The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1905-10-27
A PIONEERS STORY
A. P. w0oDARD RELATES INCL
DENTS OF EARLY TIMES.
Came West Fifty-thrse Years Ago and
Battled With Indians on
the Frontier.

A. P. Woodland, who resides near
Athena, and who came to this part
of the west 53 years ago and partici-
pated in many of the battles with the
Indians in Washington, Idaho and
Oregon as private in Company B,
stationed at Walla Walla, fought in
the battle of Walla Walla under Col.
onel Kelly. In speaking of the affair
to the correspondent of the Spokes-
man. Review he said:
s'The first shot was fired by a mem
ber of my company called JOINT, and
it was promptly returned by the In
dians, when running battle ensued.
The Indians fled in the direction of
the Walla Walla river and fired con-
tinually upon the pursuers as they
went. They continued up the stream
for distance of about seven miles
from where the fight began. AS the
Indians fell back in their retreat their
numbers seemed to increase, and
they continued to fire few shots at
the volunteers from the bushes on Dry
creek u short distance below where
the railroad now crosses that stream.
This caused temporary check in the
extreme advance, and the Indians
continued some four miles beyond Dry
creek, where they made their first
stand, taking shelter in an old log
cabin formerly owned and occupied
by Frenchman named La Rocque,
which has long ago been torn down
and removed, the historic site now be-
ing owned by Romano Rimellard.
Here desperate struggle ensued, the
was steadily driven forward for two
miles, where it took possession of a
farmhouse and close fence, in attempt
ing to carry which Captain Bennett Of
Company @ and Private Kelso of
Company A were killed.
The battle terminated in favor of
the volunteers.
In 1872 Mr.. Woodland says he helped
to locate the line of the Northern Pa
cific railroad, starting at Wallula and
running to Pasco and on through the
sandhills to Spokane. The work was
under the direction Of Captain East
wick, chief engineer. He regarded
Captain Eastwick as very compe-
tent, far seeing man. In proof of this
he cites the case of his reaching the
point at Spokane falls. when Captain
Eastwick said, as he threw down his
pack and cast his eyes on the falls and
the surrounding country:
Fright here, mark my word, and re-
member what ] am telling you, some
day you will see great city built up
and those falls will furnish th,
power to cary ON some Of the creates
line of battle extending from the hill
at the north across the fiat to tht
river.
Mr.. Woodland has the following re
port of what occurred at this time by
Colonel Kelly, the officer in com
mand:
when the volunteers reached thi
point there were not more than 40 o
so men, being those mounted on th
fleetest horses. Upon these the In
dams poured a murderous fire from
the brushwood and willows along th
river and from the sagebrush alonI
the plains, wounding number of th
volunteers. The men fell back
The moment was critical. They wer
commanded to cross the fence whicl
surrounds the La Rocque field an
charge upon the indians in the bush.
'In executing this order Lieutenau
Burrows of Company II was kille
and Captain Munson of Company
Isaac Miller, sergeant major, and G
w. Smith, of Company B, wei
wounded. A dispatch having bee
sent to Captain Wilson of Compan
A to come forward, be and his con
pauy came up on gallop, dismounte
at slough, and with fixed bayone
pushed on through the bush. In Il
course Of half all hour Captain Bel
nett was on the ground with CompaI
F, and with bis assistance the enen
industries this country has ever wi
messed He urged Mr.. Woodland
take up a homestead claim at th
point, saying: '.Some day it wi
make you rich man.
But Mr.. Woodland said he was n
ready to settle down; he wanted to
on the 60. AS further inducemel
the captain offered to survey out +
him quarter section, adding; "R
member my prediction; you wi
some day see one of the largest citi
In the west built up right here. .
Mr.. Woodland says: THAT mi
knew great deal or else he was
mighty good guesser. !"
Mr.. Woodland says he has oft
wondered If Captain Estwick lived
witness the fulfillment of his prophe
regarding the building Of the city
Spokane on the banks Of the river
the falls.