stanloy, who escapod by tho aid and guidanco of Solomon, an Indian, was an artist who was at tho Whitman mission at tho timo of too massacre, and his statements aro most undoubted ly trustworthy. His statement that religions zoalousy had no part in this awful occurrence is homo out by Mrs. Walker, who assured mo that tho Catholics were kind and friendly. Stanloy shows that tho warn ing sent to Mr. Spaldiug by Fathor Bruott saved his lifo. Spalding was coming to Whitman's, and had noared thoro when ho was warned to return. Thoro scorns to bo no reasonablo ground to bcliovo that tho Roman Oatholio in iluonco was in any way tho oauso of tho tragedy. Stanloy's lotr giving tho facta is plain enough, showing, as it docs, that tho Indians wcro frenzied over tho loss ol tneir rciaiivca anu friends. Tho recreancy of Mr. Rogers is a painful feature of tho dreadful scene, mat no suoum sianu ooioro Mrs. Whitman and perjure his soul with statements that Whit nan did poison thorn shows tho weakness of hu man nature whon lifo is in tho balance. Tho death of tho throo Indians who wcro sent for medicino nt Whitman's hands is ono of tho most interesting facts connected with tho tragic affair. No doubt this statement is truo and a man supposed to bo woll took Whit man's medicino and after it died. This can bo easily accounted for on tho sup popition that while tho man appeared woll at tho timo, yet ho had tho discaso upon him, and it was aftorwards devel oped and took a fatal turn. Tho half-breed, Joo Lewis, who had been tho recipiont of Whitman's kind ness and caro, was tho cliiof instigator to tho crimo and urgod thorn to it. This Joo Lewis was partly educated, and po scsscd influonce by that moans and by boing himself part Indian. Ho know better than ho taught them, and when all tho facts aro considered wo must con codo that theso savago Cayuses had somo ground for thoir fears and super stition. Wo cannot judge an Indian by tho rules that govern civilized people. Tho deed was inexcusable ; tho after deeds were savage and inhuman. Bar barism was manifest everywhere, but wo can trace tho murdor to causes sufficient to unbalance savago minds. This correspondence has seemed to mo to throw a new light on a fearful page of pioneer history in Oregon, and furnishes pen pictures of tho times and sensations of thoso who were exposed to tho samo savago surroundings. There were among the Indians emissaries from tho Cayuses and other disaffected tribes, who tried to incite tho whole up per country to similar acts of ferocity. All tmngs considered, we must give great credit to tho other Indian com munities that they resisted the appeal to murder the whites. Stanley's letter. Fort Walla,Walla, Dec, 2, 1847. Messrs. Walker it Ellis; My Dear Gentlemen : Through the interposition of a kind providence I hare been per mitted to arrive nere in safety, and you will with rao think that God has been merciful in sparing ray life. It is my melancholy duty to inform you of one SALEM, OREGON, FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 1887. tho most tragical massacres on record in Oregon. Tho following aro tho persons killed: Mr. and Mrs. Whitman, Mr. Rogers, Hoffman Saunders, (school master). Mr. Marsh, John and Francis Sagor, (two youths, brothers), Caufiold, (blacksmith) ; two families at tho mills supposed to bo killed, ono of thorn aro known to havo boon. This was com mitted on tho 29th of last month by tho Oayuso Indians. Somo attribute tho causo to tho poisoning of tho In dians although thoro aro many rumors. As I havo bcondiQro only ono-half hour, and hearing so much, and having so lit tlo timo, and from tho excitement of running tho guantlot for two days my self. I am perfoctly unnerved and bo- wildortx' Solomon has boon faithful to tho last; muy God bless him I I am informed that a party of Indi ans started for Mr. Spalding's to com plete their horrid butchoryj nlso to Tho Dalles. Mr. MoBoan has sent an ox press to Vancouver rcnucstinc thorn to send up boats for such as may escape I sond your horses and mules back and I am too much excited oven to thank you. Givo my lovo to your familios, may God bless them, is? tho sincere prayer of yours most truly. J. M. STANLEY. P. S. Solomon will toll you how I arrived. Tho following lottor i from John Loo Lowis, in chargo at Fort Colvillo for tho Hudson's Bay company. Mr. Lowis was an earnest Protestant and warm personal friend of tho Walkers. Colville, Doc. 13, 1817. My Dear sir : Not an hour has es cape J sinco I received your molancholy nowH. Such astonishing intelligonco has como on mo liko a shock of elec tricity, noj. dreaming that tho Indians, who havo now had audi lone inter course with the