USA > Oregon > The Oregon native son, Vol. I > Part 35
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Friendship, Protection, Charity! these are words that are not to be carelessly uttered; they imply obligations that are not to be lightly assumed. The benefits that flow from each are not to be regard- ed as mere matters of course or of de- mand, but should be hedged about by the limitation that he who would re- ceive should equally deserve. They should signify to every Native Son that while he, in the hour of his misfortune. may be the recipient of their bounty, yet his ear should be ever ready to hear, his eye to see, and his hand to relieve a . worthy brother's distress in the trying time of his necessity. In short, it should ever be borne in mind that "the only way to have a friend is to be one" and that real fraternity ties must rest upon this wholesome truth.
Such are briefly some of the features that characterize and embellish the fra- ternal side of our organization. There 4are other matters, however, that must claim our attention and that call for our most earnest consideration. We have
det. Ichforam if we will but ontar yoon the
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undertaking, a magnificent historical field in which to work. The history of Ore- gen abounds in interesting and valuable material. The discovery and settlement of this land constitute not only a final chapter in that world movement of Western exploration that began with the revival of learning in Europe, but also a brilliant page in that long-extended Westward advance of American energy and daring. The history of the discov- rry. exploration and settlement of the Oregon country and the story of its joint occupation and final disposition lend a gleam of glory to our national expansion and achievement and abound in many a deed of heroism and of valor. The tri- als and dangers of frontier life, the cru- cities and atrocities of Indian warfare, the hardships and privations of pioneer experience, find ample illustration in our carly history. The pioneer men and women of Oregon builded better than they knew, but only at the cost of cour- age and self-denial suffering and hard- ship, and by the aid Af toil and energy, faith and determination. These heroic men and women are fast passing to eternity's shore and the time is rapidly ebbing away when the records of the events and inci- dents of those early days may be gath- ered and preserved. Here is a field of labor that may well receive our attention, an opportunity that our obligations to our fathers and mothers. to ourselves, and to our native state, bid us to em- brace. It should be our immediate con- cern and constant aim and effort to se- cure every document, every memoran- dum, every relic, that may shed light upon those bygone times and to reduce to written or printed form every narra- tive and recital that may save from ob- livian now of the facts of our party! kr his-
tory. So important do I deem the im- mediate assumption of this laudable un- dertaking and its thorough and vigorous prosecution, that I now urge and sug- gest the creation of the office of historian and librarian in every cabin, said officer to act in conjunction with, and under the supervision of, the historian and librarian of the Grand Cabin in gathering and preserving whatever may be of historical interest and value. In this way we may be instrumental in doing a work of great usefulness to the state and in securing valuable data for the future historian. Such contribution may we make to the archives of state history, and in such manner may we honor Oregon's pio- neers and rear an enduring memorial to them. It is an undertaking by assuming which we may gratify them, do credit to ourselves and merit the general appro- bation of our fellow-citizens.
We are not confined and restricted, however, in the expression of our re- gard for Oregon, to directing our ac- tivities toward the past. We are all earnestly desirous of the continued growth and prosperity of the state. We would all gladly behold an increase in the products of our fields and forests, our mines and orchards. We would welcome the inception of new industries, the establishment of additional manufac- tures to utilize and enhance the value of our raw materials. We would rejoice to see the land teem with greater activity and augmented population, and blessed with multiplied happy homes and busy marts of trade. To that end we should give our encouragement and support to every enterprise looking to the de- velopment of Oregon's manifold and splendid resources, and contribute, each to the extent of his ability, to those pub- lic and private efforts that make for the
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welfare and betterment of the common- wealth. Not only should we display in- terest in the material prosperity of the state, but we should exhibit and give a constant support to the cause of educa- tion, a zealous aid toward the attain- ment of a higher and purer civic stand- ard, and a steadfast adherence to the demands of patriotic duty.
