An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 293

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 293
USA > Idaho > Nez Perce County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 293
USA > Idaho > Shoshone County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 293
USA > Idaho > Latah County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 293

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

"The sight of these embryo women, however, gave promise of a future when partners would be more plen- tiful. That time has come. But, alas! Where are the bachelors of '67? If, in the meetings of these early settlers, the surroundings were more crude than today, their greetings were as cordial, their kindness and friendship as gennine, and in most cases their intelli- gence and culture were fully equal to that of the present. Their eyes were closed and their tongues silent in regard to the cheap dress of a poorer neigh- bor. Do not some of you remember those old time gatherings, one in particular that took place in the old 'mountain house' where now the Chinaman and his Joss presides ? All joined in the pleasures of the even- ings and good time was kept to 'Money Musk' by those who would smile to see themselves try it now.

"These early settlers were not saints, neither were they quite sinners. The man who in those days owned a wagon was looked upon as a very Vanderbilt in wealth, and when a stubborn ox would twist 'round a stump and break that wagon it was considered a proper occasion to use strong language. Cards were in gen- eral use, but as an amusement more than for gain. 'Come up and take something?' then, as now, met with a ready response, but drunkenness was rare and per- haps in no other settlement founded in the state is there an instance of a hotel being successfully estab- hshed and conducted for almost thirty years without the sale of liquors beneath its roof. And yet such is the record of the Mount Idaho Hotel, conducted on that principle for all that time by our worthy presi- dent, Honorable Loyal P. Brown.

"There were few deaths then to sadden hearts, and is it not significant when we remember that no doctors were here; neither did we have lawyers to look after cur welfare-to get us into trouble only to get us out again. In settling disputes arbitration was resorted to, or else the quicker mode of knocking down the aggressor. Ministers, too, were away in pastures more green.

"During the first ten years of settlement perhaps the average visit of the minister was one in ten years. Families would often spend the Sabbath in God's great temple, under the shade of these lofty pines-a day of rest indeed-and returning home at evening, each would feel that the burdens of the coming week would be lightened by this respite.

"All who were here in these first years will rement- ber the concert of music in the timber on clear, frosty mornings. It was more discordant, perhaps, than that of our excellent band and chorus of the present time; yet it was music to those who were building homes for loved ones. This concert, which is now so rarely heard, was made up of lively whistling, of the echo of voices in song and laughter, of the clear ring of axes along the foothills, while the crash of falling trees made an appropriate bass. Then, when the day's work was done and loads piled high, came the merry run home with not a fence to interfere.

"Are there any here now who remember John Brown's big sled, built for pleasure as much as for profit? It would accommodate several families, and on winter nights, packed in straw, buffalo robes and blankets, young and old drove away feeling as happy as though it were the finest cutter. There are a few here who attended the raising of the Crooks and Fairfield barns, great structures they were considered then, standing for twenty years as landmarks and evidences of enter- prise in the very beginning of the settlement. When they were erected every citizen was there, proud and glad to thus aid in adding permanency to the country's growth. These buildings, like their owners, have passed away and will soon be forgotten, but long will the builders live in memory as among the most worthy men in pioncer days.

"The early settlers attended the elections promptly, though there were but few votes to count, paid their taxes without a grumble and were good, law-abiding citizens, except when forbearance of evil ceased to be a virtue. In a very few instances they took the law into their own hands and punished gross offend- ers with the penalty due. A few remember 'Shum- way Jimi,' and were present when he expiated his many brutal crimes. He was an English speaking Indian, who delighted in murder, and soon after the death of his last victim, he was escorted to tlie timber by the people one fine morning, and like the ship, 'never returned.' Such conduct today would be justly con- demned, but twenty-five years ago it was self-preserva- tion to do as the pioneers did. They were a little group of men and women, isolated and almost without the pale of civil law, and felt that with such characters as 'Shumway Jim' and Pete Walters in their midst, they were compelled to be a law unto themselves.

"Schools and literary societies were established even before houses were built for their accommoda- tion. The log school house, with its immense chim- ney and rustic furniture, which stood on the bank of Whisky Bill creek, near Mr. Aram's home, was the scene of many an effort at oratory and eloquence in debate, until a wider field of action was sought in organizing a sham legislature.

