USA > Oregon > The Oregon native son, Vol. I > Part 48
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One of the earlier pioneers of Port- land upon noticing in the advertising columns of the October number of the Native Son that a 58-piece dinner set could be purchased for $4.56, stated that 6 very plain cups and saucers, or that number of plates cost $2 50 in 1846, a quality of crockery. that could now be bought in like quantity for 25 cents. Portland has in some respects grown to be a much less expensive place to live in than it used to be.
Louis Phillipe, King of France, gave 3,000 francs to the Catholic missions of Oregon in 1845, and his ministers of marine and the interior each gave, at his instance. 7.200 frances additional.
A DEER HUNT IN THE COAST RANGE
The display of an up-to-date repeating rifle to the average professional or busi- ness man or clerk of the Middle East would come nearer starting cold chills up and down his spine than making him jump over the counter in his haste to get up a party to go to the mountains for a hunt. Here in Oregon it is different. No greater contrast could be imagined than the actual appearance of the aver- age storekeeper, clerk or business or professional man of whatever calling, when at home in his daily routine and when enjoying his annual outing. The eye and the arm that sc carefully and tenderly measure the dainty fabrics be- hind the drygoods counter, mix pills in a drug store. or weigh coffee and sugar in a grocery, are, if possible, still more adept in handling the trusty Winchester and directing its swift death-pellets to the vitals of the fleeing deer. the prying panther and wild cat. and the leery but lubberly black bear. while landing the "speckled beauties" by the dozen is but an exercise for the benefit of the circula- tion during periods of profoundest rev- erie.
A fishing and hunting trip in the mountains is to the resident of the Wil- lamette Valley what sarsparilla and cod liver oil are to the denizens of Kansas. Nebraska and the central states, except that the results obtained from the former are much more effective. A bad taste in the mouth and that proverbial "tired feel- ing" suggests a trip to the mountains and beach for the weary Oregonian as naturally as they suggest a dose of pills to the woebegone citizen of Illinois or Ohio.
There is a certain charm in the aver- age stereotyped deer hunt, dreamed out by some gushing aspirant for literary honors akin to those of the mental man- ager of Allan Quartermain, but the ear- marks of fiction are so prominent in the records of great kills and the woeful lack of detail so essential in the real thing, that both the authenticity of the narrative and the appreciation of its real foundation are alike extremely question- able to the resident of the Pacific slope.
To chronicle the incidents of a deer hunt in the Coast Range and do it jus- tice, is to begin where we did in carrying out the same, and proceed likewise ac- cordingly. First make up your mind that the town is too slow during this period of little business and less profit. and that you need the invigorating influ- ence of mountain air. venison and trout for a season to brace you up. That is a proper inspiration, and when backed by a growing uneasiness in the bowels, bad taste in the mouth on arising after dreams of joining the Methodist church on a doubtful probation, or engaging as an apprentice to an undertaker. your haste in getting ready for the trip will be exceeded only by your desire to get there and bask in the balmy breezes be- side bubbling brooks or snore in ser- aphic sublimity and silent seclusion 'neath silvery stars and sequestered shad- ows, or dream of pursuing the gay ga- zelle on the wings of the wind. bearding bruin in his den, and having a royal time generally.
A certain old. bay horse, possessing many remarkable points, and whose an- tecedents were far more doubtful than his apparent need of an outing and change of diet, is yet a living witness of the authenticity of the following, and if he could talk he could tell more than I dare attempt. He it was who fell under the covetous eyes of the one of our party chosen to secure locomotion for our ex- pedition-but first of the party.
An over-grown peanut vender who dispenses cakes, cookies, candy crackers and canned goods in connection: and en- joys the distinction of a retired Klon- diker. is first-in avoirdupoise, at least, and shall be known as Oli- ver. Redmond, who does the cir- cular work in
a fence factory. comes next, and Harris, a printer, last. This we have the three departments of civilization and progress: the retailer. manufacturer, and the advertiser, edu- cator or public benefactor and philan- thropist. In the Middle East such a party would know about as much about hunting deer as this one did about catch-
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A DEER HUNT IN THE COAST RANGE.
ing crocodiles, but, as aforesaid, it is different in Oregon.
