The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1923-09-20
its patrons
lewiston Once Capital.


Lewiston Once Capital
Lewiston at that time was the ter
ritorial capital and a spectacular fig
ure in it's life was Governor Lyon who
always signed himself Lyon of Ly-
onsdale on occasions of ceremony
he got himself up in blue 'shad-
belly coat decorated with brass but
tons, with a beruffled shirt, the like
of which l suspect neither this nor
any other American town has seen
since time out of mind. His only
concession to modern taste was sub
stitution of trousers for the ancient
fashion of knee breeches A more
splendid spectacle on special occasions
than Governor Lyon of Lyonsdale
could hardly be conceived He was
fiery orator and loved to harangue
any audience that could be brought t.
listen TO him. and one of his special
delights was TO come out to the Lapwai
agency, assemble the leading person
ages of the Nez Perez tribe and har-
angue them
Chief Lawyer, a fine old Indian
Woo ia AAAN NtAAAN uNH tic htau Ol the
Nez Perces. He was a singularly
dignifed man who spoke English pri-
vately but on formal occasions such
as the visits of Governor Lyon, would
always speak through an interpreter
this being his notion of diplomatic
intercourse.
AS I recall it, the only means of
L..
Lewiston and the outer world was by
steamboat. the Yakima and the
Idaho making regular trips between
the head of navigation on the Snake
river and Cello above The Dales
portage In winter when navigation
was closed. stages ran between Lew
iston and The Dalles
Picturesque Figures.
Another picturesque figure of that
day was the territorial secretary.
William b. Daniels. His sartorial
speciality was a white duck suit which
upon occasions literally astonished
the natives and stirred the risbles Of
the miners and gamblers who made
up a considerable element Of the local
population.
AT Fort Lapwai there was a COM
pany or two Of federal troops, but
the only officer / can recall was Lieu
tenant Derby, whose name is still
widely remembered as the author Of
the Phoenix Papers. Derby was the
most gallant figure of the day. He
always appeared in brilliant uniform
and his daring horsemanship was
spectacle for gods and men. He was
the darling of every social occasion,
admired by the ladies-in
reality a very charming man; in fact,
the most charming figure Of that day
THE personal interest of my visit
in Lewiston today has been to look
mp my playmates of sixty years ago.
Alas for the tragedies of life and
death! l have found only three
Mrs. Chapman. Mrs Monteith and
Mrs. Mallory. The former is a daugh-
ter of the late Mr.. Thatcher who was
of the old Lapwai
reservation. Mrs. Monteith and Mrs.
Mallory are daughters of the late Per
rim Whitman. and grand nieces Of the
famous Dr. Marcus Whitman.
1T has truly been a pleasure after
a long lapse of years to find these old
friends of childhood still living in
Lewiston and sharing in the advance
ments of this later day.
81 am glad to be informed that
Lewiston for all the changes that
line has brought about, still cher
shes a memory and a fondness of the
,arly days Well may she do so.
they were times that literally tried
he souls of men Life was not easy.
,ut there was in it a fine flavor OF
leroism. even of romance; and hope
day may never come when this com
nunity shall not draw something Of
Inspiration from the days that are no
more"