The above association was established at the state fair grounds on September 25, 1885, by veterans who participated in the Indian wars of the Pacific Northwest, which were fought prior to 1860. The objects of the association are "to keep alive the memories of the trials of pioneer life, to encourage friendship and benevolence among those who have acted as the vanguard of civilization, to transmit a true history of the Indian wars of the North Pacific coast, and to impress ourselves and our posterity with that true patriotism which protects our homes from all evils, both by war and peace."

The organization took upon itself the honors of a grand body, and began the work of organizing Subordinate Camps. with very flattering results. The proposed history has in past been collected and published in book form, and succeeding volumes, corrections or additions may be looked for.

Oregon, in its infancy, was baptized in the blood of its inhabitants. Three InIdian wars, with numerous Indian outbreaks, make a part of its history. No one without experience can understand the appalling frightfulness of such wars. Terror becomes universal. Every bush is thought to be the hiding-place for an Indian. His movements are known to be stealthy and sudden-and to torture and murder those who fall into his hands, without regard to age or sex, is his known mode of warfare. Many brave men laid down their lives in these wars, and many mothers, with their little ones, were butchered by the relentless foe.

of patriotism and urge him on to deeds. of valor and feats of prowess; if he goes down he knows that an honored sepulcher will receive his remains, and that a grateful nation will perpetuate his name and memory. Not so with the pioneer who made a fortress of his log cabin, and. leaving the wife of his bosom and the mother of his children to guard home and family, went forth to meet a savage foe, unknown to civilization and law; no bugle sound or martial strain led him on, but often alone or in small bands he was compelled to seek the lurking foe.

Of such as these are the men who formed the Association of Indian War Veterans of the North Pacific Coast. Such were the brave men who protected the early settlements with their blood, their treasures and their lives. In our homes for disabled soldiers the government pays $100 per year for all honorably discharged soldiers of the Mexican and civil wars who are members of these homes, but nothing for equally as deserving veterans of our Indian wars. Sam has dealt justly and liberally with those who have defended the flag against civilized and human foes, then why not give some consideration to those who performed a similar service against a savage and inhuman foe. There has been absolutely no assistance rendered those veterans who welded the link which unites the Pacific with the Atlantic under one constitution and one flag.

Uncle

The sublime courage and patriotism which impelled these veterans forward when duty called is indicated by their patient waiting for the long-delayed justice due them at the hands of the government. The voice of Gen. John E. Wool, of the

Photo by Browning. MULTNOMAH FALLS.

(WAH-SE-AK-LI.)

A frequent visitor to the cabins of the pioneers of Oregon was an old Indian bowed with the weight of many winters, and so little given to intercourse with his people that he was considered harmless by his entertainers.

Occasionally, while on his round of visitation for provisions, he could be induced to speak of his race; but of their folk lore

not a word

would he say until he saw one day what he believed to be an apparition from the legened past.

It seems that one of the settlers of the "district of Champoeg," upon whom the Indian sometimes called for charity, had a daughter blessed with long, luxuriant, golden hair; few there were so endowed among the pioneers, and she was the first the old Indian had looked upon. As she stepped out upon the sward in front of the cabin, a look of consternation came over the face of the Indian, and for a moment his hunger was forgotten, and supplanted by a desire to propitiate the will of the spirit he believed her to be-Wah-se-ak-li, the sorceress; and, with as rapid and active a dance as his aged limbs could perform,

accompanied by a low and weird chant, began to circle around her. It was now the turn of the young lady to think of evil, and that "the devil" had become possessed of the Indian; and she hurriedly fled within the cabin for safety. The commotion brought the practical mother upon the scene, who, in the course of the Indian's explanation of his conduct, induced him to relate some "society happenings" antedating the advent of the paleface.

His story was to the effect that in the long, long ago, or "Wee-tee-tash" age, the earth was peopled by beings possessing the powers known to the mythological deities of the ancients. The greatest of these gods was Speelyia, and to him was attributed the creation of the Indians, one of whom so captivated him by her graces that he took her to wife, the result of the union being two sons. These, after arriving at man's estate, became enamored of the same woman, the goddess referred to.

The elder of the sons was proud, cold and cruel, his highest aspiration being to lead his fellows upon the warpath against the people of neighboring nations; ever fomenting trouble, where Speelyia endeavored to plant the seed of amity and good-will.

The younger lived a life of ease by captivating his listeners through his suavity of manners, coupled with songs of praise of their prowess, virtues and what joy the future had in store for them.

As each in their turn pressed his suit, it was in keeping with the bent of his mind. One related the heroisms of the warrior, the perils of successful chase; yea, how he would the very gods defy. As his

flow of languade portrayed martial action, the flash of fire in his listener's eye seemed to kindle for the fray; the look of determination, and the hand almost ready to clasp the arm of the speaker, would indicate that bravery had won the cause. But no; her changeful mood would make her bid him wait, and, with fleetness of foot, she was soon far up the mountainside, turning only to smile on the disconcerted lover, and then she is lost to view behind the rugged cliffs. In her look at vanishing the warrior believed he saw cause for the picturing of "hope" in the river sands at his feet.

The younger brother sought by his praises and gift of flattery to win the prize; well-rounded sentences caused pleasure to make merry with each throb of heart, and send its blood to suffuse breast and brow with blushes; still, the wearer of the golden hair would make no promises, nor yet linger for continuing plea, but was away, leaving the echoes of sweetest laughter to beguile him into belief that his happy hour was not far distant. To drive dull care away did she appear to each in turn, only to prove their longings vain as oft as their vows were spoken.

Photo by Short. CASTLE ROCK.

A knowledge of the matter was brought to the notice of Speelyia, who sought to bring about the release of his sons from her influence, but he found that all efforts in such direction were frustrated through the faith they entertained of their ultimate success in winning her. At last he induced them to go with him, when he would demand from her a settlement of the issue, each son agreeing to abide by the decision obtained with the best of

good-will. At this time Speelyia was living far up the Chuck-a-lil-um-the Indian name of the Columbia-and, in order to make sure that the goddess, who lived further down, would be at home. on his arrival, he caused a violent wind and rain to gather and sent it downstream, knowing that at its coming she would seek and remain under cover during its continuance, for to allow her hair, to get wet would deprive her of her power of enchantment. Following the storm, echoing from cliff to cliff in its mad flight through the gorges, came the yet more angry god, intent upon requiring Wah-se-ak-li to marry one or the other of his sons, or pronounce the doom of both of them.

On arriving at her habitation, Speelyia commanded the storm to stand aloof, and in its stead bathed the scene with sunshine. Thinking this was done to honor her, and that the young men had brought their father, the greatest god of all, to admire and perchance fall victim to her wiles, she ventured forth as though already a conqueror; but the illusion was quickly dispelled by Speelyia's demanding in a voice of thunder that she put an end to past actions and plainly state her preferment between her suitors and go with the favored one to his lodge, or decline a union with either of them. Woman was ever given to delay when such a question arises, and she was no exception to the rule; so, with the consent of Speelyia, she went for a ride in her canoe to deliberate, as she told him, but in reality with hope of escaping. As the waves rose high before her to bar further progress, and the clouds gathering darkness and threatening rain, she saw it was useless to put off the inevitable, and returned to the shore.

Being again pressed for definite answer, and in language unsuited to her