USA > Oregon > The Oregon native son, Vol. I > Part 55
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The salmon still are many, and they climb the streams each year; But the Siwash 4 and the mowitch, 5 how fast they disappear! It seems as if my people were all fated soon to go To the silent, distant hunting grounds where went the buffalo. The rivers still flow seaward, and the mountains stand the same; The Indian follows on the trail where went the vanished game.
Back in the early days of all the Siwash men were few; Before they dwelt in all the land as far as falls the dew They snowy peaks that north and south now rise to summits grand Stood here the river's flow beside, and watched it near at head. The Spirit of the Storms kept one, and when his robe he shook, The roar that swept the clouds along was heard to far Chinook; His was the snowy peak, far south, whose name with you is Hood; Mount Adams, whiter than the snow. across the river stood; 'Twas there the spirit dwelt whose fires flash from the mountain's shroud In lightning strokes that signal when shall peal the stormy cloud- Dread spirits, born of gloomy power, whose anger sometimes woke In jealous wrath, and then would flash the lightning's fiery stroke; Then thunder, with its muffled roll, would answer, peal on pear, And fires would light the mountain side, like blows of flint on steel. Far-reaching then, from mount to mount, in one broad native span, A rock-hewn arch, or bridge, was thrown, 'neath which the river ran; And with its flow the light canoe went down the tranquil stream, While underneath the darkling arch the river gave no gleam.
A pilgrim to this mountain arch oft'times the hunter came, And on the stone of sacrifice made offering of his game: The choicest salmon of the streams the fisher brought and gave, To yield the Spirit Father back a tribute from the wave. And often joining in the throng two strangers would appear, Tufted in eagle feathers long, and dressed in skins of deer, All braided with such rare device as Indian never wore This side the happy hunting grounds upon the farther shore.
Chief.
2 The Highest. 3 Horses. 4 Indian. 5 Deer.
TA
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And here was held high carnival when many tribes were met. For festival and worship joined. The legend lingers yet That, circled on the river's arch, the tribes looked on -- each one --- While fairest maids laid sacrifice upon the altar stone. Rude flames leaped up from mossy logs high piled the arch along, And by their glare the aged priest doled out his chanted song. His child. the priestess of the arch, of Indian maids most fair, On altar steps with hands out-stretched, and with wide-flowing hair, As one entranced by vision, stood, all statue-like and still- A bronze ideal votaress who knew no self nor will.
From where the crescent shape slow climbed the ranges far away, The moonlight, cleaving through the sky, proclaimed the waning day; Deftly its gleams came struggling through the flame-lit gorge below; Slowly the evening stars came down to glint the river's flow; The sombre shades of night had crept into the twilight's hush, The soughing wind and restless leaf toned the dark river's rush- A weird cadence that suited well the lonely chanted rite, As deep-voiced woods or lone sea swells blend in the far-off night.
The bravest of the braves loved Mentonee, who fed the sacred flame, And hoping to deserve her love, they sought for fields of fame; And when they launched the light canoe. or swept the lowland plain, Or scaled to heights of summer snow. they hoped her love to gain. And one there was of noblest deeds, and of a chieftain's line, Who loved fair Mentonee from far, and worshiped at her shrine. He uttered never word of love; He wooed no other maid; But, voiceless, at her vestal feet, gifts from the chase he laid. No voice to thought gave utterance his soul s one deep desire; He watched and worshiped as afar she fed her altar's fire. Vigils by night would guard her lodge if danger hovered nigh, And his the truest arm that e'er let feathered arrow fly.
And she was priestess of the arch. She fed her sacred fire Unpassioned by a mortal throb, unfelt love's swift desire. Slowly the waiting months came round-surely the fates came true- Swift come or slow. they ever found her love to Heaven still due. And pleading at the sacred shrine, her chanted prayer arose To ask no boon of human love, but baim for human woes. No vestal ever fed the lamp with soul more chastely fair; No altar of earth's worshipers was tended with such care.
As, standing by the altar's glow, we list the priest's low song, The genii of the snowy mounts go gliding through the throng. Her voice keeps time-beat with the flames that claim her sacrifice. With mystic presence by her side the spirits seek device To win from her a word, a look. Now summer lightnings flash; Now through the gloom of nearer hills we hear the thunder crash; Then rising into forms of shade, these jealous spirits grow To giant height on either hand. and fiercer flashes glow. Her rite has ended: yet she stands there statue-like and still, Unheeding all the demon strife-no thought of coming ill. On one bank darts the living fire, on other hand a cloud, And answering back the bolts of flame. the thunder peals aloud. Amid the gleaming of the fire a flame-wrapped form is seen. And robed in shadows of the cloud is shape of angry mien.