whltos, would by their ignorance and infatuation bo led to commit suoh dcods of bloodshed. Tho Oregon government must now, for tho sake of tho living, pursuo strong measures against tho murderers. Much innocent blood has boon spilt, and much of tho guilty in retaliation, I mako no doubt, will soon follow. It is impossible, at tno present timo, to boo How tho tin happy affair will terminato. Ho says MoBcan, in chargo of Fort Walla Walla, for tho H. B. Co., writes him that ho learns a party had started for Mr. Spalding's and Tho Dalles, and tho Indians were threatening to attack our fort nt Walla Walla, but Mr. Mc Bean suyB bo is well prepared for thorn and I havo no doubt that if tlioy aro foolhardy cmough to mako tho attempt many among tnem win otto tno dust. I most truly feel for you on receipt of such horrid doingB among your friends. I trust that no harm will ariso thoro from. You ask mo for advice. I seo but ono inodo for you adopt. If you learn that tho brutes am intont on ad ding you and thoso with you to thoir list of murders fly to this establishment ono and all without delay and I will do my best for your protection till wo can And means to convey you all to Van couver or till times of peaco return again. Bo not backward in accepting this my offer and on no account, if yon apprehend dangor, defer your depart ure until too lato. I shull not bo ablo to afford you all tho comforts and con veniences of your own happy homo, but you may rely on a hearty welcomo and we will make tho oest shut wo can for tho timo being. Au Jack Tar says, "any port in tho storm." If you prefer send ing Mrs. Wa ker, Mrs. Eels and children horo before you emit yourself, do so; and again I promise to do my best to provide for them. I would also suggest that if you flee to this place apply in timo to Dumont and the Finlays to assist you. They will readily do so, on being paid for their time and trouble. Two or three of thorn would be a safe bodyguard to yon. I further suggest that if you do quit, that you leave ono of them at your station in charge, till you see what ar rangements you will make next summer. If you leave the place without an ef ficient protector, all would soon fall a Crey to the natives. I close this topic y once again assisting you how much and deeply I feel for your unpleasant situation. Mr. Lewis closes with a statement of tho deadly effect of the measles among the Colville Indians, many of whom died. The whites also had it, And there was one death a child. But tho Colvilles bore their trouble patiently and man fully. Intenso cold weather agravated the disease. He explain that liia lonir letter was written by caudle light, so as to start by the express at early dawn. 1, solves, or to send two sick and ono woll man, feigning illness, for medicine. If tho person feigning illness should dio, then thoy would havo tho proof boyond doubt, of thoir having been poisoned. This, most unfortunately, proved truo, nil three having died. In addition to this experiment thoy had an adviser in tho porson of ono Joo Lowis, a half breed, from tho states, in tho last fall's emigration. This person was taken by tho doctor, poor and destitute, and warmed into lifo, to circulate his poison ous venom through tho camp already excitod to phroasy by tho dolly mortality of thoir frlomls. This information cir culated from day to day and what thoy looked upon as tho convincing proofs of tho deaths. Thoy obtained tho consent of tho war chief to perpetrate tho hor rid and inhuman butchory. In my last I gavo you a list of tho killed, which I boliovo is correct, as far as it goes. Two persons who woro very sick at tho timo linvo sinco boon kill J, viz: Crockett Bowloy and Mr. Snlo. Joo Lowis is thought to bo or I should say. known to bo tho instigator, and tho following persons tho principal murderers : Tilo coit, his son, tho Big Murderer, and Tamsucca, though last not least. All accounts agrco that tho doctor was thoir first victim, '"Mrs. WV received a ball in tho breast or shouldor, and soon aftor wont upstas, accompanied by somo of tho children and Mr. Rogers. Thoy wcro soon taken down stairs, and Mr. Rogors was naked by tho murderers tho truth of thoir suporstition, thoy promising to spare his lifo. Tho In dians nil concur in saying that Mr. R. told them tho doctor had been giving them poison, and that it wns his design to kill thorn all and tako their lauds. If theso stateinonts bo truo wo ought cor tainly to condemn liis conduct, although it was undoubtedly dono with a viow of suving his own life. Somo of tho In dians, coming in after ho had concluded his spocch, and not knowing that tho chief had agreed to spare his lifo, shot him. I am most happy to