USA > Washington > Spokane County > An illustrated history of Spokane county, state of Washington > Part 8
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the Indian guide lived, at the mouth of Al- powa creek. Going up the river to near Tim- othy's village, that chief placed his own people out as guards, and set the women of his tribe to ferrying the exhausted soldiers and their effects across the stream. This was not com- pleted until near daylight of the next day and on the 20th Steptoe's party met Captain Dent with supplies and reinforcements. on the Pataha creek where the road from Dayton to Pomeroy now crosses it. Here the worn- out fugitives went into camp to rest. and while here were overtaken by Chief Lawyer of the Nez Perces at the head of a formidable war- party, who wished for the soldiers to go back with him and try it over again with the northi- ern Indians. But they had no desire to fol- low the advice of this friendly chief. and con- tinued their way to Walla Walla."
"The number of killed and wounded we have been unable to ascertain. Mr. John Singleton, of Walla Walla, a participant, states that two officers and ten men were killed be- fore the halt at Cache creek, andsix menlater."
"On the way, Chief Gearry came in to ask that peace might be granted the Spokanes, and Colonel Wright replied to him: 'I have met you in two battles, and you have been badly whipped ; you have had several chiefs and many warriors killed and wounded: I have not lost a man or animal. I have a large force, and you. Spokanes. Cœur d' Alenes, Palouses. and Pend d' Oreilles may unite, and I can de- feat you as badly as before. I did not come into the country to ask you to make peace : I came here to fight. Now. when you are tired of war and ask for peace I will tell you what you must do. You must come to me withi your arms, your women and children. and everything you have and lay them at my feet. You must put your faith in me and trust to my mercy. If you will do this. I will then give you the terms upon which I will give you peace. If you do not do this, war will be made upon you this year and the next, and
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HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.
until your nations shall be exterminated.' To the Indians Colonel Wright and his sol- diers were a devastating scourge, and a comet appearing in the heaven at this time, lent its terrifying, nightly presence, to quench the last spark of resistant patriotism among them! They were crushed indeed when they saw that the Great Spirit had sent his flaming sword to hang over them in the heavens.'
Reaching the mission. Colonel Wright found the Indians so terrified as to be afraid to come in. They wanted peace. but they were afraid to come near the soldiers who handled them so roughly. With the assist- ance of the priests this was finally accom- plished ; and the interview which followed we give as a sample of several others hield later with the tribes that had been hostile.
"I have committed a great crime. I am deeply conscious of it and am deeply sorry for it. I and all my people are deeply rejoiced that you are willing to forgive us for it. I have done."
Colonel Wright: "As your chief has said. you have committed a great crime. It has angered your great father and I have been sent to punish you. You attacked Colonel Steptoe when he was passing peaceably through your country and you have killed some of his men. But you have asked for peace and you shall have it on certain condi- tions
"You see that you fight against us hope- lessly. I have a great many soldiers, I have a great many men at Walla Walla and I have a large body coming from Salt Lake City. What can you do against us? I can
place my soldiers on your plains, by your fish- ing grounds, and in the mountains where you catch game, and your helpless families can not run away.
"You shall have peace on the following conditions : You must deliver to me to take to the General. the men who struck the first blow in the affair. You must allow all troops and other white men to pass unmolested through your country. You must not allow any hostile Indians to come into your country, and not engage in any hostilities against any white man. I promise you, that if you will com- ply with all my requirements, none of your people shall be harmed, but I shall withdraw from your country."
Colonel George Wright, whose expedi- tion to this upper country was so successful. and who dealt such effective blows, having hardly a parallel in Indian warfare, was a brave and efficient soldier. He was a native of Vermont, a graduate of West Point in 1822, served in Mexico, and was made colonel March 3. 1855. for gallant conduct. In 1855 he was given command of the Ninth In- fantry, wherewith he came to the Pacific coast and served with distinction in the Indian wars of Washington Territory. In 1861 he was made general of volunteers and placed in command of the Pacific Coast Department, which he held until relieved by General Mc- Dowell. He and his wife and members of his staff were on board the steamer Brother Jonathan that went down off Crescent City, Oregon, the 30th of July. 1865. where all were lost.
CHAPTER XI.
THE INLAND EMPIRE.
