TilE TAn L E HOC K "E\l. SLE1TER OF THE SOUTHEr;:" OREGO!'>. HISTORICAL SOCIETl'

PUBL J S"ED r" O�:T>1LY FO" r-'.="BERS OF THE SOC I ETY

:�::!� � Joseph who w m . T' t b either of them came �:to the west , served with: distinction in the Mexican War . Preside:nt Polk appointed :::him first: Governor of the Oregon Terr::e.itory , and he arrived in Oregon City in 1849::. He served in this position for a year when he was elected to Congress . In 1859 when Oregon became a state, he was elected first state senator (1859-61) and in 1860 he was the Democratic candidate for United States Vice-President , running with Breckenridge . He became a hero in the Rogue River Indian Wars (1851-1853) and was greatly respected by the Indians . His brilliant career ended shortly after his unsuccessful vice-presidential campaign because of his pro­ slavery attitude and his strong Southern sympathy . He never again held pub lic office. He settled with his family on a claim in the Umpqua valley in 1853 and Lane county is named for him . He died in 1881.

�I======THE:::::::::::: SOUT=:::::::=::::::'HERN OREGON� HIST:::::==:::ORICAL:=:::=:=:::::===== SOCIETY =!= � OfficerRichs ardof the Orr Board ...... of ...... Tr ustees ...... President Librarian/Archivist ...... Kathleen Leary Robert Butler ...... First Vice President Oral Historian ...... Marjorie Edens Vicki Bryden ...... Second Vice President Newletter Editor/Writer ...... Raymond Lewis Laurel Prairie-Kuntz ...... Secretary Curator of Collections ...... Marc Pence Mark Merriman ...... Treasurer Membership Recorder/Bookkeeper ...... Maureen Smith Curator of Exhibits ...... Jime Matoush Curator of Photography ...... Douglas Smith StaffExecutive Director ...... Te lephone: Ni 899-1ck Clark847 Curator of Preservation and Director of Operations ...... Sam Wegner Maintenance ...... Byron Ferrell Controller ...... Dottie Ellen Bailey Volunteer Coordinator ...... Marge Herman Curator of Interpretation ...... Dawna Curler Curator of the Sweden burg House ...... Nan Hannon

2 THE TA BLE ROCK SENTINEL I LI III The Opp rtunist owards the end of 1868 the first to communicate with the town . A.G.Walling , case of smallpox broke out in the in his history of southern Oregon , wrote : poorer section of Jacksonville. [Protestant ] ministers fled in af­ The doctor , who was summoned to attend a fright from paths of duty , but in smaTll child suffering from high fever , the darkest hours the Catholic priest violent aching and eruptions , diagnosed who himself had experienced the dis­ the disease as chicken pox . Before the ease, together with the Catholic sis­ mistake was discovered , the dreaded plague terhood [two nuns who had either had swept through the town . In terror of been vaccinated or had had small pox] , contagion , few citizens could be found to rendered valuable assistance. The tend those stricken with the pestilence. contagion was not confined to any Even family memb ers moved away from home particular class . The widow of John and , for the most part , only the sis ters Love (Table Rock Sentinel� Vol .I, No .9), from the convent dared approach the sick a lady of refinement and culture, was bed and offer what care and comfort they attacked , and with her youngest child could . Too late , the schools , churches was carried away . Her mother and the and public gatherings were suspended and rest of the children were in the urgent pleas for all available vaccine country and dared not approach her , were sent to neighb oring towns . For two and , when all was over , the unsightly mo nths business activity came to a virtual corpse--all that remained of human standstill . Jacksonville was quarantined beauty--was borne to the cemetery in and people from the county were forb idden

APRIL 1985 3 a rough lumber-wagon , without a single follower. Citizens feared smallpox germs contami­ nated those who breathed the same air as the victims . It was generally believed that smoke would kill the germs and purify the at­ mo sphere, and accordingly great pitch pine fires were built in the streets. People , reluctant to go home , clustered day and night around the smoky pyres wh ich cast a dismal glow through the dense smoke . Only Sargent Dunlap , the sexton, and Father Blanchet , the priest at St . Joseph 's, dared remove the corpses from deathbeds to coffins and transport them to the wagon and up the winding road to the cemetery . Their daily trip was usually made after midnight . Apparently people thought the dead were not so contagious in the dark or else it was less alarming to carry the grisly freight through town after the idlers had dispersed and gone to their beds. At the cemetery , in the somb er light of torches , the two men , and an occasional brave helper , buried the dead and the priest charitably said a few words over the new mounds. Among the victims was Wiliam Green Harrison T'Vault . He had been the first Attorney General and first Postmaster General of the old Oregon Territory , a repres entative in the Oregon State Legislature, and Speaker of the House, a lawyer, an editor, a trail blazer and a frontiersman , but when he died only Father Blanchet attended him, gave him Rhoda Boone T'Vault the last rites and helped shovel the he was born in mid�Atlantic , but one dirt into the grave over the wooden box ob ituary gives Arkansas as his first home which contained his last remains . and another source claims he was born in The editor of the Oregon Sentinel Kentucky . His death notice in a Jackson­ wrote, on February 6, 1969 : ville paper called him "a native of The last victim of small-pox among us Missouri. " It 's safer to say that he was Col. W. T'Vault , who died at llpm came from the south . on Thursday . Although [he was ] in A family descendant gives the original the fullness of old age , being 62 spelling of the name as Tevault, but he years old , [he was still energetic seems to have preferred the more awkward T'Vault. and ] it is painful to reflect that , But the spelling of the name after a busy life and prominent ser­ was not the only unusual feature connected vice , he should be struck down by so with William Green T'Vault. "From the dreadful a malady that not a single records it could be said the family was , mourner dared follow him to the grave . at the very least, unconventional. There was a continuing stream of marriages with ILLIAM GREEN T'VAULT was born in no divorces or deaths found to date , 1809. As is usual historians give assault and battery charges , and a proven several conflicting birth dates charge of adultery ." The more recent and birth places . It is reported that generations , however , were hard working

4 THE TABLE ROCK SENTINEL land owners , respected and fairly well ditions . to do ." William Green was probably a William T'Vault 's training in law had representative of the 'recent generation ." made him highly vocal , he had a way 'pith At any rate he was born and he lived words, and was obviously well educated . sixty-two years . His life before he came The leaders of the wagon train named him to Oregon is indistinct and little is chairman of the committee to draft and recorded . He practiced law in Boones­ report laws for governing the comp any ville, Illinois , and served in the legis­ during their march , and his interest in and lature of that state , and developed a knowledge of the west soon made him a strong leaning towards the Democratic well-known memb er of the party. His party . In 1820 he and Rhoda Boone Burns apparent qualities of leadership and his were joined together in the bans of mat­ easy manner were responsible for his rimony in Warrick county , Indiana . Her spontaneous election as wagonmaster of family was considerab ly more illustrious the train . Mr . Clark was made the pilot. than his ; she was a great granddaughter T'Vault, as leader , was called the of Daniel Boone , Kentucky 's famous pio­ Colonel , and he maintained the title for neer , and she found the family connection the rest of his life although his post significant enough to emphasize it in as wagonmaster was not a position he held her records . Mrs. Jane McCully , Mrs . W. throughout the trip nor was it planned J. Plymale and Mrs . R.M. McDonough , mem­ to be. The early colonizers wisely made bers of the committee who concocted her provisions for human nature by limiting obituary for the records of 'the Southern the tenure of their leaders and reserving Oregon Pioneer Association, did not fail the right to elect new ones from time to to mention that she was a direct descend­ time . The company soon became too large ant of the famous Dan'l. William Green to be managed by one person ; eventually and Rhoda T'Vault had five children , two there were one thousand people, one hun­ of whom died in infancy . There is oc­ dred wagons and two thousand head of casional mention in Oregon papers of his cattle. The train divided into four surviving offsprings : Elizabeth (Kenny) smaller groups before it left the Missouri who died in Jacksonville in 1911 , river in early spring on the long trek St .Marion, who died in Portland in 1870 across the plains . and George, who died at the age of seven­ They started with a great show of reso­ teen in Jacksonville . lution , hope and cheerfulness, but these We are not concerned with William G. emigrants were strong willed , independent­ T'Vault before 1845 ; we are interested minded folk , not slow to criticize those far more in his influence on Oregon his­ in positions of leadership . Every group , tory and the role he played in the devel­ no matter how small, has its share of opment of the west in the twenty-five members who enj oy making waves and some vigorous years he lived in Oregon. whose sharp tongues ultimately alienate them from all except their own little ith his family he joined a wagon vituperative cluster of malcontents . train in 1845 at St. Joseph , Mis­ This train was no t exempt from trivial souri . At that time gold had no t feuding . yet been discovered in Oregon , and the The four companies splintered into even hope for riches to be found in the west smaller groups , and parts of the wagon was not a factor in the earliest pioneers' train were separated by many miles and decision to leave the east. There were many days travel from the others . Having no settlers in the Rogue River valley and lost command of his people almost at the those who struck out for Oregon , for the beginning , William T'Vault was not unhappy mo st part , were seeking farm land in the to relinquish his appointment as wagon­ Willamette valley . In 1845 only a few master at Big Soldier creek, which the thousand intrepid souls had settled there travelers reached on May 13, 1845. It is and about five-hundred of these had col­ probably no great consequence that many lected in Oregon City , which showed prom­ were just as pleased to see him step down ise of becoming the capital and most im­ from his responsible but often thankless portant center of the Territory . Life office. Aside from petty squabbles , how­ there was often brutal and primal, but ever , and occasional horse-thieving In­ the emigrants were hard people, tough dians , there were no traumatic episodes and resolved to face the rigorous con- on the long stretch across the country ,

