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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 />

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 />

97

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