The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1899-10-05


During my stay bad the pleasure OF
attending Social got up by the Pres
byterians of the valley for the purpose
of raising money to erect a church. The
literary and musical entertainment, all
local talent, was worthy OF much
larger place. The congregation is small,
but they contribute literally to the sup
port of the gospel and are ambitious to
have n church of their own in which TO
worship. Some of these families years
ago assisted in building fine church at
Union Center, County of Antagonist, and
now that they are struggling to erect
another place of worship in this western
country. it would be II gracious thing for
some of their eastern friends to lend
helping hand. Mrs. John McPhee.
Natchez Is prominent member OF the
committee, and any contributions sent
tn her from any quarter will be thank
fully received.
There is an Indian reservation in the
vicinity and it is first rate locality to
study the habits of the "Siwash" which
is the western name for the red men.
Some of the Indians have become very
successful farmers. They have herds of
ponies and are all good horsemen.
These ponies are about the size Of the
Sable Island pony go well known at home
and can be purchased very cheap.
saw an Indian Offering an average look
ing specimen for $3.50. They spend their
money freely when they have any, and
are not slow to copy the ways OF the
white man. | saw a party OF them on
their way to the mountains berry pick
ing, one buck with his kloochman
(squaw) drove in covered buggy drawn
by "A nice pair of black ponies. One
squaw sported veil and another par
asol
good story is told here characteristic
of Indian recklessness in money matters.
The United States government, some few
years ago, decided to open one OF the
Indian reservations for settlement and to
purchase the interest of the tribe located
there. The land was valuable, and
when the matter was finally adjusted
each Indian was entitled to about 800
in cash. A day was fixed for payment at
the town of Lewiston, and the whole
tribe were accordingly on hand to receive
the money. One buck Immediately
bought covered buggy and all the rest
were eager to follow suit. Within few
hours all the carriages in the town were
bought up at fabulous prices. One old
Siwash arriving too late to get suited and
determined not to be behind the others.
called on the undertaken and bartered
away his whole fortune for the hearse,
and filling it with his kloochman and
papooses he drove up and down the
main street to the great amusement of
the citizens.
| had the good fortune during the three
weeks | spent at the Natchez, TO be in
vited to join hunting and fishing party
on a trip to the mountains. Each one
of the party-eleven in all-was provided
with saddle horse, and four pack
horses carried our traps. Some things
cannot be described, and some places.
The lower ranges o. the Cascade noun
tains are away beyond my powers of de-
scription. Mountain slopes, deep gorges.
high cliffs, rapid roaring streams, and
away to the west the main range capped
in eternal snow aud lost among the
clouds. | wish some OF my Nova Scotia
friends who run saw mills could have
seen the timber that covers the lowe.
ranges of these mountains. For several
days we rode uU and down mountain
slopes covered with magnificent pine
trees, many of them being from four to
eight feet IN diameter, and running one
hundred feet clear of knots and standing
far apart on slopes covered with grass
aud wild flowers, and so smooth and clear
OF underbrush that YOU could drive a
coach aud four between them without
the least difficulty. | do not know how