APRIL 1985 5 and at last they reassemb led , for the wagon at the head of the line had to most part still hearty and hopeful , at break trail through untamed wilderness. Fort Boise. Sometimes six yokes of oxen were re­ quired to pull each wagon up the steep t was here that they first met mountains , and the drivers often had Stephen Meek , who informed the vast to retrace their steps for a change in company that he could lead them west- course. It daily became more evident ward in an almost straight line to the that Stephen Meek had no mo re knowledge Willamette valley and save them at of the country than the travelers , and least forty days ' travel. Many of the like them, he was seeing it for the first emigrants paid little attention to time . Meek's claim , preferring to plod along Sometimes the canyon walls were so over an established route to The Dalles steep , wagoners had to make their way on the Columb ia River . This road was up the rocky riverbeds , with the churn­ known to be extremely dangerous and ing water swirling above the axles . rigorous , but there were charted water Occas ionally when they left the lowlands stops and plenty of grass and they pre­ they could find no water for the stock ferred to play it safe. and often none for themselves . Fre­ quently several days passed before they came to a spring or found a small trickle in an almost-dry creek. The wishful thought that the trail must eventually improve and that the tortuous route would become easier kept them plodding forward, and they jounced and jolted over the almost impassable terrain , skirting Castle Rock , crossing and recrossing the Malheur river and passing Harney Lake. At last they reached Wagontire Mountain where they found a little supply of water which they care­ fully rationed . They remained there for days , forced to stay as scouts searched unsuccessfully for water as far as fifty miles away . At the beginning of the trek Stephen Meek rode back and forth from the front to the rear of the train , shouting en­ couragement with good humor and banter , but soon he met with stony resistance A brother of Joe Meek , Stephen Meek and sullen hostility . There were mur­ had a good reputation and spoke with murs and threats of lynching , and only great assurance. For a fee, he , with the knowledge that their chances of his new wife Elizabeth, would lead the surviving were better with him than with­ train and see that the tired emigrants out him kept some of the hotheaded and reached their destination weeks before rash men from action they might have the others . Ab out 250 travelers, in­ regretted . Meek found it prudent to re­ cluding the T'Vault family , agreed to main with the lead wagons and keep a join the Meek train and separated from low profile. the original company . One wonders that It was here at Wagontire Mountain that the number wasn 't greater . The assur­ Meek gave up the idea of a straight ances from a tried-and-true mountain westward course to the Willamette valley . man must have been very persuasive , and He turned the train northward , realizing the emigrants were eager to be first to that The Dalles , remote as it was , of­ reach the promised land . fered the nearest sanctuary. After They pulled out of Fort Boise and several days of idleness they pushed headed westward . From the very first the onward , fortunately finding that evenin� way was rocky , mountainous, untraveled a camp with water and grass which had and discouraging . The oxen and the been overlooked by the scouts .

6 THE TABLE ROCK SENTINEL t a spot along the trail , not far to his fishing line , using it as a weight from the Crooked River , the wagon to sink the bait . In view of the ever train stopped for the night at a present problem of no water and dry creeks , dry canyon . As usual there was no water the rumors become even more unb elievable to be found in the camp , and the captain and few people could be so ignorant as ordered all the young men to take pails to use fifty dollar nuggets as sinkers . and shovels and try to find wa ter . One In another version of the tale, two memb er of the company , Herren , accom­ blue buckets were left at the place to panied by two others , took picks and mark the location for future digging , shovels and set off down a dry arroyo . and the lost treasure spot became the They carried with them a wooden bucket legendary Blue Bucket Mine . Over the wh ich had been painted blue . At a spot years since then practically every inch of in the rocky creek bed , Herren detected the Crooked River country has been a little stagnant water and began dig­ searched by gold miners , hoping to un­ ging. In the first spadefuls of dirt he earth the rich lode , and diaries of the unearthed a couple of large nuggets . memb ers of the unfortunate Meek train The bright color intrigued him, and he have been studied minutely for hidden picked up the stones for closer investi­ clues to the whereabouts of the fabulous gation , and showed them to his compan­ find . Prospectors are searching today , ions . Gold was the last thing they ex­ and though the fortune has consistantly pected to see , and the possibility of a eluded the seekers , the story persists . gold strike was not even considered . One of the fellows decided they were he constant struggle to survive and pieces of brass and Herren dropped them the suttering from thirst at last in to his pocket and continued his search began to weigh heavily on the for water . There was no depth to the animals and the people. Many oxen , too mo isture "and the men soon gave up the weak to continue , were abandoned and an search and returned to the wagons where increasing nunb er of people , particularly they were informed that others had found women and children , died from sickness water closer to the camp . and deprivation . Resentment against Meek Later in the evening, Herren , pretty was possibly the goad which spurred them sure he had picked up gold , showed his on . A memb er of the train , Jesse Harrit , two nuggets to others in his party . in his diary , wrote: One of the men said that if it was gold, Some in the company has been without it would be malleable . They accordingly bread fore 15 days and has had to took a hammer and hammered each piece on live on pore beef without any thing a wagon tire into a flat disk. Herren else. I will just say pen and ton [gue ] indifferently put the two pieces of will both fall short when they gow to metal into a drawer of his tool chest tell the suffering the company went and forgot about it . through . Not until several years later did he Jack Sutton , a more recent Jacksonville recall the nuggets which had long since historian who researched the Meek party , disappeared from his tool chest . In all wrote : probability Herren found the first gold The hardships of the trail had frayed to be discovered west of the Rocky moun­ the nerves of the pioneers to the tains . His discovery pre-dated by three breaking point and several wagons years the finding of gold in California . were drawn up in a circle , with a The legend grew . The story declared hanging noose dangling from the up­ that Herren 's two youngsters, who had raised wagon tongues . Only the quick tagged along on the futile search for action and oratory of William Gr een water, had discovered many brilliant T'Vault and John Waymire saved Meek nuggets and colors in a mound of fresh from being the principal guest of earth thrown up by a gopher . They had an impromptu "necktie party." filled the blue bucket with gold . The This is no doubt fiction , but when the my th becomes unbelievable when it is party was about five days from The Dalles , embroidered with more ridiculous detail . Stephen Meek was given word that one of William T'Vault , happening upon the the men , whose two sons had died on the strange, yellow metal , was impressed with way , had taken an oath he would kill him its heaviness and craftily attached it before sundown . Meek did not doubt the

