USA > Oregon > The Oregon native son, 1900-1901 > Part 29
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American-River of the West, Oregon and Columbia. Indian-Shock-a-tili- cum, Chuck-a-lil-um, Wik-a-itli Wam-a- kil, Pe-koo-un, Ka-kis-ne-na, Nis-koot- sum, Ka-nix, Wahna and others. It was not the custom of the native races to name a river, but rather localities up- on the same.
1774-Lieut. Juan Perez, a Spaniard, sailed as far north as 54 deg. On his return trip he discovered a mountain now called Mt. Olympus. He gave it the name of Sierra de Santa Rosalia.
1775-Capt. Bruno Heceta, a Span- iard, planted a cross on July 14th, upon a point to which he gave the name of Punta de Martinez (Martyr's Point), a location now known as Point Grenville. On the same day some of the crew of one of his vessels went on shore for a supply of fresh water, and were massa- cred by the Indians. This was the first recorded instance where the blood of the white race was shed in the Pacific North- west. On the following 17th he discov- ered the mouth of the Columbia river, mistaking it for a bay, giving it the name of Ensenada de Asuncion. Point Adams he called Cabo de Frondosa (Leafy Cape), and to Cape Disappointment the name of Cabo de San Roque.
1778-On March 22d, Capt. James Cook named Cape Foulweather and Cape Flattery. The latter had been pre- viously (1774) called Punta Martinez by Perez. Several of those accompanying Captain Cook subsequently achieved celebrity. George Vancouver, a follow- er in discovery, was his mid-shipman; John Ledyard, of Connecticut, the first American to set foot on the Pacific coast, who was one of the petty officers, became a noted traveler. He went on shore in Alaska on the 8th of October. Anotlier of the crew afterwards became a distin- guished geographer. This was Admiral Burney, of the British navy. While on
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his way to North Pacific waters, Capt. Cook discovered the Sandwich Islands, January 18, 1778, naming them in honor of Lord Sandwich of England. On his return voyage he put in to the islands, and while there, February 16, 1779, he was murdered by the natives. He was succeeded in command by Capt. Clerke, who soon died, leaving the command to fall to the lot of Lieut. Gore, a Virginian. Capt. Gore sailed to Canton, China, and there disposed of the first furs that had come to that market direct from the seal- ing grounds of the Pacific Northwest.
1785-Capt. James Hanna, an Eng- lishman, arrived. Not for the purpose of exploration, but to gather furs for the Oriental market. He was quite success- ful, selling his cargo in the Cantonese market for $20,000. This was the first expedition coming to the North Pacific waters solely for trading purposes.
1787-Capt. Dixon, an Englishman, was the first to establish the fact that Queen Charlotte Island was an island. He named it in honor of his vessel.
Capt. Berkeley, an Englishman, com- manding the Imperial Eagle. an Ameri- can vessel, entered the Straits of Fuca this year, making certain their existence, which had previously been doubted. Later on he sailed down the coast, mak- ing a landing at Point Grenville. Some of the crew of the vessel went on shore, and, like the Spaniards of 1775, they met their death at the hands of the natives. As a memorial to their sad fate the cap- tain named the island near the point, Destruction Island. This had been call- ed by Heceta, Isle de Dolores (Isle of Sorrows), at the date his men were mur- dered.
1788-The American sloop, Lady Washington, of Boston, arrived at Noot- ka on September 17th. She was com- manded by Capt. Robert Gray, who af- terwards discovered the Columbia river. She was the first American vessel to carry the Stars and Strips around the world. On the voyage up the coast, the vessel was run into Murderers' harbor, since known as Tillamook bay. While
here one of the crew was murdered by the Indians, supposed to be the first oc- curring south ot the Columbia river, of one not a native.
Capt. John Mears, an Englishman, arrived at Nootka in the spring of this year. He came as the supercargo of the vessel, but was the real commander. The vessel, however, carried a Portu- gese captain and papers. Capt. Mears secured from a native Nootka chief a "spot of ground in his territory" in ex- change for a brace of pistols. Upon this he built the first vessel constructed in the North Pacific. He named her the North- west America, and she took her maiden plunge into the wave on September 20th of this year.
