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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<strong>Told</strong> <strong>by</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Pioneers</strong><br />
and Mrs. Livd D. Bice, and three grandchildren. I have voted in<br />
<strong>Washington</strong> for fifty-seven years.<br />
Early transportation through <strong>the</strong> San Poil Valley, which valley now<br />
constitutes most <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> low lying land in <strong>the</strong> county, was <strong>by</strong> pack<br />
trains and later <strong>by</strong> wagon trains. Supplies were brought from ,Vilbur,<br />
which was <strong>the</strong> nearest railroad station. It was necessary to<br />
cross <strong>the</strong> Columbia river <strong>by</strong> ferry. Sometime later a wagon road was<br />
built up Curlew creek and down <strong>the</strong> San Poil river from Marcus and<br />
Colville, which gave <strong>the</strong>m a nearer road to Colville, <strong>the</strong> county seat at<br />
that time. There were two railroads surveyed down <strong>the</strong> San Poil valle~'<br />
through Keller, but <strong>the</strong>se railroads were never built.<br />
I have been afflicted <strong>by</strong> sciatic rheumatism for a number <strong>of</strong> veal's.<br />
o<br />
•<br />
It was unusually bad during <strong>the</strong> past winter and it was necessary for<br />
me to live with my daughter in Wilbur.<br />
.fIJi IILYTER<br />
Sealt Bay<br />
Clallam Countv •<br />
I was born about 70 years ago near Lake Ozette. I am <strong>the</strong> son <strong>of</strong><br />
an Ozette chief, but lIOW consider myself a ::'Iakah, having been inducted<br />
into <strong>the</strong>ir tribe and made a chief many years ago, after <strong>the</strong> death <strong>of</strong><br />
mv fa<strong>the</strong>r. Residents <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> nIakah l'eselTation claim me to he <strong>the</strong><br />
•<br />
"last <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Ozettes."<br />
The gradual extermination <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Ozette tribe, which at one time<br />
consisted <strong>of</strong> more than 700 families, illustrates well <strong>the</strong> unfortunate<br />
position sometimes held <strong>by</strong> an "innocent <strong>by</strong>-stander"-in this case,<br />
ra<strong>the</strong>r an innocent people unfortunately placed.<br />
The Makah Indians, closely related to <strong>the</strong> Haidahs, a fierce tribe<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> coastal country <strong>of</strong> British Columbia, established <strong>the</strong>mselves<br />
on Cape Flattery and Tatoosh Island, some time prior to <strong>the</strong> first<br />
explorations <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Spanish. The Ozette tribe lived in comparative<br />
peace and comfort along <strong>the</strong> Ozette lake, some fifteen miles south <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> Cape. Some twenty miles fur<strong>the</strong>r south were <strong>the</strong> Quillayutes.<br />
Nothing is remembered at this date about <strong>the</strong> cause <strong>of</strong> hatred<br />
which grew between <strong>the</strong> Quillayutes and <strong>the</strong> Makahs. But it is known<br />
that <strong>the</strong>se two tribes were frequently at war, ei<strong>the</strong>r one or <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r<br />
raiding <strong>the</strong> villages <strong>of</strong> its enemy. The Makahs, for example, would<br />
plan a great raid on <strong>the</strong> Quillayutes, traveling south <strong>by</strong> canoe and at-<br />
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