APRIL 1985 7 earnestness of the threat . He and his should have to give bed and board to an wife Elizabeth at once left the train . abusive wife and share her favors with A diarist reported : "[The M.eeks went] the hired help when he could get rid of to some Indians nearby and told them to her through the courts . T'Vault did not put them over the river [the Deschutes] lack clients . He soon became the first at all hazards. Several of us who were Prosecuting Attorney for Clackamas anxious to see his escape effected , fol­ county , and his legal practice led into lowed to witness his departure ." politics . In his first year in the west At last the sorry remn ants of the wagon he was elected to the second session of train dragged into The Dalles . Many the provisional legislature . His re­ memb ers were too sick to recover in cord was impressive . He was appointed spite of the food and care available at to the committee of rules and became a the mission . At least twenty-four had court attendant , waiting on Governor died on the way and a like numb er died Ab ernathy . He served on three commit­ after they reached the Columb ia river. tees : the judiciary, post ofices and Stephen Meek's "shorter , safer route" education . In a second term he was had taken forty more days than the tedi­ appointed clerk of the house at a salary ous regular route. of $100 and duties of the clerkship pre­ It was late in the season and almost vented his serving on other commit tees . into winter but as the sufferers regained He did come out in favor of legislative their strength and the supplies were re­ control of ardent spirits, and made stocked , the survivors joined other pass­ speeches advocating prohibition at tem­ ing trains and eventually made their way perance meetings . Presenting such a to the Willamette valley . platform was a neat trick for T'Vault who was known to be a periodic drunk . illiam Green T'Vault never suf­ He was willing to take a stand for tem­ fered from a modesty complex ; perance because it was a popular issue , he was generally found in the and he may have felt it would be easier front ranks of any activity , and was un­ to swear off the Demon Rum if it was willing to be relegated to the back­ outlawed . No matter how his stand is ground . He and his family had come analyzed , his position appears a little through the Meek's Train ordeal in far sly and deceitful, but politics makes better order than many of their fellow strange bedfellows . travelers and required no delaying On June 15 , 1846 , the Oregon Treaty period for recuperation . The Willamette between the United States and Britain valley was a fledging territory and had set Oregon 's northern boundary at Oregon City , a trading post of the Hud­ the 49th parallel. Before that agreement son's Bay Company , was already a growing the pioneers didn 't know if they 'd even­ community who welcomed new leaders and tually be British or Americans , and the legislators and lawyers . As a new arri­ settlement of the dispute was cause for val, T'Vault wasted no time in indecision. celebration because the emigrants from He was admitted to the Oregon (territory) the states had hoped to retain their bar and began his practice in 1846, be­ American citizenship . The year 1846 fore a year had passed . was accordingly a significant one for Surprisingly most of his professional both the Oregon Territory and William suits were divorce cases even though a T'Vault . divorcee in that age automatically The Oregon Printing Association had stepped down several rungs on the social been formed in 1845 for the establish­ ladder . But as few society leaders had ment of a newspaper. There was need for crossed the plains to settle on the official publication of the corporate frontier, the little lady who had just acts of the new American territory , and shed a philanderer or the town tosspot the directors had resolved to establish had to relinquish few elegant cotillions the Oregon Spectator . Col . W.G. T'Vault and smart levees . Evidently pioneer was named president of the association women had developed a spirit of independ­ and several outs tanding men became of­ ence while crossing the desolate plains ficers : J.W. Nesmith, vice-president ; and preferred being considered a bit of John P. Brooks , secretary ; George Ab er­ a wanton than a household drudge. On the nathy , treasurer ; Robert Newell , John other hand no gentle and faithful husband E. Long and John H. Couch , directors .

8 THE TABLE ROCK SENTINEL T'Vault, in addition to his other en­ appointment was ten per cent of the deavors at the time , was also Postmaster total money handled . Although postal General of the Oregon Territory , ap­ rates were high for the time--50¢ per pointed by the Provisional Governor , single sheet from Missouri via pony ex­ George Ab ernathy . Th� duties of this press to any Oregon postoffice--he was position were not so strenuous they unab le to maintain service. His commis­ precluded any other activity , and T 'Vault, sions and his allowance of $50 a year with little , if any , previous newspaper did not cover operating expenses and he experience, applied for the position as stopped the mail service at the end of editor. H.A.G. Lee , a Virginian of good the third quarter. The Federal govern­ education, a former speaker of the house ment then assumed respon sibil ity for in Oregon 's Provisional legislature, was mail delivery . But he was Oregon 's looked upon with favor by the directors, first Postmaster General , and being the but he asked for $600 a year . T'Vault, first of anything is of historical con­ who requested a compensation of $300, sequence. was given the position , making him In 1847 T'Vault successfully campaigned editor of Oregon 's first newspaper , the for Clackamas County Legislature Repre­ Sp ectator� which at the height of its sentative to the second Oregon Pro­ popularity had a subscription list of visional Legislature . H.l.s opponent was 155 readers . His term of editorship was Editor Lee of the flagging Spectator , ex tremely short-lived ; the first edi­ who had held the political office in torial appeared on February 5, 1847 , and the first legislature . Colonel T'Vault the last on Ap ril 2, 1847 , a total of noted in his victory speech that he had five issues in a period of eight weeks . gained considerable satisfaction in The directors of the Oregon Printing "whupping him out." When he was not Association had decreed that the paper serving as representative he continued mu st remain totally obj ective in its his legal practice, having entered into reporting and must not express any poli­ a partnership with Samuel R. Thurston , tical preferences . T'Vault in his salu­ certainly an unsavory choice for an tatory in the first issue announced that associate . he was an advocate of Jeffersonian demo­ cracy , and in following issues he was bout this time Dr . John McLoughlin unable to keep his political inclinations severed his connections with the from showing. For his fifth issue he Hudson 's Bay Company and moved to ,vrote a laudatory obituary for Andrew Oregon City . He had previously prepared Jackson . It was his swansong . Praise Aa home there and he brought his wife and for Jackson , his faulty sentence con­ family with him, having made up his mind struction , his imaginative spelling, to renounce his British citizenship and his failure to present each side of an become an American citizen. (His first issue and his disagreements with the papers were granted in 1851.) But he board brought about his dismissal. His soon discovered the change in citizen­ competitor , Mr . Lee , accepted editorship ship could not be effected until the and was apparently more willing to con­ jurisdiction of the United States was form to the restrictions . Sensitivity extended to include the Oregon territory . and discriminating literary taste have As a British subject he was not per­ never been ascribed to the early Oregon­ mitted to make a land claim , and the ians . Although the Board of Directors government , as it sometimes does , found T'Vault 's syntax sadly lacking , dragged its feet while American settlers the public was less demanding and Mr . staked out the most desirable land . Lee 's fastidiousness as an editor re­ Congress delayed the action until 1851, sulted in the circulation 's dropping to and when the sovereignty of the United 100 . States was extended over Oregon , the About the same time T'Vault gave up settlers clamored for confirmation of the postmaster generalship . During its the titles to their land claims . The first year of operation , his system had Hudson 's Bay Company was in possession delivered mail by pony express and mail of vast tracks of great value , the boats . It was his duty to pay the riders British continued to occupy them and the and the pilots , and it had not been a land issue became a political issue. lucrative enterprise. His salary in this Dr. McLoughlin sought out William