"There are some here who were members of that body during the winter of 1867 and 1868. It con- sisted of but one house, with Loyal P. Brown as speaker, and I. Muncie as clerk; T. L. Ward acted as governor. Meetings were held alternately in the old Whisky Bill creek school house and at Mount

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Idaho. Almost every bill introduced would come ini conflict with the interests of other members and a war of words would result. The clerk, not having an assistant, had much to do, and claimed pay for his services. The claim was referred and a report brought in recommending that a gold pen be presented the clerk by the legislature. The procuring of the pen was referred to a committee of three, only one of whom is now living. With zeal worthier of a better cause, they manufactured a wooden pen twelve inches · long, painting it to appear as gold. The pen was laid in wool in a neat box and the explosion looked forward to with interest. The presentation took place in a room in the old hotel and passed off well until the box was handed the clerk, and the hoax was discov- ered. Then there was language loud and wild and the box was splintered over guilty heads. A new clerk was elected and the work of making laws went smooth- ly on until a bill was introduced to change the course of White Bird creek and bring it onto the prairie, dropping it into Butcher or Three Mile creek.

"Here came the tug of war and Greek met Greek when the question came up as to which of these creeks should receive White Bird. It was a memorable de- bate. Members took off their coats, the better to be heard, stood upon the desks, hurling arguments at the speaker in behalf of their favorite creek, which, they alleged, would become the great water power of the west, by the addition of White Bird's waters. Confusion became worse confused. The sergeant-at- arms and the speaker's gavel failed to quell the storm. The bill never reached a vote, and White Bird today still rolls majestically onward in its natural channel to the Salmon.

"No pioneer will forget Bush, the man of oxen and of wit, humor and jokes. At every house he was wel- come. Rough he was, but withal genial and kind and full of that spirit which will not down in adversity. He was a strong man physically, but it was his mis- fortune at one time to suffer for weeks from an aching tooth-one of those big grinders, apparently sound, butt possessed of a power to make a man wish he had never been born. There seemed to be no help for Bush, as doctors and dentists were not yet a part of our population. In his wanderings from house to house in search of relief, he found a man who had picked up in Florence one of those ancient instruments of torture called a turnkey. It was old and rusty, and the owner knew nothing of how it should be used ; but Bush determined at once to stay with the owner until the tooth was out, if it took all winter. After argument, entreaty and almost force on the part of Bush to have a trial made, the gum was cut away with a knife, and the horrible instrument of torture was fitted on the tooth. A powerful wrench followed ; then an involuntary yell from the victim. Again this relic of the Inquisition was forced down on the tooth and the operator, with both hands on the handle and with all his strength, gave a twist that sent the tooth across the room. With a wild stare Bush's eyes fol-

lowed the tooth as he exclaimed: 'Thank the Lord, it came out just before I died !'

"As time passed the farms were enclosed, and each year more land was brought into cultivation. Prices for all produce were high, and the supply at no time equal to the demand. Prosperity smiled on the settle- ment until, through increase of population, over pro- duction glutted every market. A large-hearted, lib- eral spirit prevailed with the first settlers here so long that it became a habit which led to financial disaster with many of them when the reverses of later years came. A compliment was paid to the honest endeav- ors of the pioneers, which came from an unexpected source. One of the first merchants here, on closing out his business, made the remark : 'De beoples on dis prairie scratch harder to pay what dey owe dan any beoples I ever see. Since I come here I make more ash $20,000 and I only lose shust $500 in bad debts.'"

A TOUCHING INCIDENT.

George Underwood, in the Lewiston Teller, pub- lished June 10, 1899, tells a touching story of pioneer life in north Idaho, which well illustrates the fervent patriotism which stirred men's souls in the dark days which followed the close of the Civil war.

"In April, 1865," says he, "a party of twenty min- ers were working on Jawbone bar, six miles below Lew- iston, on the Snake river, when one day the steamboat came around the great bend. From the masthead the Stars and Stripes floated at half mast. Every rocker stopped, every shovel supported a man who was speech- less from the silent message of sorrow. 'The flag's at half mast.' That sentence, spoken in a low voice which trembled with emotion, was the only word spoken. The boat plowed the water. Every pulsation of the great engine was an imaginary tap of a muffled drum in a funeral march.

