USA > Oregon > The Oregon native son, 1900-1901 > Part 28
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"That is all I know about it," said he, "and here is my proposition: . Let us jointly purchase an outfit and spend the summer in the mountains of Southern Oregon. With the clew we have I verily believe we shall find the caoin."
"I am with you," and I gave him a steadfast grip.
Harper flushed with pleasure at the prompt and hearty acquiescence, and we sat talking over the details of our expe- dition until the gray eye of dawn looked in, and, with a cold, unsympathizing stare admonished us that our sitting had been unnaturally protracted.
It was the middle of May, when, deeming the southern mountains free from snow, and the rivers passable, our final preparations were completed, and we were ready for the road.
My books, consisting of a little law, in calf, and much patent-office, in mus- lin, were consigned to a common grave in a dry-goods box, and the key of the office gracefully consigned to its owner.
We had a saddle-horse apiece, two pack-animals, and provisions for six months. After several days of unevent- ful travel, we reached Jacksonville. This point was the beginning and the end of the written instructions of James Wilson : and we looked wonderingly toward the south, where a wilderness of mountains, vales and rivers-much of it yet untrod- den by the foot of civilized man, stretch- ed away under the serene sky.
There was the ink-blot of the unfin- ished letter !
We were not to be frowned back, how- ever, by the difficulties that stood in our way; and, after a day's rest, we again took the California road, with the inten- tion of following it for one day longer.
This brought us to a point where, in all probability the party of prospectors headed by the Wilsons had borne off from the beaten track into the chartless regions of the southeast.
Even adopting this general direction as the axis of exploration, the field to be surveyed was almost hopelessly wide. The Wilson party undoubtedly made a considerable departure from their intend- ed course, in order to avoid the actual theatre of the Indian war, but, with this solitary concession to prudence, must have sought to reach that portion of the country with which rumor and the geo- logical outlines of the earth's surface in- dicated as gold-bearing. Careful inquiry had put us in possession of these latter facts, and we, too, turned to the south- east, but at no great angle from the stage route.
Our progress was slow, tortuous and at times unutterably difficult. Hewing a trail tlirough woven thickets, scramb- ling over miles of fallen timber, lost in
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the twilight of labyrinthine canyons, straining toward the summit of some rocky divide-where the summer sun- shine burned like a flame-across turbu- lent rivers and by the still margins of unknown lakes where the great firs shadowed themselves in somber solitude: what a road to fortune!
We were generously armed and had no fear of personal danger, for the fierce tribes that had formerly hung upon the footsteps of the hunter and gold-digger here, and had disputed the encroach- ments of civilization in the bright valleys far to our right had "ceased from troub- ling" and were agriculturally "at rest" upon government reserves.
We knew, however, that a few unman- ageable bands had refused to accept the arbitrament of Christian rifles and were still abroad somewhere in their native haunts-from Klamath to the sea-com- mitting theft, arson and an occasional murder.
But our hearts were fired with the "ac- cursed lust for gold" and we were not to be deterred by idle fears. We were pos- sessed of a spirit that toil could not ex- orcise, nor peril quell!
Weary weeks had elapsed, when, one day we reached the base of a precipitous chain of mountains trending westward and directly in our course. A few miles to our left we found an accessable path; but, surveying the range with our glass for a great distance on either side, could se no other depression in its clear-cut line. This, then, was the only gateway to the southeastern country beyond, and through it the Wilson party must have passed, without a doubt. At the en- trance of the pass we found the dim ves- tiges of a campfire and began to hope that we were right. Further on we found where an axe had been used here and there, and knew that we were on the footsteps of white men. Was it the Wil- son trail?
James Wilson, in his letters to Har- per, had spoken of a lofty rock, bearing a rude resemblance of an hour-glass, at the base of which is a mineral spring. It was there that the separation had oc-
curred and the main party turned back. The western peaks were crowned with sunset gold, and our day's march was almost done, when unexpectedly, we halted before a lofty bowlder shaped like an hour-glass; and at its base, staining the rock, over which it flowed, we found a spring-bitter with mineral constitu- ents.