Spokane county is the center, and the city of Spokane is recognized as the metropolis of an immense territory fittingly designated the "Inland Empire." It is the vast and marvel- lous region of country between the Rockies and the Cascade range of mountains, com- prising all of eastern Washington, northern Idaho, western Montana, northeastern Ore- gon, and southern portions of British Colum- bia. It has an area of over one hundred and twenty thousand square miles, three times as large as the great Empire state, with a popu- lation approximating half a million people and rapidly increasing. It is a region with hardly a rival in enchanting scenery and pic- turesque sublimity and variable forn . of beauty. In it are found all the inspiring phe- nomena that any aspiring lover of nature can desire. He can find broad and rolling prairies stretching in all directions, verdure-clad plat- eaus, bordered by hills crowned with sturdy pines; and in the distance lofty and rugged mountains rising higher and higher, pile on pile, the towering majestic peaks wrapped in eternal show. He can witness with wonder- ing awe the results of the awful upheavals of primeval days when the earth was twisted and tossed into a shapeless mass. He can look into the yawning abysmal canyons and deep gorges worn out by rushing and foaming and ceaseless torrents for ages unknown ; or upon the massive glaciers whose origin history fails to record. The lover of nature can revel in the enjoyment of an ever changing landscape amid scenes which the Almighty alone could design and frame. It is beyond the possi- bility of human hands to paint them and words fail to describe their dazzling beauty. It is a
region of plains and prairies, of fertile val- leys and of thick forests. The grandeur of it is accentuated by wide contrasts. There are: lakes and streams in great variety. Portions of it have been designated as the "paradise of the sportsman." In the streams and lakes the fish are sufficiently plentiful to gratify the lover of the rod and line, and the expert shot can hardly fail to drop a curlew or chicken on the prairie, a grouse in the woods, a duck or goose on the lakes, and a deer or a bear in the distant ravines or isolated valleys. This re- gion is not only wonderful on account of its untold stores of the rare and beautiful. where nature has spread her "banquets of health and beauty," but is also one hardly paralleled in diverse resources, which are almost limit- less and sufficient to maintain a population of many millions. There are rich agricultural sections, millions of acres in extent, such as the far-famed Palouse, and almost boundless Big Bend. already producing millions of bush- els of wheat annually. The prospector has already unearthed hidden mineral wealth and treasures priceless to science and the uses of man. Wonderful discoveries have been made and are being made, and those to be made are inconceivable in the human mind.
It is not within the province of this work to describe the mining districts within the "Inland Empire" and tributary to the city of Spokane. They are almost too numerous to mention and it would fill a volume to ade- quately describe them. The Cour d' Alenes is acknowledged as the greatest lead-produc- ing district in the workl and also rich in other precious metals. The Kootenai district, with its world famous Le Roi, the noted wealthi-
39
HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.
maker, and other dividend-paying mines, with its "golden city of magic growth," and the silvery Slocan district, are still inviting fields to the prospector and capitalists. The Grand Fork and Kettle River country, the Okano- gan, the Reservation, with the wonderful dis- coveries at Republic, and Pend d'Oreille lake and many others are beyond description. Even the names of mines and prospects of the "In- land Empire" would fill many pages. It is putting it mildly to say that many of them are attracting far and wide attention. Wonder- ful transformations have already taken place. The wild and unsubdued paradise of the red man, who occupied it as a hunting ground, and sometimes gazed upon its native wildness, is now the objective point toward which thou- sands are directing their steps seeking new fields of wealth. The Inland Empire is doubt- less a mining region unexcelled for wealth in all the world. Taking Spokane as the center one finds mineral wealth in all directions.
"The mines are not at our doors. Yet the city is the center of a mineral region which is unsurpassed in all the world for wealth of precious metals. East, west, south, north- no matter which way the seeker for mines may turn-he finds untold riches everywhere.
MINES TO THE EAST.
"Within a few hours' ride of the city to the east the world famous Cœur d' Alene region is entered, where forty per cent. of the lead produced in the country is turned out, with the product growing larger and more profitable every year. Here, too, are placer diggings which yielded millions in the days when the stampede to the district rivalled the recent Klondike excitement. With all the wealth of the product of the early days this gold belt is yet scarcely scratched and waits for capital to undertake the more expensive but equally profitable task of sinking to bed rock and washing the older deposits of gold from their ancient hiding places.