It is not generally known that the ยท Chinese were pioneers to North Ameri- can waters during this year, but such was the case. In the early struggles among the powers of the old world to se- cure a footing upon the northern shores of the Pacific-Spain, Russia and Eng- land made every haste and resorted to various expedient to acquire title by oc- cupation or discovery. The English conceived the idea of colonizing with people from other countries who would not only be dependent upon them, but also, probably, intermix with the natives, which might exert a controlling influ- ence over the latter class. The plan was to induce some of the Chinese to come on board of their vessel with the idea that they were to be taken to Bengal, and instead bring them across the ocean to the place or places where it was suitable for the founding of a colony. It was also a part of the scheme to touch at the Hawaiian Islands and there pick up enough Kanaka women to supply each of the Celestials with a wife. They suc- ceeded in inducing some seventy Chi- nese to come on board their ships, when sail was set for the Pacific coast. At Honolulu quite a number of women were obtained and it was not over long before their destined port-Nootka Is- land-was reached, but the Spanish sea- men had raised the red and yellow flag
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before their arrival, and when the Eng- lish mariners attempted to make a land- ing for their intended purpose, the Span- ish captains seized their ships. It is said that they put the Chinese brought over
to work, but what ultimately became of them has not been made a matter of history. The vessels bringing them were the Princess Royal and the Argo- naut.
(To be continued.)
NESIKA WA-WA.
Several of our subscribers became somewhat alarmed over the non-appear- ance of the last issue of the Native Son at its usual date of delivery, and wrote asking as to the reason why they did not receive it. Among those enquiring about the delay was one of our agents. Her message was as follows:
Yoncalla, Oregon, August 8th, 1900. NATIVE SON PUB. CO.,
Klose Tenas Man :- Klone moon o'coke mika papah wake chaco copa conomox o'coke kloochman, Mrs. Susan Smith, pee ole man C. H. Westernheiser, Yoncalla. Nesika hyas mesahche, copa nesika spose mika wake copa yaka. Klose mika hyas mamook chaco o'koke papah, copa skookum chickamin kui- tan, pee klonas mesika kokshut klose tum- tum. Mika Kiose Tilicum,
SUE BURT, Agent.
In pioneer days there were but few but what understood this language, and the children frequently could speak it as well as they could English. Now-a-days, those who can understand the simplest words are like the primitive inhabitants -who were at one time numbered by the thousand-very rare.
Among the laws passed by the last session of the Grand Cabin, Native Sons of Oregon, was one which permits cabins of the order to admit to member-
ship all desirable candidates over eigh- teen years of age. This is certainly a move in the right direction, for the first society a young man becomes identified with, and in which he takes an interest, is the one which he holds dearest. From the fact that other orders require appli- cants to be twenty-one years of age, this class of membership is ineligible to membership therein, and they are left to remain out of a society or join the Native Sons.
Allied to this order at the earliest limit of admission, they will retain a kindly feeling for it in all ways that tend to its upbuilding, and when once its principles are fully understood, are never forgotten and will, as a rule, most certainly imbue them with better citizenship, and in all ways promote actions serving to uphold our flag, foster home endeavor, and bring honor to the brave and noble pioneers whose efforts laid the foundations of the great Pacific Northwest.
Contributions are solicited on any subject interesting and connected with. the history of the original Oregon. Remi- niscences of pioneers are especially wanted. The native born should endeav- or to secure data of all kinds from their pioneer parents and send the same to us for publication.
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
TIMOTHY A. RIGGS.
Timothy Ambrose Riggs was born October 28, 1825, in Ray county, Missouri. At that time this was the extreme frontier, conse- quently, with no public schools, his educa- tion was extremely limited.
In early life he learned of Oregon through the perusal of a short history written by a Mr. Edwards. In the spring of 1846 he, with his parents and other members of his family, started for the far-away land, halting a few days at Iowa Point, on the Missouri river, long enough to collect the emigrant com- pany.
On the 5th day of May they began crossing the river and, as the only means of trans- portatlon was the ordinary flatboat, pro- pelled by hand, three days were consumed in crossing between twenty and thirty wag- ons and stock.
His father, Thomas Riggs, who was taken sick a few days before crossing, died on the evening of the 7th, and was buried the day following, on the bluff overlooking the river. On the same day the company started on the long journey, saddened by this severe and unexpected loss.
. On the last day of September the subject of this sketch, with one other man, arrived at Phillip Foster's on the Clackamas. The Fosters were the first family of white peo- ple they had met after crossing the plains. On the next day the family arrived and a few days after went on to Oregon City. the objective point of immigrants in those days.
