The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1878-10-05
HISTORICAL.


About 2h years ago company
was formed III Jackson county,
Oregon, having tor its object the
exploration of Coos Bay, expec :
ing to open up communications
with it and Umpqia valley. III
June, 1858, that company consis-
ting of 19 men started, gong
north until passing the Canyon;
hence westward to Camas valley,
then on down the middle fork of
the Coqnllle. There was no trail,
and as that stream literally cut
the Coast range into sections, the
journey was very rough and te>
dions. In many places they were
obliged TO travel over rouAh h
mountains for miles aud then
come back 10 the river short
distance from where they started.
Alter slxi, days travel they arr
rived at the junction Of the MIDI
die and south forks. finding many
Indians some of whom had never
seen u white man. They en-
gagged ak OF these To convey them
down the river in canoes. At
the mouth there were several
hundred Ind,anc who were lnclin.
ed to he hostile; however, they
succeeded n making a private
treaty with them and passed on
over TO Coos Bay, a distance of
about thirty miles. When the
company arrived at the place now
called Empire City, many of
them took claims and located the
town site. Who knows what
hope many of,hose pioneers had
when standing on the upper
ground of Empire, and gazing
down on the beautiful sheet of
water as it came teeming In from
the Pacific, realizing that they
then stood on the extreme ives.
tern borders of the United States;
and that they had perhaps travel
ed from ocean to ocean and were
now the early settlers of the fair
land. With such a beautiful
harbor before them. and surroun>
ded with the finest timber IN the
world, no wonder that lots sold
tor two thusand dollare, and that
all seemed that their fortune was
made.
The excitement soon died away
and it was seve. al years before
there vas much sale for lots.
Finally few were sold for about
twenty dollars each and gradually
the place with several theirs on
the Bay have grown up to be
quite lively little villages and
Empire cry is the county seat OF
Coos county,
Soon after those explorers came
to this county others followed.
Gold mines were discovered near
the mouth of the Coquille aid
quite u town was built up and
called Randolph. II is said that
one man took out mule load oi
gold On the beach near the town.
The village then contained about
fifteen hundred inhabitants.
III the year 1854 tile Indians
living around Randolph killed
two men living on a slough that
puts into the river not far from
the Mining camp. The miners
eventually learned what Indians
were guilty aud hung four 81
them which had good effect.
As the tribe never gave the set,
tiers any trouble after the execn-
ton.
Soon after the Randolph ex.
citement there was gold discover.
ed In Johnson's mou4ltalns near
the head-waters OF the South
Fork ot the Coqullle and many
rushed tor the new Eldorado; ons
of those that was on his way tf
Johnson's was Sam Dement,, but
while travelling mp the river h.
came TO beautiful prairie, with
a lovely stream of water passins
through 1t, and glens of tlmbel
now and then making their wa,
out into the open ground, such al
| the stately tir, and spreading
MatharoDe with its lnysleto,
streaming down, thus combining
to make lovely place. So In
Gle Sam located aad thus becarn,
the first white settler on the Co