Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1910-09-06
A SCRAP OF HISTORY
ON THE LUCKIA-
MUTE RIVER IN 1873.
Frank J. Smith Tells How Intrepid
Navigator Made Trip from Buena
Vista to Luckiamute.


the Southeastern corner of Polk Coun
ty. in the very heart of this beautiful
valley, where magnificent fields o
grain and hops form a garland O
green and gold along the river bank
/ seemingly small and insignifian
tributary empties into the main stream
The point of confluence, one mill
above Buena Vista, is So completed.
hidden by the dense foliage of the vii
lows that one may frequently pass thi
spot without being aware that behint
this tangled network is a stream not
ed not only for it's pre-eminence abov,
all other branches of the Wiiiamett,
in the logging industry-it having con
tributed more of that product thar
any other two tributaries in the Valley
but for the fact it was proved or
two occasions that this miniature river
was navigable for steamers of the
usual light-draft type. The stream
bears the name of Luckiamute which
translated from the Indian language
means crooked, and the river, as the
name implies, is one continual series
of crooks and turns.
From the mouth to head of naviga-
ton, the mileage of the winding chan
mel is more than double that by land.
The banks are lined with underground,
the trees reaching out in many cases
and interlacing with their companions
on the opposite bank. Surely, it was a
freak highway, .necessitating freak
steamer to ascend its waters. Such was
indeed the case, as will be explained in
the following narrative.
Captain J. L. Smith, one OF the vet
eran captains of the Willamette,
while driving logs on the Luckiamute
and rafting them from Buena Vista to
Salem, introduced the system of RATS
by using steam power instead of the
slow and tedious way then in vogue of
allowing them to drift down with the
current. His first attempt in that di-
rection was made with the "Luckia-
mute Chief" built in 1878, at Salem.
She was a small boat so feet long;
beam 16 feet; depth of hold feet Her
boiler and engine were of 16 horse
power. the cylinder being inches in
engine had seen service in the grain
fields adjacent to Buena Vista, as a
portable threshing engine.
The engine of the strange craft, be-
ing attached to the boiler, was placed
in the forward end of the boat, and
IA INaTA a. 4 4.
shaft which in turn, by means of cog
bearings, eventually turned her wheel.
Although being very slow and of
small power, she could handle much
larger RATS than those heretofore
brought down by hand.
During the short life of one year,
she made two trips up the Luckia-
mute from Buena Vista, a feat that
has never since been accomplished.
While on her first trip up this
stream, the matter having been kept
secret, in order that failure, if one
should occur. would not be publicly
known, her small whistle sounding
and re-echoing back from the hills,
brought the settlers from their work
on the farms. They were surprised
beyond reason to find steamboat in
this heretofore considered unnaviga-
BILE stream.
When the boat reached her jour-
ney's end, in the vicinity of Lewisville,
precaution was taken to approach the
as quietly as possible, as the
captain wished to surprise the viii
layers on his arrival. Late in the even
ing the boat was landed in the will
lows that overhung the bank, COM
pletely hiding the boat from view, and
as soon as darkness had settled over
the farm houses along the hills and
the sleeping village of Lewisville. the
captain thought that the time had
come to make his debut before them,
which he did under serious difficulties
The boat being built for towing logs,
and not for passenger trade. had no
or stairs, and the only
means by which the upper deck could
be reached was by a ladder hung on
he side of the boat With the thought
)f causing a sensation by sounding the |
whistle Unexpectedly at night, in a re-
zion that never before had an oppor-
unity of reverberating back the
echoes OF a steamboat whistle from
Is hills. the willy captain began as
,ending the ladder. his breast SWELL
ng with pride and emotion.
As he mounted the frail ladder,
1tep by step. his enthusiasm outgrew
lis judgment. and on reaching the top. 4
N discretion was thrust aside.
Instead of stepping on the hurri-
,ane deck of the boat. the ladder slip
,ed and the discounted captain. with .
yell that would have been a credit to
! football rooter. plunged into the icy
waters Of the stream. After being .
Ished out. his enthusiasm not being
Iampened as much as hts body, he
oon regained the upper deck, and
last after blast was sounded.
Soon lanterns began to be seen.
in the darkness. all heading
oward the river. One man and HIS
ntire family flOundered through the
Dwland along the river. in the wild
to find from what mon
ter that had Invaded their peaceful
srritory this noise was issuing. Every
me the whistle would sound he would
wing his lantern and give an agrees
-e whoop Of challenge and defiance.
early drowning the noise Of the whis-
e. He kept this up until he reached
ie boat. although his numerous prog
ny were in the rear. scattered. as he ,
stsd on regaining his wind, from
ades to breakfast
By this time the crowd had gathered
large numbers Many Of the people
ID never seen a boat propelled by ,
cam power. and great diplomacy had {
be exercises IN order % induce them !
} step upon the deck Of the steamer. [
Finally when an were satisied that :
vas safe proposition. sam Price. 4
Ie doughty little cook-well known :
I THE early naviEators as q brother Z
Law % an Oregon senator-produc- I
his sver-ready fiddle. and soon the
thmic tramp q q Virginia reel could
. heard Between this and lessons