By that token the battle was half won, and dismounting, we unpacked our tired and unspirited horses and went into camp for two days, in order to gather strength for the final struggle. Then we were again in the saddle with our face still to the southeast, and toiling on. The scenery grew wilder and more rug- ged. We were in the region of volcanic agonies, of fierce upheavals and lava floods. Interminable difficulties rose be- the story of my own rescue from the fore us, but they were met with heroic resolution and finally overcome. Har- per became moody and abstracted; and the stress of sustained anxiety had so worn upon my spirit that even in slum- ber the troubles of the day were repeat- ed. The boundary between my sleeping and waking thoughts ceased to be clear- ly defined, I think, and this abnormal condition of the mind may account for what is otherwise inexplicable in what I am about to relate.
We had camped for the night and it was near sunset. Harper, overcome by fatigue, lay asleep with his head upon a roll of blankets. For the hundredth time I had drawn the unfinished letter from my pocket, and sat with my back against a tree, perusing it dreamily, with a lead- pencil which had fallen out in getting the letter, also in my hand. I remember wishing that some spirit-hand would seize the pencil and complete the letter, when, to my infinite surprise, a shadow, like that of sudden twilight, fell upon all things around. I was somehow con- scious of a preter-natural presence, and. looking up, behield immediately in front of me, a mian, or the shadow of a man, tall and muscular, with a brown face and bushy beard. He wore a miner's grey flannel shirt-without a coat-and had a
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THE LOST CABIN.
revolver belted to his side. I seemed to be utterly without the power of speech or motion, and looked into the sad and sympathetic eyes he turned upon me, with a sense of awful fascination. I could see Harper dimly through the semi-darkness, but the quiet of slumber still lay upon his weary face. Then night seemed to close down, and I awoke with a start to find that the even- ing had advanced and that my compan- ion was kindling a fire. I turned to look for the letter and found it at the foot of the tree against which I had re- clined; but what did I see? In the blank space below the ink-blot to which I have referred was a rude drawing in pencil! It seemed to represent two ranges of mountains intercepting each other at right angles. In the center of the rect- angular space on the lower side was a small diagram, resembling the large one in shape. I took it to the firelight for closer inspection: It was the represen- tation of a miner's pick.
Who had done this, and what could it mean? Was it the idle and unmeaning tracery of my own unconscious hand, or was it the effort of some superior power to direct us in our search for the Lost Cabin? At all events. I could make nothing of the mysterious symbolism be- fore me-pregnant though it might be with precious revelations-and thought best not to mention the circumstance to Harper.
In the afternoon of the next day we were at the foot of another mountain wall spiked with the grey shafts of fire- scathed firs, and with here and there a rocky peak towering high in the smoky atmosphere. Through a system of mighty canyons hewn in these mighty rocks, we penetrated the range and halt- ed for the night upon an open spot where the grass was abundant; and after re- freshment, forgot, in the narcotic langu- ors of the pipe, all physical weariness and mental strain.
On the morning following we climbed a lofty eminence that shot into the sky like the spire of some Titanic temple, and with our telescope swept the un-
known country before us, serene and beautiful under the flattering tints of a summer sun. To the right, and running nearly north and south, lay another range of mountains, intersecting at right angles that through which we were pass- ing-the drawing below the ink-blot! There, upon the great face of nature was the realization of the pencil-sketch; and its symbolism was as clear as light; away in that central region to the south the mystic emblem of the pick marked the locality of the vault of gold! With the agitation consequent on so sudden a revelation, I turned toward Harper, with this interpretation of the secret I then divulged; and he, too, was stirred to the inmost depths of his imaginative nature.
On-on we went in a dream of won- der and future wealth, and nothing im- peded our progress now, until at last we entered a narrow valley walled in by pre- cipitous mountains, and bordered on each side by a beautiful stream. We knew that we were upon sacred ground; and along the shadowy fringe of the for- est, where the fretted waters sang a bar- baric rune, we rode, silent as spectres. A resistless magnetism drew us on, and not a word was spoken. Our very heart- strings might have snapped with their terrible tension. We turned a projecting angle of the wood, and a square, black object half buried in a tangle of weeds. was before us. We had found the Lost Cabin !- nothing now but an empty pen of scorched and blackened logs.
