An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 291

Author:
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: [S.l.] : Western Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1524

USA > Idaho > Kootenai County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 291
USA > Idaho > Nez Perce County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 291
USA > Idaho > Shoshone County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 291
USA > Idaho > Latah County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 291

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"Foiled in their first attempt to get the stores of the white men, the Indians returned to their tepees and consulted as to what course should next be pursued. Just before daybreak they returned to where the miners were sleeping and fired a volley over the camp. As it was thus far only the desire of the Indians to frighten the whites away, no one was injured by the first volley of shots. Aroused thus suddenly from their sleep, the whites sprang to their feet, but instead of fleeing, began hurried preparations to move. The Indians were disappointed by the failure of their ruse and angered by the actions of the whites in refusing to be frightened into deserting their stores. Another volley was fired, and this time Allen and one of his companions were instantly killed, while Joe Herron received a shot through the cheek. Realizing his helpless condition. Herron fled into the brush where he managed to hide securely from the Indians, al- though they spent several hours beating the woods in an effort to locate his hiding place. Had Herron

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been found he would have been quickly dispatched and the details of the first act of this tragedy would probably never have been told, while the second part would proably never have been enacted. But Her- ron remained secreted, saw the Indians, whom he recognized as the party of Kootenais that had rowed him and his companions across the river on the prev- ious afternoon, drag the dead bodies of their two victims away from the camp, carry off the provisions and lead away the horses. He believed that the other camp, further up the creek, had also been at- tacked and feared to move in that direction. After the Indians had departed, therefore, he came from his hiding place, made a wide detour through the woods and struck the Moyer trail, several miles above the mouth of Moyer creek. In escaping from the camp, his gun was left behind: he was also without provisions of any kind and he knew it would ouly be by the rarest chance that he might meet or overtake white men with supplies. Nevertheless. he at once started on the long journey down the trail and Koote- nai river for the Wild Horse mining camps of British Columbia. For twenty-one days he pressed on through the long tangled grass of the river bottoms, along the rocky sides of the mountains, through forest, under- brush and valley swamps, swimming streams and climbing mountains, enduring the most exhausting hardships with no food but the berries and roots of the forest, and for the greater part of the time suffer- ing intense pain from the shot wound through his cheek. After three weeks of this wandering, he reached the camps of the miners, completely exhausted, his shoes worn from his bleeding feet and his clothes in tatters.

"Despite his condition, however, he rested but a few days before organizing a posse to return up the valley and avenge the death of his companions. One division of the party went direct to Bonner's Ferry, anticipating the return of the murderers to their homes near this place. Another division of the party went to the mouth of Libby creek, the scene of the massacre. John Walton, who was E. L. Bonner's agent in conducting the ferry and trading post, was the only white man permanently settled in the coun- try at that time. He knew nothing of the massacre until the arrival of the posse from Wild Horse. In the meantime three of the Indians had returned from Libby creek and two had remained up the Kootenai river at the mouth of Gold creek. When the miners reached Bonners Ferry, they found John Walton at the post and with him was old Abraham, chief of the Kootenais, who had always been very friendly to the whites. Walton spoke the Kootenai language and when told of the massacre, he questioned Chief Abraham and learned that neither the chief nor the tribe knew of the murders committed by the hunting party. The details of the murders were explained to Abraham and he was told that if he surrendered the guilty members of his tribe all would be well; otherwise the miners from Wild Horse and other regions would swarm the Kootenai country and ex- terminate his tribe. Abraham promised to produce

and surrender the murderers and at once proceeded to the tribal camp, two or three miles down the river. Summoning the three into his presence, he told them he knew all about the murder and, furthermore, that the whites now at the trading post had said if they would return with them to Libby creek and show them where they had cached the provisions belonging to the murdered men, they would be forgiven and allowed to return home. In this way Abraham induced the three Indians to go with him to Walton's store at the ferry. The miners, being apprised of their approach, secreted themselves in the brush at the roadside near the store. When Abraham and his companions entered the store, Walton stepped out, locked the door and signaled the miners, who at once rushed into the building, over- powered the murderers, bound them securely, and placed them under heavy guard until ready for their departure for the scene of the massacre, where it was their intention to execute the prisoners.