Such are the opportunities for good that the principles and purposes of our order present and invite you to accept. Let but the will and determination of its
membership be commensurate therewith and the Native Sons of Oregon will be- come one of the largest, most useful successful, and beneficent fraternal or ganizations within the state. Let us hope that such enthusiasm will prevail in every cabin and such an esprit de corps will permeate our ranks as to speedily bring about this desirable con- summation. And when we meet again may it be for us to say, "Thus far out fortune keeps an upward course, and we are graced with wreaths of victory."
AN UNKNOWN GRAVE. A Reminiscence of Pioneer Days.
His name was Frank. His parents came from Scotland and the Isle of Malta, but he was born in the State of Illinois. In 1852 he came to the Town of L-, in that state. His first ac- quaintance in the village was a lad of some ten summers, whose favorable opinion brought about an invitation to accompany the boy home. On arrival there, the lad's father saw in him what he believed to be faithfulness, and, as he intended to cross the plains the following year, and one of that character being needed on the trip, Frank was at once installed as one of the family. Friends sought to persuade the adventurous father from making the contemplated journey, but their stories of peril and hardship were of no avail: to decide was to act: and, after some time devoted to preparation, all was ready, and the date of starting fixed upon. .
In all this preparation Frank was ever faithful. The man and his family and employes became much attached to him. Although about grown, he was young in
experience and in a knowledge of the world. One thing, however, he did know, and that well. Although not a soldier, like a soldier he knew his first duty was to obey orders, and this he in- variably did, even to the frequent hazard of his own life.
At length the day of starting arrived. Friends for miles around, numbering a hundred or more, came to give farewell greetings, the departure of this family being the first event of the kind in that vicinity for the year. Two days before this, however, Frank had been given charge of a wagon load of flour. While his back was turned for a short time, the village thief attempted a sack, but Frank caught the scamp very soon and com- pelled him to give up his booty, but not before he had been dealt a staggerin ... blow. This suffering endeared him more. than ever to those with whom he was to make his future home.
As the final farewells were given to the weeping kindred and friends to be left behind, no one faced the future with
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greater resolution to make the best of everything tan Frank. That separa- tion was fine for most of that company, as less than half a dozen of the persons there assembled have seen each other in all the years since. The signal for start- ing was given, and two five-yoke ox teams and two two-span horse teams, with two families and three young men, numbering in all sixteen souls, began the westward march, buoyant and hopeful, which was destined to end seven months later in a condition of almost absolute want, with every resource exhausted, and most of the original company scattered. In all these trying experiences Frank could always be depended upon.
At the end of the six miles the first camp was made in the outskirts of a little village. Soon after, two partially intoxicated persons in passing by began molesting the contents of one of the wagons. Frank, being on duty, remon- strated. Sharp words ensued, with heavy blows following, and both intrud- ers were badly used up. Much excite- ment resulted,and the villagers in gen- eral said that Frank did not go beyond his duty; but it became necessary to pro- tect him with a strong guard to prevent his being shot.
The State of Iowa was traversed without special incident, and the Mis- souri river crossed at Kanesville, now Council Bluffs. The City of Omaha was vet in the future. At the first night's camp in what is now the great State of Nebraska, a lot of Pawnee Indians canie about and soon grew meddlesome. Frank had special instructions as to guard duty, and intently watched every- thing with jealous eye. True to their pilfering instincts, the Indians sought to convey away a number of articles under their blankets; but Frank remon-
strated with vigor, and one stalwart red man was most unexpectedly and severely handled, while the remainder sought safety in flight. Again Frank had to be closely guarded to save his life.