Having loaded blankets, grub, guns, ammunition and fishing tackle on a buckboard, with Shadow, a faithful bay horse, between the shafts, we leave town about 8 A. M., for Meadow Lake, a pop- ular Yamhill resort, about twenty miles
In the morning, after a breakfast of trout, etc., we begin preparations for our journey up hill. Having failed to pro- vide ourselves with the most approved footwear for climbing steep inclines, logs, etc., we make the best of what we have by filling the thick soles of our shoes full of nails, each of which is cut
"Finally we strike a trail leading down a prominent ridge."
northwest, near the summit of the Coast mountains. The lake is about a mile long and from 80 to 500 yards wide. Good healthy trout abound here and when in good humor they bite quite fre- quently. Those you succeed in landing are always the best kind for eating.
We arrive at the lake carly in the afternoon, pitch our tent. catch enough trout for breakfast and discuss the mo- dus operandi for our trip over the moun- tains.
off about one-sixteenth of an inch from the leather. We then seggregate the most needed cooking utensils and most substantial eatables for the trip. A hur- ried lunch was again prepared and caten. after which Shadow was packed with all save our bedding, which each had to carry for himself.
It was here a pack was prepared which the writer has never vet seen mentioned in print. The celebrated "diamond hitch" is ably seconded in the "overalls
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OREGON NATIVE SON.
pack." This pack can be made with an ordinary pair of pantaloons. but the over- all's with high front and suspenders at- tached are the proper things. The pack is rolled and the pants drawn out at one end. The suspenders are buckled around, just as they are over the should- ers, after which the legs are drawn back loosely and the ends secured to the far- ther end of the pack which is then put on just like a vest, the legs of the overalls forming the front and the pack the back. If properly made it is guaranteed not to chafe and to stay on until taken off by the proper bodily contortions. The pack was probably originated by our friend and companion, Oliver, while in the far north where nothing more adaptable could be imagined than a superfluous pair of overalls.
Everything in readiness we are ferried across the lake in an old scow and begin our journey to the crest of Bald moun- tain, about six miles south-heavenward. The two general directions taken are south and up.
As you toil upward a great philosoph- ical truth is vividly impressed. The fact that the farther an object falls the faster it goes, proves that the earth's central at- traction increases the nearer you ap- proach it. Likewise, as you go upward, every succeeding resting place seems to refresh you more than the last. until, when you near your journey's end you actually feel more able to repeat the same than when you started. The effect of the high altitude continues to impress this truth. After a day's climb in the hot sun, sweating until every thread of clothing is wringing wet. you rest for thirty minutes, eat a lunch and are equally as fresh as a rest of the same number of hours would make you, and in far better condition to continue your exercise, because the longer relaxation would retard the accumulation of strength. In a moral sense. too. this would seem to apply. The lower a man gets the tighter seem the ties that bind him down, while every succeeding up- ward step is easier and brings brighter views of the future than the last.
At five o'clock we arrive at Lebold's cabin-or rather its ruins-in a little de- pression near the apex of Bald moun-
tain. This is to be our headquarters for a three ( ays' sojourn-not the cabin, for its walls are no more, the roof of cedar shakes alone lying so close to the ground that it could serve only as shel- ter for sheep or swine. A friendly bunch of alders near by is a convenient spot, and we proceed to kindle a fire. While Oliver prepares supper of sow-bellv. fried potatoes, coffee and bread, the re- maining two proceed to erect a table about the base of the alders and subse- quently gather several armfuls of fern to spread on the ground and suffice for spring mattresses and feather beds. Supper over, likewise a smoke, and we are soon rolled in our blankets and off for the land of Nod.
The first we remember after retiring 'neath heaven's star-set canopy is a gen- tle awakening to behold a feast of good things spread out before us, while round about us are numerous servants and a number of sleek but restless hounds of thoroughbred stock. The former are busy making all things ready for the start. and the hounds are bound- ing here and there in exuberant spirits in anticipation of the hunt. The little cove seems transformed into a picturesque place of historic gran- deur with buildings of antique archi- tecture. The situation is regarded in a very matter-of-fact wav, the time and incidents slipping quickly and smoothly by. We are off. the changing scenes rotate in natural but quick succession. the hounds start game, the sport is ou and every hot kills.
"Hey, you fellers! If you want to go huntin 'with me. you better roll out and eat your snack pretty lively, now."
