. I
X
OREGON PIONEER HISTORY.
SKETCHES OF EARLY DAYS. ---MEN AND
TIMES IN THE FORTIES
UY& A CLARKE. L ' "
Cap) right applied for. All rlghti rexrrai.
Joitph Watt Ooei to Washlaxton and Inter
views 8nator Benton.
Wo loft Mr. Watt thrco hundred dol
lars out of pockot, at Boston, looking at
protty womon .and guy shop windows
and taking ploaauro trips in a lonosomo
way, by himself, around Boston harbor
and ndjacont country, but ho soon tired
of this solitudo among strnngo thous
ands and concluded in his own mind,
that faraway Oregon was worth thorn
all to him. Ho says . "I startod back,
feeling badly whipped and disappointed.
At a junction of tho railways of that
day it was necessary to wait for tho
Washington city train to pass, so all at
onco I camo to a rcsolvo to chango my
routo of travol and go to Washington as
a self-appointed dologato from Oregon.
I jumpod on board tho botytod train,
whon it camo along, and started for tho
nation's capital and got thcro tho samo
evening. I had takon tho fovor nnd aguo
and was quito weak from a rccont chill
nnd had to bo helped about. I rostud
well and slept Into and thou sat nut to
SCO Washington ; wont to the Capitol
and about tho grounds ; later I hunted
up Win. Domcnt's pooplo who looked
sideways at mo. So I bid them good
byo and wont to tho Whito house. His
excellency was too busy tosco mo, though
I was all tho way from Orogon. Thon
I took in tho war dopartmont to sco Jeff
Davis. Ho was engaged and staid so
quito n while. So I left him to his work
and off tho strcot, mot somo boys from
California that I had met bofore. -Thoy
camo ns -witnesses in tho difficulty bo
tweon Fromont and Gonoral Kearny. I
told thorn my oxperienco and failuro to
get an audionce, and thoy asked if I
had bcon to sco Bon ton! I said no.
Thoy said ho was tho man who would
not bo too busy to soomeand who could
inform mo of all that tho govornmont
intondod to do for Oregon. I thought
of tho many times I had shouted for
Benton in Missouri, whon ho mado
specchos for Oregon, and concluded that
ho was" tho man who would toll mo nil
I wanted to know and givo mo some
thing to tell tho pcoplo of Oregon about
whon I got homo.
So I wont to Denton's little brick
houso cost of tho avonuo, knocked and
was lot in by a negro boy who took in
my numo, and soon after admitted mo
to tho prcsonco of old Bonton, himself.
I saw a hoavy built man, with uliort
nook, weighing about 200 pounds. I
thought Burly Bonton was a good namo.
I told him who I was and whoro I camo
from nnd was introduced to his nephow.
I told tho colonel I had no particular
' business ; I camo from Oregon rccontly
and should return in tho Spring. Our
pcoplo wanted much to know what gov
ornmont intended to do for them. They
were tirod of living half English and
half American in politics. Most of us
wont from Missouri whero wo had bcon
his warm friends and supporters. Wo
had soon, too, that ho continued to tako
an activo part in Oregon affairs.
."Yes, yes, yes I Ahl What stato did
you Bay you woro from? It is not a
stato, a territory, tho territory of Oregon.
Ahl Yos, yes, yes, wo know all about
Oregon I My son-in-law, Mr. Fremont,
has traveled all orer that country. Tho
wholo country is or ought to bo under
everlasting obligations for the informa
tion ho has given, at tho greatest sacri
fice, too, any any man ever gavo. Yet
is ho is very poorly thanked."
"But Mr. Freemont has never been in
tho port of Oregon that is settled."
"Yea, yea, we know all about Oregon,
tho wanU of the people and their pros
pects; and, as I said, wo are indebted to
my Bon-in-lavr, Mr. Fremont, for this in
formation, got at tho greatest sacrifice
toy man aver made, for which he is now
VOL. XIX.
SALEM, OREGON, FRIDAY,
most ungroatfully treated. Did you
over soo Mr. Fremont? Well, if you
should sco him you would not think him
a man who could subsist on mules and
dogs."
Watt could not think, for tho lifo of
him, what Fremont had to do with tho
matter. Benton had so much to say
about Fremont that Joo becamo imps
tiont. Ho was ill and weak, and spoko
up rathor hastily :
"Col. Bonton, you mnst oxcus'o my
calling on you Wo aro anxious to know
tho intentions of tho government to
wards Oregon, and tho mattor of joist
occupancy with Groat Britain is a
sourco of annoyanco to patriotic Ameri
cans, moat of whom woro only rccontly
your constituents in Missouri, and still
look to you as their friend and tho
champion of tholr rights. So I called
on you, hoping I could learn somothing
to toll my friends, including all Oregon
ians, that thoy could roly upon. Wo
only havo news onco a year, when tho
emigration comos, nnd omlgrants bring
lottors to thoir frlonds. Ah to any in
formation you havo rccoived from Ool.