APRIL 1985 9 T'Vau1t and Samuel Thurston to represent him in his claim. Thurston was a schemer and a patently dishonest poli­ tician but he had become a delegate to Congress. He and T'Vau1t accepted Dr . McLoughlin 's case and agreed to defend his claim. McLoughlin accepted their word in good faith, but it soon devel­ oped that Thurston had entered into a conspiracy to deprive him of his land claim in Oregon City . T'Vau1t, working on his own , appears to have had other plans to defraud him. Under the "Squaw clause" of the Donation Land Claim Ac t of 1850, a wife was entitled to her 320 acres and by some trick William T'Vau1t , with McLoughlin 's written consent and a re-working of the Squaw clause, would file a claim on half of the land and simply hold it for him until he became a citizen. Jesse Applegate, a famous frontiersman , heard of T'Vau1t 's scheme and realized it had a distinctly fishy T'Vau1t was "bent on annexing half of odor. He at once counselled Dr. McLough­ McLoughlin 's land for himself ." There lin to dismiss his legal advisers . is , however, no evidence that T'Vau1t William T'Vau1t , to his credit , broke was ever successful in any chicanery off his partnership with Thurston . But concerning the benevolent Dr . McLoughlin . Thurston was not so easily dissuaded Earlier McLoughlin had withdrawn from from his corrupt scheming. He sent his the British who claimed the Oregon ter­ co-delegates in Congress letters full ritory , and lent his support and encour­ of misrepresentation and gross dis­ agement to the Americans whom he admired . tortion of facts , accusing McLoughlin His associates said he had "taken into of dishonesty , plotting against the his bosom a viper which when warmed into government and plundering the Oregon life would turn and sting him to death." territory. The evil intrigue was With thanks to Samuel Thurston--and pos­ eventually revealed and McLoughlin 's sibly William T'Vau1t--the prophesy was supporters rallied to the cause and realized . challenged Thurston and his recruits . While living in Oregon City , William But in that era , early in Oregon 's T'Vau1t became deeply conscious of his history , messages and communications sinful nature , and sought out Reverend to and from the east took intermina1 George Gary III for counsel . He con­ intervals . When the truth was revealed , fessed to being an adulterer , a gambler , an unfortunate decision had already a hard drinker and a scoundrel . His been made and Dr . McLoughlin lost list of transgressions is nothing out most of his land . Before the miscar­ of the ordinary so it 's pretty safe to riage of justice could be rectified , bet he 'd forgotten or intentionally left both Samuel Thurston and Dr. McLough­ out a few. He began attending prayer lin had died . The unfortunate deci­ meetings and for a period of several sion by Congress made the last few months in the first half of 1847 he was years of Dr. McLoughlin 's life bit­ a faithful member. The Reverend Gary terly unhappy , and the injustice re­ was certain T'Vau1t would be an ardent mained tragically unsettled until convert and take up a life of Christian after his death . William T'Vau1t must service and dedication . But without be considered guilty by association . notice he cancelled his church member­ The actual extent of his machinations ship and gave no explanation for his have not been revealed , but a report sudden defection . At the same time he in the archives of the Oregon Histori­ took his name from the roll of attorneys cal Association , made by Jesse Apple­ in the Supreme Court, giving his· reason gate to Judge Deady , alleged that as extreme dissatisfaction with a

10 THE TABLE ROCK SENTINEL decision made by Judge Thornton . The illiam T'Vault, who by this judge was also a memb er of Reverend time was an acknowledged fron­ Gary 's congregation and it is likely tiersman and trail blazer , that T'Vault decided he'd not join any caWpable of survlvlng in the wilderness association that would have the judge and a natural leader of men , contracted as a member . to lead a survey party in finding an overland route from Port Orford to the eneral Joseph Lane , the territorial mines in northern California . A pre­ governor , decided to try his hand vious effort , made in June 1851 , by at mining for gold in northern Captain William Tichenor, who was look­ California, and he invited William ing for a mail and supply route to the GT'Vault to join him in his venture. interior valleys and the mines , had With a party of fifteen white men and ended in failure because of hostile fourteen Klickitat Indians , the group Indians . left Oregon City in May 1850. On their In the early fall T'Vault set out from way Lane planned to make a treaty with Port Orford with a company of men on the Takelmas in southern Oregon. Fre­ horseback and a train of pack animals . quently travelers who passed through Relying completely on his own resources that area had been attacked and their for the first time , T'Vault struck out horses had been taken . The peace par­ in a senseless manner . Paying no atten­ ley took place near the mouth of Bear tion to mountain ridges and the natural Creek and after successfully--tempo­ direction of streams , he led his men to rarily--comp leting negotiations , the a mountain top , plunged over the crest Lane and T'Vault party moved south to and down the slope to the bottom and back the Klamath River where they panned up the next elevation , slashing through . for gold with only moderate success and the heavy underbrush with no consistent T'Vault soon returned to Oregon City . pattern . Following the rapid pace set by Colonel T'Vault , the men were unable pon his return to the Willamette to charter their steps . In the confusion valley , he was hired by Maj or Phil their supplies were lost, they became Kearney , who had been ordered to hungry and rebellious , and constantly move his troops of mounted riflemen faced the peril of unfriendly Indians . Ufrom Fort Vancouver to Missouri by way Eventually the men rebelled . They in­ of Fort Benicia , California . William formed T'Vault that they were abandoning T'Vault , who had recently traveled over the assignment--and their know-it-all at least half of the journey , felt he leader . They would return to Port Orford was an experienced guide, and accepted and he could look after himself . He had the post. When they reached the Rogue got into this unchartered forest, he could River valley , they discovered the find his own way out . It is evident that Indians had failed to keep the treaty the colonel had been nagged by some self they had made with General Lane , and doubt and had been far from happy with had become so bold they made threats the developments . He was distinctly against the Kearney-T ' Vault party . emotional about the whole unsuccessful Kearny divided his men into two groups, undertaking and sank down upon a log and surprising the Indians with simulta­ sobbed uncontrollably . Half of the men , neous attacks from two sides . The In­ untouched by the colonel 's unmanly tears , dians fled in confusion, but soon ral­ departed the spot without a backward lied and repelled three attacks made glance. In due time they made their way by Kearney 's men . After four days of safely back to Port Orford . But Cyrus fighting T 'Vault and Kearney realized Hedden , one of the men who remained , de­ further battle with the Takelmas was clared he would die rather than abandon futile and , upon Governor Gains ' arri­ a bleep-bleep coward and persuaded nine val in southern Oregon in an effort to others to continue with the original plan make peace , Kearney and T'Vault con­ and make their way out of the predicament tinued on to Fort Benicia , after which together . T'Vault , grateful for their T'Vault returned safely to Oregon City loyalty , promised them a bonus . with no difficulty on the return trip They were near the Rogue River and from the unpredictable Takelmas . T'Vault believe he could strike the old � Hudson 's Bay trail that actually lay many

APRIL 1985 II miles to the east, but, bewildered and the Indian boy who had guided them from uncertain , he led the men almost directly the mountainside. When the young brave north and they became helplessly lost . was close enough to Brush's attacker , Subsisting on roots and berries and he knocked him over the side of the whatever game they could bag , they made canoe with his paddle , helped the badly exceedingly slow progress. Eventually wounded Brush into his canoe , and then the undergrowth became so thick the headed for the opposite shore . Picking horses could no longer make their way up T'Vault , he handed him the paddle, through and they were left behind . jumped over the side and swam back to In this almost impenetrable thicket of the village . T'Vault rowed rapidly to bracken and brushwood they came upon a the far side of the river unnoticed by friendly Indian boy . Other Indians had the others in the chaos of battle. probab ly ob served theln for several days , Near the river 's edge T'Vault and but this boy indicated he could lead Brush waded ashore , stripped off their them out of the mountains . Following wet outer clothes to allow them more him, they at last came to a river . freedom and ran into the thick under­ There the exhausted men found a couple growth. Hidden from the attacking of Indians with canoes who agreed to Indians they sank exhausted to the ground take them to the mouth of the river . and T'Vault suddenly became aware that They believed they were on the Umpqua , Brush , suffering from his wounds and but they were so confused and so dis­ shock, had lapsed into unconsciousness . oriented they were actually on the north Deciding that by staying with Brush , he fork of the Coquille, and would eventu­ would only put both of them into jeop­ ally reach Scottsburg . Several of the ardy , he left the unconscious man to men were reluctant to trust the Indians fend for himself and hit out for the but they were outnumbered and outvoted coast, where he came upon another group and all of them got into the canoes and of Indians . They were not bent on started down the river. They made rapid killing as were the others he had just progress and soon reached a spot not far left , but they did relieve him of his from the mouth of the river where there underwear and send him on his way as was an Indian settlement . bare as a Persian melon , in which state Some of the men demanded that they he arrived in Port Orford two days stop and beg for food, trusting the later . Gilbert Brush came dragging in natives would prove to be friendly . The on the third day , exhausted and weak others , unwilling to risk their lives from loss of blood but still alive . by approaching possibly treacherous T'Vault , aware that the tragic epi­ Indians , argued loudly . While they sode was clear evidence that the Co­ bickered the Indian pilots allowed the quille Indians had no intention of main­ canoes to drift towards shore and the taining friendly relations with the Coquilles , armed with clubs, paddles whites , wrote his account of the battle and knives , waded out into the water to in a report to Dr . Anson Dart, Superin­ meet them. tendent of Indian Affairs . In his let­ The men soon discovered they were sur­ ter, which appeared in the Oregon Sp ecta­ rounded and began fighting for their tor , he had understandably forgotten lives . Hundreds of Indian warriors that he had left Gilbert Brush in an un­ assailed them from every side. The at­ conscious state in extremely hostile tack was so unexpected and the confusion Indian country , and in his communica­ of yells , whoops and blows so loud that tion , has them arriving together in the men found it impossible to defend Port Orford. themselves . In thp. bat:tleat thp. Coquille village , T'Vault suddenly found himself in the from which T'Vault had escaped , five of river , and noticed that not far away the whites were beaten to death with one of his men , Gilbert Brush, was club s and paddles while three of the floundering in the water as an Indian remaining men managed to fight their in a canoe was standing over him , beat­ way to shore , where they ran for the ing him over the head with a paddle. woods and eventually eluded their pur­ The water about him was red with blood . suers . These men were L.L. Williams , As T'Vault watched he saw a canoe a pioneer who later moved to Ashland , pushed away from shore and in it stood Cyrus Hedden , T'Vault 's defender on the