"Soon afterward the start was made for Libby creek, the Indians with their hands tied marching in front of their captors, who were followed by a band of Kootenai tribe with which were a number of the relatives of the doomed criminals. Arriving at Moyer creek, seven miles above Bonners Ferry, one of the white men crossed over and stationed himself as a guard on the opposite bank. The water was only about four feet deep and the Indians were instructed to wade across. They had evidently come to realize that they were not to be turned loose as Chief Abra- ham had led them to believe, for one of them, when he had reached the middle of the stream, succeeded in loosening the cords upon his wrists and attempted to gain his freedom by plunging beneath the water, diving and swimming toward the main channel of the Kootenai river. A volley of shots from the guns of the miners put a speedy end to his career and his body floated off down the river. The other two Indians crossed the creek and were followed by the rear guard of the miners. After the attempted escape the miners de- cided to take no more chances and their two remaining prisoners were accordingly shot on the east bank of the Moyer, and their bodies left to the care of their relatives, who were still following, but who had of- fered no resistance to the miners.

"There were five participants in the massacre ; three of them had now been slain. Proceeding on up the Kootenai river Herron and his posse had no trouble in locating the two at the mouth of Gold creek. They were captured, taken at once to Libby creek, the scene of the massacre, and hanged. Thus was the death of the prospectors revenged.

"In all the history of the Kootenai Indians there is no record of friction between them and the whites before or since the occurrence narrated above. The good old chief Abraham, or, as he was called by the Indians, 'Alplam,' died in the summer of 1882, age unknown, as he was white headed when the first set- tlers came to the country. Too much cannot be said in praise of this old chief who was greatly beloved by all who knew him. He was a welcome visitor in the homes of all the white settlers and at the time of

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his death there was genuine sorrow among his white as well as his Indian friends."

EARLY DAYS OF FLORENCE.

P. W. Gillett, in the Oregonian: The recent dis- coveries of gold mines in the vicinity of the Buffalo Hump, in Idaho, recall to my mind the great rush to the rich placer mines at Florence City in 1862. These mines were discovered almost by accident late in the fall of 1861, so late that but few were able to reach them that season on account of the great depth of snow in the surrounding mountains. The news of this discovery soon spread over the country and from the first of February until the last of May every steam- ship from San Francisco to Portland was crowded to its utmost capacity with gold seekers. Early in the spring of 1862 people in great numbers from all parts Oregon, Washington, Idaho and even from British Columbia, began to roll out for the mines. Farms, shops, offices and stores were deserted and thousands left their homes, in great haste to reap the golden har- vest.

Portland was the grand starting point, and though only a town of about 2,300, soon put on metropolitan airs and was the busiest place on the coast. Hotels were crowded to overflowing, the stores were chock full of customers, and the storekeepers were so busy and independent that they hardly had time to see or wait upon purchasers. These were Portland's palmiest days, and then she first began to realize that she was a city. On April 15, 1862, with sixteen others, I started from Astoria and joined the great throng. Each one took a horse, knowing that we would have much land travel to perform, and probably have our food to carry also. The Oregon Steam Navigation Company owned and managed all the steamboats running up the Columbia river, and consequently made prices of freight and passengers to suit themselves. Passage from Portland to The Dalles, less than 100 miles, was $8, and 75 cents extra for meals. From Portland to Lewiston, 345 miles, passage was $30, meals extra, and freight by ton, by measurement was only $120. The hoat that carried me to The Dalles was so full of people that it took all day to serve two meals. We left Portland at 5 A. M. At six o'clock the first table was seated; as soon as it was empty another was made ready, and so on as rapidly as possible, until about 12 o'clock, when we reached the lower cascade landing. all had been served. Then it took until 6 p. M. on the upper boat to serve the next meal. This rush was not just for a day or a week, but it continued for several months.

The Dalles, though but a village, was a busy place -a regular toll-gate. where all who passed through had to pay toll in some shape. The town and suburbs were dotted with tents and wagons and thronged with busy men, packing horses, loading wagons and getting ready to start. We left The Dalles with our horses packed with 150 to 200 pounds of provisions, camp equipments, etc.

All roads leading up to Columbia were full of peo- ple, horses, teams and vehicles of every description,

while the steamboats were more than full. It was a great flood tide of immigration and commerce, roll- ing up the Columbia valley like an irresistible torrent. The Powder river mines were also newly discovered and many were headed in that direction.

