USA > Washington > History of Washington; the rise and progress of an American state, Vol. II > Part 36
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P. B. Cornwall, afterwards so well known as merchant, coal operator and railroad builder, in Washington and California, and two or three other young men and their guide, who were traveling with him, were captured by the Pawnees on the Platte River in 1848. During the night following their capture the Indians held a long council to determine what they should do with them. The young warriors were for torturing and then killing them, but the older ones were opposed, thinking they would gain more by holding them for a ransom. Their guide could hear and understand all that was said on both sides, though the Indians did not know it, the prisoners deeming it wise to keep this fact a secret. Finally Cornwall managed to get the attention of his captors, and by signs made them under- stand that soldiers were coming west very soon, and if he and his friends were not set at liberty, and their property restored
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to them, they would be terribly punished. The Indians had already seen a few soldiers and their cannon, and it soon became evident to the prisoners that Cornwall's argu- ment was making an impression on them. Negotiations were finally opened, and at last, just as morning was begin- ning to dawn, the party were set at liberty in exchange for a few presents.
They immediately mounted their horses and continued their journey, suspecting that the younger warriors would follow and attempt to murder them, which they did. They managed, however, to take refuge in the timber skirting the banks of a small stream, before their pursuers overtook them. Here they had a sharp fight, which continued until dark, when they again escaped, and traveled all that night, and during a part of the succeeding day, when they again found themselves pursued, and evidently by a much larger party than before. As their horses were now nearly exhausted they were about to give themselves up for lost when their guide exclaimed : "Boys, I think we are saved." This proved to be true, for their pursuers were not their old enemies, but a war party of Sioux, several of whom the guide personally knew. He soon made them acquainted with the details of their recent experience, and their new-found friends rode away in search of their recent enemies. A day or two later they returned with several fresh scalps, and Mr. Cornwall and his companions were assured that they would have no more trouble from that band of Pawnees.
Along the Platte, especially during the earlier years, the trains were much annoyed by the war parties of the Sioux, Crow and Ogalalla tribes, who were almost continually at war with each other. These war parties stole their horses and stampeded their cattle, if they were not closely guarded
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at night, and there were times when they swooped down on a train in the daytime and ran them off before the men of the party could defend them. Sometimes their night attacks were so successful as to leave the party scarcely enough ani- mals to proceed with their journey. Usually part of all the horses stolen in this way were recovered, but it was only at the cost of much delay and not unfrequently of life also.
It was particularly dangerous for one wagon, or for two or three wagons, to allow themselves to become separated from the main train for any reason, for the cowardly Indians were sure to make it an object of their special attention. Edward Hanford's family, of which Judge C. H. Hanford was then one of the younger members, found this out on one occasion, and were considerably alarmed for a time, though they escaped without injury. One morning one of their oxen was sick; he apparently could not rise from the place where he slept near the wagon. The train would not wait. All the other travelers, whose oxen were not sick, were anxious to get started. If old Barney could not go on he must be left behind. That meant that he must be left helpless to the wolves. Not one member of the family would consent to that. "Shoot him then," was the next suggestion, but they would almost as soon think of shooting one of them- selves. They would neither shoot the faithful beast nor abandon him, but would stay by him, as he in his dumb patience had stood by them, come what might. The train moved on and they were left almost alone. They did not know what to do for the sick creature, and he could not tell them. For want of other remedies he was given about one gallon of strong, hot coffee, which he drank obediently, and then, after a vigorous rubbing of his shoulders and limbs, he succeeded in a supreme effort to arise, and in a short
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time was able to resume the journey, though not under yoke; a spare ox was put in his place and he was allowed to follow the wagon.
But the train was now some hours in advance and quite out of sight. It was apparent that the Indians had observed that a small part of it had fallen behind. Small parties of them could be seen at a distance, showing a good deal more interest in this wagon than those in it cared to see. They hurried forward as rapidly as they could. The usual camp- ing time came but they did not stop. They could see that the number of Indians was increasing, and that they were growing bolder and more threatening. But the nearness of their train probably saved them from attack. They did not stop until they had reached it, which they did in safety, some time during the night.
