Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1899-12-23
Our First Christmas.

The first Christmas celebration in the
Lewiston valley of which anv living wit
ness has personal knowledge occurred at
Lapwai in 1860.
John NJ. Silcott, the oldest living pio-
neer except one, Thos. b. Beall, was then
sub-agent at Lapwai under Agent Blake,
who was occupied exclusively elsewhere.
Old Uncle John never did things by
halves, even i'll those days of limited ac-
cessories of civilization. He therefore
sent invitations to every white man
within so miles of his home, and not one
of the invited guests would have sent re-
grets for any excuse short of total physi-
cal disability.
The guests at this same public Christ
mas dinner were Col. VIM. Craig, Thos.
B. Beall, N. B. Dutro, Thos. Page, Capt.
M. NJ. Williams DR.. Tnebolo, LAX
Shultz, Joe Medeau, Henry McNally and
the Spanish chef, Spanish Frank.
! The cuisine was elaborate, but it was a
, little irregular. There was no turkey,
but wild goose filled that place very
acceptaDly; there was no roast pig, but a
stuffed cub bear stood upon the platter
there was no pumpkin pie. a dish for
which the old pioneer always felt long
ing that was hard to satisfy; there was no
great variety of confections, nor was there
| facf,tnnah1a xx,i,, x.yhsr1,
one of these guests had perhaps long.
ing desire, inspired by past associations
but they had pure alcohol. The govern
ment had supplied DIR. Thebodo's dis.
pensary with five-gallon can of this
potent drug, and the seal was intact till
that Christmas morn.
| There was perhaps not guest under
this hospitable roof that conld not have
appreciated the most delicate bouquet in
the best wines Of au aristocrat's cellar
but they were equal to the occasion OF
enjoying raw alcohol with water in nc
extravagant portions, and each and every
guest did the contents of that sealed car
justice. And none ever complained that
the alcohol did not do its expected work
1t is also appropriate to connect thi:
Christmas dinner with the FIRST New Year
dinner" One was connected with the
other The alcohol did not last through
the week, but the effects Of il did. Col
Craig invited the guests to come to his
home for the closing act of the holiday
celebration. Col. Craig lived on what
was called Waha creek then, now Sweet
water creek.
The alcohol being gone dire obstacl,
presented itself. Jake Shultz and Joe
Medeau, known as French Joe" ap
peared OH the scene while the smell o
alcohol was in the air. They volunteered
to make the journey 10 Walla Walla fo
stimulants for the Col. Craig New Year
dinner John Silcott furnished the
money TO pay for ten gallons of whiske,
and Col. Craig furnished the horses. Tht
Journey of 100 miles was undertaken
with only three days for the ride. The
made the trip and broke the record 70
rapid freight service up to that date
They made the distance of 200 mile
going and coming with pack horses il
three days. This display of energy speak
well for the enthusiasm that prevailed a
} this pioneer holiday celebration.
Col. Craig had pretentious dwellin
for that day and age. He had bi
house and smooth floor which wa
really aristocratic.
The house and the floor, the womei
|, (nativesj and the whiskey suggested
dance and great preparations were mad
for this recreation. These men, who
living now are sedate and bowed dow
with age, were young then and proud AN
each wanted a partner for the dane
| They used every persuasion and eve
strategy to secure the attendance of tt
best looking young native women fo
| partners.
| The dinner was very elaborate. TT
whisky, though milder than the fiei
| alcohol, induced exuberance OF spirit
and there was flow of soul that WI
never forgotten by single guest. I'll
native girls were too modest to NAL
lively dancers, but they were induced
Join in the may waltz and the bewitc
ing quadrille while the liquor held out
II OF the participants in this pioneer h'
| iday celebration perhaps only John S
| colt and Tom Beall survive. These acto
| in the life dramas of our beloved hor
| land hold in keeping many sacred mel
ories. The story Of their lives should
preserved in regular and complete for
before cares of life blur these pictures
memory ,or the life-thread itself is brok
| by the tension of trouble and years.