I must not omit mentioning a very curious and interesting sight I witnessed as we passed along the narrow trail, just beyond the mouth of Des Chutes river. The ground at and near the foot of the high basaltic cliff was covered with innumerable rocks and boulders that time had thrown down from the bluff. All around us, and as far as the eye could see, were hundreds of rattlesnakes, lazily sunning themselves on those rocks. Their dark, sleek bodies could be seen glistening in the sunlight hundreds of feet away. They were of all sizes, from medium to very large. Our presence did not disturb them, as they allowed us to pass within two or three feet of them without changing their positions. 'They were so numerous that I did not attempt to count them, but there were many hundreds of them in sight. There must have been a great den of them in the rocky cliff.

At Umatilla landing we met a number of miners returning from Powder river, all glad to get back, de- claring that there was no gold there worth the getting. At that place we found a tent restaurant, "Meals $1 ; with dessert $1.75." We all took a full meal of bacon and beans, hard tack, black coffee and a small piece of the poorest sort of dried apple pie.

At several points between The Dalles and Walla Walla the ground was strewn with dead cattle which had starved during the late unprecedented hard winter. Where the city of Arlington now stands, I counted 150 dead cattle on less than one acre of land. They liad come down that ravine in the winter in quest of water and food, neither of which they could get, the river was frozen over and the snow was so deep they could find no grass.

We passed through Walla Walla on the 9th of May. It consisted of a row of small houses and stores on either side of the road that ran through town. The country around Walla Walla and Lewiston was only just beginning to be settled. Between Walla Walla and Lewiston we did not see more than a dozen houses, the most of which were in the Touchet, the homes of pioneer stockmen.

When we reached the Alpowa creek we found In- dians farming on a small scale. They were plowing, one Indian riding the horse, another holding the little home-made plow. Near the mouth of that creek was quite a good farm, the old home of Rev. H. H. Spald- ing, who settled there in 1836. Here I saw a clump of apple trees in full bloom. This orchard was planted by Mr. Spalding and, except those at Vancouver planted by some of the Hudson's Bay people, were. probably the first fruit trees of this sort planted on the North Pacific coast. Reaching Snake river, oppo- site the town of Lewiston, we found the bank of the river covered with hundreds of men, horses and ve- hicles of all sorts awaiting their turn to get across the river. We took our place in line, but did not get across until dark. We put up our tent in the town. During

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the night we were disturbed by the firing of pistols and the whizzing of bullets so unexpectedly near that the next morning we moved further back. Drunkenness, gambling, crime and murder were in full blast in Lewiston. I will quote from my diary kept at the time, which will show the condition of things as I saw them and how the country appeared at that time :

May 12, 1862-Lewiston is a brisk place. There are stores and shops of every sort, law, doctor, dentist and express offices. The town is built of canvas, poles, logs and split boards. Wood is worth $10 per cord : split boards, three feet long, $50 per thousand, and shingles $25 per thousand. There is a small steam sawmill here, making lumber of logs floated 40 miles down the Clearwater river, which sells at $100 per thousand. Town lots are all the rage. Everybody is buying lots, selling lots, squatting on lots, jumping lots and lawing about lots. Yet Lewiston is situated upon an Indian reservation, and no one has any title to the lots, save squatter's rights-squatter's sovereignty. Lots are selling at $50 to $1,000.

May 15-My friend, G. L. Wood, of Yamhill coun- ty, dined with me today. I borrowed an extra tin plate, cup, knife and spoon, and entertained him in fine style. He is running the ferry across Snake river and is making money. (A few years later he was elected governor of Oregon). The mighty flood of human life still rushes on with restless steps and eager hopes. Pack trains and vehicles of every sort come laden with provisions, merchandise.and lots of whisky. The town still grows, houses springing up like magic, saloons and gambling houses are numerous and are full of people night and day. Here fools and their money part to meet no more. There is much crime and frequent murders here.