Old Barney was not the only faithful ox who won the confidence and affection of his owners on these memorable journeys. There was a genuine companionship, such as grows up between the trooper or the hunter and his horse, between these emigrants and their animals, and it was credit- able to both. They shared eachother's toils, privations, and in some sense also their sorrows and their infrequent joys. They bore together the heat and burden of the day, the toil and dust of the arid plains, the choking thirst of the desert, and they rejoiced together in their hours of rest, when a good camping place with plenty of pure sweet water had been found. "These patient, dumb brutes had been my close companions for long, weary months on the plains, and had never failed me; they would do my bidding to the letter," says Ezra Meeker. "I have often said Buck understood English better than some people I had seen in my lifetime. We had bivouacked together; actually slept together, lunched
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together. They knew me as far as they could see, and seemed delighted to obey my word, and I did regret to feel constrained to part with them. I knew they had assured my safe transit on the weary journey, if not even to the point of having saved my life. I could pack them, ride them, drive them by the word and received their salutations, and why should I be ashamed to part with them with feelings of more than regret."
On this part of their journey the travelers were more or less frequently alarmed by the vast herds of buffalo which in those days, and until long after the railroads had made this long journey by wagon unnecessary, roamed over the prairie from the Rio Grande to and beyond the Canadian line. Wonderful stories are told of the number of these animals which crossed the trail, sometimes by day and some- times by night, sometimes moving quietly as herds of cattle move while feeding, and at others charging in a wild tumul- tuous, resistless mass, and rushing headlong, those in front being urged on by those behind them, upon any obstacle presenting itself in their path. Talbot says : "I never read a story that would convey a proper impression of their illimit- able numbers. Frequently we stopped the wagons to let them go by." The wild stampedes of these vast herds were particularly terrifying at night. Ezra Meeker has very graphically told the story of the experience his party had with one of them, when several hundred miles out on his journey. He says, "On that particular evening the wagons had been placed in a circle, with ropes connecting to make a complete enclosure. The usual guards sent with the stock when kept out on range were asleep, save one sentinel. The first intimation of danger came when every hoof of stock within the enclosure sprang to its feet as if it had become
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possessed of an evil spirit. The resultant confusion, and the roar of the approaching herd, awoke every inmate in or under every wagon or tent to rally in undress to weak points of the enclosure. To hear that sound is never to forget it. Like the roar of the heaviest tornado, one could scarcely tell the direction from which it came, or the distance from which it emanated, neither the direction in which it was moving; and all we could do was to prepare for the onslaught, which might or might not strike us, and await results. Fortunately the great herd passed to one side of us, though very near, so near we thought it was surely upon us, though we escaped entirely unharmed and without the loss of a single animal. Not so with many of our camping neighbors, who lost heavily in stock stampeded, and some of which they never recovered, and detained their trains for days."
APPENDIX I.
PART OF WILKES' SPECIAL REPORT.
The following is the conclusion of Wilkes' special report, which he hurried to Washington as soon as he arrived in New York. It was received at the navy department on June 13, 1842, while Webster and Ashburton were still negotiating in regard to the northeast boundary.
The first part of it is devoted to a very full and complete description of the Oregon country, particularly of that part of it lying north of the Columbia-the only part about which there was then any controversy:
"The Boundary will next claim my attention.
"In a former report to the Hon. Secretary of the Navy, I stated that the boundary formerly proposed, viz .: that of 49° of latitude, ought not to be adopted, and the following are my reasons for it, viz .:
"Ist. That it affects the value of all that portion of the middle and eastern sections south of that parallel.
"2d. That it places the whole territory south of that parallel com- pletely under the control, and at the mercy of, the nation who may possess the northern, by giving the command of all the waters and a free access into the heart of the Territory at any moment.
"3d. Giving up what must become one of the great highways into the interior of the Territory altogether, viz .: Frazer's River.
"4th. And also to all intents and purposes possession of the fine island of Vancouver, thereby surrendering an equal right to navigate the waters of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and by its possession the whole command of the northern waters.
"5th. Giving rise to endless disputes and difficulties, after the location of the boundary, and in the execution of the laws after it is settled.
"6th. Affording and converting a portion of the Territory which belongs to us, into a resort and depot for a set of marauders and their goods, who may be employed at any time in acting against the laws, and to the great detriment of the peace, not only of this Territory, but of our western states, by exciting and supplying the Indians on our borders.
"The boundary line on the 49° parallel would throw Frazer's River without our Territory, cut off and leave seven-eigths of the fine island of Vancouver in their possession, together with all the harbors, including those of Nootka, Clayoquot and Natinat, which afford everything that could be desired as safe and good ports for naval establishments. They would not only command the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and the inlets and sounds leading from it, but place the whole at any moment under their control, by enabling them to reach and penetrate to the heart of the
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Territory, with a comparatively small force, and destroy and lay it waste.