12 mountain , and T.J. Davenport from Massa­ Instead of running, I stood firm, and chusetts . They made their way , battered the Indian with the rifle also met me and famished , to the white settlement at with it drawn by the breech. The criti­ the mouth of the Umpqua . The murdered cal moment of the whole affair had ar­ men were Patrick Murphy , A.S.Dougherty , rived , and I knew it must be the final John P. Ho lland , Jeremiah Ryland , and struggle . My first two or three blows J.P. Pepper . failed utterly , and I received some severe bruises ; but fortune was on my he story of L.L. Williams ' escape side , and a lucky blow given with un­ appeared in Indian Wars in Oregon� usual force fell upon my antagonist , a book published in 1890. killing him almost instantly . I seized TWilliams was attacked as he stepped the gun , a sharp report followed and I ashore by two powerful savages , who en­ had the satisfaction of seeing my re­ deavored to seize his rifle. This being maining pursuer stagger and fall dead ." accidentally discharged frightened them Williams then , expecting to die , lay away for a moment , giving him an oppor­ down in the woods, but was discovered tunity to attempt to force his way by Hedden , who was uninj ured , and who, through the swarm of dusky demons who with the assistance of some friendly sought to arrest his flight or to pos­ Umpquas brought him in six days to the sess themselves of his gun . What with Umpqua river , where the brig� Almira� this attempt, and having to use it as a Captain Gibbs , was lying , which took club , there was soon nothing left of it the refugees to Gardiner . The wound in but the naked barrel . But he was young, Williams ' abdomen discharged for a year ; strong and fleet of foot , and though but it was four years before the arrow­ once felled to the ground , succeeded in head worked out , and seven years before fighting himself free from the crowd and the broken shaft was expelled . escaping towards the forest. As he ran across the open ground , an arrow struck Still certain that Port Orford would him in the left side below the ribs , be the Oregon gateway to the mines in penetrating the abdomen and bringing him northern California , Colonel T'Vault to a sudden stop. Finding that he could returned to Oregon City to purchase not take a step , he quickly drew out the merchandise and stock which he intended shaft, which broke off , one joint of its to ship to the coastal outpost where he length with the barb being left in his had decided to establish a general store body . In his excitement he was uncon­ and trading post . He instructed his scious of any pain , and ran on with , for family to pack their belongings and pre­ a while , a dozen Indians in pursuit , the pare for the move , and arrangements were numb er finally dwindling down to two , who nearly complete when word reached the took turns in shooting arrows at him. Willamette valley that John Pool and Being in despair of escaping and irri­ Jim Cluggage had discovered gold in tated by their persistance, he turned southern Oregon . pursuer , but when he ran after one , the T'Vault was always eager to be the other shot at him from behind . At this first man on any proj ect, and it was critical moment the suspenders of his certain that the general exodus to the pantaloons gave way , letting them fall Rogue River valley would have William about his feet , compelling him to stop to T'Vault in the front ranks . His family kick them off. At the same time his eyes had already packed their worldly pos­ and mouth were filled with blood from a sessions and they could go in one direc­ wound on his head ; and , as blind and de­ tion as well as another , so he cancelled spairing , he turned toward the forest, his orders for stock and supplies , de­ he fell headlong. This was a signal for posited his family in the wagon , hitched his pursuers to rush upon him . In the up the team and headed for the Rich Gulch hands of the foremost one was a gun which country . he attempted to fire, and failed . Says It was early in January , 1852. Williams in his narrative : "The sickening sensations of the last half hour were at Co lonel Wi lliam T'Vault 's adv entures once dispelled when I realized that the in southern Oregon� where he became a gun had refused to fire . I was on my first citizen� will appear in the next feet in a moment , rifle barrel in hand . issue of the Table Rock Sentinel .

1 3 e ust about every public school 8djour­ itAsoltiat the Bible says : "C ain went out from nalism student knows that editorials the presence of the Lord and dwelt in are supposed to do one--or more--of the land of Nod , on the east of Eden," four things : teach , attack , defend , therefore the Garden of Eden must have praise. The student knows also that been the Rogue River valley , which con­ the editorial writer is expressing his firms an old suspicion . It still pre­ own viewpoint , which may or may not serves many of the characteristics of present the policy of the paper , and paradise, notwithstanding the ravages that it is his responsibility to write of time . it . The reader may disagree with the As Eden was famous for its apples of conviction expressed in the editorial , old , so is the Rogue River valley famous he may write a letter to the editor to for its apples today and no one can challenge it, but he must not question blame Adam for falling when tempted by the editor's right to say it . The edi­ a Rogue River Spitzenburg in the hand torial viewpoint may not embrace the of Eve . winning cause and his endorsement of a Adam knew a good thing when he saw it-­ political candidate may be the kiss of as did the angel of the Lord when he death but , by George, he has the right selected this section as the mo st per­ to say it . fect on earth and established Paradise . If one disagrees too vehemently , he One thing is certain , of all the sites may buy a defunct printing press, ap­ suggested for Paradise, none mo re com­ point himself editor and editorialize pletely fills the bill than our pic tur­ through the entire sheet.. He must, how­ esque and pleasing valley , where "every ever , be prepared to be attacked just prospect pleases and man alone is vile." as he attacked , and , like T'Vault 's suc­ George Putnam cessor at the Oregon Sp ectator , to face The fo llowing editorial--an attack-� sagging subscription lists . puts the screws to the city council to In researching old newspapers for spruce up Medford 's parking lot. If you facts about early southern Oregon resi­ think the shortage of downtown parking dents , one often comes upon an editorial and the dented fenders and crump led bum­ designed for the time , but which also pers at a shopping center lot are cause has a current interest. One item by for comp laint� you should have experi­ itself is somewhat insignificant, but a enced the Riverside Avenue hitching post. small collection of pertinent editorials may be of interest. (O(,0)®)Oj The first of these comes under the @) 2 (0 Mail Tribune� February 23, 1911 category� praise. Since it was written) the Garden of Eden has lost some of its PUBLIC HITCHING RACKS NEEDED luster� but under the smog and the com­ the farmer , fruitgrower and out­ pulsive daily struggle� a place suspi­ side residents, Medford 's greatest ciously like a suburb of Paradise may be f!J�defic iency is a public hitching rack detected. where teams can be left without resort- ing to livery stables . The city 's lot on Riverside avenue is now used for this purpose . It is entirely Medford Mai l Tribune� February 6, 1913 inadequate, mire , a foot deep or more in depth , covers the surface. It does not GARDEN OF EDEN begin to be large enough . rofessor Charles Hallock , archeo­ If use of this lot is contained , it logist , asserts that Cain , son of should be macadamized so that a farmer f!} Adam , established the first city will not go over his shoe tops and a in America at Klamath, Oregon , and that horse over his ankles in the mud ..•This it was called Enoch. North America is is a subj ect of vital interest to the asserted to be the biblical land of Nod . country dweller , and it is up to the

14 THE TABLE ROCK SENTINEL city council and the merchants ' associa­ tion to see that this needed convenience is provided. G.P. If the constable pinches a modish mem­ ber of the fa ir sex and absconds with her mil linery when fashion has dictated that she wear an endangered species on her head� just what 's a poor girl to do ?

