Dedication
To My Dear Father and Mother,
Faithful Friends and Counselors,
Whose pioneer life I shared,
This book is affectionately dedicated
By THE AUTHOR
Preface
In the early days when a hunter, explorer or settler essayed to tread the mysterious depths of the unknown forest of Puget Sound, he took care to “blaze the way.” At brief intervals he stopped to cut with his sharp woodman’s ax a generous chip from the rough bark of fir, hemlock or cedar tree, leaving the yellow inner bark or wood exposed, thereby providing a perfect guide by which he retraced his steps to the canoe or cabin. As the initial stroke it may well be emblematical of the beginnings of things in the great Northwest.
I do not feel moved to apologize for this book; I have gathered the fragments within my reach; such or similar works are needed to set forth the life, character and movement of the early days on Puget Sound. The importance of the service of the Pioneers is as yet dimly perceived; what the Pilgrim Fathers were to New England, the Pioneers were to the Pacific Coast, to the “nations yet to be,” who, following in their footsteps, shall people the wilds with teeming cities, a “human sea,” bearing on its bosom argosies of priceless worth.
It does contain some items and incidents not generally known or heretofore published. I hope others may be provoked to record their pioneer experiences.
I have had exceptional opportunities in listening to the thrice-told tales of parents and friends who had crossed the plains, as well as personal recollections of experiences and observation during a residence of over fifty years in the Northwest, acknowledging also the good fortune of having been one of the first white children born on Puget Sound.
Every old pioneer has a store of memories of adventures and narrow escapes, hardships bravely endured, fresh pleasures enjoyed, rude but genial merrymakings, of all the fascinating incidents that made up the wonder-life of long ago.
Chronology is only a row of hooks to hang the garments of the past upon, else they may fall together in a confused heap.
Not having a full line of such supports on which to hang the weaving of my thoughts—I simply overturn my Indian basket of chips picked up after “Blazing the Way,” they being merely bits of beginnings in the Northwest.
E. I. DENNY.
Note—The poem referred to on page 144 will appear in another work.—Author.
Synopsis of Incidents
| Part I. | ||
| Page | ||
| Chapter I— | Crossing the Plains—Names of the Denny Company | 20 |
| Attacked by Indians at American Falls | 27 | |
| Chapter II— | A Narrow Escape from Going Over the Cascades | 36 |
| About to Sink in the Cold Waters of the Columbia | 38 | |
| Chapter III— | Tramping a Long Trail | 42 |
| Landing of J. N. Low, D. T. Denny and Lee Terry at Sgwudux (West Seattle) | 43 | |
| Exploring the Duwampsh River | 44 | |
| Names of Party from “Exact” | 50 | |
| Chapter IV— | A Visit from Wolves | 66 |
| A Flight to Fort Decatur | 76 | |
| Battle of Seattle | 80 | |
| Story of John I. King’s Capture | 91 | |
| Chapter V— | A Tragedy of the Trail | 98 |
| Chapter VI— | A Hair-raising Hunt for a Cougar | 107 |
| Chapter VII— | Seeking the Dead Among the Living | 121 |
| The Strawberry of Memory | 126 | |
| Three Little Girls and a Pioneer “Fourth” | 131 | |
| A Rescue from Drowning | 138 | |
| Chapter VIII— | Frontier Experiences | 151 |
| Chapter IX— | Placating Indians on the Plains | 171 |
| Chapter X— | Capt. Roeder’s Meeting with the Bandit Joaquin | 180 |
| Part II. | ||
| Chapter I— | Poem—Song of the Pioneers | 182 |
| Chapter II— | A Notable Pioneer Reformer, John Denny | 188 |
| Chapter III— | A Tireless Foundation Builder, David Thomas Denny | 203 |
| Threats from Anti-Chinese Agitators | 211 | |
| His Own Account of Arrival on Elliott Bay | 214 | |
| Surrounded by Indians | 243 | |
| Trials and Triumph | 256 | |
| Chapter IV— | A Lively Celebration of the First Wedding on Elliott Bay | 258 |
| Story of a Bear Hunt | 268 | |
| Chapter V— | Indian Courtship | 275 |
| On the Day of Battle | 276 | |
| Chapter VI— | Discovery of Shilshole or Salmon Bay | 310 |
| An Escape from Murderous Savages | 313 | |
| Defense with a Hatchet | 316 | |
| Chapter VII— | Immune Because of Indian Superstition | 323 |
| Chapter VIII— | Saving an Auburn-haired Girl | 341 |
| Chapter IX— | A Grand Description of a Vast Forest Fire | 350 |
| Poem—“The Mortgage” | 352 | |
| Poem—“Pacific’s Pioneers” | 354 | |
| Chapter X— | Hanging of Leschi | 370 |
| Poem—“The Chief’s Reply” | 388 | |
| Part III. | ||
| Chapter I— | Shooting of Lachuse | 392 |
| The Fight at Fort Nesqually | 395 | |
| Abbie Casto’s Fate | 409 | |
| Chapter II— | How the Old Shell Blew Up a Stump and Cautioned Mr. Horton | 423 |
| Mr. Beaty and the Cheese | 425 | |
| Chapter III— | Poem—“The Beaver’s Requiem” | 436 |
| Chapter IV— | Poem—“The Voice of the Old University Bell” | 459 |
| Chapter V— | Charming Description of Early Days on the Chehalis | 467 |
| Chapter VI— | Founding of Port Townsend | 481 |
| Chapter VII— | A Number of Noted Names | 489 |
| Poem—“Hail, and Farewell” | 503 | |