HERALD AND NEWS, KLAMATH FALLS, OREGON
SUNDAY, JUNE 29, 1958
En - Governor Tells Story
Of Early Klamath DrDcident
Editor's Note Following is
lory that Oswald West wrote
1905, and recently discovered. He
sent it to the Herald and News
PACE 2 C
to be used as an item from early
day Klamath Falls history.
By OSWALD WEST
On July 5, 1905, the year of the
Lewis and Clark Exposition, I
found myself in Klamath Falls on
business connected with the State
Land Office. While taking an aft
er dinner stroll along the town's
main street, I was to witness what,
to me, was a distressing perform
ante.
A couple of cowhands, from down
around Merrill, and well liquored
up, were exhibiting an undersized,
half broken, foot-sore team of
mules, which they had hitched to
a heavy mountain-type top buggy
They would race them up and
down the street to demonstrate
how quickly they could be stopped
in front of a saloon where drinks
would be ordered.
Seeing that the abused animals
Deeded a friend, 1 made inquiries
as to whether they were for sale.
Being told that the outfit was for
sale for $150, 1 informed the gentle
man that I was not interested in
th: buggy and harness, only the
mules. Ihe deal, therefore, ap
peared to be off.
Along about 1 o'clock in the
morning, I was awakened by a
loud knock at my hotel room door.
When I inquired as to what was
asked: "Are you the guy who want
ed to buy our mules?" I said 1
was. Said he: "We'll take $135 for
the outfit. Said I: "I wouldn't
accept your buggy and harness as
a gift. I am interested only in
the mules. "Well," said he, "we'll
take $100 for them." Said I: "That's
too much. I'll give you $75." "If,"
said he, "you'll give us $90, we'll
sell providing you'll advance us
$10" (badly needed whiskey mon
ey). "O.K.," said I.
Crawling out of bed, I dug up
the 10 spot and passed it out to
him, arranging for delivery of the
mules at a feed yard in the morn
ing, when the balance of the pur
chase price was to be paid.
The problem now to be solved
was: how to get them to Ashland,
from where they could be shipped
by rail to Salem. Luck, however,
was with me, for that very morn
ing a steamer service was being
inaugurated on Klamath Lake. A
small freight and passenger boat
was due to leave the Falls for
Pelican Lodge from where the
old "Dead Indian" trail lead
through and over the Cascades to
Ashland, a distance of around 50
miles. So, I loaded my charges
aboard the steamer and we reached
our deslination without mishap.
Unfortunately, however, the
mules had not been broken to ride
and had to be led over the trail.
This necessitated my hiring a sad
dle nag: but the only one avail
able was somewhat advanced in
years, stiff in the shoulders and
unshod. An old hornless stock sad
dle supplied was quite in keeping
with the horse, which was to be
turned loose as Ashland was
Beared, that he might return home.
When within about 15 miles of
Ashland the old saddle nag be
come foot-sore and weary. So, 1
removed his bridle, which left him
free to graze, and headed him
back towards Pelican Bay. Cover
ing the balance of the distance on
foot, I reached Ashland around 9
o'clock at night.
The next morning I inquired as
to shipping charges, and found that
the lowest freight rate to Salem
TH COVER
This week's cover picture
was shot by Merald and
News Photogaapher fcon
Kcttler in Longcll Volrr,
using a standard pre cam
era, Superpan film with an
exposure of f22 at 100th
of o second with a yellow
filter.
ONE OF THE MULES involved in this story of an incident
in the life of Klamath Falls in 1905 is shown here. Prepar
ing to hit the saddle is Oswald West, now residing in
Salem, West purchased the mules in Klamath Falls in 1905
and had them shipped to Salem. This picture was taken
53 years ago.
was $i0. While trying to decide
whether to pay this high cost or
make someone a present of the
mules, I recalled that, when com
ing South, I had seen a crated
calf resting on a Wells Fargo
truck at Roseburg. So, I called
on the local express agent, who
informed me that the maximum
weight acceptable for a crated
animal was 700 pounds. And, if
within that maximum, the two
animals could be shipped to Sal
em for $42.50 some saving.
The mules weighed around 500
pounds each. So, with crates built
to weigh within 200 pounds, they
could travel by express. Inquiring
at the livery stable who, in town,
could and would make such crates,
was informed that an under
taker, whose establishment was lo
cated just across the street, had
on occasions rendered such a serv
ice. Calling on the undertaker, a
deal was made the crates to be
constructed of light, dry lumber
so as to bring each within 200
pounds.
The undertaker turned out to be
a humane person, but without
much knowledge as to mules, their
character and disposition. Not wish
ing to see the little animals suf
fer any discomfort in transit, he
left an opening in front through
which they could stick their heads
and stretch their necks. This led
to disaster.
The job finished, the mules, blind
folded, were shoved into the crates
and, aa thought, made secure. As
train time was approaching, the
crates were loaded aboard an old-
style low two-horse- truck. When
the vehicle was started on its
way, the blindfolds were removed.
The mules, however, true to their
nature cautious and curious
looked things over but raised no
disturbance.
Upon reaching the S P. station.
I made delivery to the local ex
press agent and received the com
pany's receipt. The crates and
contents were now shifted from
the horse, truck t the express
company's platlerm truck. Dik? to
the Lewis and Clark fair, tlw traia
was ri h twi Helm mi
(k tw ftf at AifclMd ie rwr
to 'live tta tvrt m pnw
tiiiity te 4Y( laac w tar t)M
diniaK roon.