"Farther south in Idaho are the free mill- ing gold quartz districts around Florence, Dixie and Pierce City. Famous in early days for placer production, these districts still yield the yellow gold to the miner who patiently washes the sand, but are yielding more abund- antly to the miner who delves with pick and drill in the rich ledges from whence came the gold in the streams. Lacking transportation, this region has been developing slowly, but is lately attracting capital. The recent stampede to the Buffalo Hump discoveries has been the means of attracting much attention to the possibilities of the great undeveloped coun- try lying between the Clearwater and the Sal- mon rivers.
NORTH OF SPOKANE.
"If one turn north from Spokane he finds a diversified mineral zone before him. Within the confines of our own state and within a hundred miles of the city is the richest gold mines in the west, the Republic, where within a year an ore chute carrying two million dollars at least, above the three-hundred-foot level, has been opened up, with greater wealth vet to be encountered. Within the confines of the Colville reservation, every part of which is now open to the prospector, will be found the richest gold ledges in the country, beside veins carrying silver ore of enormous richness from the very surface, lead prospects which shows ores of the same character as those of the Cœur d' Alenes, placer diggings which promise to yield rich returns, and copper ores more than double the richness of those which have made Butte the greatest mining camp on earth. This region is all new. The pros- pector has not yet finished his work within its borders and capital is yet to develop some of the great mines of the West in that rich region.
Stevens county, immediately north of Spo- kane, and covering part of the reservation, shows a like diversity of mineral wealth. On
40
HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.
the Pend d'Oreille river, in the northeastern portion, are placers, gold-bearing quartz and galena. Coal deposits, which will be valuable when transportation reaches them, are also found there. Gold, silver and lead are the profitable minerals around Northport, Boss- burg, Chewelah and Myers Falls. Near Val- ley are great deposits of onyx, marble, alabas- ter and slate, which are being opened for ship- ping.
THE KOOTENAYS.
"Still further north lie the mining districts of the Kooteneys. Although these are under the British flag, the border line loses its sig- nificance between Spokane and the mining camps of British Columbia. It was the pros- pector from this side of the line who explored and developed the country, largely. It was the hardy American miner who blazed the trails, dug the prospect holes and made it easy for the men of means to come along and buy fortunes in the mines which the prospector had discovered. To a large degree all the north country is still tributary to Spokane.
WEST OF THE CITY.
"West of Spokane are the Okanogan county mines, famous ledges of gold-bearing ores, rich copper veins and valuable silver- lead propositions. Here again lack of rail- roads retards development of mines probably as rich as any in all the northwest. A great . enterprise which will prove the worth of Okanogan veins at depth is the long tunnel which is being driven into Palmer mountain near Loomis to cut the veins of many claims which promise well on the surface.
"Farther west are copper-gold claims on the Methow and around Lake Chelan. While still beyond are the wonderful rich mines of Slate creek and the Cascade mountain dis-
tricts. Spokane men are interested and work- ing in all of them.
EASTERN OREGON.
"To the south are the gold mines of east- ern Oregon, some of which have been paying dividends for many years and all of which carry gold in abundance. Baker City is the central camp and Spokane capital is finding its way into many a promising claim in the dis- tricts around that town.
"To enter into a detailed description of the mining districts around Spokane with- in the confines of the Inland Empire is a task too great to be undertaken in an edition the size of this paper. Volumes might be written and still much of interest would be left unsaid. A country covering hundreds of square miles with mineral everywhere can not be adequately described within the circumscribed columns of even a large edition devoted especially to the purpose. It is the intention here to tell something of all the leading camps of the In- land Empire and where mines are being de- veloped to describe the work being done upon some of them. It should be understood, how- ever, that not every camp is mentioned here. Some are new and small and not yet promi- nent in the public eye. They may become famous within another year. Republic camp was obscure a year ago and it has not been long since Rossland was unknown. The edition will be found. however, to tell much that is interesting concerning mines and prospects. The one thing which the reader shouldl bear in mind is that the facts told here are but a hint of what might be written if time and space and opportunity were given for mentioning every property under development in all this region and to describe the hopes and prospects of every hustling little mining camp."-Spokes- man Review Twice a Week, September 29. 1 898.
