Dr. History's Tales of the Old West

After the journey, the Spauldings established their mission in Lapwai, in what is now North Idaho. Eliza was well liked and respected by the Nez Perce. Henry, however, was not well liked, even resorting to whipping those who didn't obey. The Whitmans established their mission near present day Walla Walla. Narcissa did not like the always present Cayuse in her home. The influx of immigrants brought disease that nearly wiped out the Cayuse tribe. They ambushed the Whitmans killing them and eleven others.

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The future missionaries made it to a rendezvous on the Green River. The Native Americans were amazed at seeing their first white women. They now faced the most difficult part of the journey. Across southern Idaho, to Fort Boise, then Blue Mountains and on to Fort Walla Walla. Now they were ready to establish their missions. Next week, part three, the tragedy.

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Narcissa wanted to be a missionary, as did Marcus, so they got married more as a business agreement. The same with Henry and Eliza Spaulding. They joined forces to travel to the Oregon territory to preach to the Nez Perce and Flathead Indians. The first white women to make the trek on what would be the Oregon Trail. 

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Idaho lumberjacks sent logs down the rivers, but one log could cause huge jams. Dynamite worked, but was dangerous. Ephraim Shay invented a small railroad engine that effectively pulled log laden rail cars. John Dolbeer invented the steam driven "donkey engine" for extracting logs. Simon Benson invented the first successful method for floating log rafts to San Diego.

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Skidroads, log chutes and flumes were used to transport lumber to the mills and to market. Skidroads used oxen to pull tons of huge logs. Chutes were long troughs made of wood. John Cook's chute sent logs at 90 miles an hour, sizzling when they hit the water. Flumes with water were as long as 54 miles. Brave souls occasionally rode in special boats down the flume, not all of them made it.

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Lumber was in huge demand in California and came from Maine until they realized there were thousands of acres on the west coast. Lumbermen used different methods to fell trees, all involved heavy dangerous work. By 1859 millions of board feet were produced on the west coast.

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He had it all, 50,000 acres in California, cattle, sheep, horses, acres of wheat. He needed lumber, so joined with James Marshall to build a sawmill. When Marshall found some shiny stones, it was the end for Sutter. With the gold rush he lost all his employees, his land was overrun with gold seekers, his cattle scattered and crops trampled. He died a poor man.

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Virginia City Montana was the site of the first glove prize fight and lasted 26 rounds. In 1867 Con Orem fought Jimmy Dwyer in a bare knuckles fight. They fought into the night and was to resume the next morning, but Orem was unconscious. When G. Ward and John Gallagher fought a 105-round bout, it ended in tragedy. Gallagher’s left arm was broken, but he continued to fight. In the 105th round, Ward went down for good and died the next day.

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Every home had a variety of remedies. Some were herbs, others were store-bought. Whiskey was taken straight or mixed with herbs, used internally or externally. Snake, skunk, goose, wolf or bear oil were claimed to cure rheumatism. In the Civil War, maggots probably saved lives by digesting infected wounds.

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Col. James Bowie was too sick to command the troops at the Alamo, so Col. Travis took over. Historians have debated how he died. Some say he died by suicide, others that he died fighting a Mexican officer, or that he was captured and killed. Some say he was shot while on the rampart. Joe, the only survivor, said Travis fired his double-barreled shotgun and immediately fell to enemy fire. 

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