The words of our good-natured cook fell like a thunderbolt. There is a kalid- oscopic flutter of confusing scenes, and hounds, game and exuberant spirits are gone. We begin to stretch ourselves and soliloquise that probably our most successful hunt for that day had been spoiled.
The eastern sky is tinged with gray as we eat our morning meal. In a re- markably short time our bedding is thrown into a pile, dishes and eatables stacked on the table, and we are off in search of game. We have not forgotten
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A DEER HUNT IN THE COAST RANGE.
ing tackle and a lunch for noon. We nd to reconnoitre today, anl find ere the game is best and trout the test. As we proceed fresh deer is become plenteous and the caution- with which we approach every suc- ling bench or minature plateau is exceeded by our eagerness to get a t. We are separated to distances of n one to five hundred yards to meet given point ahead. As we come to- 1er Redmond says:
I tell you, boys, they are here. I
It was then twenty-five yards away."
expected to hear you fellers shoot le I scared up."
Then you really put one up. did Sure."
low far away was he? Why didn't plug him?"
)11, I didn't see the deer, but I came his bed, and really, boys, the fern 's were just straightening up."
any such experiences were met with ng the day, but as to actually seeing leer, we did not. Sign by the whole- but. according to our analysis, the had gone lower. even before we had ed. They gradually work upward le evening, sleep well up toward the ntain's top and retreat from the ad- ing day to the shadow of the groves brush that line the edges of the ms or skirt the vicinity of their nu- Mis sources. Finally we strike a leading down a prominent ridge. making a general descent toward bed of the picturesque Nestucca.
We note the fine stand of salal berries which in a few weeks more will entice the festive bruin to higher ground and pro- vide for him the most sumptous living of the year.
Arriving at the Nestucca's bed, one is rendered well-nigh speechless at the grandeur of its scenery. It is a Nile in miniature, provided especially for the favored residents of a chosen clime. Its solid rock bottom and sides seem so con- structed that the delighted visitor may be clean and secure while admiring what represents the variegated construction of the bed and banks of the most pictur- esque streams of the world. It is the perfect production of the art of nature, in which she has reproduced in mina- ture and especial design and composi- tion all there is to be seen in all her beautiful streams. Its sparkling fluid does not need swallowing to intoxicate. A glance into its mirror-like ripples brings inspirations the like of which can- not come from wine. No wonder the very trout were endowed with wisdom too great to be lured to the deadly hooks cast by such crude and boisterous hands. But they were there and could be seen darting hither and thither with a speed only equalled by chain lightning and Mauser bullets. We followed the , course of this stream about four miles, pausing on the way to eat our lunch and again to take a shot at a friendly bough which we mistook for a deer. Having caught no fish and concluding we want- ed none. we begin our journey back to camp. The principal direction is straight up, the distance about three miles. Hot! Shades of his Satanic Majesty, I should say so! and no water until three-fourths of the distance is covered. Ingersoll would have improved on nature by mak- ing good health hereditary. We would second him by making the earth's axis horizontal. so temperature would be more even. Our only difficulty, as our Alaskan friend remarked. was in getting used to it.
Six-thirty brings us to camp with a good supply of "hunter's luck," which is much enhanced at home during our absence. A trio of friendly cows had called, and in keeping with the most
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OREGON NATIVE SON.
Photo by McAlpin. JUSTUS M. STROWBRIDGE, A Pioneer of 1853.
Photo by Davies.
JOSEPH TEAL. A Pioneer of 1852.
Photo by Moore. E. MENDENHALL, A Pioneer of 1855.
Photo by Moore. ELIJAH CORBETT.
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A DEER HUNT IN THE COAST RANGE.
pproved social custom. had left their ards. They had made themselves at ome, feeling, no doubt. that it was their ome too. They sampled our eatables nd what they liked they ate and what hey didn't they amply proved was not to heir liking. A sack of salt and one of brown sugar had vanished. and the mu- ilated remains of a large chunk of acon was found among the broken er1. Oliver, who is somewhat religious, ust faith in cattle when he discovered hat these had really devoured half the ontents of his box of smoking tobacco. Two things had been accomplished or this day's work, viz .: the accummula- ion of a goodly amount of experience nd- the christening of our mountain amp. Our cook had referred to it as irass Onery camp, and that name will ecall it with all tender recollections intil time for us shall cease.
