Spokane County, Washington - Chapter 32: Pioneer Reminiscences, 1900

Chapter 32: Pioneer Reminiscences

"Every pioneer may justly feel proud of the city whose growth he has watched with paternal an.xiety." "The pioneer's work is done, and the pioneer has ceased from his labor. Some have gone the way of all the earth; some linger still, while the shadows creep farther to the east. Fortunate men ! Heaven hath bequeathed you a felicity unusual to those of earth. You look out upon a land, which from the wilderness you reclaimed, and see it filled with happy homes and peaceful firesides."

It has been said that the conditions surrounding the early settlers developed some of the best traits of character. "They were all honest because there was nothing to steal ; they were all sober because there was no liquor to drink ; there were no misers because there was no money to hoard; and they were all industrious, because it was work or starve." Pioneer life, with all its struggles and sacrifices, is not without its compensations. With all its seriousness, it has its humorous features. Indeed not a few who have experienced to a large degree the deprivations incident to it come to enjoy it, so as to choose it in preference to society life. In presenting these reminiscences it is far fnmi the mind of the writer to reflect in any degree upon any of the living or the dead.

The Conque8Ing Editor

Early in the "eighties, when Spokane Falls was beginning to emerge from a country town to a city of importance, what may be designated as a peculiar catastrophe occurred near what is now the center of the city. It is one of those events which, though serious at the time, the old settlers can never think of but it provokes a laughter. The editor of the weekly paper was disposed, as some thought, to have moral convictions and quite liable to interfere in jniblic affairs, and expose what seemed to him corrupt methods in a manner that proved ()uite aggravating to some prominent citizens. Ic is well known that editors can be dreadfully provoking sometimes, as if they had some pleasure in hurting people's feelings. When they pick on common folks, it matters little, but when they "get at'' prominent citizens, it occasionally leads to serious trouble. This editor was one of the kind that a man's position.

or assumed importance in the community, had very httle restraining or modifying influence over his ready and caustic quill. Some considered him altogether too radical, and he did not escape being called a "crank." He became so bold in his arraignments of some forms of e\il that some would rather that he be in hades than in the city on the falls. Things developed so that certain citizens of prominence, who had come here, like many others before and after, for their health, but had changed their minds and decided to have a little mammon too, had become objects of the editor's condemnation. The accusation was in the nature of taking too much liberty in appropriating certain public property. The people generally were not especially interested in the matter, for many thought that what belonged to all could be taken by anyone who needed it and could conveniently put his hand upon it. The editor started with mild warnings, then rather strong remonstrance. But finally lie became dreadfully in earnest. Some would call him hot. And when the blood was flowing warm in his veins and the flush of indignation spreading o"er his countenance, he sat down and wrote a burning article. There was no equivocating, no mincing matters. But straight hits from the shoulder. It stung some like an adder, for it was altogether too true. The paper was distributed. A prominent citizen read the article. He shouted out : "I won't stand any more of amiable and self-possessed, he became wild with rage : "No more of this stuff." He then threw down his hat without knowing it, stampei] the floor with his heel and pounded the desk with his fist. He verily roared : "I'll was accustomed to be sweet and select in his diction became so reckless and hot that his language permeated the air with odors of Gehenna. "Give me my gun !" he demanded of his chief clerk: "he'll retract or he'll be a dead man in less than five minutes." Out he rushed into the street, moving with a velocity that astonished the bystanders. When the chief clerk saw him going he also armed himself and hastened after, and was able to overtake his employer only by running as he entered the doorway leading to the second story, where the editor worked. The stalwart editor and wife were somewhat startled when they heard the racket of the two men rushing up the stairway. A moment after the editor saw before him the flashing eyes, trembling lips and burning cheeks of the prominent citizen, who, with revolver in hand, thundered out: "Retract, sir; retract, sir, in a moment, or you're a dead man." There was no time for an ordinary man to think, but the editor had time to pick up the iron side-stick near at hand and, quicker than lightning, the prominent citizen's arm was lamed and his revolver was thrown to the other side of the room. The young man entered the affray with pistol in hand, liut the printer's iron did the work again - the weapon v/as knocked out of his hand. The prominent citizen had found his pistol by this time and was aiming again, I;iut a missile from the editor hit his arm just in time. The weapon discliarged, struck the stove-pipe. The wiry editor began to realize his ability and the superiority of his weapons. He went at it like a wild lioii, using his iron stick with great rapidty and marvelous effect. There was close struggling, blood was scattered over the room, cases of type were pied, and the prominent citizen and chief clerk were soon tumbling over each other down the stairs, and the editor helped them to roll over the sidewalk into the gutter and left them with their heels pointing to the skies. The attacking party received severe scalp wounds, which had to be sewed up. This is the way the editor crowed in the following issue of the paper: "Warrants for the arrest