"In the company was a young newspaper man who had left New York on account of his health. He was a Unionist of the pronounced type and he was a leader in every assembly, whether of miners or politicians. He instinctively took off his hat, and, without knowing the cause of mourning, his associates silently followed his example.

"The boat passed on up the river without a word or sign from a man on hoard. Only the inanimate sign of mourning appealed to the sentiments of those anxious spectators. Quite likely the passengers and crew took the miners to be only Indians to whom the news of the day would have been unappreciated. Any- how the miners were left to work out, unaided, the problem of the cause of the mourning sign. They worked it out in silence. The young newspaper man, still standing with bared head, turned as pale as a man whose heart had ceased, for a minute, to beat. Then he cried out like a man who had seen a terrible ap- parition, like a maniac in the throes of fear of the imaginary horrors of a madman's hell: 'Lincoln is (lead ! Lincoln is murdered !'

"With one accord the shovels fell upon the rocks and twenty men started to Lewiston. Though the

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hot sun beat upon the sandy road, they won the race and arrived in Lewiston before the steamer did. The people of Lewiston heard the message first from the soul of that young patriot. The miners brought the message to Lewiston in advance of the boat and through them the news of the great national calamity first reached the ears of the populace, although the confirmation did not come until delivered by those on the boat.

"The awful news was received with deep manifes- tations of sorrow. The public grief found expression upon every face. There was none who rejoiced in this section of the territory. The citizens were patri- ots."

COEUR D'ALENE'S PIONEER CHILDREN.

The best testimony upon this subject accords to Thomas Argyle, now of Spokane, the honor of hav- ing been the first white child born in the Coeur d'Alenes, and to Miss Alice O'Neil a like distinction of being the pioneer daughter of the Coeur d'Alenes. Thomas Argyle. says the Murray Sun, was born on Prichard creek above Murray, September 11, 1884, the son of Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Argyle. Alice O'Neil is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Larry O'Neil, of Mur- ray, and her birthday is but a few weeks later than that of Mr. Argyle.

INDIAN ELOQUENCE.

An event of no small importance occurred at Kamiah. July 4, 1903. A company of about 800 Nez Perce Indians, men, women and children, assem- bled, with some white people, to do honor to Independ- ence Day in patriotic celebration. The exercises con- sisted of a parade, speeches, singing and the yearly feast. A hberty car, beautifully draped in the national colors, carried fifty little Indian girls dressed in white, who waved flags. Preceding this car marched the Indian band, which was immediately followed by one hundred boys in rank. Before the parade, a song serv- ice was held in the gospel tent, all in the Nez Perce language. During the day various exercises were held, such as patriotic and religious speeches, song services, etc., all in the Indian language.

One of the leading features of the day's celebration was the oration delivered in the English language by James Stuart, a Nez Perces merchant of Kooskia. Among other things he said :

"The Nez Perces tribe, once among the fiercest In- dians of the northwest, now sits in church studying the Word of God * * * * Very few persons have any idea of the progress made by the Nez Perces since they came under the control of the United States. Most people think the Indians a worthless lot, and that it is useless for the government to attempt to make fit citizens of them.' But I tell you you should consider the condition they were in a few years ago, and see where they stand in the world today. * * * **

The Nez Perces have, in little more than a generation, become the best and most intelligent tribe of Indians

in this part of the country. My people, the Nez Perces, have made some wonderful strides in advancement during the past few years. We are still hopeful that a time is coming when the entire tribe will not be looked upon as a separate, peculiar people, but as a new, loyal. liberty-loving community, form- ing an integral part of this great republic which we Indians love so well, and of this great day of independ- ence which we celebrate with such enthusiastic joy.