Through pity for the chagrin of his companions, Harris resolved to remain nd straighten up the camp next morn- 11g. Oliver and Redmond are up with he sun and off in another direction. Camp placed in order, monotony grows ntense with the lonely print. He houlders his gun and puts off for Bald mountain's highest point about three quarters of a mile away. Gradually vending his way to the opposite side of he knob, he mounted a huge log from whence fate or fortune had predestined o create an epoch in his life. Walking lemurely to the further end of the log which inclined enough to bring him to n elevation of about twelve feet, and nicely above the rank growth of fern. he is suddenly treated to a sight that makes his heart-beats resound like a bass drum in a Salvation band. Scared? No. Excited? Just a little. Buck ague? Not a bit. Just a great bubbling-over of hanksgiving at being se favored as to o be alone and have all the fun and tonor there is in killing the first deer of he trip, and the first he ever saw in a vild state. When first discovered. it was 11 the act of bounding above the fern to iscertain what was coming. It was then bout 25 yards away. but before a glimpse of it could be had long enough " peek over the rifle barrel. it was 75
yards distant. The first shot pierced it square through the body, but it flound- ered away down the mountain so well that two more bullets were deemed nec- essary to stop it for good. It was not large, but was in prime condition and was hustled to camp with all possible haste, which, let me assure you, was not fast. Here was impressed the "sport" not generally discussed before the no- vice in a prospective deer hunt.
A fire was soon kindled and prepara- . tions made to feed two hungry pedes- trians with another load of "luck." What a treat was in store for them. How the good fortune of the fellow who stayed at home would cheer them up. But they were also discussing the glad sur- prise they had for the unfortunate type- slinger. They had not been gone more than two hours when deer were sighted about four hundred yards distant across a canyon. A shot or two was taken to get the range when a fine buck was brought down.
A curious thing is true with deer. If a hunter keeps his body out of sight, he can usually shoot at a deer until he hits it. as they will seldom run until they dis- cover their enemy or are hit.
The boys had killed their deer well down the mountain at about 7 a. m. and it was I p. m. by the time they got it to the trail. Arriving in camp at 2. all en- joyed a hearty dinner as well as the incidental good luck of both depart- ments of the enterprise.
Four p. m. found us all on the move again, taking heart from our good for- tune, we felt that this was our day. . Go- ing over Bald mountain to the vicinity of the printer's triumph, we discover a picturesque cove that nestles at the in- ception of Willamina creek. Redmond remarked that if we wanted deer all we. had to was to find them in that spot. That they were there, was not a matter of conjecture. We decided to work this nook in an approved style. Oliver was to take a stand on an imposing ridge on the west, while Redmond and Harris entered it at different points from the east and chased out the ganie. The latter twain had not nearly reached the cove when Oliver began shooting. His tenth
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OREGON NATIVE SON.
shot had been fired ere we entered the cove, and when our advance guard reach- ed thescene of action he had scored four- ten shots. He had discovered a large buck from a distance five hundred yards up the mountain, and possessing a gun warranted to kill at a mile (provided you hit), he began to test it. The soil being damp, he was unable to tell where he was shooting, but despairing not, as long as the deer furnished a target, he kept blazing away. During its absence from view he improved the time in get- ting nearer, but it never would fail to
"And this is how it is secured."
reappear soon, evidently realizing that it was surrounded. Again luck favored the printer. He was first to arrive on shooting ground, but the deer had been hit by Oliver, he had sent a ball through its back. But it still had pretty good use of its legs and was darting hither and thither among the fern. Oliver soon ar- rived, and both being in close proximity, it took but a few more shots to bring down the game.
Then began the "sport" previously alluded to, and this is how it is secured. First the entrats are removed and a mass of fern placed in the cavity to absorb what blood remains, except an ample reserve for the back of the waistcoat and pantaloons. The fore legs are disjointed at the knee, leaving the skin connected; this is stripped about half way down the detached bone which then forms a cross
stick or "dutch button" as it is sonte- times called. This is then slipped through the gamble-cord of the hind leg, the cross-stick making it secure. Both sides similarly arranged, the deer is then slung on the back; the fore leg- come down over the shoulders and the hind ones straddle the back and pro- trude beneath the arms.
