Reminiscences of a Pioneer - Colonel William Thompson

Reminiscences of a Pioneer

By Colonel William Thompson

Editor Alturas, Cal., Plaindealer

San Francisco 1912

Contents

Chapter
I Farewell to the Old Southern Home
II First Winter in the Willamette Valley
III Indian Outbreak of 1855
IV In Which Various Experiences Are Discussed
V Taking Revenge on Marauding Snakes
VI One Bad Tale From Canyon City History
VII Col. Thompson's First Newspaper Venture
VIII History of the Modoc Indians
IX The Ben Wright Massacre
X Treaty With the Modocs Made
XI Battle in the Lava Beds
XII The Peace Commission's Work
XIII Three Days Battle In the Lava Beds
XIV Trailing the Fugitives
XV The Great Bannock War
XVI Snake Uprising in Eastern Oregon
XVII Bannocks Double on Their Tracks
XVIII Another Attack That Miscarried
XIX Reign of the Vigilantes
XX Passing of the Mogans
XXI The Lookout Lynching

Illustrations

Colonel William Thompson - (From photo taken at close of Bannock War)
Typical Scene in the Lava Beds
Runway and Fort in Lava Beds
Captain Jack's Cave in the Lava Beds
Captain Jack - (From photo belonging to Jas. D. Fairchild, Yreka, Cal.)
Colonel William Thompson - (From photo taken at close of Modoc War)

Foreword

So rapidly is the Far West changing character, our pioneers should feel in duty bound to preserve all they can of its early history. Many of them are giving relics of frontier days to museums and historical societies. And they do well. Yet such collections are unfortunately accessible to only the few. Hence they do better who preserve the living narratives of their times. For however unpretentious from the cold aspect of literary art, these narratives breathe of courage and fortitude amid hardships and perils, and tell as nothing else can of the hopes and dreams of the hardy pathfinders, and of the compensations and pleasures found in their sacrifices.

It is with this end in view, to preserve the life of the old days in its many colors, that these recollections are penned. There was more to this life than has been touched by the parlor romancers or makers of moving-picture films. Perhaps some day these memories may serve to illumine the historian delving in the human records of the past. And perhaps, also, and this is the author's dearest wish, they may inspire young readers to hold to the hardy traditions of the 'Fifties and to keep this spirit alive in a country destined soon to be densely peopled with newcomers from the long-settled parts of the world.

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Reminiscences of a Pioneer By Colonel William Thompson Editor Alturas, Cal., Plaindealer San Francisco 1912 Contents Chapter I Farewell to the Old Southern Home II First Winter in the Willamette Valley III Indian Outbreak of 1855 IV In Which Various Experiences Are Discussed V Taking Revenge on Marauding Snakes VI One Bad Tale From Canyon City History VII Col. Thompson's First Newspaper Venture VIII History of the Modoc Indians IX The Ben Wright Massacre X Treaty With the Modocs Made XI Battle in the Lava Beds XII The Peace Commission's Work XIII Three Days Battle In the Lava Beds XIV Trailing the Fugitives XV The Great Bannock War XVI Snake Uprising in Eastern Oregon XVII Bannocks Double on Their Tracks XVIII Another Attack That Miscarried XIX Reign of the Vigilantes XX Passing of the Mogans XXI The Lookout Lynching Illustrations Colonel William Thompson - (From photo taken at close of Bannock War) Typical Scene in the Lava Beds Runway and Fort in Lava Beds Captain Jack's Cave in the Lava Beds Captain Jack - (From photo belonging to Jas. D. Fairchild, Yreka, Cal.) Colonel William Thompson - (From photo taken at close of Modoc War) Foreword So rapidly is the Far West changing character, our pioneers should feel in duty bound to preserve all they can of its early history. Many of them are giving relics of frontier days to museums and historical societies. And they do well. Yet such collections are unfortunately accessible to only the few. Hence they do better who preserve the living narratives of their times. For however unpretentious from the cold aspect of literary art, these narratives breathe of courage and fortitude amid hardships and perils, and tell as nothing else can of the hopes and dreams of the hardy pathfinders, and of the compensations and pleasures found in their sacrifices. It is with this end in view, to preserve the life of the old days in its many colors, that these recollections are penned. There was more to this life than has been touched by the parlor romancers or makers of moving-picture films. Perhaps some day these memories may serve to illumine the historian delving in the human records of the past. And perhaps, also, and this is the author's dearest wish, they may inspire young readers to hold to the hardy traditions of the 'Fifties and to keep this spirit alive in a country destined soon to be densely peopled with newcomers from the long-settled parts of the world.