Fremont as to what tho pcoplo of Oregon
aro doing and rotating to their prospects,
it must bo principally guoss work on his
part for I know ho was novor thcro."
Watt says ho shall novor forgot tho
look "old Bullion" gavo him.
"Yes, yes, perhaps so ; perhaps I don't
knowl''
"Excubo mo, Col. Bonton, for licing
plain Col. Fromont knows but littlo of
Orogon. So far as I havo read, his re
ports aro correct. His mop of tho roods
is good, as I know, for I know all tho
camping and watering spots on tho
wholo routo. But as to making roads,
I know ho nover mado thorn. Ho fol
lowed tho emigrant road into Oregon,
mado by men, women and children, that
brought him to Tho Dalles. Ho wont
down tho middlo Columbia in Hudson
Bay company battoaux to Fort Vancou
ver, to get supplies; returned to Tho
Dalles and struck out for California, on
tho cast sldo of tho Cascndo mountains."
Whon I montioncd tho emigrant
"women and children" as road makers,
tho old man jumpod to his feet and
started across tho room, rubbing his
hands. Such looks a ho cast at mo
mado mo think "kiaking"timo had como
and that I might bocomo a victim to my
plain truthtolllng.
"Perhaps I don't know! Perhaps I
don't know tho movomonts of my own
son-in-law."
Young McDowell sat with his faco to
tho wall, writing. Happoning to look
round I saw his sido faco pun" liko a
hollows. Watt paid no attention, but
wont on saying :
"Col. Fremont, I know, hod a vory
hard trip going to California and do
sorvct moro credit than ho is likely to
recoivo; for thoy suffered untold bard
ships." "Yes, yes, he is poorly thanked by
thoso who ought to appreciate his vast
services. Eh! I think you said you
should return to Oregon next spring?"
Watt explained his plan to drive sheep
and haul woolon machinery and thoy
pleasantly discussed tho difficulties that
attended and hindered establishing
such work in a new country.
Speaking of tho joint occupancy, Ben
ton sai : "A great many things havo to
bo contended with beforo tho govern
ment can assumo full possession. Eng
land must tie treated with, they havo
somo claims ; thon thero aro many de
signing mon hero who will not scruplo
to givo us trouble. I'm suro I don't
know what will happen, but I feel suro
something will be dono that will satisfy
yonr people thero ; it ought to bo so. I
havo taken part in somo attempts to
relievo the pcoplo of Oregon, and still
hope to succeed."
Benton inquired after many old
friends: Col. Ford, Poter II. Burnett,
Oen. Gilliam and others. AH his
violence molted away, ho loaded Watt
with maps, charts and books concerning
Fremont's work, to distributo 'among
noxt springs emigrants. Watt mot
young McDowell afterwards at St.
Louis and olsowhorc, and thoy had sov
oral good laughs over tho Colonel's in
sisting on Fremont's knowlcdgo and
that Watt stoutly maintained, and
proved too, that ho (Fromont) nover
was in Wcstora Orogon, tho settled por
tion of tho country.
Whon returning to Missouri to equip
for tho roturn to Orogon, Watt had a
terriblo Novombcr oxperionoc. As ho
ascendod tho rivor to St. Louis a collision
occurred with a dosconding steamer,
nnd his boat snnk in flvo minutos.
Many woro drowned, and somo who
swam to shore two hours boforo day,
wcro ohillod to doath in tho darkness.
Watt got on tho hurricano dcok by
strong effort and good fortuno, wading
through tho cabin in water waist doop
to do bo. Ho was thankful enough
whon ho reached homo in snfoty, and
romomborod that 120 of his Into follow
passengers wero oithor drowned in tho
groat river or porished mtsorably of
cold on its inhospitable shoro, in tho
darkness of night.
During that winter Watt wont around
among tho pooplo noar his father's resi
dence, talking of Orogon and tho jour
noy thithor. Many amusing incidents
occurred, and a vast nmount of ignor
nnco was displayed. In many instances
it was difficult to mako tho pcoplo un
dorstand whoro Oregon lay and how to
got thero. When tins' jolfwas finished,
thoy would staro with wondor at
tho thought that any ono should bo
so Boollsh as to wish to go thoro ; how
any man could willingly undortako so
much for bo littlo. Whon ho learned
how ox teams mado tho jour noy, ono
wiso man declared ho would "tako tho
stago" in proforenco to such tedious
travel. It was ludicrous in tho oxtromo
to hear tho subject argued. A common
remark from mon and womon, whon
thoy learned whero ho lived when nt
homo, was, "Well, your n long ways
from home, and it looks as if you might
not get back thero soon."
