TOLD by the PIONEERS - Washington Secretary of State
TOLD by the PIONEERS - Washington Secretary of State
TOLD by the PIONEERS - Washington Secretary of State
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Told <strong>by</strong> <strong>the</strong> Pioneers<br />
"Fa<strong>the</strong>r Wilbur <strong>of</strong>ten visited us. His Indian bovs<br />
•<br />
built many res-<br />
•<br />
ervation houses. Yakima City was one store and a blacksmith shop.<br />
Everybodv rode horseback.<br />
• •<br />
"Joe Bowzer, whose wife was an Indian, had <strong>the</strong> post <strong>of</strong>fice in <strong>the</strong><br />
Ahtanum.<br />
"At <strong>the</strong> time <strong>of</strong> my first marriage, my fa<strong>the</strong>r-in-law, F. M. Thorpe,<br />
was living in <strong>the</strong> Kittitas Valley, and as he could see smoke from ano<strong>the</strong>r<br />
cabin or two in <strong>the</strong> Moxee, he moved. I accompanied my hus-.<br />
band in moving <strong>the</strong> cattle, and was, in fact, one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> hands. I remember<br />
spending 12 days in <strong>the</strong> saddle once, herding at night as well<br />
as <strong>by</strong> day.<br />
"I don't know how we ever escaped with our lives during' <strong>the</strong> Indian<br />
troubles. Blanche Bunting, or Perkins, lived with us once. For<br />
years we lived in terror. When we were in <strong>the</strong> Kittitas, a friendly<br />
squaw kept her knife sharpened for use in our defense.<br />
"I've lain many a night with my children in <strong>the</strong> swamps. One day<br />
I left <strong>the</strong>m iil <strong>the</strong> house and went a short distance to pick gooseberries.<br />
It was raining and I started back. Our dog had been restless all day,<br />
and I was uneasy, as that was a sign <strong>of</strong> Indians. Sure enough, I met<br />
Bayless coming on <strong>the</strong> run, shouting', 'Get <strong>the</strong> children ,Indians are<br />
coming'! I'll get <strong>the</strong> horses.'<br />
" 'But we can't get out, we can't get over <strong>the</strong> Uptanum Mountains,<br />
we'll meet <strong>the</strong>m.'<br />
"The rain was coming down in torrents when we grabbed <strong>the</strong> children<br />
and made for <strong>the</strong> swamps, where we spent <strong>the</strong> night. There was<br />
a flood <strong>by</strong> that time and we splashed through water a foot deep.<br />
"That night a neighbor heard <strong>the</strong> Indians about midnight. She<br />
aroused <strong>the</strong> family and <strong>the</strong> two older girls, 16 and 17 years old, tore<br />
through <strong>the</strong> door, tearing it <strong>of</strong>f its hinges. Taking <strong>the</strong> younger children,<br />
<strong>the</strong> parents made for <strong>the</strong> swamp. When <strong>the</strong>y returned <strong>the</strong> next<br />
day, <strong>the</strong>y found <strong>the</strong> Indians had been <strong>the</strong>re. The older girls were<br />
missing and <strong>the</strong> parents were desperate. Later in <strong>the</strong> day <strong>the</strong>y were<br />
found having gone as far as <strong>the</strong>y could into <strong>the</strong> swamp. Their<br />
clothing was in rags and <strong>the</strong> girls were scratched from head to foot."<br />
Around 1874 Bavliss<br />
•<br />
and I were in <strong>the</strong> Palouse countrv. BaYliss<br />
• •<br />
put up a building and <strong>the</strong> Indians tore it down one night. They were<br />
burning hay and driving <strong>of</strong>f stock, so Bayliss went to Kamiakin, who<br />
was <strong>the</strong>n in <strong>the</strong> Palouse. Kamiakin had <strong>the</strong> leader whipped, and<br />
told my husband that if he would marry his daughter he would give<br />
him $10,000.00. Bayliss told him he already had a wife. "Indians<br />
always have two wives," <strong>the</strong> old chief answered.<br />
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