The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-11-10

Of our best horses stolen. Thefts o
this kind happened every few
days. 1t was generally laid to the In
dams, but our people thought it wa.
white men.
A PIueky Rescue.
There was nothing to hinder oul
progress until we reached Snake
river. Grass was getting short. Ons
evening we camped on the bank OF
Snake river opposite an island, thai
afforded splendid grass so we decided
to swim our cattle over to the island
The next morning a young man
named Smith was sent over on a
horse to drive the cattle back. The
river was very wide at this place and
by some mishap the horse reared up
and went over backwards into the
river. Horse and man went under;
when they came up they were 30 feet
apart. The horse swan back to shore
and a young man named Barnes
jumped on the horse and went to
the rescue. When he got to the drown
ing boy, he was almost lifeless. He
brought him to shore and with great
difficulty they restored him to con-
seriousness. 1 will omit several Incl
dents that occurred on our way down
Snake river. Shortly after passing Fort
Hall, my mother was taken ill with
the mountain fever, a disease that
igrants. She died and was buried on
the banks Of Powder river, a few
miles below where Baker City now
stands. Myself and brothers and sis
| tiers were left in charge of our
grandparents.
The next day we reached the Grand
Ronde valley. There was not house
in the valley at that time.
Beef Tasted Good.
A man named Lot Whitcom from
| Willamette valley, had a stock Of
provisions there, selling them to the
| emigrants. We procured such articles
as we needed and crossed the Blue
| mountains and arrived at the UNA
tilla river where Pendleton now
stands. There was half breed
Indian named McKy, butchering fat
| cattle and selling them. Our people
pronounced it the best beef they had
ever eaten.
He tried to persuade our train to
change their course and go to the
Walla Walla valley. He said the soil
was good and the climate better than
the Willamette. There was not a
white settler in the Walla Walla
valley at that time. He told us of
Marcus Whitman raising wheat, po-
tatoes, etc., in abundance
We would no doubt have taken his
advice had it not been that my
grandfather, Geabheart, and my baby
sister were sick with mountain fever
and we were anxious to get to civil
lizaton and procure medical aid.
We finally reached the John Day
river. By this time our outfit con-
sisted Of two yoke of oxen, one yoke of
heifers and one horse.
At the River.
There was a man named Miller sta
toned here buying cattle from the
emigrants. My grandfather sold our
entire outfit to him with the under
standing he was to take fresh oxen
| and take us to The Dalles.
We arrived at The Dalles about Oc-
tober 1. There was only one log
house, used for a store. My grand
father Abbott had several blooded
brood mares and some cattle. He left
| them all with a man to winter them,
but they all died that winter.
There was not a steamboat on the
Columbia river above the Cascade
Falls at that time. Everything was
| transported by large scows.
We embarked in one. They called
it 1.-THE North America" The cap
tain's name was Baines. When night
came we would pull in to shore and
camp. The first night out young
| the night, unnoticed by his mother,
and walked into the river and was
| drowned. The campers were awak-
ened by the screams of his mother
They procured torch lights and
searched for the boy till daylight
The found his tracks where he
walked into the river. The men
dragged the river but to no avail. The
next night my grandfather Geab-
hart died. He was buried on the north
side of the river a few miles above
the Cascade falls. The portage at
that time was on the north side Of
the river.
| The First Railway.
| There was a wooden railway. Tbe
car was drawn by one old mule. My
baby sister. IA months old, died while
we were here and was buried at the
cemetery at that place.
In few days we landed in Portland
We pitched our tent on the banks of
the river where Front street is now.
| Many Of that brave and noble band
of adventures who staked their for
tunes and lives, had passed over the
cold river and the residue was in a
strange land, among strangers but
we found friends that were able and
willing To lend helDin1 hand I will