________________________
113
Tuesday, February 1. 1899, Lincoln county was visited by the most sudden blizzard in its history. For several days before the storm broke in all its wintry fury the weather had been so spring-like that the people had begun to think that winter had actually retired from the lap of Spring. Monday night a couple of inches of snow fell, but Tuesday morning was pleasant; the wind having hauled to the southeast. Gradually, during the forenoon, the light prevailing wind shifted to the northeast. Suddenly, about noon, snow began falling, accompanied by a terrific gale. For six hours the wind howled and the falling, drifting snow was so dense that one could not see across the street; the cold was intense. Business in all the towns of the county was practically suspended. By six o'clock the snow ceased falling, but the heavy gale continued, and Wednesday morning, although clear, was cold. Beginning with this blizzard of the 1st inst., the county fell heir to a continuous spell of Arctic weather that surpassed the memory of the pioneers of the county. For several days the mercury did not rise above zero, and from 10 to 22 degrees below were common records. This atmospheric condition continued until the 10th inst., an occurrence so unusual in this climate that it excited the wonderment of other states than this. This season will be remembered as the "cold winter," and as such is worthy of more than a passing remark.
In April, 1899, Fort Spokane was officially abandoned by the United States government. Since the departure of Companies B and E, to the Spanish War, the fort had been left in charge of Sergeant B. Coughlin. With him were Post Quartermaster Sergeant B. Bechtold, Commissary Sergeant A. Smart, Hospital Steward J. Sweeney and two privates. In the spring of 1899 Sergeants Couglin, Bechtold and Smart reported for duty at the new post recently established at Spokane. Sergeant Sweeney to Boise City, Idaho, and the two privates to their regiments, at San Francisco. The movable property at the fort was taken to Fort Wright, at Spokane. Fort Spokane had been a source of considerable income to the people of northern Lincoln county, as much of the produce consumed by the occupants of the fort was drawn from the adjacent neighborhood, and it was with regret that the people witnessed its abandonment.
The epidemic of smallpox, in its mildest form, which passed over the country in the spring of 1899 touched Lincoln county. Several sporadic cases were reported in June from the southern and western portions of the county. Stringent measures were at once taken by the authorities. Fear of the disease more than any grave results from it, created consternation in certain quarters. Every school and Sunday school was ordered closed until further notice by the sheriff. The county was scoured by officials enforcing quarantine
________________________
114
regulations. Vaccine points were in demand, and the "sore arm" became the rule; its absence the exception. There were many wild rumors afloat; people shunned the more thickly populated towns; business suffered in consequence. Places where a case of smallpox had never been known suffered equally with those in which the disease had appeared. Normal conditions however, were soon restored, and the panic became as a tale that is told.
But in the fall of the same year the people were thrown into a condition of far greater excitement on account of the mysterious disappearance of Ruth Inman from the Watson home, Parrott postoffice. Locally the event created as great a sensation as the kidnapping of young Edward Cudahy, in Omaha.
Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Inman resided at Creston. Sunday afternoon, October 22d, accompanied by their children, they drove to the home of Mr. Watson, a few miles south of Creston. While there little Ruth played in the yard with several other children, all older than herself. When last seen by the older members of the party, who were in the house, Ruth was sitting in a buggy; the last seen of her by the other children she was going toward the house, and to them it seemed she entered the Watson residence. So far as known this was the last seen of the little girl alive. When Ruth was missed search was at once made, and no traces being discovered, great alarm was experienced and the neighborhood was summoned. Throughout the night the search was continued unweariedly. From far and near people flocked to the scene. Time and again each foot of ground was gone over with the earnestness of agonized anxiety. There was no sign of the lost infant.