· · Weeks passed by and the homeseekers had passed Fort Laramie without fur- ther incident than the saving of the team from a buffalo stampede through the vigilance of Frank. One day, soon after this, at the noon hour, while the teams were permitted to rest and graze a little while, twenty or more Sioux Indians, with a number of Indian squaws and pappooses, came up and desired to bar- ter buffalo robes and moccasins for beads, tobacco, powder and shot. Some exchanges were made, but no powder and shot given. Meanwhile a number of the Indians began shooting at targets with arrows for prizes of small coin, and most of the white men were watching with much interest their marvelous skill in archery. While the attention of the immigrants, or most of them, was thus occupied, a young Indian, about grown, stealthily approached the rear of a wagon and stole a cup. Just as he was hiding it under his robe, Frank saw the move- ment and, with a sudden spring, felled the intruder with a single blow. The prostrate red man screamed as he came to his senses, and at once every arrow was pointed at Frank. Simultaneously the leader of the train, the friend and employer of Frank, discovering the ac- tion of the Indians, grabbed a rifle and, with uplifted trigger, drew a bead on the foremost one. Moments of breathless suspense followed and heartbeats could be heard. Finally, the Indians quailed before the determined aspect of the man behind the gun, put up their arrows. unstrung their bows, and sullenly rode off upon their ponies, with ominous
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grunts and scowling faces, which por- tended e il. The other members of the train reproached the leader for hazarding their lives, as they thought; but he de- fended his action, and declared he would pursue the same course again under like circumstances; and he further told them that if they did not like his methods they were under no obligations whatever to travel under his leadership.
Weary weeks then followed, with but little to break the awful monotony, ex- cept that on one night the entire com- pany came near perishing as the result of a terrific waterspout, which broke upon the camp awhile before daybreak. As in all other emergencies, so in this, Frank proved his metal by assisting to rescue the 5-year-old daughter of his employer from the swirling flood.
In due time the settlements were reached without other noteworthy inci- dent, so far as Frank was concerned. At all times, however, when the little company of travelers came in contact with other immigrants, he grew to be universally respected. While he zeal- ously performed every duty assigned to him, he was jealous of his own rights at all times, and carefully abstained from imposing upon others or giving inten- tional cause of offense. As the long jour- ney was ended, it seemed most fitting that Frank should make his home with the family with whom he had crossed the plains, there having grown up be- tween himself and each member thereof a strong mutual attachment, especially among the children. The oldest boy in particular greatly admired Frank, and in the woods and on the prairies. amidst wild beasts and wild Spanish cattle, the two were inseparable companions. With Frank as a guard and guide, the lad could go anywhere without fear of in- jury from any source
As on the plains, so in the settlements -very sparse they were, too-the steal- ing propensities of the Indians were daily displayed; and one day, as the boy was assisting his father in mixing some clay mortar for use in constructing an old-fashioned stick chimney, and left the hoe he was using for a few minutes, an Indian, supposing there was no one in sight, stealthily crept from behind a log near by, and grasped the hoe, attempting to make off with it. Frank came in sight just in the nick of time, pursued the re- treating savage, gave him a trouncing and recovered the implement. Being a chief's son, the Indian vowed vengeance. and not many months afterwards, Frank. being fond of the chase, returned home from a hunting trip and soon became seriously ill. He believed himself to have been poisoned, and, alas, it was too true. All efforts possible in those primitive days were used to restore the sufferer to health, but all to no purpose. As the days passed it became too plainly evident that his hours were numbered. Frank. himself, knew his earthly life would soon end, but accepted the inevitable without a murmur, and patiently and without a word of complaint bided his time. At length the time of his dissolution arrived. and he passed to the great beyond, with intimate friends surrounding him. all of whom could testify as one person that his life had been faithfully spent for oth- ers. The funeral ceremonies were brief and simple, in accordance with the cus- toms of those early days, but it can be safely said that no more sincere mourn- ers ever followed the corpse of a friend to its final earthly resting place than were present at the laying away of this faith- fuil one as the leaves were fading away late in the season of 1854, which was before the days of fixed cemeteries or burial places in the region where this
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death occurred. The site of the grave was at the edge of a small yet beautiful mound, surmounted by a graceful young fir, through the branches of which the passing wind has been sighing the requi- um of the departed one for nearly a half century. The boy referred to, as he goes
up and down the earth, never fails, when in the vicinity of that unknown grave, to go thither and recall the affectionate and unwearied faithfulness and trust. worthiness of the one who was buried there. Frank was a dog.
GEORGE H. HIMES. "
OREGON INDUSTRIAL EXPOSITION.
