The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-21
lOW ONE MAN CANE WEST.
psna "reminiscences d TMmls Fletcher,
SnWhg the Determination d the
pbaeer Settlers Of Washington.


"1 near the northwest boundary of
l\ the state Of Missouri. ON bleak
prairie swale, near the head
III In waters Of the Charitan river,
lived Thomas Fletcher. with
,v,fe and three small children, In 1880.
10 had squatted upon quarter section
~ putting up Il small log shanty. and had
sSout ave acres planted in corn and pump
.rjux One COW and two younger stock
constituted all his personal wealth. He
rsde q precarious living by making boots
sn5 shoes out OF home-tanned leather, de-
handing largely upon the wild game--deer.
~ih turkeys, prairie chickens. squirrels,
stc.-that swarmed the country; also, not
far away were numerous bands of wild
hoes that kept fat and In good condition
me year round from the abundant mast
n the neighborhood. He made the writer
hereof pair OF boots to pay for three
months tuition of two Of his boys during
s winter term of country school in a
rough log schoolhouse. with no glass win
dows and big fireplace.
In the spring Of 1851 his near neighbor,
robert Cochran. who was eventually made
captain of the train, together with Coch-
rams father and s. ID. Ruddel, the latter
living near Lancaster, Schuyler county.
No. sold out their farms and real estate
and started across the plains to Oregon
Fletcher determined to accompany these
neighbors, although he was utterly with
out the means to procure suitable out
At for so long and so hazardous an under
taking Nevertheless, he begged Cochran
70 loan him a two-year-old steer and pro-
cured a light wagon very cheap, made
an ox-yoke and hitched up his cow and
the borrowed steer, and fell in line along
the road to Council Bluffs, where the
train crossed the, Missouri river.
short time before leaving Fletcher had
visited the county seat, Putnamvlle, and
had gotten into trouble with rowdy,
whom Fletcher licked, but was arrested
and held for trial at time subsequent to
the date set for starting across the plains.
Cochran had gone on his bond for appear
ance before the court. and after two or
three days travel on the road. Fletcher
still following. Cochran became alarmed
lest officers should be sent after them and
compel them both to return, so he forced
Fletcher to stop and return to Putnam
Vile, taking away the borrowed steer and
leaving Fietcher's family by the side of
the road with his almost empty wagon
and one COW. The wife and children camp
Cd by the side Of the road while Fletcher
went back, stood trial and was acquitted.
In the meantime, the train with which
he had started moved on, crossed the Mis-
Elkhorn river, some hundred or more
miles from where they had left Fletcher.
never expecting to see him again. At the
Elkhorn the train was delayed some sew
enteen days, owing to high waters. On
the tenth or twelfth day after being camp
ed on the banks of the Elkhorn, in the
afternoon, up came Fletcher, in company
with two young men named Fields and
Leggett. splendidly QUILTED, with three
yoke Of cattle to each wagon and plenty
OF provisions. These young men. who
we're from Wisconsin or Michigan. had
come across Fletcher's family while en-
camped by the side OF the road. and, learn
ing their condition, had awaited Fletcher's
return from trial. and on forming his ac-
quaintance loaned him sufficient money to
outfit himself and family as well as most
Of those making the journey. They joined
the train again at Elkhorn, and come on
a. far as the upper crossing of the middle
fork Of the Platte river. some hundred
miles west of Fort Laramie. Fletcher
had procured a splendid rifie-he was a
good shetland had killed a number of
bufaloes while coming UP the Platte. He
killed two-year-old buffalo cow. which
was the best of meat, and decided to jerk,
or sun dry, the whole Of 1t before going
further, as the train was then nearly out
of the buffalo, country, and no more fresh
meat could be got after crossing the
Rocky mountains. Owing to sickness and
other unavoidable delays, the train was
very late in crossing the mountains. and