They strove, and 'neath their earthquake tread tall pines and cliff shores shook; The lofty forests prostrate fell. The awe-struck tribes forsook The quivering arch, whose mighty span rocked o'er the wondering tide, Till every beating heart thereon with fear seemed petrified- Save two. and one had ceased to beat; her form was reft of life. Even as she worshiped she had died-slain in the demon strife. Nor died she there alone; nor hellish strife nor earthquake shock Spoke fear to Tamalis' great love to drive him from that rock.
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Fire answered fire from mountain high, cloud answered peal to cloud, The great arch hung in space awhile. and then it tottering bowed; And as it fell the gleamings high of sacrificial flame Lit up the maid's imploring form, that stood in death the same --- Her head uplift, her arm upraised, and her beseeching eye- Went down to meet the whelming wave fixed on the night's deep sky, And he. so mute of love in life. whose heart such silence kept, Stood by and clasped the lifeless form as downwardly they swept.
We watch the grand Cascade today where once that arch uprose, And yonder, where were forests once, now deep the river flows! Still giant trunks, beneath the wave. mark where the forest stood. And, monuments of ages flown, are stone instead of wood. No more the snowy mountains stand and guard Columbia's wave; No more the spirits of the heights abuse the powers Heaven gave. The Great Sahalie's angry hand, 'gainst which none dare rebel. Has set the snowy peaks apart, and bids them far to dwell. Prisoned in each, for aye and aye, deep in the realms of fire, The angry spirits utter still the ventings of their ire- When Hood its sulphry vapor heaves upon the wintry air, When Adams from its deepest depths sends groanings of despair.
When falls the twilight of that day-once more in every year- That fell the arch, it comes again; again the tribes appear; Then snowy mounts and wondrous span look on Columbia's flow, While gleaming fires of sacrifice on waiting worship glow, And charm-ed hush and mystic spell dwell on the haunted air The while the priestess tends her fire or lowly chants her prayer.
Old *Ma-ki-ak, once a chief among the Klickitats, but who had to leave the ancient home of his people through his being friendly to the whites during the Indian war of 1855-56. often told to those he liked and trusted, a different version. His story was, that ages ago when the earth was created and man placed thereon, all was a paradise. Hunger was unknown and cold a strang- er. The Great Spirit whose home was the sun. was ever near, contributing warmth. and his bounteous hand sup- plied the festive board unceasingly. The first location of Eden was in the east, but when sons and daughters were born to the original couple created. troubles began to arise over the occupa- tion and ownership of the lands they then lived upon, the first born claiming the right to it all. To settle this dispute, the Great Spirit resolved upon their removal to a new location and establish a land law for their guidance, which was to re- main a statute for all time.
*Ma:ki-ah lived for years on the farm of the late Dr. James McBride, in Yamhill county. after his leaving the Klickitat coun-
Upon their seeking repose he caused an unusual sleep to come over them, and while in their somnolent condition hie conveyed them far to the west, and on their awakening in the morning they found themselves on the crest of a high mountain, coursing through which ran a mighty river. At the foot of the range lay a scope of country suitable for habi- tation. The original parents had, before this, gone the way of all flesh. To the two eldest sons the Great Spirit said: "Each of you place an arrow in your bo; and shoot it into the heavens, and which ever way it shall go, shall you follow taking your families and descendent- with you. There shall you be lead chief, but all shall possess the land it common." Doing as bidden, one arros fell into the Willamette valley, while the other was carried to the broad acres cas! of the mountains. As each prepared in departure to their new hunting ground- the Great Spirit enjoined upon them : preach and practice good will one te
try, and died only a few years ago at an a. vanced age, said to be over a hundred, !f . name has usually been printed "Mckay."
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wards the other, that while the great riv- er divided their domains. they should be as one, and that he would be as one with them as long as they would observe his wishes. To unite them in one land, as well as to place a reminder of the in- junction prominently before them, he constructed a bridge or "tamanowis illahee" across the river at the Cascades, to remain there only so long as they were good.