During the following year he farmed in partnership with Dr. P. Welch. In the fall of 1847 he settled in Linn county, where Craw- fordsville now stands. In the meantime he purchased a few books and studied at home until ne acquired sufficient education for or- dinary business transactions.
In 1850 he was elected County. Treasurer of Linn county, that being the first year that there was any revenue collected in the county and it amounted to $1162.50. He was allowed two per cent for receiving and dis- bursing the same, $23.25 in all.
In 1851 he was elected County Assessor, being the second person to fill that office. He performed that duty in fourteen days and made his report to the County Clerk on the 15th, for which he was allowed $5 per day, or $75
In 1856 he enlisted for three months in the Rogue River war, under Captain James Blakely, and was elected second lieutenant by the company.
In 1861 he was engaged in the lumber
business, and at the time of the flood. his property was all swept away by the high water, and afterwards his house was burned, with all its contents. In 1862 he was elected Sheriff of Linn county for two years, and at the present time is serving as County Sur- veyor, having first been appointed to fill a va- cancy caused by the death of E. T. T. Fisher, and in June of this year was elected to that office.
On the 10th day of June, 1849, he was mar- ried to Miss Celia Russell. Nine children were born to them, seven of whom, four sons and three daughters, are still living.
Mr. Riggs has lived a quiet life, and has enjoyed the confidence and respect of his fel- low citizens, as is evidenced by the many calls to fill positions of trust which he has always discharged with credit to himself and his constituents. He and his wife are mem- bers of the Christian church at Albany, Ore- gon. where he resides, and takes a lively interest in all benevolent undertakings. Though almost 75 years of age, he has not thought it time to cease leading an active life, and the people of his county seem to agree with him in that decision, having re- cently chosen him to fill an office whose duties demand the most robust among a younger generation.
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GEORGE LEMUEL WOODS.
Gov. George L. Woods, was born in Boone county, Missouri, July 30, 1832. At the age of fifteen he crossed the plains with his par- ents, Caleb and Margaret McBride Woods, pioneers of 1847, who settled upon a
claim in Yamhill county soon after arriving. He attended the first school taught in the "classic shades of
Yam- hill," the building being a log cabin. Among the scholars attending were Hon. John R. McBride, Dr. James C. Shelton and Dr. L. L. Rowland. All these students wore buck-skin suits and moccasins for footwear. The teach- er was Dr. W. L. Adams. He subsequently attended school at McMinnville College. In 1853 he was married to his cousin, Miss of Louisa McBride. daughter Dr. James McBride. Mr. Woods worked at carpentering and farming until he could se- cure an education, occupying his spare mo- ments in study. He read law, and was ad- mitted to the bar in 1858. He came promi- nently before the public in 1857, by organiz- ing republican clubs throughout the Willam- ette valley, before whom he spoke on the political issues of the day. In 1863 he was
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appointed county judge of Wasco county, and in 1864 was elected presidential elector. In 1866 he was elected governor of Oregon, serving four years. In 1871 he was appointed governor of the territory of Utah by Presi- dent Grant, which office he held four years. He then removed to California and resumed the practice of law, principally in San Fran -. cisco. While a resident of California, he ran for the office of congressman, but was defeated.
He returned to Oregon in 1885, locating in Portland, where he practiced law until his death.
Governor Woods, as an attorney of the higher rank, and as a speaker, was one of the most eloquent known to the Union, and his services as a campaign orator were eager- ly sought for, far and wide. He died in Portland, January 14, 1890, lamented by a host of friends and sorrowing relatives.
RUFUS MALLORY.
Hon. Rufus Mallory was born June 10, 1831, in the town of Coventry, New York. At the age of twenty he taught school and read law at Andover, New York, and later in Iowa. He came from the latter state to Oregon in 1858. locating in Roseburg. Here he continued his legal study and was admit- ted to the bar in 1860. During that year he was elected district attorney for the first judicial district. In 1862 he was elected
a member the
of legislature from Douglas county, Soon afterwards he removed to Salem, and in 1864 was elected district at- torney for the third judicial district. In 1866 he was elected congressman. In 1872 he was elected to the legislative assembly from Mari- on county, and when the legislature con- vened, was chosen speaker of the house. In 1874 he was appointed U. S. district attorney, and in 187S was reappointed to the same office. In 1882 he visited India as special agent of the government.