November 8th, under the direction of Sheriff Gardner, a systematic search was commenced. Detective Joe Warren, of Spokane, was called upon and responded with his professional services. Notices were printed and distributed, inviting all who could possibly abandon their business to join in the search. One hundred men assembled at the Watson farm house. Part of this force was mounted and again the surrounding country was beaten by footmen and horsemen. Nothing was left unexamined; wells, outhouses, ponds, badger holes, indeed, every hiding place wherein so small a body as little Ruth's might be hidden, was carefully searched and minutely examined. It was not a careless, perfunctory skimming of the surface of the ground. Each member of the party experienced a deep and intense interest in the proceedings. They were actuated by heartfelt sympathy for the stricken parents; anxious to clear up the weird mystery of her taking off. It was in vain. Each succeeding day's attempt proved as fruitless as that of the first. Had she been translated Ruth Inman could not have more completely dropped from mortal ken. The people of the surrounding country were not only mystified; they were awed and astounded. It appeared certain that had the child been killed and devoured by some wild beast, at least a shred of her clothing would have been found. Then belief became strong that human agency was at the bottom of the mystery. The most gruesome stories were in circulation. Kidnapping was the favorite theory. Another gypsies; another Indians. Along these lines a number of clues were run down to end in a dead wall. A large reward was offered for news of the little wanderer.
A sensational incident of the search was the part taken by Mrs. Layson, of Medical Lake. She claimed to be a spiritual medium, or clairvoyant, possessing the gift of second sight. To Sheriff Gardner she made the startling announcement that coyotes had eaten the child, and that all that was left was a little shoe with a foot in it. She declared, furthermore, that she could go to the spot and find the shoe. This she would do if her expenses were paid. Tuesday. November 14th, Mrs. Layson visited the scene of the disappearance and after
________________________
115
spending a day going over the country observed that it was a remarkably good location for kidnappers to ply their trade.
Sunday, November 19th, the mystery of the past month was cleared. The result revealed the saddest case of infantile suffering and death that had ever occurred in the county. On that date Hugh Johnson and F. M. Lynch were hunting cattle at a point some five or six miles south of the Watson home. They noticed what they at first supposed was a cast off "jumper." But after riding on a short distance the thought of the lost child came to them and they decided to return and examine the "rags" that had attracted their attention. Upon close inspection they discovered that this clothing was a child's dress. Without pausing for further examination they rode in hot haste to Wilbur from which place the parents of little Ruth and the sheriff were notified.
Early the following morning Sheriff Gardner, Deputy Sheriff Charles Gardner, Detective Joe Warren and Mr. Inman repaired to the scene. What they found was horrible in the extreme; shocking to men who had seen death in all its forms. Only a small quantity of the remains could be found after a long and thorough search, and the few fragments were scattered over a large space. The skull, perfectly denuded of flesh, a few pieces of bone and some entrails were secured. The two outer garments worn by the child were almost perfectly intact. The underclothing was torn into small shreds. The shoes and stockings could not be found. The locality where the remains were discovered was the summit of a high and rocky ridge about five and one-half miles southeast of the Watson farm. It was a mile beyond the zone encompassed by the searching parties. The country between the house from which the child had disappeared and the place where the remains of the body were found is very rough and broken. There are small lakes, deep and rocky draws and steep hills. It is almost beyond comprehension how a child so young was able to walk so far, for the trip is a severe tax on a strong man. The back of the dress was mildewed as though it had lain in one position several weeks. The general opinion was that the child wandered and tottered along until she fell from sheer exhaustion and died from exposure, for the night she disappeared was very cold. It was the opinion of the doctors that the child had met death in this way, and had not been touched by animals until after death.
In the spring of 1899 a dozen or more citizens of Davenport interested in the project of forming a fair association met at the store of William Finney and perfected an organization. Other meetings, were held and soliciting committees appointed to receive subscriptions for stock. Several hundred shares were subscribed and a corporation was formed known as the Lincoln County Fair Association. Land was secured for grounds, a race track was made, a well dug and the necessary buildings erected. The association was incorporated, the capital stock being $10,000, by A. W. Turner, I. Breslauer, William Finney, Frank M. Dallam and John H. Bond. The initial exposition of the Lincoln County Fair Association was held at the grounds Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, October 19, 20 and 21. The scope and value of these fairs increase from year to year and interest is awakened by the common desire of neighbors and neighborhoods to excel in the special lines in which they may be interested. Since organization the fair has been held every season.
The population of Lincoln county, as given by the United States census of 1900 was 11,969. The same year the wheat yield of the county was 6,750,000 bushels, or 750,000 more than any other county in the state of Washington; almost half as much as the whole state of Oregon. The cereal crop of 1901 was one of the largest ever produced in the county. Reports from the four points of the compass indicated that the yield ran from 20 to
________________________
116
35 bushels per acre. The acreage as well as yield exceeded that of 1900.