An Embarrassed Official

In early days a municipal official was called to participate in the ceremony connected with the laying of the corner-stone of a ptiblic building, He had not counted that the official position which he occupied would demand the discharge of such duties, and the gravity of the situation appalled him. His genuine desire to be courteous, and als(j to till his place m a manner that commended him to the public, were the only reasons why he did not flatly decline the honor. Though a man of excellent parts, he did not deem himself endowed with the desirable gift of speech-making. The invitation brought upon him an oppressive feeling, and he began to think that municipal burdens were more than he could bear. He pleaded unfitness, of course, but to no avail, for it has always been taken for granted that to fill a high position implies the ability to make a public speech. He made futile attempts at finding a substitute, but that would not do unless he went on a trip far away, which was not very convenient in those days. Finally, after much fear, and trembling, and consulting, and gathering pointers here and there, his courage assumed itself, and a speech became a possibility. The spare moments were improved, and the speech was laboriouslv prepared. After the final revision, it seemed to him quite a respectable effort, and worthy of almost any occasion. The great day came, and the august occasion with it. The audience was a select one. After some preliminary exercises, the city official was called to perform his part. He was sufficiently imposing in appearance to grace any occasion, but self-possession failed him. The speech, which had been read, and re-read, and repeated over and over, until it was thoroughly mastered, slipped from his mind in a mysterious manner, .-^fter some hacking and stuttering, he was able to say : "Mr. President," and the second attempt carried him successfully over '"Ladies and gentlemen." He informed them that he was not accustomed to make speeches, but he said "I thought - I would come - and - and - do my best, and at least ofifer a few extemporary words, and. and - to be safe, I wrote down my remarks," whereupon he took a manuscript from his pocket and proceeded to read. There is no probability that his vision served him well enough to observe the smile that spread over the countenances of the congregation. It is sufficient to say that the paper took well, although it was quite difficult for some - especially the ladies - to forget the humorous feature of the performance.

Election Joke

The e.xuberant spirit of the pioneers made them thoroughly appreciative of a joke. There is usually no particular sensitiveness as to who it hits or hurts, for it's only a joke, which is deemed a necessary stimulant. There are those who believe that the most genuinely humorous thing which ever happened in the history of Spokane was an election joke. The most of the people in those days were too busy and ambitious in other things to think much of politics. Candidates for offices were not as numerous and ravenous as they are today. It looked as if there would be but one candidate for the highest office within the gift of the people. Some of the jolly fellows began to talk the matter over, and decided that it would not do. A man who had strayed into the city from some unknown quarter, who was in the tinkering business, possessing no qualifications for the office, was selected as an opposing candidate. The joke proved contagious, and went like wild-fire. The candidate appreciated the compliment, and went into the campaign w^ith all the earnestness of his being. He had some money and used it freely in making votes. The election resulted in a surprise to many, and there were those who intimated that if strict count had been made, the tinker would have been elected.

The Glorious Fourth

It is evident that the old settlers knew how to have good times. \Vhy not? They were clever folks on the whole. A description of the celebration of the Fourth of July, 1879, as found in the Spokan Times for July 10. 1879, is full of interest:

"The celebration at this place on the Fourth was a grand success, and with the exception of the slight rainfall in the afternoon, all who participated considered it one of the most pleasant days they had spent for a number of years. The exercises were carried out in accordance with the program published in our last issue. As Mr. Wellington was not present, Mr. J. M. Nosier was appointed president of the day. After calling the audience to order, a prayer was offered by the Rev. S. G. Havermale. An address of welcome by Hon. D. F. Percival followed. Mr. Percival's efforts to convince the large gathering that they were welcome to join in the festivities of the day were successful, and all seemed to join in the pleasures with one accord. At the conclusion of his remarks, that grand old tune, 'America,' was sung, and all seemed to feel v^hat it expressed in words. This was followed by the reading of the Declaration of Independence by J. T. Lockhart, which was excellent and enjoyed by all present. After the reading of the Declaration, 'Hail Columbia' was sung. The oration by J. J. Browne, Esq., was a wellrendered piece of oratory. The orator recalled many of the acts of independence of our forefathers, which elicited hearty applause from the audience. One of the many acts was the casting overboard of the tea in Boston harbor. On hearing this, one person in the audience became so patriotic as to shout 'Bully for the Boston tea party!" At the conclusion of the oration

:\Ir. Rowe sang as a si.lo 'The Star Spangled Banner,' the Glee Club joining in the chorus. The rendition of this solo was excellent, and was responded to by the crowd with a hearty applause. The forenoon's program ha\-ing been exhausted, preparations were made for dinner, whicli was enjoyed by all.

