TOLD by the PIONEERS - Washington Secretary of State

Told
by the Pioneers
miles to two and three-fourths miles and others in proportion. We
now had a good road, with no more packing from 65 to 90 pounds on
our backs.
After proving up by commuting, we came to Seattle. The Indian
influx was in the fall after hop-picking and berry-picking time, during
which they made big money. They would line the sidewalks, the
women displaying some of the finest needlework and beadwork, blankets
and baskets one ever saw.
The town, now pretty well built after the "big fire," had many
tourist visitors who bought a great many" curios," and the" Siwashes,"
as we called the Indians, had lots of money and were pretty independent,
and I once witnessed a scene which I have not forgotten.
On the corner of First and Yesler Way was a group of "klootchmen,"
as the Indians called their squaws, who had made many sales
such to the liking of their "braves," who stood looking on. A group
of tourist came up and the ladies admired the display, and picking up
article after article, priced it, laid it down and then consulted their
husbands, but made no purchases. A big buck Indian let out a grunt
and said, "Hyas Wa vVa; haylo chickamun," which means, heap big
talk, no money."
After marketing their goods, the Indians held a "potlatch," going
to some selected spot, where they prepared a great feast. This was
indulged in by many tribes, having different kinds of sports and·
dancing and then the great canoe races and such races having 12 to
14 men in a canoe and all paddling a great sight.
I neglected to m~ntion another big source of income to the Indians,
and that was salmon fishing, but since the introduction of organized
seining outfits with steam tugs to control salmon fishing, the Indians
have long since passed their heyday, which was just before and after
the big fire in 1889.
The fire started in the basement of the Holmes Furniture Company
store, on the corner of First Avenue between Marion and Madison,
where the federal building now stands. It was caused by a cabinet
maker leaving a glue pot over an oil burner while he went to
lunch and the dropping soot ignited the shavings. It s\vept both
ways under the building's on piling foundations and the city, then
lacking fire engines and water, was doomed. But that catastrophe
proved a blessing in disguise, for while goods and help were pouring
in from all quarters, business men were putting up tents to do business
on ground almost too hot to stand on, and right there was born
59