Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1916-08-18
Gun Accidentally
Wounds Hunter

commenced for hunting deer. A
party of six or eight persons
went up to Otter Rock to put in
the day hunting deer and other
big game but having bad luck
got ready to come home. Mort
Abbey took the cartridges out Of
his gun but someone suggested
they might see deer going back
so Mr.. Abbey reloaded his gun
and set the muzzle down on the
toe of his shoe. Whether it went
off automatically or otherwise
is not known, but the ball passed
between the big and second toes
of the right foot infiicting
severe but not dangerous wound.
A small part of the bone of the
big toe was taken away.
Mr.. and Mrs. J. e. Hinkle came
over from their home inPhilo-
math Wednesday to spend a cou-
pie of weeks at the sea shore.
Mr.. Hinkle will occupy his cot
tage near Professor Roe's. The
weather is ideal for pleasure on
the beach. The cold northwest
winds have ceased to blow and
there is just enough light cloudy
streaks to keep the sun from
shining to bright for comfort.
1t is a real pleasure to battle or
swim on the rolling surf or
plunge into the warm water of
the natatorium. j. E. Hinkle
and his father, Ichabod Hinkle,
Sam McLane and John Shiply
came over the mountains on a
prospecting tour in 1859. These
men took pack horses and their
rifles, cutting their way through
the fallen timber, thick brush
and de- p gorge, up the winding
valley Of the Marys River to the
summit and then down the west
slope along the Yaquina to the
head of tide at Pioneen. Then
down the bay to Newport. AT
that time but a few white trap
pers and Indians lived in all this
country. The Siletz was estab-
lished in 1857 with Bob Metcalf
as the first agent, the number of
Indians on the Siletz was about
1000 composed of Is or 20 diff
ferent tribes. The whole coun-
try on the western slope of the
mountains had beene burnt over
by hugh fire, which occurred in
about the year 1S45, leaving the
country a mass Of fallen timber
and charred stumps. Much
praise is due the early pioneers
who had the grit to get in and
open up this country at such an
early date. 1t took nerve to
build first trail and then a wag-
on road through this wilderness
for sixty miles to the head of the
Iaquina river. At this time
there were no white settlers in
all this distance. The game that
had been so plentiful, had nearly
been exterminated by the great
lire. The Yaqu,na Bay Wagon
road was started in the summer
OF 1859 by an organized com.
pany composed of the following
gentlemen: lchabod Hinkle
BushWilson, George Mercer, DR.
j. r. Bayley, N. p. Newton, Steve
Robbnett, Kit Abbey and San
McLone. DR.. Bayley was Sent
to Washington, d. c., to secure
the wagon road land grant
which was done through the
help and influence of Senate,
Nesmith. AT that time there
was not a single white settle,
on the bay and no green stand
ing timber. This was made 6
military road and was accepted
by Governor Wood. A toll gate
was kept up at Chitwood and 6
good many hundred dollars were
collected from the people. TIL,
gate was finally stolen ant
thrown into the river and tho
road was made free. In 1877.
Col. Hogg bought the wagor
road land grant for $4,000 ant
this sum was divided up amonl
the original stock holders. Thi!
land formed a basis for buildina
the G. & e. railroad, but a full
history of the building Of thi.
road would require a large space
1t might be said had Col. Hogs
not taken hold of the project
with the help of his brother, VIM
M, we would never have had 6
railroad built from Corvallis tc
the bay. Mr.. Hinkle views with
pride the great improvements