The weekly Butte record., 1861-01-12
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Portland (Oregon) Advertiser tells the follow
ing 10 illustration ofearly life in that State !:
twas, 10 the simmer Of 1s43, we believe,
that a young chief, the son of the principal
chief of the Walla Wallas, one day entered
the Fort, and appropriated to himself some ar
ticles of little value-a piece OF wood, it we
mistake not, from lot of which, lying therein,
the Indians had been in the habit of taking
pieces whenever they chose, for the purpose of
making whip-handes. The practice had been
positively forbidden, as the wood was of pc
culiar kind, and of service TO the company. 1t
was in an expostulation with the young chief
that young Mr.. P, clerk in the com
pany's employ, received a signal affront, which
occasioned a rencounter, and the chastisement
of the Indian. At this time, there were per-
haps dozen whites at the Fort; and although
the buildings were enclosed by stockades, yet
there were no means of efectually securing the
entrances. The stockade was of recent con-
struction, and the gates had not been made,
nor were they until year after. Consequent
ly, it was, comparatively speaking, defenceless
position. Thus it was when, on the next day,
the Indians, some of each tribe, crowded into
the establishment to revenge themselves in the
death of Mr. r. Talking could achieve
nothing every consistent means was resorted
to in vain, to appease the turbulent multitude.
The men belonging to the Fort were at work
in the field, even could their presence have ef-
fected any good in the issue. The Indians
were brandishing their weapons and seemed to
be fully aware of their superiority, and disposed
to exercise it in a summary manner. Already
had Mr.. Mckinley suffered indgnities, and
young Twas defending himself as well as
be was able, with his back against the wall
when by one Of those brilliant and lucky
thoughts, generally occasioned by great emer-
gences, the whole appearance of things was
changed, and the object ef the savages defeated.
1t was at this juncture, that Mr.. Mckinley
suddenly started from the crowd that rurround-
him, into the adjoining room, the store-room,
seized upon keg of powder, steel and flint,
and returning, instantly placed the keg in the
centre of the room and knocked in its head-it
was all the work Of moment. There he stood
over the open keg of powder, with flint and
steel in either hand and dense mass of Indi-
aus around him.
Now" said he, I" kill him, if you will"
pointing to r, I" but that moment l kill
You all Two of US can die when there are
many brares to die with us
The proposed slaughter was OF too extensive
scale for the Indians; panic seized them,
they turned in dismay and rushed preciritately
from the house. Thus, by presence OF mind
and cool determination, was the effuson of
blood prevented, and the authority of Mr.. Nc
Kinley as chief Of the post greatly augmented.
1t is needless to state that differences were soon
adjusted TO the satisfaction of all concerned.
A MIGHTY RIvER.-The Amazon, The larg-
est river in the world, has an area of drainage
nearly three times as large as that of all the
rivers of Europe that empty themselves into
the Atlantic Ocean. The plain is entirely COW
erel with dense primeval forest, through which
the only paths are those made by the river and
her numerous tributaries This forest is liter
ally impenetrable Humboldt says that two
Mission stations might be only few miles
apart and yet the residents would require day
and half to visit each other, along the wind
ings of small streams. Even the wild animals
get so involved in the dense masses of wood
even the jauger-t that they live for long time
domains they have invaded. The trees mea-
sure from eight to twelve feet in diameter, and
the intervals are occupied by shrub-plants,
which here, in these tropical region, become
aborescent. 1t is navgable for two thousand
miles from the ocean, and its torrent projects,
as it were, into the ocean, more than eight
hundred miles, perceptibly altering its waters
at this distance from the American shores.
CALIFORNIA MULE TEAMs.-Rev T. Starr
King, of San Francisco, in letter to the
DVotoh AiauoSiiP', sPooho VI oui hiuiC lCaiiio
III California as follows
The frequent and immense mule teams which
do the commerce between the highest noun
tain towns and the river depots, gave a rough
and flavorsome widness to the scene. Huge
wagons, often two or three lashed together
were pulled by string of twelve Oh fourteen
mules, which the drivers insprited with the
most preposterous whips. Often l saw whip
over stalwart wagoner's shoulder which would
be good load for ordinary city muscles. The
drivers take great pride in the length and
weight of their whips, and acquire singular
skill in cracking them with both hands from
the wagon-wheel over the ears of any one of
the fourteen mules that is disposed to shirk
duty. There are about forty thousand of these
faithful, tough, patient creatures in the State
and we must have seen large percentage Of
them pulling the huge store-houses that supply
the highlands, during our forenoon ride to
Knights FAIRY, on the first slope of the noun
taius. Though generally quite cheap, the best
specimens fetch very high prices. There is