Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1919-12-26

ritorial road through Walla Walla
Dayton, Colfax, Steptoe Station, Spo-
kane Falls and Fort Colville.
The hotels or road houses, and
their proprietors, were better known
TO the early day travellers than The
/ towns. Among the most popular Of
these was the Umatilla House at
The Dalles, the st. Louis hotel at
| Walla Walla, the Raymond House at
Lewiston, the Ewart House, operat-
ed by Captain and Mrs. James Ewart
at Colfax, Gray's California House
az Spokane Falls, and "Cashup's Inn"
at Steptoe Station. wild Goose"
Bill, civilian Condon) in the great
bend of thes Columbia river, and
Okanogan Smith, north of the Co
lumbia, were we'll known characters
of the early days. But to "Cashup"
Davis, most widely known of them
all, must go the credit for attracting
the attention of the immigrants to
the great Palouse country.
With considerable capital in his
possession James S. Davis arrived in
Whitman county from Wisconsin in
1876. After looking about for
location for some time, he settled
just to the northwest of Steptoe
butte, where, on the territorial road,
he established stage station. A
well stocked store, with a spacious
dance hall above, hotel accommoda-
moth trough, filled with running
spring water to quench the thirst of
the jaded stage and freight teams,
made the resort, known as Steptoe
Station, a popular one. Both the
young and the old of the entire
countryside, from Cblfax to Spokane
Falls, flocked to the dance hall to
step the minuet, the polka, the qua
drille and the waltz to the music
furnished by "Cashup's" orchestra,
known as the best in the new coun-
try, and composed of Cy and Andy
Privett of Colfax.
A typical Englishman, short IN
stature, thin of face, with a close
cut stubby beard and hair as white
as snow. and as fond of his high silk
hat as of his "alf and alf, "Cashrp
had mania for company, and the
bigger the crowd and the longer it
stayed, the better his mood. On
many a morning the strains of
Privett Bros Stringed Orchestra"
could still be heard above the shuttle
of many pairs of feet when the less
frivolous settlers were arising to be-
gin their days work. Each swain
and every belle came at dusk, pre-
pared to dance until daylight. On
| occasions the merrymakers would
find themselves showed in, and
would stay for days, or until the
weather broke, "Cashup" the while
playing his part as host right royal
ly and making every minute of the
prolonged festivities one of pleasure.
The building to accommodate the
store and dance hall was construct
ed in 1877 and still stands. monu-
ment to the man who lived in the
pleasure and prosperity of his fell
lows. Moss covered and decayed, it
is pointed out to the hundreds Of
tourists as one of Whitman county's
points of interest, and is treasured
by early day settlers as the scene of
their youthful frolics.
The place is now occupied by a
son of Mr.. Davis. Charles, and with
in its walls are carefully preserved
scores of relics OF the early days.
The original meat blocks and shelly
ing are still in place, and the old
dance floor is yet in good condition.
1t was here that DR.. e Mcguire. J.
s. Klemgard, +. e. Gallagher,
George McCrOskey, and other pio-
neers. since prominent in the affairs
of Pullman and Whitman county.
/ trtpped the light fantastic, and with
in its walls many romances had their
/ inception, leading to the happy mar
riaee of several couples who still re-
side in Whitman county. and whose
chjldren's children now point to the