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 />
frozen or starved to death. 'When it was time for seeding, my remaining<br />
horses were in such a weakened condition that <strong>the</strong>y could be<br />
worked only at short intervals, and it was necessary to do about half<br />
<strong>the</strong> seeding <strong>by</strong> hand.<br />
DR. J. J. PRAGUE<br />
Okanogan County<br />
Having eight pretty fair horses, I went to Kentucky and paid $900<br />
for Roderick, a Hambletonian stallion. I chartered a car for Tacoma,<br />
'Vashington, and loaded myself and Charles Hart, who had no money<br />
but wanted to go 'Vest, his household goods, an English setter, a Newfoundland<br />
<strong>of</strong> sorts, feed for men and beasts, and we were on our way.<br />
When we arrived in Tacoma, <strong>the</strong> classy Roderick and <strong>the</strong> two mares<br />
rated me as a rich Kentuckian.<br />
In 1889 I had 150 horses besides my cattle. Then <strong>the</strong> cattle killing<br />
freeze came. I had a warm log stable and put as many cows in <strong>the</strong>re<br />
as I could. Roderick and a cow and calf I put in <strong>the</strong> lean-to on my<br />
house built for a kitchen. Mrs. Prague had to walk through <strong>the</strong> leanto<br />
to empty <strong>the</strong> dish"water and bring in <strong>the</strong> wood. The animals in <strong>the</strong><br />
stable were fed a handful <strong>of</strong> hay each, along with <strong>the</strong> salted flesh <strong>of</strong><br />
those that had died. As a treat, boiled potatoes sprinkled with flour<br />
was given <strong>the</strong>m. In <strong>the</strong> spring <strong>the</strong>re were fifty horses and ten cows<br />
left. The two Kentucky mares had died, but Roderick survived for<br />
years. I still stayed with <strong>the</strong> stock Jmsiness and increased my herd<br />
until I was able to sell one hundred head to a Canadian for $5,000, a<br />
good price <strong>the</strong>n and now. I had <strong>the</strong> prettiest bunch <strong>of</strong> horses I have<br />
seen before or since, all dark bays and sorrels.<br />
JIRS. HANS WILLIAM LANG<br />
Grant County<br />
Horses and cattle were hunted on snow shoes and driven into <strong>the</strong><br />
coulees, as <strong>the</strong> more sheltered places. They died in <strong>the</strong> drifts, eating<br />
<strong>the</strong> tails from each o<strong>the</strong>r.<br />
Mr. Lang went to town and bronght back some hay on a sled. The<br />
starving creatures sniffed it and stampeded <strong>the</strong> sled. The hay was<br />
baled. The hay was tossed out, <strong>by</strong> <strong>the</strong> bale, until a large table rock was<br />
reached, and here <strong>the</strong> rest <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> load was piled out <strong>of</strong> reach <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
starving animals, while Mr. Lang went back for more. He saved<br />
some <strong>of</strong> his animals, but like everyone else, he suffered a severe loss.