Mr. Mallory was originally a whig in poli- tics, but upon the overthrow of that party identified himself with the republicans, a party in which he has been an influential factor in Oregon. advocating its principles on the stump, representing it in various conventions, both state and national.
As a lawyer Mr. Mallory takes rank among the best in the state. His legal abilities have been tested in many important cases which have attracted wide attention because of the new and novei questions involved, and on no occasion has he failed to acquit himself ad- mirably. One of the remarkable cases in which he was identified as prosecutor was
the conviction of the murderers of Beal and Baker, whose guilt was fastened upon them upon the slender beginning of a hat-band lost by one of them at the scene of their crime. He is now practicing law in Port- land.
Mr. Mallory was married June 24, 1860, to Miss Lucy A. Rose, daughter of Aaron Rose, the founder of Roseburg. The fruits of the union has been one child, a son.
JAMES K. KELLY.
Hon. James K. Kelly was born in Center county, Pennsylvania, February 16, 1819. He graduated at Princeton College in 1839. and soon after began the study of law. After admission to the bar he practiced his pro- fession at Lewiston, Pa., where he remained until 1849, when he crossed the plains to Cali- fornia. The gold excitement being at its height he tried his luck at mining during that winter. His venture netted him hand- somely, when he went to San Francisco, opening a law office there. In 1851 he remov- ed to Oregon. He first located at Pacific City. But soon removed
While here he was appointed one of the code commissioners, which prepared the first code of laws for the territory. He served for four years as a member of the territorial council from Clackamas county- during the time he was president of that body for two years.
In 1855 he served as lieutenant colonel in the volunteer service. His command was en- gaged in battle with the Indians east of the Cascades on several occasions, one encounter lasting four days. The hostiles were routed with great slaughter and their losses dis- heartened them so that they would not there- after come out in open fight.
On his return from military service he re- sumed the practice of law. In 1857 he was a member of the state constitutional con- vention, and three years later was elected state senator to represent Clackamas and Wasco counties. He met with great financial loss in consequence of the flood in 1861, and he removed from Oregon City to The Dalles. where he remained until 1869. In 1864 he was defeated for the office of governor, the state being overwhelmingly republican.
In 1870 the legislature was democratic. so it elected Mr. Kelly United States Senator. At the expiration of his term he resumed the practice of his profession, locating in Port- land. Subsequently he removed to Wash- ington, D. C., where he now resides.
His wife was Miss Mary Millar, to whom he was married in 1863. They have two children, a son and a daughter.
to Oregon City.
THE FISHERMAN.
Over the sand bars rolls the swift river, Sweeping the boulders by the cliff's lee; Winding, widening. onward it ever . Hides in the deep moaning sea. Over the cliffsides the haze of the ocean Rises as passes the day to its sleep, Sullenly, gravely, the angry commotion Comes-'tis the voice of the deep.
Dipping, racing. the boats from the offing Seeming like sea birds. list 'neath the sails, Fearless, dauntless, the boatmen are scoffing Signs of the bleak southern gales; Dashes the spray from the bows, and the surges Lash the lithe forms in the teeth of the wind; Bravely, gaily the fisherman urges His boat from his rival behind.
Ring the loud songs of the toilers' devotion, By the bleak island the fleet pinions white Swinging near the mad waves of the ocean, At anchor will wait for the night;
Then, as the cloud-rifts awaken the star- light, Mirroring gleams in the deep waving skies, Over the billows the lone guiding farlight Brightly enkindles and dies.
Echo the rappings, I hear the low shifting. Fisher and boatman behold the glad hour, Soon the lone vessels are silently drifting, Darkly the clouds above lower; Swiftly the tide to the sullen lines bears them, Nearer, nearer they hear the surf's roar; Dauntless the boatmen, an instant prepares them To strive for the low island shore.
Rising, advancing. the surf in its raging Sounds the dread knell. as a demon it seems; Night and the storm are mad billows engag- ing Warfare the shrill tempest screams; But the flood tide to the rescue advances, Vain is the might of the tempest so ill. As the lithe boat on the white cresting dances, There is a moment of skill.
