, 1888-10-25
From a Squatter's Ranch to an
Important City.
Bistorical wrangie Among Ola 'i"ers-
Cattle and Horse Stealing ana ''o"'
bery--The Indians.

B porter Yesterday called on Hon. j. N.
\ Glover, president of the First National
bank of this city, and one of the first set
tiers in Spokane Falls, "the Denver of the
West" and asked him to relate something
of its early history for the benefit OF the
readers of the SUNDAY REVIEW.
Although taken at disadvantage on
account of having no time to refresh his
memory, Mr.. Glover willingly com plied,
and for an hour talked with evident pleas
ure of the times when the now fourishing
city of Spokane Falls was among the
things yet to be. The drift of MIR. GLOW
er's narrative was, in substance as follows:
THE PIONEER DAYS.
"On the I'd of May, 1872, j. N.
Matheny and myself reached Lewiston
from Portland. We bought cayuses, pro-
visions, etc, and prospected for several
days. Being desirous of locating a sheep
ranch. we came in the direction OF the
present city of Spokane Falls for that pur-
pose.
Learning that man named Kendall
the owner of a trading post at Spokane
bridge, on the Mullan road, was desirous
of disposing of his business, on account of
being dangerously i'll, we proceeded thither
for the purpose of buying him out. Upon
our arrival we found that Kendall was
dead, and he was buried on the following
day. kendall's death left his business in
such an unsettled condition that we
abandoned the idea of purchasing, and
proceeded down the river--eighteen miles
to this place, with the beauties OF which
we were much impressed. Here we found
j. j. Downing and Il. S. Scranton each oc-
cupying land as squatters. being unable to
secure title as the land had been with
drawn for the benefit of the Northern Pa
cifc railroad. Downing and Scranton were
constantly wrangling between themselves
and with everybody else Mr.. Matheny
and myself bought Downing's interest, in.
cluding a little sawmill, for $4,000. l
soon after went to Portland and purchased
additional machinery for the mill;
goods. and returned here on the
18th day of August of the same year.
CATTLE STEALING.
Upon my arrival learned that Scranton
had been killing cattle which did not be-
long to him, and that he was then lying in
ambush in the brush short distance up
the river. A man named May approached
me and asked me if did not want to see
Scranton. ! told him no; that was worn
out and wanted rest, but that if he would
call the next day | would accompany him
to the place where Scranton was concealed.
May came to my place at O. clock the fol-
lowing day and we went up the river a
quarter of Il mile where May had dugout
canoe, propelled with one paddle. Indian
fashion. May insisted on engineering the
craft, but | objected, for was suspicious
of him, and rowed the boat across the
river myself. then proceeded into the
III m |
was forced to crawl on my hands and knees,
and finally found Scranton lying on buff
falo robe. He was armed with a rifle, Two
revolvers and large knife. talked with
him while, and finally told him that if
he would come over between IL and IL
o'clock that night ! would buy him out
and he could leave the country, scheme
which all the people residing hereabouts
approved. Scranton came over as agreed,
and the trade was closed, the consideration
being $1,000.
Mr.. Matheney and myself then took in
G. +. Yeaton, who now resides at Seattle,
as q partner. A corps of government sur
vcyors, who had just finished a contract in
the Crab creek country, came along, and
got them to run base line, which showed
just how my property was situated. This
line has never been changed.
A BAND OF HORSES STOLEN.
While putting the new machinery in
the sawmill, took off the long belt and
threw it to ono side, and soon after dis
covered that it had been carried away.
About this time, two weeks after buying
Scranton out, some Indians came to me
and reported that Scranton and May had
left the country, taking with them eighty
one head of American horses. A few days
afterwards, piece of the missing sawmill
hal nh tnu a
short distance out on the trail leading to
the Mullan road. Scranton and May had
cut up the belt to make hobbies for the
stolen horses. They took the animals
to Nevada and sold them. Scranton then
driftcd into Southern California. and there
ond wife. He now resides in the vicinity
of Dayton, in this territory. May has
never been heard of since. Downing re-
sided for many years at or near Walla
Walla, and is now, believe, living on
Snake river.
FAITH IN THE FUTURE.
What few people resided here as far
back as 1878 were mostly stockmen. l, for
one, had abundant faith in the future of
the place, for believed the Northern Pa
cl6c must pass through here So all our
hopes were centerod in the building of this
road. We only received mail once week,
and every mail day was a holiday with US,
and we all put on our best clothes. Our
first business after receiving the mail was
to carefully scan the newspapers in the
hope Of finding news of the progress of the
Northern Pacific railroad. Things were
painfully quiet here in those days. For
weeks we would not see q white face, ex-
cept those Of our neighbors. did most
of my trading with the Indians. The
ouptry was at stAnddstill, and continued
go from the time OF Jay Cooks failure In