National Republican., 1883-10-18
A PARTY OF PIONEERS.

ApARrY OF PIONEERS.
Some Of the Earliest Settlers In Washing
ton Territory Visit the Capital" Buck-
skin Jim" Tells the story OF Ills
Experience In the Far West.
Among the guests at tho celebration of the
completion of the Northern Pacific railway
last month were o large number Of pioneers
of the Pacific slope, and particularly Of Ore
gon. When the ceremonies wero concluded
these pionoers were invited by the railway
company to invade the cast and five hun
drod and sixteen of them accepted. Thoy
scattered upon reaching st. Paul, Mimi,
and n portion of them reached this city
on Monday last. Among them were
w. II. II. Davis, L. A. Davis, w. G.. Painter,
and j. NJ. Cornwell, of Washington territory,
and James Heard, Of Idaho territory. The
latter Is better known under tho pscudonym
of " iluCkskin Jim" and has often boon intro
ducod to the younger generation under the
cover Of yellow backed literature. The party
spent the early portion of the day in sight
seeing, and at o'clock were received by
President Arthur The President welcomed
them very cordially, and chhttod with them
for nearly an hour.
Mr. H. A. Davis and Buckslkin were found
at tho st. James hotel last evening, and,
while they protested some, they finally con-
sentod to be "chinned." Mr.. Heard is now
over 20 years of age and has lived all his life
among the wilds. A western flavor, char
acteristic of his kind is noticeable, but he is
undoubtedly gentleman. He is quite n
| linguist and a good talker though inclined to
be rather dramatic in manner. Ho is rather
fond of telling stories of his own experience
and his history had best been given i'll his
own words.
81 ran away from England" he said "when
| | was but II years of age and sailed for the
Pacific coast. The vessel was wrecked on the
coast Of California, and fell into the hands
of Indians, who treated me well. j remained
with the Indians until about 1882 when /
went to Guaymas in Sonora, whore l was
| taken by Santa Annals soldiers Myself and
others were put in jail, and remained for six
months, suffering terribly, until the British
consul had us released upon the celebrated
Yankee Jim declaring himself an English
man. We recovered S36Oapiece from the Mex
lean government. l then went to Alaska and
lived among the Flathead Indians. In 1913,
however, the gold fever struck me hard, and
| went to California, where in short time |
got rich. / really don't know how much
gold dug, but it was o pile. Since then /
have engaged in mining and stock raising.
No. can't say do like the city, but this is a
pretty one. About twenty-four hours gen.
orally tires me Of any city. / sail for Europe
on Saturday, and when l return 1
shall go direct to Puget sound.
The President treated tho boys nicely,
and we have had n nice time since we left
our home. I'd like to have my buckskin
suit here and my pony, and you would see
fun. Kin 1 ride? Well, 1 should say so
Why i raised the celebrated "Comot" thar
was poisoned in Europe. Oh! that was sim
ply play we saw. at tho races yesterday
nothing in that / am an old printer, and
| sn1 thn Hrgt 20 I,n t.nut
l have also reported some too. Yes
/ can write poetry. How's this?". Here the
old veteran launched out into verse recital
of the beauties of the boundless west, similar
to the style of tho wild, weird Miller. He
said that the Northern Pacific railway was
| big institution in the west, and, although its
completion is young in memory, it had already
begun to have to have effect. He said that
the population of Washington territory had
doubled itself in the past year. "Why," he
exclaimed, 'there are 5000 people going into
that territory every week"
| "Yes sir; it's the coming country of the
world, and before long Puget sound will be a
nation itself"
Mr.. Davis, who is an ex-member of the
legislature of Washington territory, and has
also held other positions of public trust,
stated that tho climate itself should help
settle tho country. 81 have not bought an
overcoat in thirty years." said he, "and will
not do so for 800 years more for we people
never died."
He said that there were two classes of
pioneers in tho western "divide"-the old
loggerhead, who never goes into politics, and
cares simply for himself and his land, and
the younger pioneer who seeks but
the advancement of this territory.
These latter have already begun
to mako themselves heard, and would before
long rule their respective territories. Wash
ington territory, both gentlemen said, already
had nearly thirty newspapers, seventy-ave
churches, and several public schools. Gold,
copper, and in fact, all minerals, could be
found on Frazer river.
81 tell you," said Mr.. Davis, "a follow can
get his breakfast there without cent, as the
river abounds in bivalves, fish, and COOL clear
water"
The two gentlemen then entertained the
reporter with several stories of the early days
of the west, and as they did so, and began to
argue, the war truly was being fought over
again.