Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1903-12-18

The Indians had no price on any
thing, hut would take all they
could get and one Indian wanted
more. He had yellow pumpkin
not larger than mans head which
first one and then another made a
bid for, until the Indians head was
completely turned as to the value
of his fruit. After refusing a new
suit of clothes, worth $25, he vert
away with the pumpkin under his
arm. Many old-timers will re.
member the saying, Like the
Indian with his pumpkin" even
unto this day.
On account of the lateness of the
season-had already had a snow
storm-and the scarcity of feed, we
probably did not stop at this place
more than one night. Journeying
from our camp on the Umatilla,
we passed across what seemed to
me to be kind of sandy desert,
with at times rocky ground, sage
brush, greasewood, and occasionally
few small willows.
We passed Whitman's Mission,
(some called it a station) situated
in about such country as last de-
scribed. There was nothing cheer
full or inviting about the place--a
low and very modest looking
house or two, the Doctor in the
yard, and one or two other persons
about the premises is about all /
remember of this historic place
where the slaughter was to be three
years later. We did not halt here,
but just passed along by the place.
Some years after reaching the
Willamette Valley, where the Apple
gate families settled, | heard this
same place, Whitman's Mission,
called Wallatpu, (or saw it printed
Wailatpoo).
We soon arrived at Fort Walla
Walla, on the Columbia river
another Hudson Bay post. The
fort was built mainly of sun-dried |
bricks, and the plans were about
the same as those Of the Hudson
Bay forts we had passed on our
journey. The train which arrived
here was a detachment of the
which came out to Oregon
that season, and numbered 10
families and probably 20 wagons.
The entire immigration of 1843 had
been computed at about 1000 souls.
This detachment included the
Applegate families-families of the
three brothers, Charles, Lindsay
and Jesse. call to mind also the
names of Alexander Mcclellan,
William Wilson, William Doak,
Robert Smith, John Y. Baker,
Williams, Mr.. Gilman,
Elijah Millican, Thomas Naylor,
Almoran Hill, Miles Cary and
Daniel Holman.
Besides the oxen of the teams,
here was a small herd of stock
cattle. Jesse Applegate had probably
30 head, and Others had few COWS
md calves. There were also few
horses. This train of wagons
,orralled for the last time about 100
Yards up the river from the fort,
Ind near where the Walla Walla
liver flows into the Columbia.
A train of wagons, with their
'nce white, now torn, grease and
lust stained covers, parked on the
'ank of the Columbia river, was
novel spectacle such as had never
Deen seen before. The faithful OK
n, now sore-necked, sore-footed
md jaded from their weary march
f week after week and month after
month, drawing the wagons with
heir loads from the Missouri to
be Columbia, had done their task
nd were unhitched for the last
ime. Let US hope that all re-
overed from their fatigue and
ived to enjoy a long rest on the
anks of "The Oregon"
Mr.. Mckinley was in charge of
be fort at Walla Walla, and was
ind and accommodating to the
immigrants. There were many
indians here-bucks, squaws and
apOOses-and they were often
isitors at our camp. Some of the