"After dinner the audience was called together by the firing of the anvil, when the toasts were offered and responded to by those called on. Next was an address of welcome to the Northern Pacific Railroad by Dr. Waterhouse, which was responded to by Mr. Weeks, chief of the surveying party, who said he felt safe in saying that by another Fourth of July the people of this part of the country would hear the whistle of the locomotive mingling with the anvil. Another toast was next offered, and at the conclusion of the response, Mr. Percival amused the people with a humorous speech, which was appreciated by the fun-loving part of the gathering, as it was replete with wit and humor. Several others favored the audience with short speeches.

"The crowd next adjourned to the base ball ground to witness a game between a nine picked from the survey party and the Spokan Falls club. The surveyors had their choice, and took the field. The Spokans made thirteen runs and then took the field, the surveyors making eight runs before getting out. At the conclusion of this inning the rain began to fall, and the game was called Ijy the umpire, Capt. Pease, the score standing, Spokans 13. Surveyors 8. This ended the afternoon's sports.

"In the evening a large number assembled at the hall and, although the building was crowded, a very enjoyable time was experienced. Dancing was kept up until a late hour. The supper, which was served at the California House at about 12 o'clock, was gotten up in good style. The Fourth will come again, and we hope our friends will come again then, at farthest."

Pioneer Merchants

Editor Frank M. Dallam wrote some reminiscences of Spokane for the "Palmer Mountain Prospector" a few years ago (1S83): "Jim Glover's residence, where the Tull block now is, was nut of town, and horse races took place where the magnificent Review building now stands.

"Christ/lias. - We sailed out. accompanied by our better half, to secure the customary Christmas wares. Charley Sweeney had a general merchandise store on the corner of Howard street and Front avenue. Harry Hayward eked out an existence with a small stock of pipes and tobacco, and a verv punk assortment of men's furnishings. Henry French kept stick-candy and a little of nothing. \Volverton Brothers carried hardware. The late lamented A. 'SI. Cannon had a stock running from dry goods to cnuiUr_\- produce. R. \\ . Forrest had a stock of groceries that would not load a wagon. Bloody Blooming Morns, an erratic Englishman, had a job-lot of nick-nacks that would now be looked upon with contempt at the Siding. J. B. Blalock sold shoes, when not pegging them. Charley McNab had a shelf full of drugs, and Louis Ziegler had one cook stove and a few boxes of assorted hardware. There were a few others in trade, but they V, ere all short in stock and long in hope. We made the round of the whole town, but there was not a toy, not a single doll, not a single book, not a single pound of candy, that had not lost its color from contact with flies. There was nothing, absolutely nothing, that could be purchased appropriate for a child's stocking, or a gift for a grown person, and the collectii.u for the family was abridged to a very homely wooden rocking-chair for a little girl, the entire stock of ten-penny nails of one hardware firm and a claw hammer inv an infant b^'V. some doubtful candy and a few handfuls of pop-corn. The things were not very alluring, but we did not propose to let those stockings hang there limp and empty Christmas morning, even if we were forced to stufif them with scrap-iron and tin cans. Yet those were happy days, when the greed of gain had not curdled the milk of human kindness, when men treated each other as friends and brothers, when every individual was on the same plane, in a worldly sense, when loyalty to the town and the inhabitants thereof stood next to the love and fear of God. There were big, warm-hearted, tried and true men in the community, ,and none who were there will ever look upon their like again."

Oil the simplicity of the early days ! The genuine fellowship, the co-operation ! It is interesting to find how essential public improvements were accomplished by the pioneers. The word "boodle" was not found in their dictionary. We will give a sample of the call given through the weekly paper twenty-one years ago :

"We are determined to try the mettle with which the population of Spokane Falls is made. The Lord helps those who are willing to help themsehes. If we want a road between our city and the beautiful plains just outside the suburbs of our city limits, let us put our hands to the undertaking and construct the same. We are deeply interested in this matter. Many strong and willing hands are ready to gi\e valuable assistance, only waiting the opjiortunity to serve the best interests of the traveling public and this community.

"On Friday morning of next week, all able-bodied men - without regard to position or circumstance - who are interested in the welfare of this community will be found on the route of the new road east of town, to contribute one day's hard labor to a good cause.

Albert D. Hopper

"Better, still: The clay's work will be made one of pleasure by the presence of ladies, who will prepare and spread the laborers' dinner at the noon of day. This will make the occasion an enjL'iyable one.

"Committee on location. Captain J. M. Nosier. L. 'SI. Rima and William D. Parks; committee on dinner, INIrs. A. M. Cannon, Mrs. W. C. Gray, Mrs. Dr. Masterson and Mrs. S. G. Havermale ; committee on tools and organization. Captain George A. Pease, Herbert Percival and Sam Arthur. \\'e will give further partictilars next week."

