Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1899-06-30
mat ran through town. The
country around Walla Walla and

Lewiston was only just beginning
10 0e settled. Between Walla
Walla and Lewiston we did NOT
see more than dozen honses
the most of which were in tbs
Iouchet, the homes of pioneer
stockmen.
when we reached the Alpowa
creek we found Indians FARMING on
a small scale. They were blowing
one Indian riding the horse, anot6.
er holding the little homemade
pillow. Near the mouth of that
creek was quite a good farm. the
ola home Of Rev. Spaulding, who
settled there in 1886. Here 7 saw
clump of apple trees in full bloom
That were planted by him, and. ex-
cept those at Vancouver planted
by some of the Hudson Bay peo.
pie, were probably the first fruit of
TINS sort planted on the North Pa.
cific coast. When we reached
snake river, opposite the town of
Lewiston, we found the bank of
the river covered with hundreds of
men, horses and vehicles of all
sorts waiting their turn to get
across the river. We took our
place in line, but did not get across
until dark. We put up our tent
in the town. During the night we
were disturbed by the firing Of pis-
tolls and the whizzing of bullets 80
unexpectedly near that the next
morning we moved further back.
Drunkenness, gambling, crime and
murder were in full blast in Lewis
ton. 1 will quote from my diary
kept at that time, which will show
the condition Of things as l saw
them. and how the country ap-
peared at that time.
May II, 1862-Lewiston is a
brisk place. There are stores and
shops Of every sort, law, doctor,
dentist and express office. The
town is built of canvas, poles, logs
and split boards. Wood is worth
$40 per cord, split boards, three
feet long, $50 per thousand, and
shingles $25 per thousand. There
is small steam sawmill here, max
ing lumber Of logs foated 40 miles
down the Clearwater river, which
sells at 800 per thousand. Town
lots are all the rage. Everybody
is buying lots, selling lots, squat
ting on lots, jumping lots and law
ing about lots. Yet Lewiston is
situated upon an Indian reserva-
ton, and no one has any title to
the lots, save squatter's rights
sovereignty. Lots are
selling at $50 to $1,000.
May 15-My friend, G. L. Wood,
of Yamhill county, dined with me
today. ! borrowed an extra tin
plate, cup, knife and spoon, and
entertained him in fine style. He
is running the ferry across Snake
river, and is making money. CA
few years later he was elected
governor of Oregon.) The mighty
flood Of human life still rushes on
with restless step and eager hopes.
Pack trains aud vehicles of every
sort come laden with provisions,
merchandise and lots of whisky.
The town still grows, houses spring
ing up like magic, saloons and
houses are numerous, and
are full of people night and day.
Here fools and their money part to
meet no more. There is much
crime and frequent murders here.
Later on crime and murder be-
came SO rampant that a vigilance
was organized which ar
rested, tried and hung several
villains.
May 24-Mounted my horse this
morning and started for Florence
City, accompanied by a merchant
from Walla Walla. We passed
through a fertile, rolling country
until we reached the summit of the
Blue mountains, where we found
pine and tamarack timber thinly
scattered over a well.tufted sur
face, making it resemble an extern
sive and beautiful park. The trail
follows q broad and almost level
ridge that grows broader as we ad-
vance, until it seems more like an
undulating than q mountainous
country. At 6 p. m. we stopped
and "staked out" our horses, made
a cup of tea. and ate our meal of
bareback, cheese and dried beef.
When we awoke our blankets were
white with frost.
May 23.-The scenery along the
trail today is the most picturesque
and beautiful I ever saw. The face
of the country is diversified with
timber and prairie happily inter-
spersed, with hills and dales, glens
and glades and dancing streams.
At 10 A. NJ, as we emerged from
the timber, we came in full view of
the famous Camas prairie, stretch
ing almost from the Salmon to the
Clearwater river and about 18 miles
in width sea of verdure and an
eden of flowers. We descend by a