I disentangled a pick from one of our packs and stepped within the enclosure. It, too, was choked with weeds; and, bending them aside, I beheld, grinning upon us in its hideous solitude, a human skull! Poor Harry! The Indians had intended that he cabin should be his funeral pyre, but only the lighter materi- als of the roof had ignited and the green logs refused to burn. I struck the pick into the ground near the center of the cabin. Once more I lifted it and drove the long wedge of iron to the handle in the loose soil. The point fastened in some tough substance; and, at the same
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instant, Harper, uttering a cry of mortal anguish, fell heavily at my feet. as a rifle- shot roared in my ear and I dropped into oblivion.
Then it was night, a long, starless and dreamless night of clouded intellect and slumbering soul. When the cunning forces of nature had repaired the fragile structure and the dawn of reason came, they were telling the story of a stage- driver on the Oregon and California route, who, many months before, had cap- tured a nude and sun-bronzed wild-man -- gibering like a monkey, but harmless
as a babe-near the boundary line, and had sent him north to Portland. It was southern wilds.
For the rest, Harper must have fallen by the accidental discharge of his own rifle; and my mind, strung by the high excitement of the search, weakened by the despotism of one absorbing idea, and dazed by the apparent interposition of the supernatural, had given way under the shock, and the mere instincts of the animal nature had provided me with sus- tenance and prolonged my life.
A COUNTY WITH A HISTORY.
Silver Bow county, Montana, has more of a history connected with it than usually falls to the lot of the average county in the United States. Until the sixties no one seemed to care very much whether it was a part of the territory known as the Louisiana Purchase, and belonging to Spain; to France; again to Spain; then back to France, or be- longed to Great Britain or the United States by right of discovery, and for the very good reason that no inducements were offered for its settlement until that time. It was rather of "the dog in the manger" order. Did not want others to have it, and it was tacked on to the near- est neighbor, not because its presence would lend lustre, advantages or bene- fits, only to know where to find it.
Prior to 1712 the native races held un- disputed claim. From that year .until 1762, when, it is said, that France reck- oned it as a part of her territory. In 1762 her title was transferred to Spain, and in 1801 Spain retroceeded it to France, and in 1803 France sold it to the United States.
In 1804 it was divided, the southern portion being called the district of Or- leans, and the northern portion the dis- trict of Louisiana. the latter being placed under the jurisdiction of Indiana. In 1805 it was called the territory of Louisi- ana. In 1812, when Missouri was carved
out of it as a state, it was placed under the jurisdiction of Missouri. In 1814 it became Arkansas territory, and in 1834 Indian territory. In 1845 it was sup- posed to be a portion of the original Ore- gon. In 1846 the provisional govern- ment of Oregon created the county of Vancouver, since known as Clarke coun- ty. This county embraced no definite boundaries in so far as its eastern limits were concerned, except that the whole of the Oregon territory, claimed by and ac- knowledged as belonging to the United States, that lay to the eastward, was a portion of the eastern counties thereof. This was true of the territorial govern- ment of Oregon as well. Upon the as- sumption of statehood by Oregon in 1853, this "unknown quantity" became a part of the territory of Washington.
At this time the boundaries of Clarke county were more particularly defined -extending on the west. from a point on the Columbia river below Vancouver, to the sumimt of the Rocky Mountains, a distance of some six hundred miles. Clarke county was subsequently divided. Skamania county being created out of its eastern portion. the orphan falling within its limits. Afterwards the county of Skamania was divided, its eastern por- tion being designated as Walla Walla county. Subsequently Walla Walla county was cut down and the county of
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A COUNTY WITH A HISTORY.
Spokane created out of its eastern por- tion. The latter being deemed a little larger than it ought to be, it was re- duced by the creation of Missoula county from its eastern section. In March, 1863, Washington lost jurisdiction by reason of the creation of the territory of Idaho, within which it was placed.
In 1864 the territory of Montana was created and Missoula county was given over to its jurisdiction. On the meeting of the first legislature, in 1865, the county was divided into two counties, the severed portion taking the name of Deer Lodge county. Upon the assump-
tion of statehood by Montana further changes were made by taking away, in 1881, a portion of Deer Lodge and erect- ing it into Silver Bow county.
It will be seen from this that Silver Bow county has been, since 1845, under the jurisdiction of a provisional, four ter- ritorial and' one state government and has been a portion of seven different counties, and, if a portion of the Louisi- ana Purchase, under the jurisdiction of three monarchies, and was a district and under the jurisdiction of a state and four territorial governments prior to such date.