"My brothers, I care not what your politics may have been, let us remember that 'eternal vigilance is the price of liberty,' and that the prosperity of our na- tion, of our families, depend upon the protection of the rights of its people. We, as a part of this great na- tion, love the song 'America,' and all the national airs. We celebrate this day in memory of that glorious Fourth when first was wide flung the banner of free- dom and of equal rights. By faith we hear the liberty bell of 1776 echoing throughout the mountains of the east and the west, the vales of the north and the south, reverberating to our very souls. We glory in the flag of our country, we love her people, we salute the Stars and Stripes. By the powers that be we swear our allegiance to her and to her people. For our people and country we will live and gladly struggle up the long heights that lead to advancement and refinement, and if need be, we will as gladly die that this oppor- tunity for freedom shall not be taken away from those who will follow us.

"Our beloved country ! Bound together by the ties of a common brotherhood, let us live forever as one people -- a free and independent nation, an inseparable and undivided people."

The occasion served to demonstrate the advance- ment made by the Indians and it is a source of no small gratification to all intelligent people to see, in the same field where less than a quarter of a century ago the savage bands of Joseph wrought massacre and pillage, and while that individual is still living. this magnificent tribute of patriotism and assurance of submission to the nation's laws, emanating from the Nez Perces themselves.

PIONEER YULETIDE.

Lewiston Teller : The first Christmas celebration in the Lewiston valley, of which any living witness has personal knowledge, occurred at Lapwai in 1860. John M. Silcott, the oldest living pioneer except one, Thomas B. Beall, was then sub-agent at Lapwai. under Agent Blake, who was occupied exclusively elsewhere. Old Uncle John never did things by halves, even in those days of limited accessories of civilization. He therefore sent invitations to every white man with- in fifty miles of his home, and not one of the invited guests would have sent regrets for any excuse short of total physical disability. These guests were: Col. William Craig, Thomas B. Beall, N. B. Dutro, Thomas Page, Captain M. M. Williams. Doctor Thebodo, Jake Schultz, Joe Medeau, Henry McNally and the Spanish chef, Spanish Frank.

The cuisine was elaborate, although a little irreg-

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ular. There was no turkey, but a wild goose, which filled the place very acceptably ; there was no roast pig, but a stuffed cub bear stood upon the platter ; there was 110 pumpkin pie, a dislı for which the old pioneer always felt a longing that was hard to satisfy ; there was no great variety of confections, nor were there any fashionable wines, for which every one of these guests had, perhaps, a longing desire inspired by past associations ; but they did have pure alcohol. The government had supplied Dr. Thebodo's dispen- sary with a five-gallon can of this potent drug, and the seal was intact till that Christmas morn.

There was perhaps not a guest under this hospitable roof who could not have appreciated the most delicate bouquet in the best wines of an aristocrat's cellar, but they were equal to the occasion of enjoying raw alco- hol with water in no extravagant portions, and each and every guest did the contents of that sealed can justice. And further, none ever complained that the alcohol did not do its expected work.

It is also appropriate to connect this Christmas dinner with the first New Year's dinner. One was intimately connected with the other. The alcohol did not last through the week, but the effects of it did. Col. Craig invited the guests to come to his home for the closing act of the holiday celebration. He lived on what was called Waha creek then, now Sweetwater creek.

The alcohol being gone, a dire situation arose. Jake Schultz and Joe Medeani, known as "French" Joe, appeared on the scene while the smell of alcohol was still in the air. They volunteered to make the journey to Walla Walla for stimulants for Craig's New Year's dinner. John Silcott furnished the money to pay for ten gallons of whisky and Col. Craig fur- nished the horses. The journey of over one hundred miles was undertaken with only three days in which to make the ride. They made the trip and broke the record for rapid freight service. They made the entire distance of over 200 miles, going and coming, with pack horses, in three days. This display of energy speaks well for the enthusiasm displayed by those who attended those pioneer celebrations.

Col. Craig had a pretentious dwelling for that day and age. His house was comparatively a large one and a smooth floor gave it a position on a par with aris- tocracy.

The house and the floor, the women (natives) and the whisky suggested a dance and great preparations were made for this recreation. These men, who, if living now, are sedate and bowed down with age, were then young and proud and each wanted a partner for the dance. They used every means of persuasion and even strategy to secitre the attendance of the best look- ing partners.