A large company came together, irrespective of class or condition, and a full day's work was done and all felt good A similar call was made with favorable results to make a bridge over Hangman creek The above call was to make the fir?t road from the city to what is now L'nion Park. The road was a little circuitous, but quite passable. How different the method as compared with that of later years, when the cost of grading, or at least the amount which some had to pay, was inore than the market value of the property. No wonder that some fail to see that civilization ci\'ilizes - and prefer the "old ways."

A good story is told of one of Spokane's early professional men. He had a good ranch a few miles out of town and was fond of gardening. The spring seemed to have come very early and garden was planted accordingly. He was elated over the prospects and wrote glowing letters to his friends, and finally invited them to come and visit him on a certain day and help him eat peas, string beans and lettuce. This invitation was accepted, and although the friends arrived a day or two later than the date set, they found the garden covered with four inches of snow. The professional man had to resort to the common apology, "unusual season." Imt Iiis friends

From the manuscript autobiography of the late Rev. H. G. Stratton, for the use of which we are indebted to the courtesy of his widow. Mrs. Louise Stratton, we cjuote the following :

"On the evening of the 3rd of September, 1S7S, our old express wagon, drawn by two cayuse ponies with United States mail and several passengers, climbed up the Hangman creek hill, and I got my first view of the little hamlet of Spokane Falls. The Brownes had moved there about the first of July, that summer, to grow up with the country. I found them in two unfinished rooms in the old Post dwelling house, now a part of the Falls View Hotel. Mr. Frederick Post had just finished a part of the flouring mill, the old structure south of the C. & C. mill. This was the pioneer enterprise of all this vast region, which now produces twenty million bushels of wheat yearly. I saw unloaded from the 1 jacks of cayuses sewed up in skin sacks among the first, if not the \'ery first, lot of wheat sold in this market. The quality raised by the Indians and brought many miles- in this primitive method of carriage was hardly equal to that graded now as Ai. Mr. Post had a government contract to supply the scjldiers necessary to keep hostile Indians in check. As the Indians grew the only grain in the country, buyers were glad to get whatever was offered. Anna was not well, and to give her a chance to sleep I took Master Guy with some lumps of loaf sugar to inaugurate the weaning process. Mr. Browne I found piling lumber at the small up and down saw-mill owned liy the firm of Cannon, Glover, Browne, & W^arner, which practically owned and controlled everything abfuit the town. Mv. Browne had a law office in t!ie front room of the story-and-a-half store Ijuildi:ig at the corner of Front and Howard, diagonally across from where the city hall now stands. Back of this office was a small hall, the only place for a public gathering in the place, where

I preaclied Sunday, September 6, 1S78, to about forty people, probably nearly half of tb.e'.n Indians, who crouched on the floor by the door. We borrowed an organ somewhere and Anna played. The Cowleys were there, the Post family, Mrs. Cannon, Mrs. Warner, and most of the people. This was probably one of the first religious services ever held for \\hite people in Spokane. Mr. Cowley preached to the Indians in a church built for them near his present residence on land claimed by Enoch. Mr. Cowley then antl for several years afterwanl, held a commission from our Board of Foreign Missions, and he was holding meetings for them - Indians - at different places. Deep Creek and others. After one morning service, steps were taken to organize the first Sabbath school, which was consummated the succeeding Sunday with A. E. Ellis as the superintendent. Mr. Ellis was still superintendent of the Union Sunday school when I returned in 1881 to make Spokane my home. I \olunteered to provide lesson helps and papers for the first si.K nmnths. Monday morning Mr. Browne hired a hack and team for a trip to Mica Peak, expecting to ascend the mountain and get back to camp about 4 P. M. Mr. Browne became sick and nearly used up. Before Sunday I had visited the Williamsons on Moran Prairie, people from Albany, Congregationalists, Cowleys, and others, and had a list of twelve or fifteen people ready to go into a Presbyterian church as soon as a man could be sent to organize and take charge of tlie work. When I returned and reported the matter to Dr. Lindsley the prospects for growth seemed to him too remote to warrant immediate action, and so the matter was dropped. '^ * * I was very favorably impressed with Spokane as the leading point for a vast region and would have tried to get hold of some ])ro])erty if I had not been obliged to return to Portland antl prepare for the fall meeting of presbytery.

and very jealous of any attempts of the whites to get land or settle there. There were a few settlers on Peone. but what is now Five Mile Prairie was then exclusively claimed by the Siwashes. There was no way of getting across the river except by small boats, and when across the danger from the Indians was imminent. But if one could only have foreseen the future at that time, there would have been fortunes in it.