Me dford Mai l Trirr�bune� February 16 ,1911 UNLAWFUL MILLINERY eizure at Portland of millinery streets , and each year will see a demand containing plumage of Chinese for more crossings. Every one of them will jfpheasants has called attention to be a menace to life and expensive to the violation of the law by many women maintain while if the tracks were placed of Medford who adorn their headgear along Bear creek , all crossings would be with the feathers of this unlawfully by bridges and endanger no one . slaughtered game bird. ..It is all right for a railroad to The law not only forbids killing of split a country village into two sections pheasants in Jackson county , but also but it is not right that a city furnish­ the wearing of the plumage of the bird . ing so large amount of traffic be so ham­ The law: "Any person who shall have pered in its upbui1ding . G.P. in their possessions the feathers , car­ Shortly after the turn of the century cass or any portion of any dead ring­ the local editors became a little leery necked or Chinese pheasant shall be about the greatheartedness of Andrew deemed gui1ty ."... The fine is not less Carnegie . Could municipalities which ac­ than $25 or more than $150. G.P. cepted gifts fr om him be aiding and abet­ Trouble with the location of the rai l­ ting in salvaging his self-image and road? shuckir� his reputation as a nogoodnik? Why not put it on a sturdy elevation� held aloft over the pedestrians by huge concrete columns� and run it through town along Bear Creek? It will greatly beautify the city and produce a shady refuge along the limpid stream during Democratic Times� May 27 , 1903. sweltering days . iscussing the benefactions of Andrew Carnegie , the Oregonian says that 9J)"gifts of libraries to cities and towns which are able to support them­ selves nourishes a spirit that is destruc­ Medford Tribune��'c4� February 19 , 1911 . tive of protective pride and dignity ." The town of Saugus , Mass ., has refused he disgraceful condition of the to accept a Carnegie gift saying that it �Southern Pacific right of way will continue to pay for its own library ()� through Medford is an argument for as for its streets and other public in­ �the removal of the tracks to Bear Creek. stitutions . The people of Stoneham, in ••Pi1es of lumber , tiers of cordwood , the same state , have accepted $15,000 movable lunch wagons , junk piles , de­ from Mr . Carnegie for a library building ; bris of all kinds , bill-boards, collap­ but only after a close vote. A numb er of sing and flimsily constructed shacks the leading citizens of the town protested and warehouses make this stretch of against the evil consequences of depending the most va1uab:1e business property in upon the benefact ions of rich men saying the city an eyesore to the community . that "a community no more than an indi­ ..•Within a year or two crossings will vidual can indulge in begging." have to be made at Sixth and at Ninth CHARLES NICKELL

APRIL 1985 15 Maybe Saugus> Mass.> could afford to be good business judgment . There ought to choosy but by January> 1911> in Medford> be plenty of sites available for library the fat was in the fire. A gift was a purposes that can be obtained at a gift. If the money was a tittle tainted> reasonab le figure if not offered free. the donees could turn their noses away The Carnegie library doesn't appeal from the wind. After all> the board of very strongly to the Mai l Tribune . It directors were leading citizens and were has no admiration for Andrew Carnegie certainly not responsible if the odor and does not think much of the city 's offended a small number of overdiscrimi­ cooperating with him to erect a monument nating citizens . to keep his name green for futurity--and that is all it amounts to . Medford is abundantly ab le to build its own library building , when needed . Carnegie , whose self-satisfied smirk Medford Tribune>r1� January 12 , 1911. is in every magazine , made his money by exploiting the public . He corrupted the LIBRARY BOARD ASKS CARNEGIE FOR $20,000 government to secure millions by means Requesting a sum of $20,000 with which of an unj ust and oppressive tariff that to erect a public library here , the li­ pauperized the many to enrich the few. brary board of the city of Medford has He swindled it selling armor for battle­ written to Andrew Carnegie , the Pitts­ ships. No slave-owner in history ever burg ironmaster . The communication sets treated his workmen more like chattels forth the recent action of the city than this self-styled benefactor of council in including in the levy an humanity . When they could bear it no assessment equal to about $20,000 per longer and struck , this guardian angel annum for the maintenance of such an of peace had them shot down like beasts institution and outlines a method by and imported the peasant hordes of cen­ means of private subscriptions , enter­ tral Europe to take their places . tainments , etc . Tainted money can build libraries so The present plans of the board which that the babes of the future can lisp is composed of Mayor W.H. Canon , Mrs . his name , but not all his millions can Porter J. Neff , Mrs. B.P. Theiss, Mrs . buy Carnegie the homa�e or respect of ' F.E. Merrick, Mrs . F.W. Hollis and the discerning . GEORGE PUTNAM Messrs W.I. Vawter , John R. Allen , J.E. The city paid little attention to the Watt and Ed Andrews , is to build a li­ editor 's nagging . The planners and the brary in the space in the city park board> who were making this generous gift formerly occupied by the water tower . to southern Oregon> apparently brushed GEORGE PUTNAM him off easily . Giants are always picked Unfortunately the few fastidious ob­ at by gnats . Mr . Putnam realized he had jectors included the editor. He did not embraced a futile cause> but he couldn 't hesitate to express his opinion> and he resist one final dart. In 1911 there had facts to support his attack> but his were few preservationists . Medford had was really only a voice crying in the been in existence less than thirty years wi lderness. and> ye gods> what was so sacred about a tree? You could grow another one in a hundred years .

Medford Mail Tribune> March 16 , 1911. m LOCATING THE CARNEGIE LIBRARY Medford Mai l Tribune> Septemb er 7, 1911. t is hoped that the Carnegie library TREE IN PARK IS CUT ; NO EXCUSE OFFERED will not be located on the block #owned by the city between city park hoever staked out the site of the and the Washington school. [It is .]..• Carnegie library building in the The Carnegie library building will cost OJr city park is guilty of gross care­ $20,000. To spoil a $100, 000 location lessness . by a dinky $20 ,000 structure is not With plenty of room to avoid doing so ,

16 THE TABLE ROCK SENTINEL the building was placed where it was necessary to cut down one of the largest oaks in the park. The beauty of the city park depends entirely upon the trees therein . The of­ fense was agumented by the fact that the LIBRARY BOARD FILES ITS REPORT tree is one planted by the hand of nature The city library board filled the follow� and not by the hand of man . It ha d stood ing annual report with the city council there for years and had attained a splen­ Tuesday evening . did growth , the trunk being about two feet in diameter . Number of books .•..•..•.•.•••..• 1926

There is no excuse tenable for the cut­ Number of patrons .•.•.••.•••.•.. 1814 ting of the tree . By moving the building Number of out-of-city patrons.... 29 only five or ten feet towards the street Circulation of books •••.•.••••••. 9684 the tree could have been saved . G.P. RECEIPTS This may have been the first official City appropriations .••.••••• $1002.73 protest in Medford about cutting a tree. Appropriations uncollected) . 69.07 Saving the ld oak., however � becomes in­ ( 0 Now in treasury ••..•••••...•• 542 .98 significant when one considers that the Fines ...... 72.23 sp lendid palace� with its marb le halls dr enched in almost seventy-five years of DISBURSEMENTS library tradition� is still standing on Books •...•..••.•...•..••.•.•.. $514 .16 that valuab le plot� thanks to a handful Librarian 's salary .•.•••.••••. 248 .45 of preservationists� who not long ago Janitor's salary •••.••••••.•.. 8.00 saved it fr om the wrecking ball of pro­ Rook case ...••••..•• ..•••...•. 30.00 gress. And there 's no better place for Postage and express •••.••.••.. 16 .50 a little nap . Advertising bids and printing. 20.52 In January� 1912� the board fi led its Insurance on the building •...• report and the library was off and running . 128 .87 Balance in treasury ••.•••.••.• 426 .54