stato that relig ion has not been tho cause, or in any way connected with this lnmentablo oc currence. Wo all feel greatly iudobted to tho Rev. Mons. Bruott for his kind services in burying tho dead, and also in warniug Mr. Spaldiug of tho occur renco in timo for him to mako his escape ilo sullered much in reaching liis placo; ho found tuein in great alarm for his safety, Mr. Caufield having reached his residence, wounded, three days boforo him. Ho informs Mr. Ogden that he haB pledged himself to return again in tho spring if tho Nez Perccs will keop their hands from blood. Wo havo an Indian rumor that tho tVmericans aro coming, having reached Tho Dalles. It is to be hoped thoy will tako no steps until they hear from Mr. Ogden. Their arrival here at this timo would causo serious consequences and most probably involve tho lives of nil hero. The unfortunute woman at tho mis sion suffered every indignity that sav ages could invont. Miss L. Bowloy was taken by force to the lodgo of Fivo Crows, on tho Utillu. It is almost need less to add that all the projerty at the mission is destroyed. Their feelings against tho Americans aro such that a small party found in their vicinity would bo cut ofr. Thoy hay they will not allow them to pass through their country to tho Willamette. So you will see that any attempt to re establish tho mission would lw it-pulsed, and conse quently useleH at this time. I have heard nothing of jour own placo; in fact, in all their ulk your name has not been mentioned, and yet, if you will allow me to express an opinion, until this has been settled, your situation cannot be an enviable one. You doubtless heard of my own nar row escape from Solomon. Mr. Ogden does not spare mo for denying the Bos tons as my countrymen. When the Indian asked me if I was a "Boston," I replied "No ;" that I was a "Buckeye." "Oh I ElysmanT" said he. "Yes," and tho villainous wretch suffered mo to pass. "Let thoso laugh who win." Tho rascal was here yesterday. I did not give him a look of recognition. I Fokt Walla Walla, Dcc;32, 1&17. McssrB. Walker it Ellis Doar Gcntlo mon: Our mutual friond, Mr. Ogdou, refers you to mo for particulars of tho lato horriblo butchery of our dear friends at Waiiltapu. This is no easy task, when you considor that most of our information must bo derived from Indian rcportors. Tho causo assignod by tho Indians and all tho accounts ngrco in this partic ular is tho samo I communicated in my last, thoy having buried thirty this fall and winter and throo on tho morn ing of tho massacre. To confirm thorn- look on my dcliveranco as a kind inter position of divino providonco. If no opprtunity offors for forwarding my gun, ploaso nccopt it. I think leav ing it at your houso snvod my lifo, for I novor carry an unloaded gun and I should most assuredly havo ilrod it if I had had it. This lottcr is written in frcat oxcitcmont, with n houso full of ndians, and among thorn tho murderers of our dear friends. Givo my lovo to your kind families, and may Gd bloss you, is tho sincere prayer of your grate ful friond. J. M. Stanley. 4vrrt$$mAtnti, Sullt Bark en Fruit Trees. Au.M8Vii.le, Or., March 3, 1887. Editor WilUmotto Farmer: It is said that "misery loves company" nnd I want to know if others havo fruit trees that aro burk burst, liko mine. On tho bodios of young trees, from two to four and fivo inchos in diameter, tho bark has burst and peeled up from tho wood ; somo craok thrco f sot long and from that down to a couplo of inches in length, nnd on xomn trees hnving tho longest breaks tho bark is loose half way round tho tree. Chorry and plum trocs do not apponr to bo affected so mnch ns npplo trees, one-fourth of which aro burstcd more or less. Is thin genornl throughout tho coun try? or am I especially favored that way? What had I best do ? tat tho troo stand and chanco them, or dig them up and sot out other troos? Strawborrios caino ont from undor tho snow gay; but my bluckborrioH don't look as choorful as I could wish. Tho early Wilson is injured doubtless, but how much I am nnnblo to Bay yot. My mammoth clustor raspberry canes aro deader than tho nrovorbial herring. Other varieties, especially tho do-littlo, aro 0 .K., but unless I am agreeably dls appointed wo will not overstock tho blackberry market to speak of this season I think I will plant hops, as thoy will bo a paying crop if tho prohis aro successful. This iu my first oxperi enco in small fruit and I hnvo enough of it already. F. S. Mntteson. Weather Report for February, 1SS7. Eola, Or., March 1, 1887. Editor Willamette Kcrmeri During February, 1887, there wore 115 day during which rain or snow fell, and an aggregato of -1.89 inches of water. There were 0 clear, l fair and 0 cloudy days, othor than thoso on which rain or snow fell. Tho mean tomporaturo for tho month was 31.01 degrees. Highest daily mcun temperature for tho month, -It) degrees, on the 28. Lowest daily mean temper ature 12 dogroos on tho 3. Mean tempcrnturo for tho month at 2 o'clock P. M. 35.50 degrees. Highest temperature for tho month 55 degrees on tho 27 nnd 28, at 2 o'clock P. M. Lowest temperature, 0 dogrees A. M. on tho 1. Frosts occurred from tho 1 to tho 25 inclusive. 