The first oysters taken from Shoal- water Bay for market, were gathered in 1851 by Capt. Chas. J. W. Russell. This gentleman was then a resident of Pacific City, then located on the shores of Bak- er's Bay, but now no more. He shipped them from Astoria to San Francisco. The first shipment that was made direct from the Bay, went in a schooner, the shipper being Capt. Feildsted, the owner of the vessel.
The first federal officer to reach Wash- ington (territory) after it was cut off from Oregon, was J. Patton Anderson, the U. S. marshal of the new territory, who arrived at Olympia, July 3, 1853. Gov. Isaac I. Stephens, the first govern- or of the territory, did not arrive until November of the same year.
The first federal judges were Charles Lander, chief justice, and Victor Mun- roe and O. B. McFadden, associate judges,
The first territorial court was held at Cowlitz Landing, on the first Monday in January, 1854. Victor Monroe, as- sociate justice, presiding.
The first legislature convened at Olympia on February 27, 1854. Geo. N. McConaha was the first president of the council, and F. A. Chenoweth the first speaker of the house. Both houses were democratic.
Columbia Lancaster was the first dele- gate to congress. Miles C. Moore was the last governor of the territory, and Elisha P. Ferry the first governor after it became a state. He had also been governor while it was a territory.
Both General Lane and Geo. L. Curry were twice governor of the territory of Oregon. General Lane was the first ap- pointed to the position, and his second term was the shortest of all those hold- ing the office, it being but three days. Gov. Curry first held the office as acting governor. His second term was the longest of all the territorial governors, being four years, seven months and three days.
Of the state governors, S. F. Chad- wick was the only one to occupy the ex- ecutive chair except by direct election. By being secretary of state he succeeded to the office upon the resignation of his predecessor, Gov. Grover. His term of office, so far, has been the shortest.
Governors Grover and Pennoyer were the only ones elected to succeed them- selvs, and Gov. Pennoyer the only one to serve two full terms. Gov. Moody served the longest single term-four years, three months and twenty-nine days. The present incumbent, T. T. Geer, was the first native-born Oregoni- an to be nominated and elected to the
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OREGON'S PIONEERS.
(Respectfully Dedicated to Martha Avery's Cabin No. 18, Native Daughters of Oregon.)
How shall the tale of the West be told ? Who will write it in letters of gold?
Where is the one whose magic pen Shall make its heroes live again?
Under the sod they silent sleep, Over their graves we silent weep.
Silent for never a tongue can tell How well they wrought, how bravely fell,
And are they gone, these heroes bold, Can sodden clay such spirits hold ?
Shall deeds like theirs forever lie Hidden from heart and ear and eye?
Since the westward march began Earth's best blood has led the van.
Ever bore the battle brunt, Nature's heroes in the front.
Sung far and near in martial lays The warrior has his meed of praise
Extolled in life, when life has fled He sleeps with laurels 'round his head.
Yet never our nation's lusty cheers Have rung for its western pioneers.
Though they have stood a guard to keep While all the Nation was asleep;
Though western soil, from flood to flood, Is enriched with patriot blood.
And every hill and every vale Holds touching tragic thrilling tale.
Though they made a desert sod. Touched as if by Aaron's rod,
Blossom o'er its wide domain With flowers, fruit and golden grain.
Where their campfire smoke has curled There our banner was unfurled;
While their cabins rose in air They were building house more fair
From Missouri's tawny flood, : Where the painted savage stood,
To Pacific's golden gate, They were building house of state;
True of hand, and heart and eye, They were building to the sky.
Well they builded 'neath their domes States and empires find their homes.
Years have fled on hill and plain, Campfires brightly blaze again,
Children of that faithful band Meet to join in heart and hand
And to whisper, soft and low, Of the days of long ago;
Well they know such tones are best, For their heroes are at rest.
Though no clarion bugle tone O'er the world their fame has blown.
Yet we stand with upraised eyes Joyfully looking to the skies,
And whisper low above their sod, "These were heroes known to God,
Under the sod they silent sleep. Over their graves we silent weep;
Silent, for never a tongue can tell How well they fought, how bravely fell.
G. A. WAGGONER.
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OREGON HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
GEO. H. HIMES, Assistant Secretary.
