East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1922-09-22
Make Swim To Safety

"Py this time the Indians mad cross.
cd in canoes to the island, and We
saw them coming, as we supposed
after Finlay. We then saw Watkins
and Bailey running around the river
, side towards the place where Finlay
was. and the Indians in full chase
after them. As our own men came
around the point in full view, Bailey
was shot thorugh the arm and leg. He
continued on, and punging into the
river swan to the front Of our store
and came in safely, except for his
wounds. lie narrowly escaped going
over the falls. Finlay also swan
across and got in unharmed, which
was wonderful, as there was a shower
of bullets around him.
watkins next came running around
'he point, and as we called to him to
lie down behind a rock, but before
ne could do so he was shot in the
wrist, the ball going up the arm and
out above the elbow. He dropped
behind Il rock just as the pursuing In
dians came following around the
point but we gave them so hot re-
ception from our house that they
backed out and left poor Watkins
where he lay. We called to Watkins
10 lie still and we would get him off;
but we were not able to do so until
after the arrival from The Dalles of
the steamer Mary with troops-two
days and nights afterwards.
wife Terrified Witness
During this time Watkins tainted
aevCral times from weakness and eX-
ltosure, the weather being very cold,
and he was slipped down to his un-
Gerclothes for swimming. When he
tainted he would roll down the steep
lsank into the river, and the ice-cold
water revived him, he would crawl
nack under fire to his retreat behind
the rock. Meantime, his wife and
children were in the store in full view.
and moaning piteousy at his terrible
situation. He died from exhaustion
.wo days after he was rescued.
THE Indians were not pitching into
rs right smart They tried TO burn
uz out; threw rocks and firebrands.
hot irons. pitch everything on
the roof that would burn. But you
will recollcct that for "A short distance
back the bank inclined toward the
house, and we could see and shoot
the Indians who appeared there. SO
they had to throw from such dis
tance that the largest bundles Of fire
did not quite reach us; and what did,
generally rolled off the roof Some
times the roof got on fire. and We
cut it out. or with cupc Of brine drawn
from pork barrels put il out or with
long sticks shoncd of the fire balls.
The kitchen troubled us the most.
How they did rpper ms with rocks;
some Of the big ones would shake the
house all over.
-wO Steamers Leave
There were now 40 men. wome1
and children in the E0use-foUr wom-
~ and IS men that co3ld fight. and
rg wounded men and children. The
Steamer Wasco was on the oregon
.f.1- uT IN. river. ". sew her steam
1u arG leave gor Tho Dalles. shortly
after th. steamer Mary als" left
sH. IaI tU take A'wriIs fence rails
r.r wood 50 passed. the dar. during
which the Indians had burned luwan
two Hurs-s. v0ur sivy-mill and houses.
arH the lumber yards af the mouth
0T 2Iu creek
aAr DAYLIGHT they ~ rire to our
new warehouse ON the island making
f- a- rfzEr as Fsy ar0rrr -@ They iij
not attack r- go night. b1r rE- second
morning commenced as E.eIr as ever.
We had no water but id have about
I've dozen ale and q Few bottles u