Loo-wit, dwelt in a cave apart from the rest of the people because of their wick- edness, had some, which she kept burn- ing in order to propitiate the Great Spirit in the event of a wrath to come upon a disobedient people. Knowing that this old woman had preserved her integrity, they reasoned that she must of necessity be more favored than they were, and search was made for her habitation and at last discovered, as was also the fire
THE CASCADES OF THE COLUMBIA RIVER.
After a time a portion .of the people became corrupt, and to show his dis- pleasure, the Great Spirit hung a cloud biore the sun and all was night for many moons, and snow and cold, the first known. came to further punish. Without the warmth of sun ray the pro- ple must procure fire as a substitute or perish. Diligent search was made for this but none could be found for a long time. An old woman, by the name of
she had. An effort was made to deprive her of this, but she was on the alert and seizing it ran away. The best runners among the braves began the pursuit, but being benumbed with cold they coukl not overtake her. In their despair they became in repentant mood and impor- tuned the Great Spirit to once more take them into favor. If he granted them forgiveness he must needs consider the recognition due the old woman for pre-
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OREGON NATIVE SON.
Photo by Browning. MRS. MARIE BARCLAY, Born in British Columbia, 1826.
CAPT. JOHN H. WOLF, A Pioner of 1852.
Photo by Browning. HAMILTON CAMPBELL. A Pioneer of Iste.
1
Photo by Browning. MRS. HARRIET B. CAMPBELL .. A Pioneer of 1940.
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BRIDGE OF THE GODS.
werving her integrity while the others lapsed into wickedness. Calling her to him, he told her to give the people of her fire. and then asked her what boon she desired for being faithful. She asked for youth and beauty, promising that if these be given to her that she would establish herself on the "tamanowis bridge" and there forever keep a fire burning as a simile of himself and as a reminder to the people of his goodness if they were good, as well as a warning of the evil that would overtake them if they followed not his wishes. As the people again knew warmth through the fire given them, they were loud in their resolves to never depart from the path of righteous- ness. While they rejoiced, the old wo- man made her way to the bridge. gather- ing fuel as she went along. Upon reach- ing the center of the structure she de- posited the fire on a large stone there, 'ausing it to burn more brightly by the addition of some of the twigs collected. Is the flames rose higher the faster the blood of youth beat through her veins, and in the shortest space of time, an old, decrepit woman was a maid again. Was she beautiful? Go as she did for answer to an indented rock on the bridge which had caught sufficient water to mir- or a face therein. With the weight of sears she had known but an hour before he could not allure, but as one fair to ook upon and filled with the vanitites of er sex, admiration she could command und conquest make. Swains that bask neath beauty's smiles are not a few,
On February 18. 1841. Dr. Ira L. Bab- boek was appointed supreme judge with probate powers, by the settlers attempt- ng to form a government at that time. le was instructed to render liis decisions according to the laws of the state of New York, but it is claimed by some of those who took part in the proceedings, that there was no code of laws of any state 11 Oregon at that time, and no one could ell whether the doctor carried out the provisions of the New York statute or tot. There was no dissatisfaction, how- "ver, in his proceedure and it made no lifference under the circumstances as
and many to her a wooing came, but only two, Wi-ve-ast and Klick-i-lat, found favor in her eyes. One was of the people of the valley, the other came from the eastern plains. Affection for each was great, but of equal degree. Her indecision of selection engendered jealousy between the two upon whom she smiled and cast enamored glances, and in its following came bitterness of feeling between their respective relations. The hoped-for peace was ended. Treachery, cruelty and death was on every hand; wickedness filled all places.
Once more the wrath of the Great Spirit was aroused and he resolved to make an example of the principals bring- ing about the undesired state of affairs. The general people should have their fire, but should know winter's cold and snows as punishment until the end of time for their unfaithfulness. The way- ward maid and warring lovers should stand of equal length of years, as seas- ons come and go, as forms lofty, grand, where all could see, indicative of the ends to which transgressors come. To separate the two peoples, he broke down the bridge. Wi-ve-ast (Mt. Hood) he placed high on mountain's crest to the south ; Klick-i-lat (Mt. Adams), as prominently on the north; fair Loo- wit (St. Helens), about midway between, and around each he formed a mighty prison, rock-ribbed and mantled white, objects forever before the gaze of the people to warn them to keep in the way of righteousness. F. H. SAYLOR.
regards the presence or absence of the volume indicated.