Another troublo was that a universal
feeling among tho immigrants opposed
travoling with shcop. It was uncortaln
for awhilo if Walt wouldn't havo to go
in a crowd by himself, but tho flock vin
dicated itsolf fully in tho fow first days
of travol. Tho shoop, and evon tho
lambs, mado as good day's marches as
tho train did, but Watt asserts that it
was awful work driving thorn through
tho doep sands and dusty roads on tho
plains. Ho actually pushed them on,
day aftor day, with his knees pressing
them forward, dust so doop that ho
could not sco tho tramping flock that ho
felt of boforo him. When tho company
found that the nhoop wcro not u tho
way and mado good drives, no objection
was continued. Tho fact that Watt
know all tho camping and watering
places mado him too valuablo as guide
and pilot for objections not sorious to
stand against him. Watt says tho im
migrants of 1848 wcro well prepared for
thoir jour noy, and went on with fow
obstacles. Thoy succeeded bettor than
many had dono who preceded them, and
benefitted by thoir oxperionco.
Concluded next wcolc
Garrison sowing machino supply
store, Portland, is literally chock full of
Household sewing machines, and they
aro having a tremendous salo and giv
ing excellent satisfaction. Tho business
is under the control of M. A. Winuea.
When in Portland mako Garrisons store
a rendozvou.
Seo the announcement in this wocta
issue that Mrs. H. 0. Gay has to make.
Bho has somo choice jottings of eggs
and would liko to correspond with those
who intend setting eggs.
Tho Dr. Vanmoniscar dispensary is
now under tho chargo of Dr. Clark.
lately from California. Ho would liko
to undertake tne euro oi curpmo uis
easet. See advertisement elsewhere.
APRIL 8, 1887.
Jorrejijtamlencf.
Why Fsnnsri Don't Balis Beans.
Assotin, W. T., March 12, 1887.
Editor WllUmotto Fsrmert
I read an arttolo in tho Farmor of
Fob. 18, ontltled, "Don't Know Boons,"
and am so much surprised that a per
son as convorsant with tho farmers as
tho author of it must bo, should writo
suoh and I can't refrain from giving my
oxperionco with boans, and think many
Willamotto valloy farmers can say
nmon. In tho spring of 1882 my fath
er camo from tho oast nnd in looking
ovor tho field for diversified farming,
thought wo could mako somothing rais
ing beans, as thoy woro Go in tho market
at retail ; so wo put in nn acre and a
half of whito Boup beans, and in duo
tlmo threshed and took thorn to market
in good order for salo. Was answnrod ;
wo havo just rccoivod our supply from
California. So took' thorn homo.
Noxt summor sold thorn for 2J cents
and took ns pay, trado and goods that
boro.a 33 percent profit. I havo rc
coivod tho liko oncouragoment in offer
ing potatoos, cabbago, tomatoos, otc. I
remonstrated with ono dealer, nnd
asked him if ho was not ashamod of
such economy ; ho answorcd, "Wo enn't
dopond on you farmors." To forever
silonco that kind of excuse, thou nnd
thcro, offorod to enter into contract to
furnish him all tho beans his trado de
manded, yoar aftor year, for just what
ho could lay them down from Cali
fornia, and if ihoy worn not as good
quality, ho to havo tho privilogo to ro-
fuso thorn, and furthor, would tako my
pay in goods. I did not got tho con
tract. Again, in 1885 ono of my neigh
bors put in ton aoros and I holpcd him
doliver them in Albany; ho got 1 cent
per pound. Thero aro two farmors out
of this boan business.
My reasons for this stato of affairs
aro: 1st., tho foolishness of many con
sumers ; anything rnisod at a distanco
tastes better. This was demonstrated
whon tho fruit cannories of East Port
land gavo tholr fruit flavor, by getting
labols printod in California, Socond,
occasionally someono will comparo first
and second cost and this can not bo as
readily gotten at if tho L'oodn como from
afar.
I think tho dnirymon, poultry rnisor,
wagon and carriago makers, and in fact
all tho would'bo homo producors havo
camo to complain of tho merchants'
proforenco and tho crazo for foreign
production, nnd tho results as I sco
thorn aro disastrous, to tho goneral wel
fare Many farmors aro drivon to other
pursuits in other flolds and somo aro
ruinod, whilo tho morchants, as a class
are prospering. So much so that after
ton or fifteen years business wo find
them erecting fino residences, laying off
beautiful lawns, planting trees, resting
on fino upholstry, listening to sweet
sounds of pino and organ, tholr tables
groaning with tho luxuries of ovory
clime. I know this to bo tho caso with
dry goods, hardware, and grocery mor
chants with whom I havo dealt for tho
last fifteen years whilo Blxty-fivo por
cont. of their agricultural customers
havo gono to tho wall, loaving with half
grown families for now countries ; and
want of ability or education .can not bo
justly brought as a counter cause.