The dinner was very elaborate. The whisky. though milder than the fiery alcohol, induced exuber- ance of spirits, and there was a flow of soul that was never forgotten by a single guest. The native girls were too modest to make lively dancers, but they were induced to join in the mazy waltz and the bewitching quadrille while the liquor held out.

Of the participants of this celebration perhaps only Tom Beall survives. Silcott died in December,. I902.

NIGGER PRAIRIE.

All pioneers of the Coeur d'Alene remember Nig- ger prairie and the different stories told of how it came by that strange name. The prairie is in reality only a small cove in the valley of the South Fork at Mullan and long ago the pioneer name by which it was dubbed passed out of general use. In the summer of 1884, E. S. Topping, a correspondent living in Murray, in a letter to his paper, the Bozeman (Montana) Courier,. related the following story concerning Nigger prairie. One pioneer vouches for the truth of the incident re- lated; another stamps the story as false. The exist- ence of an early pioneer's grave at the spot referred to- is undisputed.

"Every mining camp has its legend of wonderful diggings, which had been worked in times past," says Topping, "but which can never be found when looked for. This camp also has its story, which I shall relate. During the fall of the year 1866 a negro came into- Missoula with a large amount of gold dust, which he spent royally, with the remark that he knew where there was plenty more. The next spring he, with three horses, went out again and came back in the fall with a larger quantity of the precious metal than he had brought in before. The next spring he went out ac- companied by a Flathead Indian and the two were seen in July by a party of emigrants going to Oregon via the Mullan road, living in a log cabin which the negro had built in a small opening, which is now called Nigger prairie. It is situated about five miles from the head of the south fork of the Coeur d'Alene. A week later anothier emigrant party found the negro- dead, killed probably by a gun. They buried his body and went on. The next fall the Flathead was seen in possession of the negro's horses and it was then sup- posed that he was responsible for the latter's death. Those who buried the unfortunate negro placed at his head a rude cross, and when I was there a few days ago I found that some one had, with more humor than propriety, placed a hewn slab at the foot, which bore this inscription : 'Here lies the coon.'"

EXPENSIVE TERPSCHICOREAN SPORT.

While in a reminiscent mood one evening last win- ter, at the Jersey House, Grangeville, one of the earli- est of Idaho county's pioneers related the following story of pioneer experiences in the Elk City camp. It well illustrates the free and easy spirit of those flush times and also sets forth in bold contrast the bogus and counterfeit character which was to be occasionally found among those open-hearted. generous, diamond- in-the-rough miners. The writer caught the words substantially as follows :

"It was in the winter of 1868 that Elk City an- nounced to the hundreds of miners throughout that camp that a big dance would be given at that place.

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All were invited who felt inclined to trip the 'light fantastic toe,' with oceans of wheat extract and other drinkables on the side, and mountains of substantial grub to cheer the inner man and sustain him through the siege of shuffle and whirl which was certain to fol- low ; for in those days a dance meant several days and nights of protracted effort.

"At Station, on the south fork of the Clearwater, some sixteen miles below Elk City, the word was received with rejoicing, and on the appointed day a del- egation of cight or ten of the denizens of that enter- prising camp, under the leadership of George K. Reed, the leading merchant, and Paddy White, another pop- ular miner, started up the river on the ice toward the scene of the intended revelry and feasting.

"In 1868 the climatic conditions were such that a very little exertion produced extreme thirst. Conse- quently the boys, on arriving at Elk after a sixteen-mile tramp, at once repaired to the saloon conducted by the Hibernian gentleman, Barney Reynolds, to whom still clung in a pronounced degree the brogue of the En- vrald Isle and also the spirit of acquisitiveness.

"Everybody in hearing was called up to the bar, as was the prevailing custom then, and as all drinks cost twenty-five cents each, it meant five or six dol- lars a treat. Gold dust was used as the circulating medium and had to be weighed, necessitating much trouble. So Barney, to economize in labor, at once an- nounced :

"'Yez boays frim th' Station, Oi knows ye's all ; whin iny of vez traits. Oi chairges thim up to the Sta- tion, and yez kin all shure sittle it to onct at the lasth. Oi'll be aisy on yez, comin' frim the Station as ye do.'

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An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 293

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