If the records and statistics were pre- served, there can be no doubt but that the most phenomenal feats of human strenght and endurance are performed at such times, and that with scarcely a reflection in that particular light. In- agine a 125-pound man with a 100- pound deer on his back, climbing logs at an angle of 45 degrees and calling it sport. Imagination is curiously affected too. While it doubtless has much to do in diminishing the real fatigue of the body, it also has a potent effect on the post mortem growth of the deer. Na- ture, then, as she is always doing, places man in an unenviable light, by bringing her magic power to bear in drying out. or in some curious way doing away with 25 to 30 pounds of its weight before getting to camp, and to cap the climax. the scales, in their hilarity and exhila- tion, show the human organism to be many pounds heavier. It would be strange, indeed, if any little matter like this had any effect on the veracity of man.
At 8:30, after good hard climbing. He reach the trail about a half mile nearer camp than the point where the other deer is deposited. This one is likewise placed in a sheltered spot, the location carefully taken. and we pull out for cámp, intending to pack up for the re turn to the lake on the following day Interest is kept up during the night by the anxiety for the safety of our deer from other animals including the "genu- homo" which was rather numerous in near-by sections at this time.
We are up with the dawn and soon ou our way campward. A remnant of the small deer was carried in our grub sack and the two others were lashed on the back of Shadow who bore them safe !" camp.
We were the heroes of the hour at the
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THE BLUE-JAY A FORTUNE TELLER.
ake. Our friends dined us in style and ve reciprocated in part with a piece of 'ension. " Next day we pulled stakes,
having spent the week in as grand a style as we could have wished.
R. A. HARRIS.
THE BLUE-JAY A FORTUNE TELLER.
Somewhere near the time when Hood ind Adams were in love with fair St. Helens, the Blue-Jay was a "hyas-tyee" among the legendary gods and goddess- 's who inhabited the earth before the creation of the present race of Indians.
His special forte was that of predicting future events. Just how he became re- luced in importance and fell to the low legree of a chatetrer, is not fully de- scribed by the Indians. They, however, believe that he still possesses the ability to foretell good or evil, and in his "wa- wa," or talk, find cause for hope or dis- may, according to the manner of his peech, for of course he talks to them. when he gives his long double call, they believe that such means good luck to them. On the contrary, should his voice be tuned to chatter, some evil is consid- vred at hand and on such occasions the. Indians grow alarmed and are very care- ful to scout their locality before continu- ing a journey being made, or settle down to indifference.
An old pioneer makes the statement
The holding of county fairs in Oregon began in the fifties. Three of her coun- ties beginning such enterprises in the same year. The first held was in Yam- hill county, beginning on the 7th of Oct- ober, 1854, Marion county followed on the 11th, and Polk on the 12th.
The exhibits of horses and cattle were said to have been very creditable for that time, but those of sheep, fruits, and grain and manufacturing industries were almost nothing. The races were principally of the run- ning class, trotters not having received mlich attention up to that time.
The state fairs first began in 1861.
The last memorial presented to con- gress by the provisional government of
that the refusal of the Cowlitz Indians to join the confederation of the coast and east of the mountain Indians in 1855, as planned by Kamiakin, Leschi and oth- ers, was due to the chattering of Blue- Jays. When the envoys of the war chiefs came the braves among the Cowlitz as- sembled, the younger portion, after lis- tening to the plans outlined, being in favor of war. The older ones, however, especially one of them esteemed as "big medicine." was for peace, and assured them that disaster would be the result if they entered into strife with the whites, and in support of his arguments called their attention to the incessant chatter some Blue-Jays had kept up during the time the envoy and the young men were speaking. Unable to accomplish the purpose for which he came the envoy departed, only to return some days later, but he had hardly gained the outskirts of the encampment before the Blue-Jays again set up their chatter, when he hur- riedly left, leaving that tribe as one op- posed to the war afterwards inaugurated, and in which they took no part.
Oregon. was penned Henry M. Peers, a British subject. Mr. Peers was a rep- resentative of the provisional legislature from Vancouver county (now Clarke) at that time.
It is said that the oldest twin boys born in Oregon of American parentage, who lived to manhood, first saw the light of day near Jacksonville. They are G. M. and D. S. Stearns, both prominently identified with real estate interests. They were born September 18. 1857. Their parents were pioneers of 1853.
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