Up to his time, the mules
'lot being sure of themselves
were well behaved, but it proved
only a lull before a storm. As I
recall, Uie express hand truck
" s
was about a foot lower than the
floor of the express car. This ne
cessitated the agent in charge call
ing for needed assistance. The
rears of the mules were towards
the car door their heads faced
the ticket office entrance.
As the rear of the first crate
was lilted the mule slid forward
and, with head and neck extending
through the crate's front open
ing, was thus given all needed free
dom for action. Then it happened.
in a split part of a second, the
rear of the crate was kicked to
splinters, these and the express
agent disappearing through the
rear door. The crate seemed to
rise in the air and then crash on
the platform. The mule, somehow,
landed under the car. Sitting on
a roil, he peered out at an amused
audience. . .
The second mule, taking the cue
from his mate, proceeded to kick
himself free from his crate, which
landed jambed in the ticket office
entrance. The two mules, once
more free and together, proceeded
to wend their way uphill toward
the city center followed by a
flock of town youngsters. I board
ed the train with the express com
pany's receipt safely cached away
in my wallet.
The Wells Fargo express agent
at Salem was old Tom Reynolds,
a faithful, long-time employe who
believed and contended that his
company was the most efficient
concern on earth and could do no
wrong. My train arrived at night
or early morning. So, for devil
ment, I dropped in at the express
company's office about 9 a.m. and
said: "Uncle Tom, I've come for
my mules." Said Tom: "What are
you talking about? There are no
mules here for you or anyone
else." "Well, they were shipped
yesterday from Ashland, on the
same train that I came on.
Tom. bewildered, searched
through his records, but found noth
ing showing in the mule line.
Thereupon I proceeded to damn the
company for its inefficiency and
por service. Tarn promptly came
Ms ec-fense instiling that I was
cnw.y. Iix, v a few days, Tom
taw lairik' to notify me that
y awls ha arrived. Calling
fw my ts. I found them crated
what might be called log cab
ins. They were delivered, how
ever, without extra charge.
Beef consumption in the United
Slates in 1956 was 85.4 pounds per
capita.
ill fMS
ONE MAN ARSENAL The 1951 gift of a rifle that a
friend didn't want started Ray Wefing on a gun toot.
Fascinated by the 45-70 Springfield, a post Civil War gun,
Ray has added more than 400 weapons to his one man
arsenal. He is shown with part of his collection in the
game room of his home in Blackridge, a suburb of Pitts
burgh, The walls of the room are lined with pre Civil
War rifles and muskets, and the cases have little room left
for more antique revolvers and pistols.
Game Commission To Study
Plans For Unit Deer Hunt
A plan for a unit hunt system
for taking antlerless deer will be
presented to the Oregon Game
Commission for its consideration
when it meets July 11 to set 'the
1958 hunting regulations. John Mc-
Kcan, chief of the game division,
said that if the unit system is
adopted it will mark the end of the
general either-sex hunts as used
since 1952.
This does not mean that the tak
ing of either-sex deer will also
come to an end, McKean said.
In order to harvest surplus num
bers of deer on the various herd
ranges, some does as well as bucks
must be taken. However, the unit
system will not only control the
number of hunters in a unit but
also control the number of ani
mals taken from each specific
area.
The unit hunts will not allow the
wide freedom of choice that hunt
ers have had during the either-
sex seasons of the past. Under the
new system, a hunter would de
cide in advance which area he
wanted to hunt, apply for a per
mit, and take his chances in a
drawing. This would disperse the
hunting pressure throughout the
state and eliminate any concentra
tion of hunters as has often oc
curred on several popular herd
ranges during past either-sex sea
sons. In no way will the unit hunts
affect the general buck season.
Hunters could still exercise their
freedom of choice of hunting ter
ritory for the taking of buck deer.
In order to achieve a kill of
some 30.000 antlerless deer
about the average number taken
each year since 1952 it would be
necessary to issue some 100.000
permits. This may seem like a lot
of permits but in reality a con
servative minimum when past kill
records and hunter success are
analyzed.
According to past kill records a
fourth of the hunters holding per
mits would kill their buck during
the general buck season, eliminat
ing them from the unit hunts. Only
about one-half of the actual partic
ipants would be successful in tak
ing a deer during the unit hunt
season.
The problem of handling an es
timated 200,000 applications and
the issuance of the 10,000 permits
through a drawing is now being
straightened out by the game staff
as they prepare the plan for pres
entation to the commission at the
July hearing.
The plan as it is established now
calls for a total of 60 antlerless
deer units according to major herd
ranges. Forty five of these are on
the mule deer ranges of eastern
Oregon. " .
A hunting map would be includ
ed in the hunting regulations sy
nopsis, jn addition to a large scale
map to be issued to each license
agent for inspection by prospec
tive applicants in selecting the unit
of their choice. Only the number
of permits required to achieve the
desired kill in each unit would be
issued.
McKean said that uniform
dates for all units would be desir
able and that the hunts should be
held the latter part of the general
buck season so th.1t- hunting par
ties could plan their trips togeth
er. Only those hunters with unused
tags would be allowed to partici
pate. Permits would be issued
free.
The game chief said that in dis
cussing the unit system during the
past year it has received full ac
ceptance from most of the organ
ized sportsmen's organizations in
the slate. The July hearing will
give all hunters an opportunity to
voice their views on the proposal.
Gen. John Bidwell first put rais
ins on the market in California
in 18t8.