APRIL 1985 17 The next editorial is a good example of the writer 's taking a stand with the minority . Mr . Ruhl 's attack on the K.K. K. in 1922 was in vain. The secret organization continued its influence in southern Oregon� reaching its peak in ashion dictators say that feminine 1925� three years after R. W. R. had first trousers are to be relegated to the foreseen the threat . place of their origin--the boudoir and the beach . [Pants are] all right as a novelty garment but as such have been doomed to oblivion in the ball room and g(,i78' the street . Rather than the ruffled pet­ Medford Mail Tribune� �Ap ril 24 , 1922 ticoats of grandmother 's days , and who knows , maybe the lace trimmed panties TIME TO CALL A HALT too , are to be in vogue soon . Veils , he expected has happened . One man feathers , ribbons seem just around the � has been killed , another is near corner. Anon. ()� death , as the result of a band of The question of censorship is always ith �masked men in Los Angeles , taking the � us; it 's age old. One can only take h�s law into their own hands . As usual the stand with Jimmy Wa lker who said� "I Goblin of the Ku Klux Klan arises to never knew a girl who was ruined by a deny all responsibility . Of course, a book. " The protestors of 1923 should secret order , with secret circles with­ read a page or two at random fr om some in secret circles , can always deny re­ of the gems that can be picked up at your sponsibility when its activities , day fr iendly supermarket. or night , are hidden behind robes and masks . But this much is certain . Wherever the K.K.K. has been established in this ~ country , east, west , north or south, Medford Mai l Tribune� March 1923 communities which have not been troubled by depredations of masked men in years, FIGHTING NAUGHTY BOOKS

are troubled by them at once .•.It will nother crusade against naughty books take overwhelming evidence here, in has been launched . It is proclaimed Los Angeles or anywhere else, to con­ from the front page of New York City vince the man in the street that the newspapers that the five naughtiest books K.K.K. is in no way responsible for are Schnitzler 's Ca sanova 's Homecoming� these continued outrages which are A D.H. Lawrence's Women in Love� The Diary throwing communities throughout the of a Young Girl� The Satyricon of Pe­ country into fear and confusion . tronius� and Jurgen. Regrettable as this tragedy is , how­ We heartily commend the movement as far ever , the sacrifice may not have been as its purposes are concerned . But its in vain , if it will arouse the American methods are ridiculous . Giving front people to their danger , and result in page publicity to these books , far from cleaning up this underground lawlessness leading to their suppression , will merely once and for all. The issue is plain . result in larger sales . If any group of masked men is to be al­ The forbidden is always attractive . lowed to take the law into their own Curiosity is the corner stone of depravity . hands, then the entire fabric of civi­ Unless we are much mistaken this crusade lization falls , and we go back to the will lead thousands of people to read middle ages , with everyone toting a six these books , who without the publicity shooter with no one safe and the most would never have thought of wasting time successful citizen, the Bolshevik who on them. is quickest on the trigger . R.W.R. There is unquestionably an epidemic of In 1921 the editor of the Tidings pornographic excess in the literary tried his hand as a fa shion fo recaster. world today . The best way to check this He wasn 't much of a prophet� but then neurosis is to leave it alone . Attemp ting one really is when it comes to femi­ no legal suppression merely stimulates the nine notions .

18 THE TABLE ROCK SENTINEL public imagination and extends the like atmosphere at the lake . One feels

poison •.• it immediately upon entering the lodge. The sex spasms will pass, just as all You are not greeted as if you were other spasms pass. The public will soon merely an animated five dollar bill , tire of it and when the public tires , welcome solely as a contributor to the harvest ceases . To start a newspaper household expenses , but as a human being crusade will merely prolong the disease , on a pilgrimage of devotion . Will Steel , wh ich Nature, if left alone , would soon the father of Crater Lake , puts this conquer. ROBERT W. RUHL over . He is behind the counter to greet you , not as another customer , but as Sometimes Nature is a slow worker. another candidate for initiation into Wasn 't the speed limit on the highways the My stic Order of Crater Lake en­ 25 mi les per hour in 1921 ? A visit to thusiasts. Crater Lake took fo ur hours one way> and Moreover the entire hotel staff is on a round trip in one day was a drag . An its toes . They are all new and they overnight stay at the well-furnished> have the en thusiasm of fresh recruits . comfortable lodge was a pleasure and on Not only is the table excellent , but many weekends dance orchestras played> the service comb ines beauty and effi­ roaring fires blazed away in the fire­ ciency to a remarkable degree . places and the guests wore their glam­ At night the guests gather around the orous best. A visit to the lake was fire like a large and happy family . cause for a celebration. There is music furnished by memb ers of the hotel staff, and there is dancing entered into even by those who climbed Garfield Peak in the afternoon . Then Will Steel usually gives a little Medford Mail Tribune> August 29 , 1921. talk on Crater Lake , its history and formation , which is just what the visi­ A NEW CRATER LAKE tors are eager to hear , and about ten n former years everyone was im­ o'clock everyone trots off to bed . pressed by the natural beauties of It may be merely the difference be­ gCrater Lake , but after the first tween good hotel management and no hotel gasp, there was an awkward pause. It management at all . But there seems to be was like entering a beautiful residence, something more--the creation of atmos­ expecting to greet an old friend , but phere in it . This appears to be the finding no one at home . There was no one supreme achievement of the Crater Lake at home at Crater Lake , ins ide the lodge management of 1921. or out . After a few "Ohs" and "Ahs" and ROBERT W. RUHL a leaving of cards , as it were , one was � eager to get away . Has the once gracious old lodge out­ This year there is a decidedly home- Uved its era?

APRIL 1985 19 !Jb utitfYt,n @ie!l{)ntJlfJt{)iical!Jbcie';t

9J)innfYt - (jj)(l;Jue

2300JV Crateendre/ LakeJ(j! fInn Highway Medford , Oregon

Cash Bar - 6:00 PM Dinner - 7:00 PM Program - 8: 00 PM Dance - 9:00-12 : 00 PM

Cocktail Music by Ray Lewis Dance Music by The Rogue Valley Jazz Quintet - Dance Music of the 30s - 40s and 50s

$14.00 per person Reservations to : Maureen Smith S.O.H.S. P.O.Box 480 Jacksonville, OR 97530 Deadline: May 13 , 1985

20 THE TABLE ROCK SENTINEL Director 's Report . Nick Clark

It seems nearly impossible,but one year has passed since our society prepared its last annual report. It has been a busy and rewarding year---one in wh ich we may all take pride !

The Chappell-Swedenburg House Museum in Ashland opened in October of 1984 and has become a tremendous success . Thousands have toured the exhibits and are responding to the need for collect­ ing materials from southern Jackson County . Nan Hannon and the ever helpful and enthusiastic docents are giving every effort to insure that our society 's investment in the heritage of southern Jackson County pays imum dividenas, and we are most appreciative . max The living history program at Beekman House was a fine success thanks to the efforts of our Curator of Interpretation, Dawna Curler , and her staff and vo lunteers . The visitation was up considerably at Beekman House and visitors left wonderful comments about how much living history heightened the enj oyment of their experience. The program will grow this year with the addition of the Beekman Bank . Our primary purpose as a society is to educate the public regarding the history of Jackson County and the new programs at Beekman House and Bank greatly assist in realizing that goal .