"Sunday Mr. B. antl I walked out to the banks of Hangman, up which Mr. B. said the Northern Pacific Railroad then projected, both from the east and the west, must come up on the great Spokane plains, over which the road could be built much more economically than by any other route. Results showed the truth of his prognostications, and after my return, Guy, and I think Earle, rode with me on the first engine that climbed up the Hangman hill, back to Cheney and return. That Sunday afternoon, Browne, Anna, Guy and myself by walking over logs, etc, crossed the south channel and sat down at a point I think below the i)resent water works station, from which we could count twelve falls or cascades.

"I have forgotten to mention that I secured the position of teacher of the higher grade of pupils in this Spokane school at forty dollars a month. I had about forty-five young men and women in my room, which was about 16x22. We were so crowded that there was hardly room to seat the class reciting at the time. Professor A. K. Warran, Mrs. Lamona's brother, taught the lower grades in a somewhat larger room. Among my pupils were the Ellis girls, Ida, now Mrs. S. Heath, Ollie. who married A. E. Keats, since dead, Perry Lamona and Winnie, she wdio is now Mrs. Fruit, Belle Dawson and her sister Eva, Ed. Nosier, Ed. Whinery, Frank Waterhouse, Minnie Morgan, now Mrs. Josie Clark, Mrs. Cannon's daughter. Judge Nash's son, Frank, E. Hyde, Julia A. Post, Alice P. Wager and her sisters, Eva and Edith, James Stafford,

Ed. Robinson. Luella Zella and Rilla Parker. As a whole I think the scliool was a success and I have a very warm interest in every one who was my pupil. Two or three years afterwards I taught the iirst school on Five Mile Prairie in the back room of my house with about fifteen pupils."

Reminiscences Of The Times When This City Was A Lonely Little Village

the year 1881 I first came to Spokane Falls, anil in 1899 I find myself back once more to the greatest and best city in Washington state. And my ! how it has grown. It now has all the sister ways of cities much older. Where once stood insignificant frame buildings, stately and tall towering blocks of brick and stone structures rear their handsome forms and the little one-street village has vanished and now, as if by the touch of some magician's wand, the bud has blossomed and bloomed in all its grandeur to a beautiful bouquet.

"In 1882 everybody in the town knew each other and nearly every person knew the other's business; if he did not know he made it his business to find out, and in most cases was successful.

"About this time a roller skating rink was ( pened up in Komiskey's warehouse at Cheney, then the county seat, and the young folks used to go down there from the Falls on the train in the evening and return next day. Miss Sadie Bishop was the champion lady skater of that time and won considerable fame in that Ime The 'rink' was a fad, you might say a craze, for little, big, old and young had the fever and were infatuated with the roller skates and the proprietor made money quick and fast. There was such a demand for skates that many people paid a week ahead for them to l>e reserved.

"The first variety theater that Spokane ever had was opened by a man named Rogers. It was called the Globe, and was the smallest theater building I ever looked at. Johnny Cassidy and wife, who were billed as John Cassidy and Mabel Pearl, worked at this place of amusement, and it was often said when they were doing their turn they occupied all of the stage. Mr. Cassidy is at this writingmanager of the Coniique theater of this city. He is still in the business, but the team of Cassidy and Pearl was at that time expected to be one of America's most famous sketch teams and some day would come to Spokane Falls in their own play, traveling in their own cars, etc. I understand since the time I speak of Mr. Cassidy has had a large company on the road, but perhaps it did not suit him as well as could be expected, so he returned here. At any rate they were the favorites of the town.

"The IMozarts, Ed and Georgia, also worked at this house. It was while working at the Globe that Mr. Mozart thought that a variety performer could run a hotel, and his name would be sung thusly : 'Is this Mr. Mozart, who keeps the hotel ?'

"So he opened up his boarding house and in a short time there were a great many people - business men calling at the hotel to interview the proprietor. But Ed had skipped out ; he knew how to skip, for his wife Georgia, was a skijiping rope artist. I met him some years ago in Texas. At that time he was ahead of a small dramatic company.

"Frank Dallam, the long-tall-wore-hispants-in-his-boots editor and founder of the Review, was for Spokane Falls yesterday, today and forever. I remember that the old press broke down one day and Frank sent the 'forms' down to Cheney to be run off on the Cheney Sentinel press.

"The Nugget and ]\Iiner, papers supposed to be published in the Coeur d' Alenes, were printed in the Review office, being dated at their respective towns. But the 'matter' was sent out from the camps to the Review and 'set up' and run off here.

"Luke Brant, a comedian, made a big hit singing a song that he composed on the Caur d' Alene mines. I only remember the chorus of the song, which I gi\'e :

"The miners used to call for this song and Luke W(juld sing it for them. He was handed many a dollar by the miners. But tall, thin. big-hearted Luke died in California, where he sleeps under the green of the grass, under the blue of the skies.