The only occasion on which Judge Babcock exercised his probate powers, was at the death of Cornelius Rogers, in the spring of 1843. Dr. Babcock held office from February, 1841 to June 23, 1843.
The first law book known to have come to the Pacific Northwest was in the year 1845. It was a copy of the statutes of the then territory of Iowa, and enacted at its first legislative ses- sion held at Burlingon, 1838-9.
CAPTAIN TUGG AND THE PIRATES' TREASURE-CHAMBER.
Copyright, 1900, by Thos. H. Rogers.
"The legend of them pirates hidin' a lot of gold in a cave in Necarney Moun- tain comes mighty near being true," said Captain Tugg, one evening, as he saun- tered up to the hotel and seated himself on the veranda, to the gratification of the summer boarders.
This was the captain's favorite way of opening a story; there were no prelimi- naries about it. No sooner had he cudg- eled up a story in his imaginative brain than he would deliberately lock the door of his cabin, secrete the key under the step and make for the hotel, to be re- ceived with open arms by the pleasure- loving guests. Just so on this occasion. By the time he was seated the captain found himself the center of an appre- ciative audience. His hearers included both ladies and gentlemen. There was nothing censuous or coarse about the captain's stories, and the finest lady of the land could listen to them with pro- priety: hence his popularity.
"Yes." he continued. "I've heard a good many stories about the pirates hidin' a box of gold and treasure in a cave in the big mountain. and the spook of a nigger dancin' round to guard it. and all that, vet I didn't pay much at- tention to it till one mornin' six years ago come this fall, when we were out on the high seas in my old wind-jammer- 'Flyin' Kate -headed down toward Honolulu four days out from Puget Sound. Then we run across somethin' that put me to thinkin' that there might
be some truth in the old Injun story, after all.
"As I was sayin', we were four days out, bound for the islands for a cargo of pineapples, bananas, cocoanuts, and the like, for a Seattle concern. The old Flyin' Kate was makin' rattlin' good time, too, and we expected to make Honolulu in twelve more days. But we got fooled on that, for all of a suden the wind went down and didn't blow enough for six blessed days to lift an egg shell off of the roof of the galley which the cook dropped there. There was nothin to do, though, but take it as it come, so we laid out there mendin' sails and tar- rin' the deck, and waited for more wind.
"On the sixth mornin' I was awakened by old Jim Bosley and Ike Crow, two of my men, a quarrelin' and slammin' round the deck over my head fit to kill. just a makin' the air blue a cussin'.
"'I fished her out, and its. mine.' I heard old Jim say.
"'Not much,' said Ike, in his spitfire way: 'I got my optic on it first, and by the Eternal, it belongs to me.'
"Well. they kept that racket up so long I couldn't stand it any longer, so I rolled out of my bunk and went on deck. You may believe me or not, but there them two men were, with their hats off. with somethin' between 'em. a tuggin' and a pullin' and glarin' at each other like two wildcats."
"What were they quarreling over. Captain Tugg?" asked a pretty young
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OUT MILAPLAT
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THE PIRATES' TREASURE CHAMBER.
lady in pink and white, very earnestly, as she moved her chair alongside the griz- zled captain.
"A big barnacle-covered piece of cork, Miss, with a Spanish parchment inside of it." replied the captain, promptly.
"What. a genuine Spanish parch- ment!" exclaimed the young lady.
"Yes, Miss; a genuine parchment of the olden time, that had been floatin' round and round the sea for two hun- dred years! But, as I was goin' to say, there stood them two men a glarin' at each other like wildcats. First old Jim would pull Ike off his balance, then Ike would yank old Jim back, and there they stood, a sea-sawin' and a jowerin' as if they owned the sea. That made me mad as get out. .
" 'Bein' master of this here ship,' says I, steppin' up and laying hold of the piece of cork, 'I'll put a stop to this racket by pitchin' it overboard.' And I would have done it. too, I was that mad," added the narrator.
"'Don't do it, cap'n,' says old Jim, mighty earnest like; 'don't do it. A thing like that don't float around the sea for nothin'. It might have somethin' in it. for all we know, tellin' about buried treasure.'
"That put me to thinking. Placin' the piece of cork on the head of the capstan. I hammered the barnacles off with a marlin-spike. Then we took it down in the cabin where no one could see us, and Ike ripped it open with his knife, and out popped them parchments. cov- ered all over with blood-red writin'."