Dr. James McBride, a pioneer to Ore- gon of 1846, was appointed as United States minister to the Hawaiian Islands by President Lincoln. Soon after going there he had the American coat-of-arms placed over the entrance of the Ameri- can legation.
In 1864 an English man-of-war stop- ped in Honolulu, having on board two cadets in the English navy, both sons of peers. One of them, Lord Charles Beresford, is now high in the service. This was during the war of the rebellion, when England was rather unfriendly to the United States, and many Englishmen were inclined to think that the United States goverment was of no special con- sequence, and was practically destroyed.
One night Lord Charles Beresford and his friend, in order to show their contempt for the United States govern- ment, went to the American legation, tore down McBride's coat-of-arms, and hired a native to row them with it out into the bay where their ship was an- chored.
On learning next morning that the coat-of-arms was missing, the American minister instituted a search, and soon found the native who had taken it to the ship. A search warrant was procured and the coat-of-arms brought back by an officer. The commandant of the man-of- war and the English minister at Hono- lulu imemdiately called on the American minister and offered an apology in the name of their government for the insult which had been offered. After having made their apology, they stated that they supposed that this was satisfactory, and that they had atoned for the offence. The American minister in- formed them that this was not satisfac- tory, an dthat these two young lords, who were officers of the British govern- ment. had not only comitted the theft,
but had, by their act, insulted the gov- ernment represented by him. He further said that, having taken down the coat-of- arms with their own hands, he would not be satisfied until they themselves put it back where they got it. At this the English minister and commandant vehe- mently protested, saying that such a de- mand was humiliating and disgraceful, and could not be complied with. The American minister, however, insisted on a compliance with his demand, saying that the disgrace consisted in the act of stealing the coat-of-arms, and that noth- ing short of this would be considered reparation for the offence. After consid- erable diplomatic correspondence and some delay, the English minister agreed to comply with the demand of Dr. Mc- Bride, and the latter mentioned the next noon as the time when the coat-of-arms should be replaced.
It was soon noised about Honolulu that the two young men were to replace the coat-of-arms the next day at twelve o'clock. When the time came, thousands of people from the city and surrounding country were there to witness the cere- mony. A photograph of the scene was taken, and it is said that a relative of minister McBride in Salem, now has a copy of this photograph. The young fellows also apologized to Dr. McBride for the insult.
Minister McBride reported the affair to Secretary Seward, who complimented him and demanded an apology from the English government, which was made. and the two young men called home and dismissed from the navy for five years.
It is said that the first white child born west of the Willamette river was the eld- est son of Medorum Crawford, a pioneer of 1842.
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PACIFIC NORTHWEST CHRONOLOGY.
1542-It is said that Juan Rodrigues Cabrillo, a Spaniard, sailed up the coast as far as 44 deg., landed and returned south. This would be somewhere in tlie neighborhood of Port Orford.
1578-Authorities differ as to the dis- tance which Sir Francis Drake, an Eng- lishman, sailed up the coast. There is no record of his having landed north of San Francisco bay.
1592-Is given as the date upon which Juan de Fuca, a Spaniard, discovered the straits which now bear his name. It is doubted whether he ever saw them as claimed by him.
1603-Sebastian Vizcaino, a Spaniard, named Cape Blanco, also reported a snow-capped peak to the eastward, call- ing it San Sebastian (Mt. Shasta). He also discovered a river, supposed to be the Umpqua. Capt. Aguilar, one of this expedition, claimed to have discovered the Columbia river.
1742-Two sons of Chevalier de La Verendrye, of Montreal, led an overland expedition to the Stony mountains (Rockies), coming as far west as the country embracing Missoula, Deer Lodge and Silver Bow counties in Montana. On May 19, 1744, they set up a monument and christened the country "Beauharnois."
1763-Kadiak Island settled by the Russians.
1766-The river "Oregon" was con- ceived in the mind of Capt. Johnathan Carver, of Connecticut, who made an expedition into the country adjacent to the headwaters of the Mississippi in that year. This river has borne several dif- ferent names, among them being: Span- ish-Esenada de Asuncion (Assumption Inlet, Esenada de Hecta (Heceta Inlet), Rio de San Roque (River of San Roque), Rio de Aguilar (River of Augilar), and Rio de Thegays (River of Thegays).
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