A. II.
.Vote. Tho author of this is an old
Linn comity farmer; he is inclined to
tako us to task for producing such
thoughts. It is somotimcH nocoBsary
to speak plainly to bring pcoplo to their
senses. And in tho long run is tho
quickest and most effectivo mode. Wo
do lean toward our farmer friends in our
endeavors to givo them all the informa
tion possible, but just remember,
friends, that it is easy to criticise, but
could yon do better wero yon in our
place? Also bear in mind that wo
have 3000 readers to ploaso, and to
NO. J).
think that each ono of you will bo
pleased by ovcry artlolo wo writo would
bo placing a poor construction on your
idoas, for wo boliovo you aro not all a
one-idea box of pcoplo. Wo work for
and desire only tho pntronago of tho
tho producing class and wo challongo
anyone to produco proof to tho con
trary. Wo only wish tho farmers of this
country would stand by us as faithfully
as wo hnvo stood by thorn. Editor.
Weather Rtport for March, 1187.
E6la, Or., March 81; 1887.
Editor WllUmotto Farmer)
During March, 1887, thoro -wcro 14
day during which rain or Bnow foil, and
an aggrcgato of 0.41 inched of water.
Thcro wcro 4 cloar, 7 fair nnd 0 cloudy
days, othor than thoso on which rain or
enow foil.
Tho mean temporaturo for tho month
was 40.20 degrees. Highest daily mean
tomporaturo for tho month, fi degrees,
on tho 10. Lowest dally mean temper
ature 85 dogroos on tho 3.
Moan temporaturo for tho month at
2 o'clock P. M. 52.C8 degrees.
Highest tomporaturo for tho month 97
degrees on tho 27 nnd 28, at 2 o'clock
P. M. Lowest temporaturo, fl dogroes
A. M. on tho 22.
Frosts occurred on tho 1,2,3,4,12,10,20
inclusive
Tho prevailing winds woro from tho
8 W during 22 days, N o'days, NW 0
day, NE 0 day.
During March, 1887, thoro woro 13
rainy days and 3.07 inches of water; 8
clear, 4 fair, and 0 cloudy days.
Mean tomporaturo for the month
42.70 dcg. ; highest temporaturo 53 dog.
on tho 20 ; lowest temporaturo 31 dog.
on 27. T. Pkahcb.
Rsv, Horace Lyman.
Whon wo lantlod in Portland, about
37 years ago, Mr. Lyman was building
tho Oongrogational ohuroh of that city,
and for years after ho was its pastor.
Ho ofllciatod at our marriago in 1852,
and in all tho years that are subsequent
wo havo maintained kindly relations,
nnd havo loarned to approciato him as
a man without gullo, slucorly honest and
carnost in his work, nnd showing by his
earnest endeavor to bonofit all tho world
around him that ho truly loved God and
man. Tho othor day, at a ripe old ago,
ho finished his work and wont to join,
on tho furthor shore, that partnor of his
youth and life, to whom ho was most
fondly nttnehod, and whoso death pro
ccedod his many yoars. Tho world has
not too many soul-folt nnd earnost
mindod mon working for it, who aro
gonorous, unsolllsh, nnd disintorestod,
as ho was. Whon ono goes, as ho wont
tho othor day, wo can well afford to re
call all his virtues nnd earnest labors,
and shrino his memory with tho tributo
of oursincoro rospoct. His work re
mains long aftor Horace Lyman has
gono.
Rnmn nf (fin wnrnf. f.tnhima nt Mm
now Irish bill aro removed to secure tho
support of tho Liberal-Unionists who
havo left Ulaustono.
Tho Intor-Stato Commission hold an
informal meeting Saturday, and heard
tho Btntomonta of mombcrs of membors
of a ftouthorn transportation company,
who clulmod that to carry out tho strict
requirements of tho law would bankrupt
thorn, so thoy ronuostod pormlssion to
continuo thoir old rates until tho Com
mission can mako fuller investigation.
Tho publication of tho Irish coercion
bill bus Intensified opposition, as it is
moro opprcssivo than was supposed, nnd
all England is interested in tho matter.
Tho Fruit Growors who intend to
plant Fruit Trees, should sond to Cali
fornia Nursery Co.,Niles, Cal., for tholr
new catalogue. Thoy havo the largest
stock of Trcos on tho Coast, and thoir
facilities for Packing and Shipping to
distant points aro unsurpassed. John
Rock, tho well knows nureoryman, is
manager.
1 p
Reels torod Bwaihlro Hoc for Sal.
Wo havo for salo a Berkshire boar.
Ho is by Itcgibterod stock, and a choieo
animal. Will sell for cosh or approved
security. Addross at onco :
W. J, UI.ARKK, Buioni, ur.
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