"The whole middle and part of the eastern sections would be cut off from their supplies of timber, by losing its northern part, from which it can only be supplied with an article of the first necessity, both for fuel and building, and rendering it dependent on a foreign state. We should also give up what may be considered a storehouse of wealth in its forests, furs, and fisheries, containing an inexhaustible supply of the first and last of the best quality.
"Endless difficulties would be created in settling the boundary, for Great Britain must, or does know, that the outlet from Frazer's River by way of Johnstons' Strait, between Vancouver Island and the main- land, is not only difficult but dangerous to navigate, from the rapidity of the currents, and cannot be made use of. She will therefore probably urge her claim to the southern line, say the Columbia, as the boundary which they are desirous of holding, and are now doing all in their power to secure its permanent settlement, through the Hudson's Bay Company, and extending the laws by which she governs the Canadas, as over her own citizens settled in the Territory, and by the delays of our Govern- ment, hope to obtain such a foothold as will make it impossible to set aside their sovereignty in it. This as far as I was enabled to per- ceive is evidently their intention, being extremely desirous to appear as the larger claimants of the Territory, and to assert their right to the soil to the north of the Columbia River.
"This boundary would subject the island of Vancouver to two sovereign- ties, and of course their laws. It never could be surrendered by us with- out abandoning the great interests and safety of the Territory, and it will be perceived how very prejudicial it would be, if the British in posses- sion of the northern section should establish free ports, and thus be enabled to counteract all our revenue laws, etc.
"The contract for supplies with the Russians now enables the Hudson's Bay Company to purchase the grain and produce from the Willamette settlers, but in a short time it will be supplied by themselves, through their great farms, and consequently the produce of settlers can obtain no market whatever, all trade being in the hands of that Company.
"The Puget Sound Company are enabled to compete with and under- sell all others from the low price of labor (£17 per annum), absence from duties, and the facilities of sending their products to market by the ships of the Hudson's Bay Company, which hitherto have returned almost empty, the furs occupying but a small part of the vessel, which will here- after be filled with hides and tallow: this must operate very prejudicially to the settlements, and increase their hold on the Territory.
"I have stated these views in order to show the necessity of prompt action on the part of the Government, in taking possession of the country,
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in order to obviate difficulties that a longer delay will bring about, and prevent many persons from settling advantageously.
"For the Military occupation of the country, I conceive that it would be necessary to establish a post at some central point, viz .: Walla Walla, and I herewith enclose you a topographical sketch of the surrounding country, within 30 miles. As respects its position, with reference to the country, you will be well informed by the map. It appears to me to be peculiarly adapted to the general defense of the Territory, in order to preserve peace and quietness among the Indian tribes. The Nez Perces, Snakes and Blackfeet are those generally engaged in committing depre- dations on each other, and require more looking after than those of the other tribes; they are in and around this section of the country.
"The facilities for maintaining a post, and at a moderate expense, are great; the river abounds with salmon during a greater part of the year, and the herds thrive exceedingly well. Cattle are numerous, par- ticularly horses, which are the best the country affords. Grains of all kinds flourish, and about twenty-five miles distant the missionaries have an establishment from which I have but little doubt the troops could be supplied. The climate is remarkably fine and healthy. There is per- haps no point from which operations could be carried on with so much facility to all parts of the Territory as this, it being situated, as it were, at the forks of the two principal branches of the Columbia. Any number of horses could be kept at little or no expense, and a force could reach almost any part of the lower Territory with the least possible delay.
"The permanent land force I conceive necessary to keep this Territory quiet and peaceable, would be one company of dragoons, and one of infantry, say 200 men.
"The only Indians in the country, south of 49°, who are disposed to make war upon the whites, are the Klamets residing on the southern borders of the Territory, along the Rogue and Klamet Rivers, and in the passes of the Shasty Mountains. The show of small force would, I am sure, have a good tendency in preventing their depredations on the whites, who pass through the country, their hostility to whom, in a great measure, is to be ascribed to the conduct of the whites themselves, who leave no opportunity unimproved of molesting them; cases have fre- quently occurred of white men shooting a poor defenseless Indian with- out any provocation whatever.
"A friendly disposition, with sufficient force to prevent any attack, could not fail to bring about the desired disposition on their parts. The country they inhabit is a very rich one, and would afford all the neces- saries, as well as the comforts of life.
"A steamer having a light draft of water, a small fort on Lake Disap- pointment, and a few guns on Point Adams to defend the South Channel,
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with its dangerous bar, would be all sufficient for the defense of Columbia River.