The Oregon Industrial Exposition, which is to be held at Portland from September 28 to October 28. is to be representative of the entire Northwest. Products of field, forest, farm, factory, orchard and mine will be on exhibition in an attractive manner, and every state in the Pacific Northwest will be repre- sented by its products, all of which will be plainly labeled, and will speak louder than words for the locality 'which pro- duced them. Many travelers are visiting the coast this season. and a full collec- tion of products of the Northwest. cen- trally located at Portland, gives them an opportunity to see at a glance just what this section of the country can produce, and they carry away with them new ideas of the natural resources of this re- gion, and those ideas, based on actual observation, result in making this region well known abroad, and causes new peo- ple with capital to come here, locate, in- crease the population and wealth and the general production.
An executive committee of representa- tive business men conduct the Oregon Industrial Exposition, and 'devote a great deal of their time to its details and successful management. The only com- pensation these men receive or desire is the advancement of the Northwest and the general good of all its people. No manos in madanest of the out of the exposition It
takes considerable cash to carry on such a great enterprise. As a starter, the business men of Portland subscribe $12,000 in cash to meet preliminary ex- penses. After all bills are paid, this fund is returned to subscribers, if it is in the treasury. Otherwise a proportion of it is returned. The income of the exposi- tion is from admission fees, which are put down to 25 cents each, and Io cents for children. Of the thousands who at- tend, all agree that the entertainment and instruction received is worth many . times the price of admission. Amuse- ment and elevating features of the ex- position are never neglected, and will be first class. The committee pays $10,000 for music and amusement features alone. Among special features of this year's exposition will be a reunion of Oregon's veteran soldiers and sailors, and proba- bly presentation of a sword to Captain Clarke, of the battle-ship Oregon. The National Guard of Oregon will have ex- hibition competitive drills for cash prizes. Amateur photographers will be encour- aged to place their best work on exhibi- tion, and will be awarded $150 in prizes.
Railroad and steamboat lines will give special low rates during the exposition, so that thousands of people may make special trips to Portland between Sep- tember 28 and October 28.
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Tie business men who compose the exposition general committee are: H. C. Breeden, president; I. N. Fleischner, vice-president; R. J. Holmes, treasurer; W. B. Struble, secretary; E. C. Masten, assistant secretary; H. E. Dosch, audi- tor; George L. Baker, superintendent;
J. P. Marshall, E. T. Williams, Ben Sell- ing, H. L. Pittock, D. Solis Cohen, C B. Williams, Dan McAllen, A. B. Stein bach, J. E. Thielsen, D. M. Dunne. R. C. Judson, L. M. Spiegl, Sig Sichel, H. D. Ramsdell, B. S. Pague.
MOUNTAIN LORE.
It is some time since we have had an excitement about old Mount Hood belching forth, but on Saturday last the active puffs, in dense, black smoke, were witnessed by hundreds of people in this city. The fumes appeared to rise from the deep gorge in the southwestern side, and were so thick as to literally obscure the view of the summit at times. It may be that this is but the vent hole of an immense furnace firing up in Mexico or South America .- Oregonian, Mon- day, September 25, 1865.
John Denver, of company E, First regiment Washington Territory volun- teers, writes to us under date of Septem- ber 24, frofit Vancouver, as follows: "On the morning of the 21st I was posted on guard at the magazine at this fort. Be- tween the hours of 5 and 7 o'clock, as the morning was particularly bright for this season of the year, my attention was naturally drawn towards the east, to wel- come the day god as he arose to the horizon. Judge. then, of my surprise to see the top of Mount Hood enveloped in smoke and flame. Yes, sir, real jets of flame shot upwards seemingly a dis- tance of 15 or 20 feet above the moun- tain height, accompanied by discharges of what appeared to be fragments of
rock, cast up a considerable distance, which I could perceive fell immediately after with a rumbling noise not unlike distant thunder. This phenomenon was witnessed by other members of the guard as well as your humble servant." -Oregonian, September 26, 1865.