"And my ! what hustling there was in the old Review office on press day. Many a tramp printer fared well in the Review office, but it seemed that on principle all the force used to get too much of 'Pontag and Wilson's' beer, and then there was a hot time in the Review office that night. Mr. Dallam is now publishing a paper at Davenport, this state.

''The old volunteer fire department was out testing the force of the water one e\'ening and were hax'ing a jo3'ful time. One of the boys spied a hornet's nest in the e\'es of Louis Zeigler's old hardware store and they turned the water on it. The water had such force that it tore a hole in the cornice and the nozzle got from under control of the boys and struck a brand new wheelbarrow sitting on the sidewalk in front of the store, and the last that was seen of the wheelbarrow it was going at the rate of a mile a minute up Riverside avenue toward Dr. Birch's residence. Mr. Zeigler was someuhat the loser that evening, having to repair the cornice and being out the price of his new wheelbarrow.

'"From where Zeigler's old hardware store stood there used to be a path that led to the old Northern Pacific depot. And every time a freight or passenger train whistle blew the boys around town used to scoot for the depot to see the train come in. Mrs. Knox had a restaurant situated between the store and depot, called the Palace, and the path went in front of her place. One da}- the whole gang of boys were coming from the station after watching the arrival of a passenger train, and the crowd numlDered forty or fifty people, all hurrying to get down town, for the depot in those days seemed to be away out in the country. Mrs. Knox, happening to look out of the door, saw the crowd coming, and, rushing into the kitchen, told the cook to cook 'lots' more, as the whole \^illard party were coming to dinner. Henry \'illard and party were expected that day, but for some reason did not appear, and when the crowd all passed by the door of the restaurant and not a man went in to eat, Mrs. Kno.x was disgusted, and said it was the cheapest 'gold' spike crowd she ever saw. When she was told that it was only the town men coming back from watching the train arn\e. she was so angry that she discharged the cook for wasting so much groceries. But she never got over telling about the great rush she ex])ected that day.

"John Glover and Lane Gilliam had their livery stable on the spot now occupied b)' the Windsor block. Hank Vaugim, the noted western character, and who was made still more famous by his shooting scrape in Pine- \ille. Oregon, with Charles Long, another bad man. paid Spokane Falls a visit one time and hired a hack from Glover and Gilliam and started out for a drive. About the first thing he did was to try to drive into Al. Jones' saloon, but the only damage he did to the saloon

"Hank was famous for his fast drives all over the western country. But he always paid for what he destroyed and nothing was ever said about it. I remember one time two men undertook to ride between Ritzville and Sprague without paying fare, and they were as tough as I ever saw-. Both had Colt's guns and swore they would ride or hurt some one. It was in the summer time and Hank was trying to take a 'snooze,' as he called it. When the conductor came through collecting fares the two bad men refused to pay. The conductor tried to explain that it was liis duty to collect the fare and if they did not pay he would put them oif. This was the conductor's mistake. The bad men swore by all that was holy that all the Northern Pacific employees from .St. Paul to Tacoma could not make them pay fare or put them off. They flourished their guns and the passengers on the car were terror-stricken.

"When Hank saw that the conductor was getting the worst of it. he took a good stretch, yawned several times and quick as a flash struck the largest fellow over the head with his own silver-plated gun, took liim to the platform of the car and kicked him uiff. Every one expected the other desperado to kill Hank, but he began to beg for mercy, but Hank took him by the collar and - well, I never saw a bad man get the drubbing that this fellow received. Hank was the hero of the hour and every one wanted to be the first to shake his hand. Hank kept the two guns as mementoes of the occasion. Vaughn was killed a few years ago by bein? thrown from a horse at Pendleton, Ore- .gon.

"Then Mr. Joy built a hall here and had the great nerve to name it 'Joy's opera house.' It was a frame building and was nothing more than a barn. Several members of the different show companies that played at his house threatened to sue him for booking them in a 'cold storage' house, instead of a theater. But they were glad to play in it. for it was to Spokane Falls what the Auditorium is to the city now. the best in the place.

"Shortly after this a large rink was built liere and called the 'Casino.' It was the great attraction, too. Every one went, Luke Nash, the attorney, won several prizes for skating, and at last was barred from entering anv prize contest. Luke held the championship for mller skating in the northwest.

"The old Spokane cornet band used to furnish music every Saturday evening at the Casino skating rink, and the members of the band used to leave their instruments in the hall after the concert. One night during the winter, after a heavy snow storm, tlie roof, being flat, could not sustain the weight of the snow, and caved in. Strange to say, every instrument that was left in the rink was broken, except the bass drum, which was untouched. A stick of timber had lodged just above it. anil held the weight of much larger beams from crushing it. The drum was as good as ever, much to the joy of the man who played it."

