The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1903-01-30

up The early history Of Hood River, and
as preliminary article, will tell of our
trip from New York via the Panama
route to Portland.
First, however, | want to tell Of one
singular thing that happened few
weeks before our departure, and while
in Auburn, N. y, making our farewell
visit with our old friends and relatives.
A long farewell it was, indeed, for we
never saw them again. All those that
remained, as well as those that came,
except myself--haye crossed over to the
silent majority on the other side. My
brother Charles, who died about 1873,
was at that time seriously afflicted with
opthalmia, SO bad, indeed, that his sight
was endangered. The best doctors were
employed without beneficial results.
Finally a relative at whose home we
were visiting, suggested that we visit a
clairvoyant living few miles out Of
the city, who had achieved considerable
notoriety from cures he had effected.
As o last resort, my mother, the relative
mentioned and I--then only small
boy--went to see him. We found the
medium at home, and he without any
us the object OF our visit to him, made a
prescription for my brothers. eyes, and
then turning to my mother, said: II
see long journey ahead of you, over
troubled seas and across land and seas
again, but you will reach your journeys
end in safety. Your husband will be
there to meet you, and the Indians will
never hurt YOU =" The prescription was
filled and directions followed. In re-
markably short time my brother was
restored to perfect health and was never
troubled with his eyes again. We
crossed the troubled seas and father met
us at the landing We passed through
the Yakima war; for weeks savage war
whoops rang in our ears, but "the In
dians never hurt u.s.
In the fall OF 1851, if my memory SER
yes me right, my father, Nathaniel Coe
OF Livingston county, N. \ was ap-
pointed by President Polk as special
postal agent for the territory Of Oregon,
then comprising the vast and but little
known country lying between California
and British Columbia, and from the
Rocky mountains to the Pacific Ocean,
now embracing the states of Oregon,
Washington, Idaho and part of Mon
tana. He took with him my brother
Frank, boy of Is years, next older
than myself. The determination was
that If this new world suited him, we
were to follow later on. Two years of
life in Oregon decided my father to
make it his future home, and December
II, 1858, just so years ago, found us on
board an ancient side-wheel ark. known
as the Georgia, along with l400 9TH
ers. There were 900 laborers for the
Panama railroad, just commenced; the
rest were bound for the gold fields OF
California. Our party consisted of my
mother and my two brothers--Lawrence|
and Charles-who took steerage; moth
er and | going first cabin. One day in
the steerage was all the boys could
stand, as it was dreadfully crowded, and
they, after proper representation to the
purser, were permitted to cross the
dead line and come aft. Off Cape
Hatteras we found a very rough sea,
though not much wind. The storm hav-
ing subsided, our old ship rolled and
pitched in a most disreputable man.
ner, making nearly every one most
horribly sick. None OF our party, how
ever, were affected by it,and after a
day or so we ran into calm seas
and the remainder OF the trip was
exceptionally pleasant. | think 1t was
OH the eighth day we reached Aspinwall,
the end of our Atlantic voyage. Four
other steamships came into port the
same day, all loaded as we were with
laborers for the new road and the gold
fields. Such a jam as there was; all
was hurry and hustle and we had to re-
main over one day in order to get trans
portation. Aspinwall-n the city of
Colon--was small, rambling town Of
low houses with thatched roofs; the sea
beach in front and tropical forest
behind.
The next morning we boarded the
ears for six mile ride to the Chagres
river, then the terminus of the road.
The bridge across the river was just
about completed Alongside of the road
we noticed several rough wooden boxes
which we were informed were collins,
and contained the bodies of workmen
who had just died Of fever, and we were
told, and | have no reason to doubt the
truth of the statement, that every tie
on the road cost a mans life. We were
now transferred to a bateau for a ~
or Is mile ride up the river to Cruces.
The river was very shallow and with
quite strong current. The banks were
lined with dense tropical forest. Our
boat was covered, with walks along the
guards, which the native boatmen used
to propel the boat along by using long
poles which they planted ON the bottom
Of the river and against their shoulders,
and with low "Ace, Ace, Ace, +" walked
the length OF the boat, pushing the boat
along with their feet During the after
noon thunderstorm came up and the
rain came down in torrents. We reach
ed Gorgona at dark, and tied up for the
night along with scores OF other boats.
During the evening a brawny westerner,
who had gone ashore, in returning to-
his boat had to cross dozen or so others
to reach his own. This the natives OBJ
iected to, and free fight ensued, result
ing in the complete rout of the natives.
The next morning brought us to Cruces,
and the end OF our boat journey. We
remained here until the next day about
noon before we could obtain mule for
mother to ride, while | was deposited
on the back of native for transporta
tion purposes; my brothers walking. |
l do not know just how far it was to the
city OF Panama, but at nightiall we were
still six or seven miles away from our
destination, and my native mule-who
also acted as guide-insisted on stopping
at a wayside inn, declaring it was dam
gerous to proceed further and would not
go a step. He started off to the house
carrying me with him, but my lusty
yells called my brothers. attention to
me and drawing his revolver ordered my
human horse to let me off, and ran to
them. After proceeding a short dis
tance our party concluded that discre-
ton was the better part Of valor and
returned to the bungalow, much to the
Joy of my native, who Rugged me with
delight. Our hotel was a crude affair.
Round poles set in forked sticks driven
in the ground formed seats to a rough