Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-09-08

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feather beds, earthen dishes and
heavy cooking utensils, excited the
wives, while the men hesitated long
before they could consent to part
with their wagons, harness, OK yokes
and chains, witt little hope of being
able to replace them at their des-
tination. However, the necessity
was so urgent after long and painful
meditation about ne-half the way
Oils We're dl,mantled and portions of
them used to make pack saddles.
Horses, mules and oxen were
packed with such clothing, utensils,
aud provisions as were Indispensable
for our daily wants, and with heavy
hearts many articles OF comfort AID
convenience which haa been care
fully carried and treasured on that
long Journey we've left behind.
We arrived At Fort Hail, then an
important trading post of the Hue
sons Buy Company, about the mid
die of August, receiving from Capt.
Grant, the officer in charge aud his
employees, such favors and assistance
rs can only be appreciated by worn-
out and destitute emiSrants.
The remaining wagons We're left
at Fort Hall and our company, no
longer attempting to keep up an or
@aniZat!on, divided into small par
ties each travelling as fast is their
circumstances would permit, follow
ing the well. beaten trail of the
Hudson's Bay Co. to Fort Walla
Walla.
TIE small party to which I was at
tached was one month from Fort
Hall to DR.. Whitman's, where we
were most Hospitality received and
supplied with flour and vegetables
in abundance, very acceptable
change after subsisling almost en-.
tirely on buffalo meat from Laramie
to Fort Hall, and on salmon from
Fort Hall to Whitman's. In fact
there had not been in my mess a
mouthful of bread since leaving
Laramie.
From Walla Walla DR.. White and
some others took passage down the
Columbia river in the Hudson's
Bay Co.'S boats. Others pursued
the journey by land to The Dalles
and there embarked in boats or Ca
noes. The larger portion of the
emigrants crossed the Cascade
mountains on the old Indian trail.
From Fort Hall, no precaution
had been taken against, OF the slight
est apprehension was felt, of Indian
hostility nor were we in any instance
molested by Indians; on the con-
trary, they furnished us with salmon
and game and rendered us other
valuable assistance for very trifiing
rewards.
From W ALA Walla to Willamette
Falls occupied about twenty days,
and, all things considered, was the
hardest part of The entire journey
drifting sands, rocks cliffs, and rapid
streams along the Columbia river,
and the gorges, torrents and thick
cts of the Cascade mountains, it
seems incredible bow, with our worn
out and emaciated animals, we ever
reached our destination.
On the 9Th of October, our little
party, tired, ragged and hungry,
arrived at the Falls, now Oregon
City, where we found the first habi-
tations west of the Cascade noun
tains. Here several members of the
Methodist mission were located, and
a sawmill was being erected on the
island.
Our qualification on arriving safely
after SO long and perilous a journey
was shared by these hospita6le peo-
pie, each of whom gave US hearty
welcome aud rendered every assist
ance in their power.
From the Falls to Vancouver, was
a trackless wilderness, communica-
ton being only by the river in small
boats and canoes. Toward Salem
no sign of civilization existed until we
reached the French prairie, where
few farms near the river were cul-
tivated by former employees of the
Hudson's Bay Co.
Within the present limits of Yam
hill county the only settlers I can
remember were Sidney Smith, Amos
Cook, Francis Fletcher, James
O'Neil, Joseph Mclaughlin, - Will
liams, Louis, LaBoute and George
Gay. There may have been one or
two more but 1 think not. South of
George Gays on the west and Of
Salem on the east side of the WAL
lamette river there were no settle
within the territory.
There were in the valley some
twelve or fifteen Methodist mission
aries, most of them having families,
under the general superintendent
of Rev. Jason Lee. Some were at
the Falls, some at Salem and some
at the mission farm ten miles below
Salem opposite the place now known
as Wheatland. At these places, es-
pecially the Falls and Salem, many
improvements were being made and
enjoyment was given at fair
wages to all who desired work.
Payment was made in lumber and
flour from their mills at Salem, cat
tie and horres from their herds, and
orders on the mission stores at the
Falls kept by Hon. Geo. Abernethy
There was no money in the country,
in fact do not remember seeing a
piece of money of any description
tor more than year after my ar
rival. A mans financial condition
was based upon his cattle, horses
and credit on the Hudson's Bay
Cos, or Abernethy's books. With
these he could procure everything
that was purchasable in the coun-
, try.
All kinds of tools aud implements
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