Napoleon McGilvery, a resident of Vancouver, Wash., thus speaks of the eruption of Mount St. Helens, in 1842: "The mountain was not visible @bm Vancouver at any time. The erupcion probably occurred on one day, and was not discovered by us until the next. when, upon going out early in the morn- ing, gray white ashes were found to cover the ground as a light fall of snow. Both days were beautiful and clear. There was no traveling at that time away from water courses, except by Indians. and very little by them. It has been published that during this eruption an Indian was caught in the hot lava, was badly burned and taken to Vancouver .. where he was treated by Dr. McLaugh- lin. I had charge of the commissary, so that such an incident could not have happened without my knowledge, and I never heard of it until very recently."
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DREAMS.
Dreams. W. at are they? Did you ever stop to think? It is said that in carly times men studied them and under- stood what they signified. Do you know vi any one studying them now? Instead of giving to them critical and persistent investigation, we are afraid some one will laugh, so, cowards that we are, we think it is smart to do a little ridiculing ourselves, or, on the other hand, we love to sit in the twilight and tell of all the wonderful things old Mother Hubbard or Mary Jane Baxter dream. There is no credit in either cowardice or credu- lity; between them, however, is a vast field for investigation and discovery, and if science would give it half the attention it is bestowing on the whereabouts of the north pole, we would know a great deal more about them than we do. Dreams, like all else in nature, are a fixed reality, subject to certain laws of which we know practically nothing. I know but little of them, but in my crude way have progressed far enough to know that I have three separate Lunds. First, an indiscriminate mixture of acts and scenes, without continuity or sense. Second, clear, connected, vivid scenes, as real as everyday life, from which I sometimes awaken at the climax, but without any feeling that they signify aught. Third, same as the second, ex- cept that I always awaken at the climax with a start, as also a strong impression that the dream signifies something, good or bad. As far as my observation goes, this kind never fails to be verified within a day or so; however, such dreams are very rare, as far as I know. Within 10 years I have probably had a dozen. One strange feature of the second and third
classes is, it matters not how vivid they may be upon awakening, unless an un- usual effort is made to rouse myself and recount the details before again passing into slumber, they are entirely forgotten, or nearly so, in the morning, and even then they are apt to pass from recollec- tion; so, if deemed of sufficient import- ance to justify it, I write them down at once.
I have an unsupported theory on this subject, which is, that life, thought, mind, intellect and spirit are one and the same, except that spirit is free from all restraint, whereas the others are con- fined to the body. When the mind passes out of the body it becomes a spirit and cannot again enter it. Under certain conditions, however, the body resembles death, and at such times spirit and thought draw near together, the result being a very slight contact. During all this time the body retains the mind in every atom, so that a slight injury to the flesh thrills the body and startles life with pain. Not so in the case of hyp- notism, wherein no injury to the body seems to awaken suffering. Hypnotism is a form of sleep, during which the mind is controlled by another mind. What is the difference between dreams and hypnotism? My answer would be that in dreams the mind is slightly in- fluenced by a spirit, whereas, in hyp- notism it is influenced by another mind. Scientific investigation will some day discover the connecting link between mind and spirit in a dream, the result of which will be as great a wonder as elec- tricity or liquefied air.
W. G. STEEL.
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LITERATURE.
"An Oregon Boyhood," by Louis Al- bert Banks, is an excellent portrayal of the homely life of a lad in the wilds of Oregon in early days. It is a valuable acquisition to Oregon literature, and one of the first books published, vividly de- scribing home scenes and boys' adven- tures in forests and mountains, as well as in the golden Willamette valley of the Webfoot state. It seems a pity, how- ever, that so excellent a writer as the Rev. Mr. Banks, should print in a book under his own signature, another man's writings without giving credit, as is the case in that portion relating to Crater lake. In beginning the description of this wonderful lake, he rewrites W. G. Steel's article in "The Mountains of Oregon," but the tradition of the lake is copied verbatim and given as original matter. We have not seen Mr. Banks' other works, of which there are several, but hope they are free from this perni- cious fault. "An Oregon Boyhood" is published by Lee & Shepard, of New York, and only needs to be intrAluced to the boys of the state to become im- mensely popular No native son can read it without feeling an ever increasing pride in his state. Parents selecting reading matter for their children would do well to bear this book in mind.
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