The Oldest Apple Tree in Spokane County, near La Prey Bridge
La Prey Bridge of To-day, where the Indians had a canoe in early days, and where one of the first bridges was built across the Spokane River.
A Frontier Ranch in Spokane County
Frairie School House in Spokane County
CHAPTER XII.
SPOKANE COUNTRY-HOW TO SPELL SPOKANE-WITH OR WITHOUT THE FINAL "E" -SPOKANE RIVER-INVESTIGATIONS OF LIEUT. T. W. SYMONS.
In his "Report of an examination of the Upper Columbia river, and the territory in its vicinity," September and October, 1881, Lieut. Thomas W. Symons, Corps of Engineers, U. S. Army, chief engineer of the Department of the Columbia, has treated the subject quite fully.
SPOKANE.
"Whether to put the final 'e' on this word has been a much-discussed question, and has divided the people of the Spokane region into two parties. A majority, however, seem to desire the 'e.' and so it will finally be adopted, in all probability, and go down to futurity. There seems to be about as much authority for spelling it one way as another. The only clew that I have been able to obtain to the meaning of the word is in the book of Ross Cox, where he speaks of the chief of the Indians of the re- gion as 'Illim-Spokanee,' which means the 'Son of the Sun.' From this, and from the nature of the country in which they lived, it is fair to infer that their tribal name meant some- thing like 'Children of the Sun.' They lived principally on the great sunny plains of the Spokane, while many of the neighboring tribes lived in the woody, mountainous regions of Cœur d' Alene, Pend d' Oreille, Kootenay, and Colville rivers.
"I have been told by men long resident in the country that the original word was pro- nounced with a slight vowel syllable 'e' at the end-Spokan-e. This vowel syllable, indis- tinct at best, was soon dropped by the busy whites, who love not long names.
"In an official Congressional report submit-
ted January 19, 1822, and in one submitted May 15. 1826, the post at Spokane is called Lanton and Lanton. This is probably the same word as Lah-too, mentioned by Mullan as the Indian name for Hangman's creek.
"In speaking of the Astorian trading estab- lishments these reports say : One of these sub- ordinate establishments appears to have been at the mouth of the Lewis river (Fort Nez Perce or Walla Walla, where Wallula now stands) ; one at Lanton (Spokane House, near the junction of the Spokane and Little Spokane rivers) : a third on the Columbia, six hundred miles from the ocean, at the confluence of the Wantana river ( Fort Okinakane) ; a fourth on the East Fork of Lewis river (I believe this was on the Clearwater at the mouth of Lapwai creek, where the Indian agency now is, but I am not certain) ; and the fifth on the Multnoma ( Willamette).
"The following are the methods of spelling the word Spokane, as adopted by different writers :
Spokan. . Official transfer papers, Pacific Fur Com- pany to Northwest Fur Company.
Spokan. Ross Cox.
Spokane. War Department map, 1838.
Spokane Commodore Wilkes.
Spokein. Rev. S. Parker. This writer, who visited the country in 1836, says: " The name of this nation is generally written Spokan, sometimes Spokane. I called them Spo- kans, but they corrected my pronuncia- tion and said 'Spokein,' and this they repeated several times, until I was con- vinced that to give their name a correct pronunciation, it should be written Spo- kein.
Spokan. . Greenhow.
Spokain McVickar.
Spokan. .Nath. J. Wyeth's report, 1839.
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HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.
Spokane Robertson.
Spokane
. Thornton.
Spokane
A. Ross.
Spokan.
Franchere.
Spokan. Irving.
Spokan. National Railroad Memoir.
Spokan. Armstrong
Spokan.
St. John.
Spokane Pacific Railroad Report.
Spokane
Mullan.
Spoken.
Robertson and Crawford,"
LIEUT. SYMONS.
He describes also what he designates
THE SPOKANE SECTION.
