The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-05-08

moss am hard of hearing, but being
active. I butted in unawares, to render
assistance if l could, where l really had
No business to be. l found out after
wards that the militia could have shot
me down for not attending to their
shouting, but they followed me and po-
,;telv informed me that l must return
the way l came.
came near being arrested once. l
had a light prospecting pick that use
in my prospecting tours whenever feel
like going to find a million dollar mine.
So after the fire 1 took it with me
and worked myself, and loaned it to
many to dig holes, graves, etc. They
had NO picks-only short, square show
els, and to get through soapstone with
only shovels was impossible. l used
II myself and then loaned it to 9TH
ers. and the fun we had at the pro-
gress we made in digging trenches
made one feel good.
T Well. one day, on Kearney street, l
run across a soldier who took me TO
the colonel on the old plaza, but being
an old soldier with my G. A. r. but
ton and having no loot on me and
showing him letters addressed to me as
Colonel Parker, the genial commander
smiled and let me go. Just before that
on Van Ness avenue l came across
military looking gentleman with col
oners cap on taking snap shots OF the
ruins. l introduced myself and asked
his name He said Coolidge l said
81 only knew one Coolidge; and he was
a captain | found wounded at the Big
Hole fight in Montana in II, during the
Nez Perez war, where l was scout.
He said. Were you there?" l said
eyes. don't YOU remember a couple OF
men who broke through the Indian
lines one night and made you ana
General Gibbon and Captain Wood
ruff a cup of tea?" He said yes; l
was living alongside of Gibbon at the
time"
While we were talking, along came
another military looking gentleman and
the colonel said: "Why, here's another
Big Hole man." and we met General
Woodruff himself That made three
who had never seen each other, with
one exception, since that memorable
day when we were at the Big Hole
fight. This was a meeting after TWEEN
tv-nine wears. The day after l met an
old soldier whom I asked to what regi-
ment he belonged, and when he said
the First California infantry my hap
piness was complete, for 1 had asked
hundreds of old soldiers all over the
United States the same question In
hopes that they would say First CAN
fornia," but I never got one. got
his address and am going to "bloW him
in when circumstances change and 1
can do it with greater pleasure, but to
invite a man to dinner where they
have to cook in the street rush the
plates inside a house, and no wine or
beer makes you feel poor.
There need pe no doubt in the mind
of any one as to whether San Francisco
will build again Build-yes! A hum
dred times over, if necessary. The as
sistance and sympathy they have re-
ceived from the round world encour-
ages them more than tongue can tell.
Mark me: in five years visitor to San
Francisco will not know that an earth
quake destroyed it. AS 1 have said
to the very few knockers I have come
across: "You cannot down these
damned American people. They will
glory-each individual, every man,
woman and child of them-in being
among those who helped to rebuild
and resurrect the glorious San Fran
cisco that the present generation will
see."
All over the coast, and 1 may say
the whole United States, we all feel
we owe something to San Francisco.
What would the Pacific coast have
been today but for it? 1t is identi-
fed with the Argonauts and the gol-
den days of 40. We all came to San
Francisco in early days to branch out
/ from new stock and bring wealth and
prosperity to generations yet unborn.
| We got there, started out for the 9TH
er wilds of Oregon, Washington, Idaho
and Montana-we made the deserts
blossom as the rose, and where are we
| now?
| Now. want to say to the people of
Walla Walla and all the country where
i the Statesman is read: Never fear for