"The man that put them there." re- sumed the captain, "had done a good job. The first thing he ciid was to place 'em in a beeswax tube and plug up the ends water tight. Then he sliced the cork in two and hollowed out a place for the tube, clapped the two halves together and cemented them good and strong with tar and Burgundy pitch, and pitch- ed it overboard, and there it had been floatin' round and round. as I said awhile ago, for two hundred years!"
"What did you do then. Captain Tugg?" some one asked.
"Why, old Jim Bosley, who lived down in Manila years ago, and under- stood Spanish like a book, read 'em to me and Ike," was the reply. "That is," added the captain, "he read one of them. The other he did't have to read, it bein' a map of the northwest coast with a star on it callin' our attention to a big mountain. Neither Jim nor Ike knew a thing about the legend, but as soon as I clapped my eyes on that crude piece of drawin' and saw the mountain. I knew in a minute that there was some truth in the story about the chest of gold.
"The man that wrote the parchment felt the sting of conscience. He was a mem- ber of a murderin' band of cut-throat Spanish pirates, and his last act was to right a wrong. The pirates' rendez- voused, as the old legend tells, on the cliff side of Carney Mountain. Durin' one of their trips up from the South Seas some of the men mutinied and were left fastened up in the cave, while the ship set sail for more gold. On her way out the crew died off like flies, until all were gone but one. Knowin' that his time was short in that lonely old galleon, which rose and fell like a punkin' on the sea-there bein' no guidin' hand to steer her-this poor fellow wrote them parchments with his life's blood and dropped 'em overboard. hopin' some- body would pick 'em up and rescue the ones that mntinied before they died.
"His instructions for findin' the place and the treasure inside of it," the nar- rator went on. "read like this:
"'Situate in forty-five degrees and forty minutes north latitude, as indicated by the chart, you will find a mountain. On the face of the sea wall of this moun- tain there is a cave. In the cave there is a treasure-chamber. In the treasure chamber there is gold. It is on the face of the north wall of the tunnel. twenty paces back from the entrance. To open it, strike three blows with a heavy iron bar on the face of the skull and cross- bones traced in the wall. To locate this tunnel, put into shore and sail slowly northward till you come to a horseshoe shaped estuary. Enter it. The tunnel
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is at the far end. An iron ladder is fas- tened to the wall. Scale it. Enter the tunnel and follow instructions: the gold therein will be your reward.'
"A minute later the old wind-jammer's bowsprit centered the tunnel, fair and square."
"As soon as old Jim got through readin' the parchments we held a con- sultation. Our charter held good for three months, so we decided to put back and look for the treasure. No sooner had we come to this conclusion than Ike wanted to know right off how much of the Spaniard's gold he was to get. Havin' found the parchments, he con- tended he was entitled to half the pro- ceeds. But I couldn't see it that way, havin' all the expense fallin' on my shoulders, and I told him so. Jim was more white than Ike. Bein' big and fat and good natured, he wasn't carin', so we finally fixed up an agreement, which we all signed. In the case we found the treasure I was to get two-fifths, Jim and Ike a fifth, leavin' a fifth to be divided among the crew. They were a mighty tickled lot of men when I called them into the cabin and explained matters, and every one of them signed the agreement, endin' up with Jam Kack. the cook. Havin' everything arranged, we turned the old Flyin' Kate around and started for America.
"But, Captain Tugg." interrupted one of his fair listeners, "you said awhile ago that you were becalmed. How could you sail back when there was no wind?"
"We didn't sail, Miss, we steamed. You see, the Flyin' Kate was provided with an engine and a propeller. We only carried a little coal in the bunkers in case of an emergency, however, sailin' bein' cheaper than steamin', else we wouldn't have laid out there them six days. But to put the kettle on, as the sayin' is, soon as we came to an under- standin' Jim and Ike, who acted as first and second engineers, hustled the fire- man round gettin' up steam, and at one o'clock that afternoon we started for the big mountain laid down on the ancient chart.
"Two days later, about two bells in the mornin', we were layin' off the cape out vonder, waitin' for day. We were a tired lot of haggard-eyed men, too. Tlie thoughts of that Spanish treasure haunted us so we could not sleep. thinkin' of it. All but Jim. He was the most philosophic of the lot.
" 'If we don't get the gold,' says he, 'I've got my job left, and it's good enough for me.' It was different with Ike. Durin' his shift off he would come on deck and tramp around by the hour and talk to himself and build air castles.
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