"This section is more varied than any of the others. In its southeastern part is Cœur d'Alene lake and the fine timber-covered coun- try surrounding it. In its northeastern and eastern part are the gravelly Spokane plains and the fertile prairies embedded in the north- ern woods. Its western portion comprises some of the finest farming lands in the Terri- tory, among which are those known as the Deep Creek, Four Lakes, Upper Crab Creek. Hawk Creek and Cottonwood Spring coun- tries, Gordon Prairie, etc. The Spokane river runs through this section, giving water trans- portation for the timber from the great forests about its headwaters, and furnishing one of the finest water-powers in the world. The main line of the Northern Pacific Railroad runs diagonally through the section. Along the Spokane river, below the falls and upon its small tributaries, there is a great deal of tim- ber, which will furnish the inhabitants and set- tlers with wood and lumber for a number of years, until more railroads are built and the commerce in grain, fuel and lumber becomes established.
"Due west from Spokane Falls and extend- ing in a westerly direction is the divide, be- tween the streams which flow north into the Spokane and south into Crab creek. This di- vide is no higher in appearance than the count- try to the north and south; it abounds in springsand swales, where the waters collect and
then flow away as rivulets and brooks through the gentle-rolling hills at first, finally becoming more deeply encanoned as they near their des- tination at the greater river or creek. Of course those flowing north into the Spokane cut more deeply than those flowing south. This divide is of importance in the economy of the coun- try, as it furnishes an excellent route for a rail- road, which will pass through an extremely fertile and desirable country, and be easily ac- cessible from both sides throughout its entire length. This railroad is one which in the near future must certainly be built. Its starting- point must be at the falls of the Spokane, from where it will stretch away westward to the Okinakane and vicinity of the Wenatchee, bearing in one direction its loads of grain to be ground into flour for shipment to the great world, and in the other direction the fuel, lum- ber and merchandise required by the inhabi- tants of the country through which it passes.
"Among the singular features of this coun- try are the Spokane plains. Lying along the banks of the Upper Spokane and extending off towards Pend d'Oreille lake there is a sys- tem of nearly level plains rising one above the other into terraces towards the north. These plains are composed chiefly of gravel and bowl- dlers, and the vegetation on them is slight, and they are not well adapted to farming pur- poses. The higher terraces seem to be much better than the lower ones as there is more good rich soil intermixed with the gravel on them.
"It would be a mistake, however, to sup- pose that these plains are valueless. They are well adapted to grazing purposes, and through- out there are large patches and strips where the rich soil has collected in sufficient quantity and depth to give most excellent farming lands. Some of the garden farms on these fertile patches are already famous for the quality and quantity of their products."
Being both beautiful and scientific, we here- with present his description of
43
HISTORY OF SPOKANE COUNTY.
THE SPOKANE RIVER.
"The Spokane river at its mouth is about two hundred feet wide, and flows through a canon very similar to that of the Columbia, and about two thousand feet below the general level of the plains to the south. It is broken by many rapids and falls and is entirely un- navigable. From its mouth up to Spokane Falls, about seventy miles, this canon is very deep and difficult to cross or traverse. This river, with that portion of the Columbia from its mouth to the Okinakane, forms the boun- dary line between the rich and treeless great Columbian Plain on the south, and the more rocky, timbered and mountainous country to the north.
"The Spokane river, by its situation and characteristics, is bound to play an important part in the settlement and ultimate well-being of the whole country within a great distance of it.
"At Spokane Falls is a magnificent water- power, one of the finest in the world, and sit- uated as it is in the midst of a splendid agri- cultural country, most of which, however, is treeless, there seems no room to doubt that it will become a great manufacturing and com- mercial center.
"By means of the river and Cœur d'Alene lake, and the tributary streams of the latter, a magnificent and widely-extended area of tim- berland living along the Cœur d'Alene and Bit- ter Root mountains can be made to yield its forest covering for transportation by water to Spokane Falls, there to be manufactured into lumber and distributed throughout the agri- cultural lands, to the south and west. In return for this lumber and fuel, these lands will send their wheat to the falls to be manufactured into flour, and sent from there to the seaboard to be shipped to the markets of the world.
"Large portions of the country are better suited for pastoral purposes than for agricul- tural, and it is reasonable to expect that here
at these falls will be erected great woolen man- ufactories, to work up the raw produce of the country into cloths and blankets required by the inhabitants thereof.
"Large quantities of brown hematite iron ore have been found near the Spokane river below the falls, and it is known that other iron deposits lie to the north.
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