"Some points within the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Admiralty Inlet, or Puget Sound, might be settled, where supplies etc. could be had and depots established. Two Gov. Steamers would be able to protect our trade and Territory, and prevent disturbances among the northern tribes; they would be a more efficient force than stationary forts, and much more economical. In case of difficulties, steamers would be enabled to reach any part of the coast from these points in two days.
"In the event of hostilities in this country, the forts (so-called) of the H. B. Company are not to be considered of strength against any force but Indians, they are mere stockades, and all their buildings, granaries etc. are situated without the palisade. They could offer but little resist- ance to any kind of armed force, and their supplies could readily be cut off, both by sea and land.
"The occupation of the mouth of the Columbia River, together with some point in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, or the waters and sounds leading from it, I view as highly necessary in any event, and there is no force so well adapted for the security of this Territory as that of steamers.
"The waters of Puget Sound might be effectually defended from a naval force by occupying the Narrows leading to it, through which vessels must enter; at all times a dangerous, narrow pass, with strong currents, no anchorage and the wind almost always variable. I refer you to the chart, which shows this point distinctly.
"Much has been said of the effective force of the Hudson's Bay Com- pany; this in my opinion is an active mistake and exaggeration of it. It is true that the servants of the Company are bound to bear arms during their term of servitude, but they are without any sort of discipline, few in number, generally of the class of farmers, worn-out Canadians, some few Iroquois Indians, and other tribes from the Canadas, and illy adapted to bear arms. About one hundred at all the posts could be raised. With regard to the natives, they are so distributed in small tribes, that I am confident they would only be looked to as scouts and messengers, and those of the northern tribes would be too unruly to meddle with.
"I am decidedly of opinion that the Company would do everything to avoid the Territory's becoming a scene of war, particularly its officers. They are now for the most part bound up with its peaceful occupation, being largely engaged in agriculture and grazing, which must all in a measure be sacrificed, and there would also be great difficulty, if not a total interruption, in their carrying on their fur trade. It is not very probable that they would make any very strenuous endeavors to retain their interests under the British authority, as they well know that they may come in for the preservation of their property under the pre- emption right, by transferring it to citizens of the United States, some
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of whom are well known to be interested and active partners in the busi- ness.
"There are four Passes through the Rocky Mountains. The one known as McGillivary's Pass by the Committee's Punch Bowl is difficult, and can only be used during the Summer months, at which time the parties of the Hudson's Bay Company pursue this route.
"Proceeding south we come to the great defile through which Lewis and Clarke found their way, and finally the two southern routes which are preferable, susceptible of being used at almost all seasons, and a good wagon road may be constructed with little expense. This leads to the first post of the H. B. Company, viz .: Fort Hall established by Captain Wyeth, and has since been transferred to the Company, so that it is readily to be perceived that the difficulties of communication with the Territory is far less for us than the British.
"I cannot close this report without doing justice to the officers of the Hudson's Bay Company's service, for their kind and gentlemanly treat- ment to us whilst in the Territory, and to bear testimony that during all my intercourse with them, they seemed to be guided by one rule of conduct highly creditable to them, not only as men of business, but to their feel- ings as gentlemen.
"They afforded us every assistance that lay in their power, both in supplies and means of accomplishing our duties. There are many per- sons in the country who bear testimony to the aid and kindness rendered to them in their outset, and of their hospitality it is needless to speak, for it has become proverbial.
"To conclude, few portions of the globe in my opinion are to be found, so rich in soil, diversified in surface, or capable of being rendered the happy abode of an industrious and civilized community. For beauty of scenery and salubrity of climate it is not surpassed; it is peculiarly adapted for an agricultural and pastoral people, and no portion of the world beyond the tropics is to be found that will yield so readily to the wants of man with moderate labor.
" Respectfully submitted, "CHARLES WILKES,
"Commanding Exploring Expedition."
APPENDIX II.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE PUBLIC MEETING.
At a meeting of the citizens of Lewis County, held at New Market on the 5th day of November, 1848, the following proceedings were had: The meeting was called to order by M. T. Simmons, whereupon William Packwood was chosen chairman, and Samuel B. Crockett, secretary.