May 24-Mounted my horse this morning and started for Florence City, accompanied by a merchant from Walla Walla. We passed through a fertile roll- ing country until we reached the summit of the Blue mountains, where we found pine and tamarack timber thinly scattered over a well-tufted surface, making it resemble an extensive and beautiful park. The trail follows a broad and almost level ridge that grows broader as we advance until it seems more like an un- dilating than a mountainous country. At 6 p. m. we stopped and "staked out" our horses, made a cup of tea, and ate our meal of hardtack, cheese and dried beef. When we awoke our blankets were white with frost.

May 23-The scenery along the trail today is the most picturesque and beautiful I ever saw. The face of the country is diversified with timber and prairie happily interspersed, with hills and dales, glens and glades and dancing streams. At 10 a. m., as we emerged from the timber, we came in full view of the famous Camas prairie, stretching almost from the Sal- mon to the Clearwater river and about eighteen miles in width-a sea of verdure and an Eden of flowers. We descended by a long, sloping point into the prairie, and found the soil very black and exceedingly fertile, though inhabited only by Indians and wild animals. It is too valuable a country to remain long in this use-

iess and neglected condition. It will not be long until it becomes the home of civilization and a rich agricul- tural district.

When my Walla Walla companion overtook his pack train, I had to proceed alone. In passing through White Bird creek I saw many Indian lodges, the most conspicuous of which was that of Eagle-of-the-Light, the chief, and a great many Indians, but they did not molest nie, except to urge and almost foree me to cross a rude bridge they had constructed across a small ercek for which they wanted me to pay $1. But I firmly re- fused and rode acoss the creek below the bridge.

At 5 o'clock' p. m., I reached a large encampment of people just below the snow line, and about two miles this side of the Mountain house, and stopped all night. Late in the evening news came in that the large gang of men employed to shovel out the snow and cut and remove the logs and make a passable trail, had just completed their work.

May 27-Mounted my horse at 6 a. m. and started alone for Florence City. The snow was piled so high on either side of the trail for several miles that I could not see over it-in some places it was 10 feet deep. I reached Florence at 4 p. m. and was the first man to enter Florence on horseback. When I reached the mining district and the miners got sight of my horse, they threw down their picks and shovels, tossed up their hats and shouted and yelled as if they were crazy This din of shouts followed me until I reached the town. The sight of a horse was the announcement of cheaper food and all sorts of merchandise. All winter they had paid 40 cents a pound to men to pack in their supplies of all sorts from the Mountain house, twelve miles away, on their backs.

June 2-A continuous stream of people is pouring into Florence which gives it an exceedingly busy appear- ance. There is still some snow on the ground, but it is rapidly melting away. Having never been in a min- ing camp before, it is very interesting and new to me. Everyone but the newcomers are as busy as bees, dig- ging, ditching and washing out gold in cradles and sluices. Immense heaps of fresh earth are piled up in every direction and the whole country is so full of pros- pect holes that it seems totally ruined. I spent a day visiting several claims and found many anxious to sell out, although all claimed that their properties were very rich.

June 8 .-- This morning reports were circulated that exceedingly rich diggings had just been discovered in the neighborhood of Buffalo Hump, about sixty miles in a northeasterly direction from here. A few miners who seemed to know where the new discoveries are started off in the night to prevent the crowd from fol- lowing them. All day people by hundreds, and perhaps by thousands, are getting ready as fast as possible to go. Many start with packs on their backs, while others take horses well laden with food to last weeks.

June 10 .- Still hundreds of excited men are rush- ing off to the Buffalo Hump. Within two days flour has advanced from 50 cents to ȘI a pound, and almost all sorts of provisions in like proportion, on account of the extraordinary demand.

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June 15 .- The town is alive with people today. Everybody goes to town on Sunday to lay in supplies, see the sights, get and send letters, buy newspapers and take a rest. Newspapers cost $I each. I can only afford three a week. On almost every corner an auc- tioneer is selling horses, goods and merchandise of every sort. Great clumps of people stand in the streets «liscussing the "new diggings." The saloons are full of people. Many are gambling, hundreds drinking, while some are simply idling away the time and listen- ing to the alluring chink of coin on the gaming tables. Frequent quarrels occur at the gaming tables which al- most always culminate in shooting, and often killing. Not infrequently some drunken ruffian draws his re- volver and begins to shoot in the midst of the vast crowd, often- killing or wounding some one and creat- in a fearful stampede. Such is Sunday in Florence. Here the congressman, legislator, judge, divine, doctor, lawyer, merchant, farmer, laborer and sailor mingle in the same crowd, wear slouch hats, blue shirts and ragged or patched breeches. Nearly all of this vast horde of gamblers, roughs and desperadoes are from California-the remainder, dregs and offspring of that foul collection of villians that flooded California in 1849 to 1852, ten to thirteen years ago. There is no law here, or none that sees, abates, retards or punishes crime. Scarcely a day passes that some one is not killed or wounded. There has been strong talk of es- tablishing a vigilance committee, but as yet nothing has been done. The decent people of Florence endure these outrages with remarkable fortitude:

June 18 .- The price of flour and provisions is go- ing down. I bought today 50 pounds of flour for $27.50, and a five-gallon keg of syrup for $25. Fresh beef, mutton and bacon sell at 50 to 60 cents per pound.

June 21, 1862 .-- News came in by express today that both Corinth and Richmond had surrendered and were occupied by United States troops. The Union men in our neighborhood assembled at Squire At- wood's camp ( Atwood of the Cascades) to celebrate the event. The squire has an old-fashioned brass Eng- lish blunderbuss that would make as much noise as a modern six-pounder, which he fired after each speech. At the close of the speaking the old squire was so full of patriotism that he overloaded the blunderbuss and blew her into atoms, after which we gave six rousing cheers for the Union and adjourned. (The report of the surrender of Richmond was untrue.)

June 25 .- Great numbers of miners are returning from the Buffalo Hump, thoroughly tired and dis- gusted, having found no gold worth the taking. On their way there many got lost in the mountains and wandered around for days, and were followed by others who supposed they were on the right way to the mines. Many horses died from overwork and want of food.

July 4 .- Ice was frozen last night, and I never saw so white a frost as covered the earth this morning. The boom of gins announcing the "Glorious Fourth" awoke me this morning.

July 6 .- Among all of my friends and acquaint- ances here none are making anything. Great numbers

of people are selling off everything and preparing to leave.

July 15 .-- Hundreds of tents that studded the hills surrounding Florence have disappeared, and are now deserted and desolate.

July 17-Scorching frost this morning. Another man was shot and killed in town today by a brutal gambler. who as usual was allowed to go unpunished.

July 18 .- This morning two new comers took up a a claim on Sand creek that had been taken and aban- doned by more than half a dozen different parties, but those fellows struck the right spot, and found $50 to $100 to the pan. Another man was killed in town last night.

Nearly all the rich claims here are in or very close to Summit flat. and I believe they do not cover two square miles ; and the entire Florence mining district does not cover more than four or five square miles. There are some very rich placer diggings here, and much gold has been taken out, but I truly believe that five times as much money has been expended in coming here and searching for gold and getting back again as has been or ever will be taken out of these mines.

Excepting the great excitement of 1849 and 1850 there has never been on this coast a mining excite- ment equal to that of 1862. I have no means of know- ing the number of people who went to Florence during this excitement, but it was very large. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, had to sponge or beg their way back home, not being able to find paying diggings or get employment.

REMINISCENT-1877.

One dark night very early in July, 1877, just two days before the first victory of the troops over Joseph in the battle on Cottonwood creek, a courier from Fort Lapwai galloped into Lewiston at full speed and dis- inounting in front of General Sulley's headquarters on Main street, vigorously pounded on the door until it was opened. The hour was about midnight, and with the exception of the volunteer guards thrown around the town, most of the inhabitants had long been wrapped in the arms of Morpheus.

The general came to the door and learned that the messenger was from the Indian agent, who had sent warning that the Indians were crossing the creek near the agency in large numbers and were apparently head- ing toward Lewiston. The agent advised the inhabi- tants to prepare for an attack and, if possible, send word to the few settlers south and east of the city. At that time General Sulley, who was an Indian fighter of note, was stationed at Lewiston in charge of the com- missary department of the army in this region, and by virtue of his position and experience practically in command of military affairs in Lewiston. The old general expressed his opinion regarding the suspected attack in most emphatic terms, holding that such an attack was not reasonable and, moreover, contrary to the custom of the Indians in that they never attack large towns or cities. However, to satisfy the populace

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An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 291

Author: Publication date: 1903 Publisher: [S.l.] : Western Historical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1524

Author:
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: [S.l.] : Western Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1524