East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1906-11-22

\. j. Splawn, writing to the Yakima
Republic, tells as follows of the great
flood of 1867 in central Washington:
The high water of the last week re-
calls to mind the flood of December
IL, 1857, when there were few settlers
in the valley. Early SHOWS had fall |
len in the mountains and on Decem- |
ber IL warm rains began to pour
down. We became uneasy for fear
the river would rise, so the following !
day Rayles Thorpe and myself drove
all the cattle out of the river bottom
to the bench land in the Mckee. We
were living then in small cabin just
north of the Riverside school house,
There was an old Indian named Wei
pah known as the Salmon man." to
the Yakima tribe, who with his fam
| lily and some other Indians had their
temporary lodges near the river not
| far from the lone pine tree" which
all early settlers will remember stood
not far above the present Mckee
| bridge. Wc-i-pah had gone to Fora
! Simvoc after his annuity, which in
those days was paid to the Indians
once a year.
TIE warm rain continued, accompa-
nleG by chinook wind. At midnight
OF the 18th the roaring of the mighty
waters could be heard for miles but
above it ali during a lull in the wind
we could hear an occasional human
voice from the opposite shore near
where lives l.. Y. McWhorter and the
answering cry from the Indians by the
lone pine tree. We knew that the
camp must be under water but We
had no cause to go to their rescue.
Daylight broke az last. much to our
relief. We started for high land. Be-
low where Mr.. Scudder lives looking
down Mckee valley nothing but a vast
sheet Of water could be seen as far as
Union Gap. The families of c. p,
Cook and Elvin Thorpe were on the
, second floor and roof of their houses
The only canoe we knew of had beer
!. left faI over near the main river tieG
= to q bunch of willows. We knew thai
], We must secure that canoe so we. dis
robed and unsaddled and bareback
We headed our horses down through
: that sheet of water, sometimes swim
d; ming, other times wading. We passe,
= near the houses and they cheered us
l. knowing that we were going for tn
/ canoe.
2, When we reached the willows on
:. end Of the canoe was above water
}; How tc get it was the next question
l. Payles had a rope tied to him. on
end OF this we threw over the ster
/; of the canoe and the other end |
s. fit his horses neck. He gave one pu
and the canoe rope broke. | ha
Brought pole for paddle, so viii
Tayles took the horses and returne
n to shore / manned the canoe. Aft,
of much struggling l reached the ban
d. and pulled the canoe after me till y
[r. reached F. NJ. Thorpe's house, whel
ry we got paddles and good poles. W
ng then took the families to the home
yh Mr.. Thorpe and afterward pulled Il
Or, canoe with a horse to rescue the Il
wv dians if any remained alive, abo
he which we mad doubts. We found a
ng alive and up in trees with their fam
ed lies and camp eQuippage.
tly The human voice from the opposi
ss' shore mad ceased ana the lhuIa
rs were fearful lest 1t was We-l-pah' al
lal true it was he. An lhdiah BOY WI
had accompanied MN from the 10
said that when We-l-pah heard
cries from his camp ne SAID: i mu
nd 90 to my aged Wlte. put you reildl
ill Were young TINS flood would ma
ar; no terrors for me, but old and wet
cd as | am l Will 90 my duty ana shou