At the lone cove or the low island's mooring Resting at morn will the fisherman be. Waiting the hour of the toil so illuring, Daunting the ill of the sea; Soon is forgotten the hour of the danger, Calm is the water and fair are the skies. And with the evening again the swift ranger Over the wide river flies.
-Valentine Brown.
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MOUNT HOOD, OREGON.
NORTH PACIFIC PRE-HISTORIC WRECKS.
WELL KNOWN PIONEERS WRITE CONCERNING THEM.
I had intended to write another papel as to prehistoric wrecks on the coast of Oregon, but delayed until Mr. Silas Smith has told what I had gathered from him that he had obtained from his moth- er. But there are still some items left that may interest your readers.
Mr. W. E. Warren, who was quoted in my former article, said that his mother heard from Swan, a very old Indian of the Clatsops, what Swan claimed to have heard from his father, that in the long ago a vessel was lost at Necarney bay : that a number came ashore who carried a chest up the mountain side and buried on a bench, after carrying up sacks of treasure that were emptied into it. Then the crew separated, some going north and some south. Those who went south were all killed by the Rogue river Indians-as they afterwards heard. Those who went north stopped with the Clatsops, but later got into a fight when two of them were killed.
Indian Agent Raymond used to tell. that when he was stationed at Tansy Point-about 1845-6-that whenever he went back and forth between Nehalem and Necarney, the Indians would point to a mountain bench, and tell their story of the treasure, but could not be induced to go near there.
Both W. E. Warner and Silas Smith say that California redwood and Port Orford cedar used to be and is yet plen- tiful on the beach south of the Columbia. so much so that the settlers made rails of those woods.
The story of the treasure was so strong with the Indians, handed down as a legend, and was told so often to early comers, that it could not easily have been invented out of whole cloth. They had a horror of the spot, and could not be induced to go near it.
It has been a favorite hypothesis with me to consider it possible that a mission ship had been captured by sea rovers at that early day, that had supplies for the missions, was driven north and was lost on this far coast. It is a fact that ancient coins have been found among the In- dians, and Mr. Minto told me that he saw in the hands of an Indian there, so far back as the forties, a spear-head that was of elaborate work, with pike and axe as well as the spear. This weapon was of copper and beautifully inlaid, as no ordinary man would have. Such rel- ics might have come from the wreck of a buccaneer.
Looking over my scrap book, kept for a third of a century, I find several mentions of this treasure legend. One is that Tom McKay, so well known in early time, was over in the Nehalem country, in early day, trapping for furs. when he met an ancient crone who told him how-when a child-she witnessed the coming ashore of the Spaniards who buried that treasure. When Tom impor- tuned her for further information she took him to the mountain and pointed to the exact spot. He may have dug for it, as the Hudson's Bay people heard he did, and sent for him, but under rigid ex- amination he denied that he had found any treasure. The company claimed all that their people discovered while in their service, but Tom can't be blamed much if he did not think them entitled to such findings. He was a generous fellow; always had money to spend and to give away; so much so, that when he after settled on French prairie, in the Willamette valley, he lived so well and was so liberal to all in need, that many believed he had surely found that treasure and gloried that he made such good use of it. If he found it over half a century
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ago the age of the old crone who told him might carry the wreck back to the middle of the last century.
Another of these clippings-that was published at Tillamook long ago and is soiled from age and wear-tells that many years ago Spanish pirates roamed this northern ocean and when their wealth became oppressive they would come sailing up to Cape Flowanda and deposit the unwieldy surplus in a treas- ure vault they knew of. But the incon- stant sea has so encroached on their safe- deposit cave that it cannot now be en- tered, so the curious look for it in vain. But there is a great cross carved on a cliff that faces the sea, that was no doubt meant to point a moral and adorn a tale .. Several have told me of inscriptions seen on the rocks at Mt. Necarney, as also on cliffs where there was a landing at sea- cabalistic figures that seem to say they could a tale unfold-if they only would.
Those mountain terraces and gulches have been fairly honey-combed with holes dug, but are not known to have made any sign. A mythical story tells of a man who prospected that terrace and after due practice with pick and shovel "folded his tent like the Arabs, and as silently stole away." Some who had the curiosity to trace his course in life were astonished to learn that he was living in Oriental state in British Colum- bia and having a generally good time: that, too, before the rich mines of Trail creek had been discovered. or the City of Rossland had reached its present opu- lence.
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