32 inchos of snow fell dur ing tho month. Tho prevailing winds were from tho 8W during li days.N 12 days, NW 1 day, NE 1 day. During February, 1880, thoro were 8 ruiny days, and l.'Jl inches of water, s clear, 8 fair, and 0 cloudy days. Mean temperature for tho month, -13.59 dog. Highest 53 deg. on 8; lowest, 35 dog. on 13. T. PKAlirB. A Fatal Dlaeaie. Tenino, W. T., Feb. 21, 1887. Editor Willamette Farmerj I see in tho columns of your paper that there is a strange discaso among horses on a Snoqualmio farm. My neighbors and myself have somo horses afflicted with a disease that nobody knows about. Tho first symptoms are tho horse staggers and appears to be weak in the loins; carried the head high in the air and looks wild out of hU eyes, NO. 5. and othor symptoms vary in different horses. It has provon fatal as four havo died and more aro oxpoctod to dio. Levi E. Prince. Note. It is tho blind stnggors; givo a physio and follow with laxativo feed such ns green grass, bran mash, etc. Fairview, Or., March 8, 1887. Editor Wllamette Farmer t Our snow has nearly all disappeared, but somo of it remains yot in drifts to remind us that tho storm of February 1887, wns a sovoro ono. It was a sovoro ono from tho fact that our stock was unusually thin, but nono died of hungar, although it took about all tho hay and Htraw that was put up. Tho rain for tho past fow days has been a steady pour down. Mr. Richard Lyon's infant child died Fob. 22 of spasms. Tho health of tho hills is very good considering that this is tho soason of colds. Our school mooting passed off with its usual business transactions. Mr. J. W. Jory wns olooted director to fill tho ex pired term of Mr. Nccdlmin; Mr. Lyons was elected clorl' J. H. E. frit county Letter. Pleasant Hill, Or., Feb. 27, 1887. Editor Willamette Farmer t Thoro has bcon sovoral deaths latoly of somo of tho old pioncors, among ono of theso was William Dodson who camo to this placo in 1817 from California. He died February 10, at this placo, ho was 80 years of ago. There has been tho deepest snow that Oregon has ovor oxporionccd. Tho snow nt this placo was 10 inches on a lovcl. Most of tho furmors are just out of feed, wlillo othors aro entirely out and thoro will bo porno loss of stock. I think in the way of feed that thoro will bo hotter preparations another year than thoro has bcon for tho past ten years. Tho writor is an old Orcgonlan ns ho camo to this country in 1818. Tiiaveler. DFVTII OF BBECHER. Henry Ward Bcocho: is dead. Ho was struck with appoploxy whon in ap parently tho most robust health nn d died last Tuosday, surrounded by thous anils who sympathised with and mouruod his suddon nttaok. No man ovor livod with more attractivo qualitios and fascinating uloquonco and whoso careor was marked with greator vioisai tudes of hopo and fear. Ho has never cloarcd his famo of tho chargo mado against him by Theodore Tilton and that unhappy cloud slnddowod his lifo. Ho wis either greatly elandored or a most consummato hypocrite, but now that death has camo to end his carreer no ono can ovor know ovor know more than wo know now. What has added to hesitation on tho part of tho world to clear their minds of doubts concerning him has been his cccontrio courso re garding religion, and his divorgonco from tho old and woll troddon paths of theology, Whatever elso can ho said, n great man has gono from us and the world bus lost tho lustre of a wonderful, though erratic genius. Frank W. Walters, has opened n lino store in thu building next door to Kling er it Beck's brewery on Commercial street, lie keeps on hand all kinds of mill feed. Also oil cake meal, tho best known remedy for blind stnggors can bo found thoro. Ho will buy .eggs and chickens end pay tho highest cash price. Bo sure and c ill on him if you have any chickens to sell. Tho Portland News has a full lino of telegraphic dispatches and will bo ablo to compoto with othor Portland papers. The News has much improved sinco Mr. Hamilton took charge. Wo seo nothing to prevent tho News from going to tho front rank of journalism iu Oregon. It surely belongs there it pluck and vim count for anything. -I .. & i . ?iA Ja.. l t .'.jtdufc.tA -4MrtrtA jr i m-Si .' .j i.