A Pioneer Sketch

He was so thin that you could see that he had no guile in him. His walk w'as like one wading in water, a little uncertain about touching bottom.

This book was his only library and when he began to read it he always fell asleep sitting bolt upright. \\'hether sitting in the shade or bracing up against the swaying chinook, ever maintaining his upright position (as a just judge should do), clutching his beloved code in his long bony fingers, holding tightly to his only guide in his work of jurisprudence - fast asleep.

The common representation of justice, the woman holding a pair of scales in her hand, with a compress over her eyes, cuts but a feeble and sorry figure of justice, compared with the squire in his accustomed legal slumber.

My first and last case at law was in his court. I had graduated at law. and was thereby supposed to be able to back up Blackstone in most cases of legal trouble.

On the loth day of August, 1879, three men were tried before the squire, charged with the common crime of selling whiskey to Indians. J. J. Browne was the only acknowledged attorney in the town on that day. I had not put out a shingle or showed any sign of being an attorney. I was employed, however, to defend one of the three ; the other two threw themselves on the mercy of the court, without crumpling it, in the least, as the sequel will show.

Browne was for the territory, but notwithstanding that, he gave me a valuable hint how to present the argument to the court. ''Talk loud and fast." he said. I took his advice and did both. What I said to the court or how fast I said it I have long since forgotten, but I remember that A. ISI. Cannon said to me, after

I charged my client twenty dollars in advance, and from the manner in which it turned out, I ha\e always conscientiously looked upon it as a species of grand larceny.

I always wished he had his money back. I was not at the court next morning sharp, but learned that he fined my client three hundred dollars and costs, and in default of payment sentenced him to six months' imprisonment at hard labor in the county jail at Colville. The other two prisoners made an open confession of their guilt in court, and the justice, remembering the proverb that "An open confession is good for the soul," set them at liberty in a bettered condition.

The jurisdiction of his court was only one hundred dollars. The failure of the Legislature to make it more, however, was condoned and corrected, in this case, and raised to three hundred dollars.

About two years thereafter I was going to Helena. The train stopped at a station on the way. and to my surprise and delight I saw my unfortunate client come aboard to sell roasting ears to the passengers. Now, I said to myself, is the time to give him back his luckless twenty dollars. But as soon as he saw me he jumped ofY the train and ran through the darkness, spilling his corn as he ran.

Jones refused another term of office. He then sold what is now Stratton's addition, with a house on it. for one hundred dollars, and a private ferry (a canoe) across the Spokane river, and went into the ice business.

He delivered his ice in a gunny sack, which he carried on his back. He was so thin and bloodless that the ice thus transported never melted. The gimny sack in which he carried his ice would vibrate to and fro as he walked, like the pendulum of an old-fashioned eightday clock.

Jones continued the ice business until a kind and compensating providence came to his relief, ami rounded him up and out, until he finally and robustly died of dropsy. And they buried him where the sound of the falls is a lasting lullaby.

In his absence I have said this much for the old pioneer justice. He would have done as much or more for me. Fiat jiisticia, mat coclnin. - Spokane Review.

Convinced

He meandered into the shop and languidly accommodated himself to the undulations of the barl)er's chair inquiring "the damage for a clip." When told that it was four bits, he rose up and with great determin?tion said he wouldn't pay it, "he could get it cut in Colfax for two bits, any time."

The barber soothingly replied : "My dear sir, you are a new comer in these parts, and not yet acquainted with the difficulties under which we labor. You were aroused at what you believed an inconsiderate charge, but if you will please consider for a moment the enormous freights we have to pay up here, you will undoubtedly see that what you consider an extra charge is made necessary."

Editor Tribune : - Permit me to contribute the following toward perpetuating the original names of some of our prominent lakes, and I wish you would suggest this example to others :

^\ere stationed on the lake. They had made themselves very obnoxious to these Indians and were nick-named by them "Cceur d'Alene" - "men who had hearts no bigger than the point of an awl."

Kal-is-pel, original name of Pend d'Oreille lake (hanging of the ear). Some of the women belonging to the Hudson's Bay Company wdio were stationed on this lake, had long, pendant ear ornaments. The Indians, in speaking of these people, described them as Pend d'Oreille - "having something hanging to their ears."

