, 1888-10-25

between 1879 and 1879.
ALARMED by INDIANS.
In the spring of 1877 bought out my
partners here. This was about the close
of the Nez Perces Indian war. After
Joseph had been whipped and started
over the So So trail, u part of his tribe
came here to try to persuade the Indians
in this locality to join them in continuing
hostilities. The visitors camped only a
few hundred yards from my place, which
was located where j. w. Glover's stable
now stands. The whole country was
alarmed, and many OF the settlers had
built mud forts. | was uneasy so long as
the Nez Perces were so near, and sat up
for two nights. could look right into
their camp from my door. They would
form in a circle and dance and sing war
songs. They kept this up for two nights
Just at dawn on the morning following
the second night, saw something which
| could not distinguish coming toward the
river. Presently was able to make out
man on horseback, riding ahead. with
quilt around him. We naturally sup
posed the Indians were upon us, and
man who was on watch with me gave the
alarm, causing general stampede.
The women and children, who. were all
sleeping in my house for mutual protec-
tion, were wild with fright. The women
cried and prayed, and there was terrible
time. The horseman with the quilt
around him proved to be a white man, land
he was followed by a number OF settlers In
wagons. They had become frightened,
and had travelled to this place during the
night to take refuge on the island III the
river Rats were built and everybody,
with the exception of Fred Post; now re-
4 4 IL
siding at the upper falls, and myself,
went oyer to the island, where tempo
raiy fort was soon constructed. In about
week quiet was restored and the settlers
went back to their homes. then made
up my mind that the disturbing Indians
must be driven off. talked with the
older Indians of the tribes who lived here,
and told them that they must order the
renegades to leave, or would have Sans
men (soldiers) come and xii! all the Indians
in the country. peaceable or otherwise.
This threat had the desreo effect, and the
Nez Perces left, going several miles down
the river, where they camped for some
time, and then quietly departed.
ARRIVAL OF TROOPS.
In August of the same year Q87S) the
second regiment of cavalry, which had
been fighting Joseph, came here, and
council was held with the various Indian
tribes. The regiment remained here two
weeks, when the main portion proceeded
to the neighborhood of Palouse City to go
into winter quarters. leaving two compa-
nies here. These two companies remained
but two weeks, when they were ordered to
join the regiment. About this time Gen
eral w. Il. Sherman reached here, travel
ing overland from old Fort Benton. The
general took dinner with me, and | beg
ged him to leave two companies here to
protect the settlers. He gave me no def
mite answer at the time, but on reaching
Walla Walla he ordered companies Ii and
| to proceed to this place and 20 into camp
for the winter. They arrived on the LIST OF
November, and from that time we fell
secure and hopeful for the future.
THE MILL RUNNING.
then started up the saw-mill and cut
lumber to build quarters for the troops.
| had my hands full running the mill,
postoffice and store. The soldiers remain
ed here until May, 1873, when they joined
the regiments and proceeded to Cpur d.
Alene lake, where they built Fort Sher-
man, the site for which had so favorably |
impressed General Sherman during his |
visit there that he ordered Il fort built /
upon it.
BEGINNING OF THE CITY.
On April 26, 1878, Messrs. J. j. Browne
and A. M. Cannon came up from Portland,
and sold them half interest in my pre-
empton. Soon after Cannon & Warner
started general merchandise store. |
This was really the beginning of the town |
the first faint dawn of brighter day |
for Spokane Falls. Improvements became |
general, business increased, and the peo.
Pile began to feel that the future growth of |
the place was assured. The Northern |
Pacific began to prepare for work, and the |
future city would soon have communication |
with the outside world. The real growth |
of the town may be said to have COM
menced in the spring of 1878. From that |
time its growth has been continuous.
The people who came here first were |
poor, and in the natural growth of the |
place they made money, which they at
once reinvested, showing unbounded faith |
in the future of the town. A more enter
prising liberal, kind hearted people never |
possible for Spokane Falls to become what |
1t is to-day"
While Mr.. Glover was relating the ex-
citing circumstances surrounding the early
history of the city--the sparsely settled
country. the Indian troubles, and ali that
the reporter could not get the impress
sion out Gf his head that all this was
long, long time ago, and that MIR. Glover.
now in his prime, must have been youth
at that time. 1t is indeed hard matter
to realize that sixteen years ago Spokane
Falls was little trading-post in the midst |
of almost wilderness. and that it was
only ten years since it took its first step |
toward its future greatness. The growth |
of Spokane Falls is without q parallel in |
the history of cities.
"The One-Horse Shay"