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TOLD by the PIONEERS - Washington Secretary of State

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Told<br />

<strong>by</strong> <strong>the</strong> Pioneers<br />

had increased to <strong>the</strong> point where cattle could be sold, <strong>the</strong>y were driven<br />

over <strong>the</strong> trails to Pysht, <strong>the</strong> drive from <strong>the</strong> Huelsdonk place taking<br />

three weeks.<br />

ROBERT M. GRAHAM<br />

Yakima County<br />

It was during' <strong>the</strong> summer <strong>of</strong> 1872 that a great roundup <strong>of</strong> horses<br />

and cattle was arranged and agreed upon <strong>by</strong> stockmen over <strong>the</strong> country<br />

from <strong>the</strong> Simcoe ridge near to north line <strong>of</strong> Klickitat county to<br />

<strong>the</strong> north branch <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Yakima river.<br />

This was <strong>the</strong> summer following a very cold winter; <strong>the</strong> ground,<br />

supplied <strong>by</strong> abundant moisture, produced a luxuriant growth <strong>of</strong> all<br />

kinds <strong>of</strong> feed, particularly <strong>the</strong> nutritious bunch grass, and consequently<br />

all range stock was very fat.<br />

Roaming at will, <strong>the</strong> stock became widely scattered, and for each<br />

owner to ride <strong>the</strong> whole range with an outfit <strong>of</strong> his own would have<br />

been a stupendous undertaking. After corresponding with each o<strong>the</strong>r,<br />

and considering <strong>the</strong> situation, it was agreed to get a large force into<br />

<strong>the</strong> field and cooperate in rounding up everything on <strong>the</strong> range .<br />

About <strong>the</strong> first <strong>of</strong> June, over seventy-five riders and a sufficient<br />

number <strong>of</strong> camp tenders went out to ga<strong>the</strong>r all loose stock into various<br />

centers <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> wide range. A few <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> owners were Ben Snipes,<br />

Sharkey and company, Lockwood, Fisk and Walker, Burgens, Splawn,<br />

Thorpe, and some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Longmires, with many smaller owners. It<br />

was a fine array <strong>of</strong> sturd~· manhood, civil, earnest and patriotic.<br />

ANDREW ZELLER<br />

Okanogan County<br />

I started in <strong>the</strong> cattle business <strong>by</strong> buying five hundred head. I<br />

raised hay and made some money doing my own work and spending<br />

but little on myself.<br />

There were but few people in <strong>the</strong> valley, coming first up <strong>the</strong> river<br />

<strong>the</strong>re was not a single soul after I left Malott. Then I met a man in<br />

a wagon who had come from Yakima.<br />

The year <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> cattle-killing winter I had some good stock. Unlike<br />

o<strong>the</strong>rs, I had grown hay and so was able to feed, bringing part <strong>of</strong> my<br />

128

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