It appears that these nick-names were finally adopted by the Hudson's Bay Company as the names of these lakes, and they .have no connection whatever with the original Indian names. The meaning of the words "schizui" and "kalispel" is lost among the Indians: thev simply know that they were the names of these

Origin Of Names Again

The trading post of the Hudson's Bay Company, located on the Columljia river, a short distance above Kettle Falls, was named after Mr. Colville, a gentleman officer of said company. The orthography of the post was written Fort Colvile. During many years Archibald McDonald, Esq., had charge of said post. He was familiar with the early doings of the Hudson's Bay Company in the Columbia river country. From full knowledge, he made statements to me relating to the first trading post built by the Hudson's Bay Company west of the Rocky mountains in the year 181 1 at the junction of the two Spokane rivers. I first met Mr. McDonald at Fort Colville September 17, 1838. During several succeeding years I was favored with frequent personal interviews with the well-informed gentleman. Additional statements were made to myself in writing. By word of mouth, in his fort, Mr. McDonald said to me that their early traders oliserved the Indians, designated Cceur d'

Alene, were sliarp in trading. To one another it was said : "Be careful, or those Indians in trade will pierce you," thus implying they had a disposition to cheat, to prick, were point hearted, had a heart like an awl. That, said my informant, was the origin of the name Cceur d' Alene. The afore named gentleman, in writing, made statements that the Indians residing near the Pend d'Oreille bay wore large ear drops of bone, hence by the traders, who used chiefly the French language, they were called Pendant d'Oreille or, by contraction, Pend d'Oreille. In the Indian language the location of the people of the place is designated by Kalispel or Kalispalm. Gushing Eells, In Northwest TriBune. According to Dr. Eells' testimony, at the junction of the two Spokane rivers was the first settlement in what is now the state of Washington, and not. as some have testified, near the junction of the Okanogan river with the Columbia, where the Northwest Company established a post. J. E.

The first marriage license issued in Spokane county and recorded is dated January 6, i8So, to J. W. Rozen and Mary E. Robinson; witnesses, P. A. ^IcLean, F. M. Weger. The ceremony was performed by J. H. Leard, minister of the gospel. It was recorded January, 14, J. M. Nosier, auditor. One license was issued in January, one in February and two in Jklarch. In January, 1900. seventy-four marriage licenses were issued.

Comp.Vrison

Coiinly Auditor's Fiiiaitcial Stafciiicnt. - Synopsis of the financial condition of Spokane county from its organization up to the 30fh day of April, 1882 :

Record of the county, April, 1900. - The amount of taxes collected in March, less rebates and refunds, exceeds by nearly $100,000 the best previous month in the history of the county. Less the refunds the amount of taxes collected in March was $249,284.22.

The other interesting fact to note in the county finances is that the county is entirely on a cash basis. The only outstanding warrants are the old county indebtedness w-hich it is planned to refund by the sale of bonds. The statement as compiled by George II. Wallis, bookkeeper at the auditor's office, is as follows :

Cash .Account Warrant Account

All warrants on all funds are payable on presentation except county indebtedness, which are called up to and including No. 14,640, issued May 29, 1896.

Uncollected Taxes Facts About Spokane

"The debt for which these warrants were issued was created between June i, 1896, and February i, 1898, and was for the necessary and current expenses of the county government. The warrants bear 8 per cent, interest.

"The warrants which it is proposed to fund by this issue of bonds were incurred under the law which was in force prior to February i, 1898. On that date the county fund was superseded by tlie county current expense fund^ which is used to pay the running expenses of the county government. This fund is kept practically on a cash basis.

"The assessed valuation of Spokane county for 1899 was $25,778,398, which is about 75 per cent, of the real valuation, estimated at $35,000,000.

"The constitutional limit of indebtedness is one and one-half per cent, of the valuation, which would make the constitutional limit of debt for the county $386,676. -^

"There are now outstanding 6 per cent, bonds to the amount of $483,000, which, together with the proposed issue, will make $683,000. The $483,000 bonds were issued in 1893, when the assessed valuation was %iy,- 000,000.

"The total amount of bonds proposed make an excess of the limit, but the supreme court lias decided that a debt incurred in the necessary expenses of the county government is not affected by the constitutional limit.

"The bonds are issued upon resolution of the board of county commissioners, who are by law authorized to fund a legal debt of the counts. If the courts decide that the warrants are legal then the bonds which will be used to replace the warrants will be legal.

"When the proposed bonds are issued, the county will have outstanding $483,000 bearing 6 per cent, interest, and the above proposed issue, which will bear 4^ per cent, interest, and there will be no floating debt of any kind.

"The proposed issue is to be 20-year, no option, gold bearing, 4^^ per cent, bonds. Parties bidding will be required to deposit a certified check for $10,000 as a guaranty of good faith.

"Spokane county contains fully 65,000 inhabitants. Spokane, the county seat, contains a population of over 45,000. The number of acres of assessable land is 884,000. As an indication of the promptness with which Spokane county taxes are paid I will add that less than ^yj per cent, of the 1898 taxes remain unpaid. The 1899 rolls, which become delinquent May 31, 1900, show 50 per cent, to have been paid on April i."