Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1905-12-29
AN INDIAN STORY
OF PIONEER DAYS
An Old Pioneer NarTates His
Experience on Smith
River Divide.

1t was lively day during the sum-
mer Of 20 that saddled my horse
Wild Bill-at the stable in Happy
CamL on the Klamath river and
started for my home in the Illinois
valley, near Waldo. There was a big
ball at the camp the night before. /
had danced all night and was tired,
but business called me home. 1t was
II o'clock when | left the camp and l
reached what was known as the Tub
Spring on the summit of the mount
ain at 8 that evening. Here was fine
grass and turned Bill loose to feed,
intending to start again after an
hours rest as had resolved to travel
all of the following night. l lay down
ON the grass near the spring and was
soon fast asleep. / did not intend
doing this as grizzly bears and gray |
wolves were often met here on this
trail and it was not really safe for
one to sleep there alone. / was sleep.
ing soundly when snort from my
horse rang out on the air. / bounded
up while Bill came running to me. |
spoke gently to him and we both
looked and listened for some time,
but could neither see nor hear any
thing as dense fog was settling over
the mountain and it was soon so dark
that could not see the trail, struck
match, consulted my watch and
found that it was 10 O'Clock, but |
WIS determined to reach Waldo soOn
as possible. / gave Bill the reins
knowing that he would keep the
trail if given his own way. Bill was
rapid walker and he walked steadily
for about two hours when he halted
aud refused to move. | let him stand
moment and said "go on, lid Boy, "
but he suorted and still refused to 20
ahead 1t was the bacl est night |
ever saw. | could not see my hand
when held above my head. Again
tried to get Bill to go on but he was
frightened and wanted to turn back on
the road. was tired ard concluded
10 to camp there the rest of the night.
:, | tied Bill to a tree aud groped round
- through the timber, which grew he o
;, as thick as it could stand, but could
find nothing with which could make
IA IA fire, so | wrapped my saddle
. blanket around me, lay down in the
trail near my horse aud was soon
asleep. had slept about an II hour
- when low cry arose on the night
b, which grew louder and louder as it
wall In all of my life had never
heard noise so truly awful, and |
~ stood there in the darkness almost
ie paralyzed with fear. | knew that no
animal ON earth ever cried like that
: and that it was human voice. Again
the awful cry went up, beginning as
before with low moan like someone
in great pain or distress, and in about
five minutes ending in nightly
vail. This was kept up for near an
hour. While listening to these dread
ful cries aud specializing as to what It
was, concluded it was what had
heard described by old hunters as the
death wall of an Indian who had lost
friends in battle aud such it prov ed
to be. but had never heard it before
aud to meet it here alone in the dark
n, IS of the night it was indeed truly
awful During all of this time my
horse was nervous aud | had hard
work to keep him from breaking away
from me. The horrible noise ceased
at last aud all was still. They were
ON the trail ahead Of me about two
hundred yards distant and what to do
did not know but concluded to leav,
the trail and try to get around them
saddled Bill and taking the reins in
my hand left the trail and led hin
y slowly, feeling my way through tn,
brush, After going u short distanc,
a | saw small fire on the trail ant
could see the forms OF about doZeI
o Indians sitting on the ground arount
it, now moved with gr, at caution
parting the brush ahead of me ant
frequently jerking Bill to keep hin
quiet aud at last cached the tran
around the Indians camp, | was glat
Indeed as | was positive they had moi
heard me Again / mounted WilC
Bill and we reached Waldo about II
O'Clock the next day where | learneC
d that few days before u lot Of Snak,
Indians, who were ON the Smitl
River reservation above Crescent
~ City, had killed some Indians ant
several white men aud escaped Som,
of this band had been kiutd in a.,
atfray and these were the fellow,
whom | had seen and who had chante,
that great lameutatiou on the mount
am that night JIM CHIrWOOD
For the patronage received durm
1905 we thank all our friends, ",
shall try to merit your support dur
log the year just to begin. We trus
: you had Merry Christmas aud Isl
you all a Happy New Year
Nn ANln mos