The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1892-02-12
A PERILOUS TRIP.

Something over two years
drew Hanson and wife and fo,
ren came from Kansas to Ores
stopped in Corvallis a short tin
Hanson leased farm between
roe and Junction City, where
moved his family and engaged
pursuit of farming for one seaso|
After this he took up a squatter
in the southeastern part of
county on the Five Rivers, an
tracted with a man to move hi
his family to his place for $35.
unable to pay that sum at the
Mr.. Hanson let his house furni
for security to satisfy the amou
til paid. Strange to say, the
still reside on thei1 claim,
cleared off sufficient space for
garden spot, from which they RI
considerable vegetable pm
Through many hardships incid
such a life, Mr.. Hanson and
have managed to exist on tll
ducts of their place, but one ye
being reduced almost to wal
came to Corvallis in search of e
ment. He was taken sick, nd
soon after his arrival, and NJ
rett, at that time superinter.d
the Corvallis college dormito1
tended to his wants and cared f
during his illness. A subsc
was circulated to secure funds
relief, and, after raising $75,
sent back to his family on the
tain ranch. Since that time Mr.
son has been sick and unable I'd
but his wife. assisted by the chhdfel
made meager living, and manage
to keep the wolf from the door unit
recently, when the wife realized tina
other measures would have to b
taken to prevent starvation. Accord
ingly, seized with a forced spirit {
heroism and desperation, Mrs. Han
son, with her eight-months' old bab
and nine-year-old boy, set out on foe
for the settlements to obtain provision
for the support of the family, lsavin
three of the children at home to car
for the father. Mrs. Hanson Was I'm
dertaking a perilous journey of fft
miles distance, over rugged mountain
and through dark and dismal forests
in which wild and ferocious beast
roamed, but she braved the pack-tra
to the Alsea with unparalleled perse
verence. When she reached Alse
mountain she gave up, and was abou
to surrender to the sad circumstance
which confronted her, when two trav
elers, happening along. assisted he
over the mountain to a place OF safety
and she was thus enabled to procee,
on herjourney. Reaching Philomath
she took the train for Corvallis will
her two children, after enduring IA hare
weeks walk. Arriving at this city il
a hopeless, ragged condition, Judg
Hufford, considering her pitlful appear
ance, took her to the poor house, wher,
she and her children were provided
for. Some of our philanthropic womel
have kindly volunteered to ministe
to her needs while she is III this city
and subscription is being circulated
to raise m oney for her relief, and pro
visions will be sent to the rest of the
family us soon as the road is in
travelling condition. She left only
three weeks rations OF bread anc
potatoes for the folks at home wiler
she started on her journey, but speedy
provisions will be made for them
This daring trip indicates that starva
ton was staring the family in the face
and that something had to be done
hastily for their relief Mrs. Hanson
IS certainly woman of undaunted
courage and pluck, but poverty, it is
true, is wonderful energiz,ng force.
She thinks they can make living on
their place after this winter, but should
sickness and death overtake them in
their solitary haunts, very disastrous
may follow. The ladies
who head the subscription for the re.
lief of this unfortunate family deserve
a good word, and they should be en-.
couraged in their philanthropic work.