The evening herald. (Klamath Falls, Or.) 1906-1942, 1922-11-21

inha abitating its valleys. The ideas
OF opening n wagon road through
such country at that time, was
secuted as preposterous. Those
statements. though based on facts.
we thought might be exaggerated by
the Hudsoa's Bay company, in their
own interest, since they had line
OF forts on the Snake river route.
reaching from Fort Hall TO vancoa-
yer. and were prepared TO profit by
the immigration.
A Military Ro,d
One thing which had much influ-
cnce with us was the fact that the
question rs TO which power. Grea,
Britain or tho United States. woald
eventually secure a title 20 the eorn-
try. was not settled, and in case
war should occur and Britain proTe
successful. Il was important TO have
a way by which we could leave the
country without running tho gaunt-
let of the Hu6soa's bay Co.'s forts
and falling a prey 20 Indian tribes
which were under British influcaee.
On tho morning Of the 2oth OF
June. isse. wo gathered on the la
Creole. near where Dallas now
stands. moved up the valley and en-
camped for the night on Aary's rlv-
or. near where the town OF Corvallis
has since been built.
June ei--Novcd ,up tho valley
and cneamped among the foothills
OF the Calspooia mountains.
June 22-This day We Travelled
along the base OF the calapooIas. our
course being nearly southeast. pass
ing near prominent peak since call
ed speneer's Butte. In little valley
near the butte. on the south side.
We discovered Indians digging cam.
as. On pereeiying US most OF them
seeroted themselves In the timber.
One OF our party succeeded in cap
tpxing an old Indian. and represent
INK TO him by signs the course we
wished TO follow. the old fellow pre-
ceded US two or three miles. and
put Us on a dim trail which had been
marked by twisting the tops Of the
brush along the route. II had only
been used as a foo,-trail and but
seldom at that. II led US cut into
prairies at the base OF the main Cal
apooln chain. Crossing the prairie we
found the little trail where II entered
the mountains with difficulty. and
boing guided by the broken brush.
reached at sundown a little stream
on the umpqua side. were VIC en-
camped for the night in a beautifu:
little valley whore the grass was
good and the ground almost covered
with the finest strawberries had
ever seen. .
Forded the Umpqua
The next morning. June 23. we
moved on through the grassy oak
hills and narrow valleys TO the north
umpqua river. The crossing was
rough and dangerous cne. as the
river bed was a mass OF loose rocks.
and. as We were crossing. our horses
occasionally fell. giving the riders a
severe dueking. On the south side
We encamped for the night.
On the morning OF the Gath. we
left camp early and moved on about
five miles to the south branch OF the
Umpqua. a considerable stream.
probably sixty yards wide. coming
from the eastward. Travelling up
that stream almost to the place
where the old trail crosses the Ump-
qua mountains. we encamped for the |
night opposite the historic Umpqua
canyon. f
The next morning. Jure s5th, we
entered the canyon. followed up the |
little stream that runs through the !
defile for four or flvo miles. cross-
Ing the creek q great many times,
but the canyon becoming more OBJ /
structed with hrush a1d fallen nm
bcr. the little trail re were follow
Ing turned NJ she eide az the ridge.
where the woods were Eorc opeN
and wound its way 10 the top OF the !
II ttel bore south !
through narrow back hone OF the I
the dense thiekets and
he rocks on either side affording
Appartuaiites -tps.-ambush.I
geS a.x