The object of the meeting having been explained in a satisfactory manner, on motion of A. B. Rabbeson, a committee of three was appointed to draft a preamble and resolutions expressive of the sense of the meeting. The chairman appointed A. B. Rabbeson, Samuel B. Crockett and I. N. Ebey on said committee, who made the following report, to wit:
Whereas, It has been reported that the stock belonging to the Hudson's Bay Company are being sent on the west side of Nisqually river, in numbers so great that but a short time must elapse ere the vegetation will be consumed by said stock, to the great detriment of actual settlers on said side of said stream; and,
Whereas, A great portion of said cattle belonging to said society are what are generally termed Spanish cattle, known to be but little more domesticated than the herds of buffalo that range the plains; and that if suffered to mix and herd with domestic cattle belonging to settlers, great loss will inevitably result to said settlers, by suffering the grievances above stated to remain unredressed; therefore, be it
Resolved, Ist, That when the American citizens first determined on locating themselves at Puget Sound as permanent settlers, many obstacles of a discouraging nature were thrown in their way by said society of the Hudson's Bay Company, in order to induce them to abandon their cherished object; at times using misrepresentation and fraud, and when this failed to answer their ends, force was spoken of with impunity.
2nd. That we hold the conduct of Wm. F. Tolmie, chief servant of the Hudson's Bay Co. at Nisqually, as highly censurable, in attempting to prevent American settlers from locating their claims on certain lands that he, the said Tolmie, pretended to claim by certain reservations made in the treaty of boundary between the United States and Great Britain, in favor of the Puget's Sound Agricultural Society-when he well knows that no reservation exists; and these direct acts or assumptions of power are only equalled by the base subterfuge in attempting to hold other large tracts of land by an apparent acquiescence in the provisions of the Organic Law of this territory, by having claims of land recorded in the office of the territorial recorder, in the names of servants of said company, when in fact, in a great number of cases, said servants were ignorant of said locations, and afterwards, either by force or fraud, have procured an
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obligation from those servants, for a conveyance of said lands to said society or company, so soon as the title for the same was acquired from the United States; thus using the power they can exert over these creat- ures of their will, to the manifest injury of the country, and for the advancement of their own aggrandizement.
3rd. That while we as American citizens, feel every tie that binds citizens in common to respect the laws and treaty stipulations of our government, yet, at the same time, we feel jealous of any infringment on the same by individuals who have no common interest or feeling in the national honor, glory and prosperity of our government; and least of all by persons who acknowledge allegiance to foreign-to monarchial government, and hold places of profit and trust under a corporation whose charter emanated from the government of Great Britain, and who are to them accountable for their acts.
4th. That as it has never been the policy of the federal government in enacting laws granting the right of pre-emption, and other conformable laws to induce the speedy settlement of wild tracts within the United States, to grant said benefits to any other than American citizens, or those who had declared their intention to become such, in a legal form; that such will be the provisions of the anticipated grants of land to settlers in this territory we have not the slightest doubt-in fact, a departure from the long established policy of the government would eventuate in no good.
5th. That we view the claims and improvements made by the Puget's Sound Agricultural Society since the ratification of the treaty, before alluded to, as a nullity; as that society can gain nothing by any con- templated grants of land to American citizens, or for reimbursement for the same, as said treaty only confirmed the possessory rights of said society; and that the United States has never parted with the actual right in fee to said land, and that all such claims and improvements are subject to any American citizen who may choose to appropriate the same to his use.
6th. That we view the claims as located by the chief factor of the Hudson's Bay Company, or Puget Sound Agricultural Society, for the servants in the employ of said company, as amounting to a nullity, unless said persons for whom said lands were located are out of the employment of said society, or company, and have settled on and continue to occupy the same.
7th. That the American settlers at Puget Sound are under no obli- gations to said company or society, to suffer the grievances above stated to remain unredressed, as a favor.
8th. That William F. Tolmie, chief servant of said company or society at Fort Nisqually, be requested forthwith to remove any stock of said
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company, that are now on the west side of said river Nisqually, to the east side of said stream, and continue to keep them there-as we are determined that any such grievance shall not be suffered by the American settlers.
9th. That as said society has uniformly refused to furnish Americans with sheep, at any price, until quite recently, and now when those are offered for sale, they prove to be the most inferior of the flock, and those at an exorbitant price; that in this, as in all other acts of said society, we know that their aim is only their own interest, while it is an insult to the common sense of any community.
Ioth. That a copy of the proceedings of this meeting be sent to Wil- liam F. Tolmie, chief servant of the Hudson's Bay Company at Fort Nisqually.
IIth. That a copy also be sent to the public press for publication.
S. B. CROCKETT, Secretary. WILLIAM PACKWOOD, Chairman.
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