During the fall of 1901 came a large number of eastern settlers to the southern portion of Lincoln county. The light lands, which before had been considered of small value, produced surprising crops during the preceding year or two. This fact caused a rush to this portion of the Big Bend. Lincoln and Douglas counties, and the vast tract of land which had been given over to grazing was rapidly taken up in homesteads.
Sunday. April 27, 1902. Billy Gibbons, one of the noted characters of Lincoln, was fatally shot by Deputy Sheriff Nickell, of Okanogan county. One week previous to the killing a band of eight horses had been run out of the country by Billy Gibbons, George Wild and a third party unknown. Three of the horses were disposed of near Almira, at which place the trio were camped when discovered by the pursuing officials. Constable Phillips, of Almira, in company with a party of ball players, recognized Gibbons as they passed the camp on their way out of town, Sunday morning. Phillips returned to Almira and notified Nickell who had reached Almira considerably ahead of the fugitives. Gibbons and Wild separated and each one came into town from different directions. Wild was observed entering a livery stable and here he was rounded up, arrested at the point of a gun. and handcuffed. Presently Gibbons was seen to enter a saloon. Nickell followed him in; two or three assistant stood watch at the doors. The deputy encountered Gibbons and ordered him to throw up his hands, at the same time covering him with a revolver. Instead of complying with this order, Gibbons seized a man with whom he had been talking, and held him between himself and the officer, at the same time attempting to back out of the door and reaching for his own gun. Gaining it he shot at Nickell, and missed, but the aim of the latter was better; he sent a bullet through Gibbons' breast, which lodged in the muscles of the back. This shot, doubtless, saved several lives, for the subsequent fusillade by Gibbons was not effective; he appeared dazed and never seemed to raise his gun high enough. However, he succeeded in getting away temporarily, and partially out of the officer's range, mounted his horse, rode to camp, exchanged horses and galloped off. He was pursued and found eleven miles out lying on the ground exhausted, having thrown his gun over the fence. Gibbons was taken back and medical aid summoned, but the first shot had been fatal and at midnight, Monday, April 28th, he died.
The Gibbons family, George, Hugh, Harvey and Bill, were well known throughout the county. Bill first ran afoul of the officers in 1893, and in 1894 was convicted of wheat stealing and was sent to the Walla Walla penitentiary for a term of years. He escaped from jail at one time, but was subsequently recaptured. In August, 1898, he and one Paul had an encounter with Deputy Sheriff McNamara, near Harrington, Paul escaping after an exchange of shots. Gibbons was taken but afterwards released. At the time of his death he was twenty-eight year old. The spirit of adventure was strong within him, and "rustling" horses and cattle was a business he followed, perhaps as much for the danger and excitement connected with such a life as from any pecuniary advantage derived from it. He was continually under the surveillance of the officers and his death wound received in a pistol battle with one of them was a logical culmination of the wild career he had led.
In May, 1902. a census of Lincoln county was taken by the assessor, and there was found to be 15.474 inhabitants, an increase of 3.504 in two years.
July 12. 1902. the Lincoln County Pioneer's Association was organized at Crab creek, at the conclusion of an informal picnic of pioneers. The following officers were elected: Jacob Smith, Sprague, president ; J. J.
________________________
117
Brown, Edwall, vice president; W. L. Crowell, Harrington, secretary; George E. Snell. Sprague, treasurer. It was thrown open to membership for all residents of Lincoln county who had become such prior to 1890.
Monday, August 4. 1902, will be remembered by the people of Lincoln county as a day of important and unusual events. Sometime previous elaborate arrangements had been made for a conference between the farmers of the Big Bend country and the presidents of three great railway lines. We have said that this was an unusual event, but the implication extends no further than this section of the country. For several years previous it had been the practice of President J. J. Hill, of the Great Northern Railway Company, to hold "heart-to-heart talks" with the farmers and stockmen of the states of the middle west; these meetings assembling at various times and at various places. But to the residents of the Big Bend this conference was an innovation. It was unique, attractive, and the interest excited was widespread.
Davenport had been selected as the place at which to hold the conference between shippers and the leading officials engaged in the business of transportation. Invitations had been extended to Presidents J. J. Hill, of the Great Northern, C. S. Mellen, at that period president of the Northern Pacific, and A. L. Mohler, of the Oregon Railway & Navigation Company. On the day named the following distinguished gentleman connected with the transportation industry arrived in Davenport.