The new Southern Oregon Historical Society Archives, located at White City, will enhance the professional way in which the society cares for its paper documents and ph otographs as well as all of the officials records of Jackson County . The 60 'x75 ' bui lding will have climate controlled storage , a conservation laboratory , and space to keep all of the photographs and d ents from our area for many generations. We look ocum forward to the opening of the facility with great enthusiasm.

Within the next month, you will be receiving the 1984-1985 Annual Report. The above information and a great deal more will be included . We hope that you will read it care­ fully in order that you might share the great pride which is ours to share in the Southern Oregon Historical Society.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

MEMBERSHIP TOPS 2000

We are very pleased to announce that the Southern Oregon Historical Society 's member­ ship now exceeds 2,000 . Not 10 years ago , the society had less than 300 member� and w� are very pleased that so many folks have joined in the effort to preserve the rlch herl­ tage of the Rogue Va lley.

Al though we are del ighted with the support you have shown , we hope that you'll en ­ couyage your friends and neighbors to join in supporting the society's pr?gyams by becom­ ing a member . Our goal is to have 500 new members by July of 1986 and wlth your help , we 'll succeed! You'll find a membership blank on the back page for your use . Won 't you please find a new memb er and help us in preserving our heritage for future generations ?

APRIL 1985 21 Workers from the J. B. Steel Comp any complete exterior siding for the new Southern Oregon His­ torical Society Ar chive .

S.O.H.S. Phofo by Nick Clark

NEW ARCHIVE FACILITY NEARS COMPLETION

The exci tement is building as the new arch ive facility of the Southern Oregon Histor ical Society nears completion. "It will be so nice to have the space to properly store and care for all of these important papers and photograp hs" said assistant librar ian Linda Wiesen . "We have needed this for years and it seems like a dream come true ," she continued .

We are all very anxious to see this dream come true . While we have done the best job possible to save thousands of historical document s, photo­ graphs and glass plate negativ es , the task has not been easy in the cramped quarters available in the old courthouse museum . The three rooms where mo st documents are present ly stored have a comb ined square footage of about 1,000 square feet . The new building will have room to store about 10 ,000 cub ic feet of material and will also have a public reading room and a conserv ation laboratory .

"We hope the arch ive will be used often by the public ," said Nick Clark executive director for the society. "We have n 't had room to spread out documents for close examination . Now our patrons will have plenty of room to explore their past," said Clark.

In the beginning , the facility will be open to the public during after­ noons on weekdays . A professio nal archivist will be on hand to assist the pub lic in finding documents . "We are also pleased that we will be ab le to perform routine conservation on documents which are torn , have insect damage or are mildewed ," according to Clark .

In addition to socie ty materials, about 5,000 cub ic feet of documents from Jackson County will also be housed in the building . Most land records , birth certificates , marriage licenses , tax records and other documents will be housed in the new facility and available to the public unless the law prohibits their examination.

"We 're looking forward to a July opening ," said Clark . We will certainl keep our membership informed so you'll all be abl e to attend . rf0 r:� r:?3 r�rl(h �,' J?_� / 11ft...("J. -iJrj{7' rf%0?,J) '-ilb'!. 1>: ,.I t' . ,..,�, (y(,� �,.,'0 22 c� THE TABLE ROCK SENTINEL SOCI ETY WEL COMES VOLUNTEERS

Mrs . Marge Herman , volunteer coordinator for the Southern Oregon Historical Soci ety , reports that she has trained more than 70 volunteers during the month of March . The society initiated the program after the formation of a new group , called "Friends Of The Mu seum." The Friends will fu lfill a variety of needs in many departments . With summe r approaching , the most urgent needs are for greeters in the Jacksonvi lle Museum and for living history interpreters at Beekman House and in the Beekman Bank . The greeters program at the Jacksonville Mu seum will involve a volunteer assigned to welcome visitors on the first floor and a second individual on the second floor to assist in answering questions . Two sh ifts will make serving in this capacity very easy . Th ere will be no phys ical work inv olved , "We 're simply looking for friendly folks to greet our visitors and make them feel at home ," said Mrs . Herman . The Beekman House living history program was initiated in 1984 but the Beekman Bank is being opened for the first time , as a living history mu seum , in 1985. Volunteers at the house may serve as greeters , or as characters from the past such as Ju lia Beekman , her daughter Carrie or their household servants. Those volunteers at the Beekman Bank will be pretending that they are Cornelius Beekman or one of his helpers in the bank . Costume s will be needed for both positions but the mu seum will assist with patterns and material selections . Training for the living history program will be conducted during April . If interested , volunteers may call Dawna Curler , Curator of Interpretation or Marge Herman , Volun­ teer Coordinator , for more information about time and place . Th ere are many other programs which are in need of volun teers . They inc lude the research library at the Jacksonville Mu seum , the collections department (working with the artifacts) , assisting with exhibits and much more . If you 'd like to join us , we 'll find a place to suit your talents ! General training sessions will be held on the fourth Thursday and the fourth Saturday of each month . Time will be spent in acquaint ing our vol ­ unteers with the society departments and with our needs . Also included will be a tour of facilities in Jacksonville as well as museums in other locations such as the Swedenburg House and the storage facilities at White City. Th e sessions begin at 10: 00AM and end at 3:00PM . Contact Marge Herman for an appointme nt . The dates are Thursday , Ap ril 25 and Saturday , Ap ril 27 , 1985. Marge 's numb er is 899-18 47. We 'll appreciate your help !

More than 70 new volunteers have received training dur ­ ing the month of March . Sessions are held in the U. S. Hotel in Jacksonvi lle .

APRIL 1985 23 JO IN US FOR A VICTORIAN MUSI CAL SOIREE

During the l880s and l890s , the Sunday afternoon musical was one of the most common of events . It not only gave fo lks a chance to get together and enj oy the latest tunes of th e day but they also received the latest news , a precious commodity on the Frontier . Such an event will be recreated on Sunday afternoon , Ap ril 28 , 1985 in the U. S. Hotel Bal lroom , Jacksonvi lle. The event will begin at 2:00PM and will feature authentic mu sic of the era from the collection of Ray Lewis . Performing will be Mrs . Duane Clay , soprano ; r.1r . Nick Clark , tenor ; and Mr . Ray Lewis at the piano forte . The group will perform such favorites as "Have You Noticed Th e Bird On Mother 's Hat ," as well as "rags" and other most appropriate selections . Mrs . Clay has performed in the Medford area with nearly every group and is currently soloist for the Christian Science Church of Medford . Mr . Clark has appeared with various civic symphonies and choruses in Kansas and Wisconsin and is the choir director for First Presbyterian Church of Jacksonville. Mr . Lewis is a talented musician and has taught mu sic in Jackson County Schools for many years . He is currently performing at the Pioneer Hou se Restaurant on Friday and Saturday nights . The event is part of the Sunday Afternoon Social Series , sponsored by the society for more than a year . 'The socials were created to encourage new membership in the soc­ iety and to assist in -bringing events from our past "to life." Seating is limited to the first 150 persons so govern yourselves accordingly . We hope you see you there----and bring a friend ! THE NEWSLETTER OF THE SOUTH ERN OREGON HISTORICAL SOCIETY

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION 206 N. Fifth St., P.O. Box 480 Jacksonville, Oregon 97530, (503) 899-1847 I would like to purchase a membership in the Sou thern Oregon Historical Society . Volume 5, No. 4, April 1985 ISSN: 0732-0523 Name : ------

Ad dress : ------

City : ______St . ______

Zip: Phn : ------

Junior Historian (18 Under) 6.00 Seniors (65 and over) & $ 10.00 Individuals $ 12.00 Family $ 15.00 Contributor $ 25 .00 Bus iness $ 50 .00 Donor $ 75 .00 Sp onsor $ 100 .00 Benefactor $ 250 .00 Grantor $ 500 .00 Life $1000 .00

A membership in the society brings you the newsle tter every month and access to a great deal of informa tion about wh at 's going on . It also makes a great gift !

Ma il to : S. O. H. S. Attn : Maureen Smith P. O. Box 480 Jacksonville , OR 97530

THE TABLE ROCK SENTINEL 24