Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1893-06-10
A BIG CATCH OF SALMON.
CITIZEN TRAINS LUCK FISHING ia
OREGON YEARS AGO.

OREGON YEARS AGO.
An Account Of the First visit Of Well
Known Man to the Northwest soon
After the Ciyil war--IIow the Eccentric
Got q Ducking lie Caught 2Ge Fish.
George Francis Train. while at the
Portland, told friend some Of the Incl
dents Of visit he paid tins state many
years ago, away back early in the sixties.
He said he was the first one TO discover
salmon in the Columbia, and caught 26I
Columbia. walking ON the backs Of the
salmon which crowded the river; also
that he learned the Chinook jargon in
fifteen minutes.
Like most Of the "reminiscences of by
goue days in Oregon, there is some foun-
dation for THESE statements. but still
they vary somewhat from the facts in
the case. A correct account, therefore.
Of Mr.. Trains exploits in catching salmon
and studying Chinook jargon viii be
found interesting.
1t was somewhere about 1864 or 1866
when Mr.. Train first came ont here. just
after Fenian scare in Canada. IL was
when he took run across the line to
Victoria, and the long roll Of the British
drums was heard, and the troops were
called ont, sentries doubled and detect
ives kept watch over every move he
made while he was ON British territory.
Mr.. Train had aspirations for the
presidency in those days. and a gentle
man here has photograph Of him, pre-
scented by Mr.. Train himself. on the back
of which is written an invitation for the
the recipient % meet the donor In the
White House when he should lie elected
president
MIR. TRAIN TRIES HIS HAND.
While here Mr. Train visited The
Dalles, on the invitation of Captain j.
&. Ainsworth. and made his firstacquaint-
ance with the Chinook salmon and
Chinook jargon in their native wilds
This was long before can Of salmon
had been put mp on the Columbia. and
when the only salmon fisheries on the
river were those Of the Indians at the
Cascades and at The Dalies
Mr.. Train was 10 address the citizens
of The Dallcs in the church. and the day
before paid visit to salmon fishery in
the rapids below Cello He greatly al
mired the easy, graceful manner in
which an Indian. standing on n frail
platform hung over a narrow chute,
plunged his dipnet into the foaming cur
rent and lifted the salmon out on the
rocks, and he wished % try his hand.
The Indian endeayorei 10 dissaade
him, telling him that he would "lSillapi
copa chuck"-that is, fail into the river;
but Mr.. Train insisted, and the Indian
politely yielded up his net and stand.
and Mr.. Train stepped out ON the plat
form, net in hand.
Never before since the Columbia forced
its way through the Cascades had such
spectacle been presented to the Chi.
nook salmon. Mr.. Train wore green
broadcloth swallowtail coat with brass
buttons, tall silk hat, satin vest and
RULED shirt, As lie passed his net for a
scoop he was the observed Of all OBJ
servers. He scooped, and large Chi
nook salmon was caught in his net. but
instead Of pulling ii out it pulled him III,
and before one could say Jack Robin
son" Mr.. Train was being whiT ID away
like n cork in the swift current.
HE MAKES A PREDICTION.
Several Indians. who had evidently ex-
pected this, Immediately jumped in. and,
fortunately, succeeded in dragging Mr..
Train ashore. His tall hat was dancing
I like a bubble down the current. but a
lot Of young Indians scampered after /;
and soon brought it back.
Mr.. Train was not to be baked by his
mishap, and while he peeled of his coat.
vest. etc. he took lesson in Chinooi;
and found out what "killapi copa chuck
meant. Having stripped down to his
ruffled shirt and laid his garments ont
in the sun to dry, he again took the net
and telling his friends TO 90 back to The
Dalles and send up an engine for him at
6p. m, he stepped out on the platform
and fished all day, piling up e6i fine sal
mon.
When the engine came after him be
wished to take the salmon to town with
him to ornament the rostrum from which
he was 10 speak that evening, but was
dissuaded from this on the ground that
it would not look well in a church.
He delivered lecture that evening in
which he complimented the pioneers ON
their bravery and fortitude in immigr;.t-
ing to this section, and told them that
while they were seeking for gold in the
mountains and hoping to ret wealth
from their herds Of cattle, which ranged
on ten Thousand hills. there was immense
wealth swimming past their doors IN
noticed.
He then predicted that in few years
the salmon of the Columbia would be-
canned and exported TO the uttermost
ends Of the earth, and would become
one Of the great products of this state,
all Of which has become true.-Portland
Oregonian.
Days for the Saints and SaIuts for the Days.
a a