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<br />
<strong>by</strong> <strong>the</strong> Pioneers<br />
WILLIAM J. HEATH<br />
Spokane County<br />
The ·winter <strong>of</strong> 1889-90 is a lasting memory with <strong>the</strong> settlers <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
Big Bend country, especially those in <strong>the</strong> live stock business. Several<br />
heavy snow storms covered <strong>the</strong> ground to a depth <strong>of</strong> from two to three<br />
feet, and <strong>the</strong>se were followed <strong>by</strong> rains and severe cold wea<strong>the</strong>r, causing<br />
a heavy crust <strong>of</strong> ice to form. Cattle and horses on <strong>the</strong> range died<br />
<strong>by</strong> <strong>the</strong> thousands from starvation, as it was impossible for <strong>the</strong>m to<br />
break through <strong>the</strong> crust to graze . My bro<strong>the</strong>r and I ran out <strong>of</strong> feed<br />
but saved our horses <strong>by</strong> shoveling <strong>of</strong>f patches <strong>of</strong> snow and ice down to<br />
<strong>the</strong> grass . One <strong>of</strong> my horses ate <strong>the</strong> fiber door rna t. It became so serious<br />
that I told my bro<strong>the</strong>r if we couldn't get <strong>the</strong>m to <strong>the</strong> ranch <strong>of</strong> a<br />
neighbor, Mr. Hutchinson, who had hay, I intended to feed <strong>the</strong>m <strong>the</strong><br />
straw filling from <strong>the</strong> bed ticks. The followi.ng day, <strong>by</strong> much shoveling'<br />
through drifts, we ·were able to get <strong>the</strong>m to <strong>the</strong> neighbor's.<br />
GEORGE W. WILSON<br />
Lincoln County<br />
During <strong>the</strong> cold winter <strong>of</strong> 1889-90 a number <strong>of</strong> people would have<br />
frozen to death if "Wild Goose" Bill Condon had 'not come to <strong>the</strong><br />
rescue <strong>by</strong> selling <strong>the</strong> settlers his rail fences at five dollars per load.<br />
In December, 1889, during <strong>the</strong> big snow storm, we were living in a<br />
cabin in Wilbur. On <strong>the</strong> morning following <strong>the</strong> heaviest snow, we<br />
found our cabin entirely covered <strong>by</strong> a snow drift. It was necessary to<br />
tunnel my way out and shovel <strong>the</strong> snow from <strong>the</strong> windows. This was<br />
a tough winter for all <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> settlers, as about ninety per cent <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
live stock was lost <strong>by</strong> freezing or starvation.<br />
MRS. E. M. FERRIS (ESTHER M. YAEGER)<br />
Douglas County<br />
The bunch grass hay which had been stored <strong>the</strong> previous summer<br />
would have been sufficient to have fed all <strong>the</strong> cattle in <strong>the</strong> country<br />
during any normal year, but in <strong>the</strong> cow-killing blizzard it was only a<br />
wisp <strong>of</strong> straw in <strong>the</strong> wind.. Snow was four feet deep in <strong>the</strong> valley.<br />
The storm from <strong>the</strong> north blew day after day. The hay was gone.<br />
The seed grain was fed. Hay was brought from <strong>the</strong> Big Bend coun e<br />
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