Great Northern — President James J. Hill; John F. Stevens, general manager; Louis Hill, assistant to J. J. Hill; F. S. Forest, superintendent Spokane Falls & Northern Railway.
Northern Pacific — President C. S. Mellen; Jules Hannaford, general traffic manager: W. S. Gilbert, superintendent ; Thomas Cooper, assistant to the president.
O. R. & N.— President A. L. Mohler, R. B. Miller, general freight agent; B. Campbell, assistant traffic director of the Harriman lines; J. P. O'Brien, superintendent ; W. W. Cotton, general attorney.
At the Central Washington station these gentlemen were met by a reception committee, after which followed a general introduction. The freedom of the city was tendered the guests by Mayor G. K. Birge, which President Hill affably acknowledged. The visiting officials who had arrived in their private car were driven to the Auditorium in carriages at 10:30 o'clock, a. m. J. Grier Long, N. W. Durham and R. H. Hutchinson represented the Spokane chamber of commence. Among other prominent visitors were Don Ryrie of Spokane, E. J. Lake of Elk. George W. Seal of Addy, Julius Siemens of Ritzville. Rev. W. R. Cunningham of Ritzville, Stanley Hallett of Medical Lake, D. W. Metcalf of Wilbur. Howard Spining of Wilbur, C. G. Garrettson of Harrington, H. C. Farrell, F. H. McKay and H. Morality of Spokane and a representative of the Spokane Chronicle. A delegation from Reardan included the following: John Raymer, Peter Fram, Clans Carstens. C. Shannon, John Wickham, and W. B. Warren.
Farmers and stockmen from every part of the Big Bend were present in large numbers. Shortly after ten o'clock in the forenoon of this gala day the crowd, constantly increasing in size, began to gather at the Auditorium wherein the conference was to be held, and where the oratorical portion of the exercises subsequently took place. Mr. James Odgers, editor of the Davenport Tribune, presided and introduced the speakers, of whom President Hill was the first. He showed conclusively that, while he was an acknowledged genius in railway building and railway management, he was more than this, a man fully conversant with the various branches of diversified farming. President Hill was followed by President Mellen. The latter sprung something in the nature of a surprise. He announced the contemplated construction of what is known as
________________________
118
the "Adrian Cut-off," a line of road since built between Coulee City, the terminus of the Central Washington Railway, and the town of Adrian, on the Great Northern Railway, about twenty miles in length. President Mellen said that the road would cost $350,000, and that it was a gift, as the country through which it would pass was barren and unprofitable, all of which is doubtless true. But he said that this matrimonial alliance between the Northern Pacific and Great Northern systems would place Davenport and other towns along the Central Washington Railway on a through line to the coast, thus saving the haul to Spokane and doubling back on the main lines, west. This announcement was greeted with cheers and other exhibitions of marked enthusiasm. President Mohler made a few remarks mainly in a humorous vein.
Following the speaking at the Auditorium the entire assemblage repaired to the Armory Hall. Here a banquet had been prepared to which, in the language of the average conventional newspaper, "all did ample justice." President Hill mingled with the crowd and touched elbows with everybody in a most friendly spirit. In the afternoon the different delegations met with the railroad presidents in the lodge room over the Auditorium. Here all the grievances were presented, discussed, and measures of relief promised. Mr. T. M. Cooper presided at this meeting. Charles Bethel. John F. Green. J. W. Fry, T. C. Lakin, W. P. Nichols, W. H. Childs and Mr. French presented the side of the farmers and business men in as favorable and forcible a style as possible. They placed the cost of raising a bushel of wheat at from 35 to 42 cents. Mr. Hill occupied the floor about half the time replying to questions and explaining why certain rates were maintained. The discussion was conducted along the most amicable lines. There was an absence of any bitter criticism of the railroads, some of the farmers going so far as to say that they had no particular criticism to make. President Hill, however, made no definite promises, further than to say that after conferring with the farmers in other sections, the presidents would consider the question as to how great a reduction in freight rates they could make. At 4 o'clock, p. m., the conference adjourned, and the presidents and other visitors immediately went to the depot and returned to Spokane the same evening.
Shortly after this visit a reduction of ten per cent was made on grain rates from eastern Washington to Puget Sound, and also to eastern markets.
________________________
No comments:
Post a Comment