The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1917-01-26
AN ECHO FROM THE PAST,
>ry of Visit to the OkanOgan Valley
When teh Land Was
Young.

North Yakima, asked when he ar
led in Oroville at the time of his re-
ht visit was us that large, lone pine
Ie still standing on the bank of the
hilkameen river?" And thereby
ngs a tale.
As stated in the mention made of
Splawn's arrival in town, when
He'd here by the condition of
Dther in the OrOville General Hos
al, Mr.. Splawn stands up near the
ad of the list among the pioneers of
stern Washington. Mr.. Splawn has
ways made his headquarters in the
kima valley, but many years of his
ry active life have been devoted t,
bck raising and buying. 1t was
Tough his connection with this lin,
endeavor that it came about that
was among the first white man tC
pit the Okanogan valley, and in sub
nuent years, when the stockmen fin
y secured a foothold in this terri
fy, he was frequent visitor in the
pacity of a buyer. and many are the
ousand dollars that he has paid to
bck men in this locality and man.
se the head of beef steers he has
(iven from this county to the outside
hrket
In 1861, when Mr.. Splawn was
st rounding out his 18th year, he
ade his first trip through the Okla.
bgan valley. A stockman in the Yaki-
valley decided to drive herd of
title into British Columbia, and he
lected the Okanogan valley as the
lutte of travel. He engaged Mr.. Splawn
one of his herders. In those days
e Indians of Eastern Washington
ere in anything but docile mood
eoaching upon the hunting grounds
their ancestors, and any excursion
trough Indian country-and Eastern
Washington was about all Indian coun-
" in 1S61-was fraught with danger.
but danger, so far as the Indians were
bncerned, he was joke to young
plawn. Although but boy in years
had passed through experiences
lat would have tried the nerve and
hdurance of men of more mature
bars. He had the confidence and self
eliance of full blooded, high spirited,
ptimistic youth. and as he put 1t,
bought himself capable OF holding
is own against a whole tribe Of In
ians. He looked upon the red man
nth utter contempt. 1t is that ele-
80 lor ind IN
anger in youth, which can be largely
harged up to inexperience, that
hakes of the young the best soldiers
time of great stress, as they do not
eally realize what they are going up
gainst when entering the storm of
attie.
Mr.. Splawn eagerly accepted the Of
er made, as the excursion was through
new and almost unknown part of the
erritory, it held out great promise of
Excitement, and he looked upon the
Zip very much as pic mic. No trouble
las experienced beyond the hard
FORK and hardships inseparable from
httle driving through strange land
ntil the party reached point on the
)kanogan river where Mallott is now
bcated. The next morning after maxi
BIZ camp young Splawn mounted his
|orse and rode out to start the drove
hoving He was surprised and very
huch enraged to discover three In
Hans driving off six head of the best
5teers toward a draw in the hills. He
flashed after the marauders and IN
language more forcible than elegant
ordered them to drop the cattle. The
indians paid no attention to his pro-
lest and seeing that he was only a
boy redoubled their efforts to escape
with the loot. Splawn was quick CT
temper and not slow with the trigger.
Seeing that he was about to lose the
stock he dismounted in order TO sa-
cure better aim, and took shot at the
thieves. He had the satisfaction of see
ing one of the Indians drop from his
horse, and the ether two hastily de-
camped taking their wounded COM
rade with them. Splawn recovered the
cattle and continued merrily on his
way, giving no thought as to what
might result from bowling over red
skin.
The next morning after the drove
reached Johnson Creek, at the present
site of Riverside, a band OF upwards
of 100 Indians came bowling down
out of the hills toward the camp. The
hostile demonstration promised trou-
BILE for the COW people. The owner OF
the cattle, a man of indomitabie
pluck, walked oct from camp with
revolver in each hani aid confront 81
the oncoming natives, determined that
there would be no discount on the
price at which he would cell his life.
Mr.. Splawn states that the band was
headed by the finest specimen or an
Indian he ever saw in his life, tall, OF
powerful physique, and regular feat
ures. This leader proved to be Ca'ef
Tonasket. He held parley with the
stockman. He said that an Indian had
been shot and killed by one OF the
white men, and he wanted to know tho
particulars of the shooting. Mr.. Splawn
stepped boldly forward acknowledge
doing the shooting and explained to
the chief the circumstances. Chief To-
nasket listened patiently to the lad,
and great relief was felt when the
chief stated that the Indian killed did
not belong to his tribe, but was rene
eade, and only got what he deserved
anyhow. Afterwards Chief Tonasket
became very friendly with the white
strangers.
That incident closed the exciting