Chapter 1
Preface
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THE
STRUGGLES
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IN THE
NORTH-WEST,
BY A PIONEER HOMEBUILDER.
LIFE, 1865 - 1889.
GEO. W. FRANCE,
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PREFACE.
I do not claim for this book any literary merit, except that
borrowed or quoted from others, for, when Cushing could
mark 5000 mistakes in Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary (say-
ing that for the size of the book it had as few errors as could
be expected), and when newspaper and other writers have to
browse so largely from the genius and ‘abor of others, that
editorials are frequently copied bodily as their own (so that it
is oiten difficult to know who produced some piece of intellect.
ual work and the gems of geius that they print), it would
therefore be presumptuous for an unlettered homebuilder on
the border, alone to attempt anything very fine and glittering
in building his book; and though the most practical, valuable
and expensive education in the world is that gotten by struggling
hard and long against fiends and fate, for life, liberty and home,
such a life permits of no leisure or condition of the mind for
the culture of any of its latent literary genius,
While the mere kid-gloved hired critic will smile over the :
stacks of humbug effusions of his professional brethren, he will | }
sneer at this ill-favored thing; and ring-black-legs will detest Ha
it, as they do truth itself and equality before the law. But 44
when my case was so cruelly lied about and I was so persistently ih
and corruptly held in a secret bastile to be tortured, looted and
maligned, (as I found it to be the case with others also), and
was always denied any hearing, or defense, or trial, I was left
no alternative by the mongrel gang, but was forced to write my
life, and theirs also—wherein it imperils the life, liberty and
homes of the people.
(3
. Pacific N. W. History Dept. :
RAB PROVINCIAL LIBRARY
VICTORIA, B.C,
4 PREFACE.
As to its truth, every point and assertion of mine is (in one
place and another) shown to be so very evidently and positively
true, that none but brazen members or tools of the black con-
spiracy will ever question it.
In the language of Josephus: “Some apply themselves to
this part of learning to show their great skill in composition,
and that they may therein acquire a reputation for speaking
finely ; others there are who of necessity and by force are
driven to write history, because they were concerned in the
facts, and so cannot excuse themselves from committing them
to writing for the advantage of posterity. Nay, there are not
a few who are induced to draw their historical facts out of
darkness into light, and to produce them for the benefit of the
public, on account of the great importance of the facts them-
selves with which they have been concerned....I was forced
to give the history of it because I saw that others perverted
the truth of those actions in their writings. However, I will
not go to the other extreme out of opposition to those men who
extol the oppressors, nor will I determine to raise the actions
of my own too high; but I will prosecute the actions of both
parties with accuracy. Yet shall I suit my language to the
passions I am under, as to the affairs I describe, and must be
allowed to indulge in some lamentations upon the miseries
undergone by my own......
“But if any one makes an unjust accusation against me
when I speak so passionately about the tyrants, or the robbers,
or sorely bewail the misfortune of our country, let him indulge
my affections herein.... Because it had come to pass, that we
had arrived at a higher degree of felicity than others, and yet
at last fell into the sorest calamities again....But if any one
be inflexible in his censures of me, let him attribute the facts
themselves to the historical part, and the lamentations to the
writer himself only....And I have written it down for the sake
PREFACE. 5
of those that love truth, but not for those that please them-
selves with fictitious relations.”
“Yes, I have lost the loved, the dear!
Yes, I have wept the bitter tear !
Have passed misfortune’s darkest hour—
Have known and felt the Tempter’s power—
Have bowed to scorn, unloved, alone,
Longing for Friendship’s cheering tone!
Unhappiness! I know thee, then—
So can I help my fellow-men! —Public Opinion.
G., W. F.
‘*Tf all the scoundrels who now bask in the smiles of San Francisco
society were to receive their just deserts for their infamous deeds, the
accommodations at San Quentin and Folsom would be entirely too re-
stricted.
We have before taken occasion to define the crime of *‘ personal jour-
nalism.” It is never perpetrated except against a rich scoundrel. A
journal may with perfect safety hold up to scorn the actions of water
front bummers, or the despised hoodlum. Turn to your paper any
morning and evening and see how often crime in low places is exposed
and made odious in a hundred different ways. Does any one suppose
that distinguished lawyers would be found to rail at the practice so long
as it was confined within these limits? Bah! The inquiry excites a smile
of derision. Any Tom, Dick or Harry in the city might be mentioned,
and columns of contempt and derision hurled at them without a protest
being raised. But, as we have said before, let a man with a million or
two of money commit the most unpardonable outrages, and be referred
to ever so gently, and the pack start out in full ery yelping ‘‘ personal
journalism.”
Without personal journalism vice and roguery would be sure to get
the upper hand in xaodern times. Personal journalism is the bulwark
reared against its encroachment. Personal journalism is only another
term for the ‘‘rascal’s scourge.” It will be a sorry day for society if the
assassin’s pistol or the rich man’s coin ever prove effective enough to stop
the hand engaged in the work of making crime odious by pointing out to
the public their enemies. Crime cannot be checked with a parable. Its
perpetrators must be held up to public scorn.”
San Francisco ‘‘Ohronicle,’’
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Pa
i WALLA WALLA, Washington,
Jou. 25th, 1889.
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN -—
“TL have been personally acquainted with Mr. Geo. W. France
for many years, and know his general reputation and standing in
this State to be good, and while it is true that he was at one time
convicted of murder in the second degree, it is now generally believed
that he committed the homicide in necessary self-defence, and is
innocent of any crime whatever. I take pleasure in bear-
ing testimony to his uniform good character, both before and since
this unfortunate occurrence, as an honest, upright, orderly and
law-abiding citizen,
THOS. H. BRENTS.”
[Representative in Congress for two terms from Washington Territory
HRS al oe ag be RO) RR ange en! i AMET NS RR Ot ie | a ne RES SS tt a ce = w
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS,
PAGE.
AUTHOR'S PorRTRAIT Frontispiece.
OIL WorRKS~—- - - - * eo
View OF Sat Lake Ciry, Uran 43
THE Mormon Tempe, Etc. - 49
PYRAMID Lake, Utan - -
Los ANGELES, CAL., FROM THE HILL
MEXICAN HERDER - - : - -
MAIN STREET FROM TEMPLE Biock, Los ANGELES -
CHINESE QUARTER, INTERIOR OF CHINESE TEMPLE
(JosH House), Los ANGELES - -
TROPICAL PLANTS AND HIsToRICAL BUILDINGS
Pr-Ute INDIAN Camp, NEVADA - -
A CANYON - - - “ e
SHOSHORE FAuis, SNAKE River, Ipano, 260 Feet HicgH
“I HAULED WooD AND RAILS FROM THE BLUE MountTAINS”
MAKING CLAPBOARDS * ° ‘ ; ‘
Muttnoma FAs, CouumBIA RIVER, OREGON
My First Ovurrit - . . ;
My First House
LAND OFFICE RECEIPT -
UniTED States LaAnp Patent
AN INDIAN VILLAGE -
AN INDIAN MASSACRE
Scr oon T.AND LEASE
Scrowu LAND RECEIPT ae
DEFENDING My Lire AND HoME -
THE SEATCO BASTILE - .
A Sick PRISONER - - . ‘ ;
PRISONERS AT THE BASVILE GOING TO WoRK—DRUNKEN
GUARD : - : : : :
PENALTY FOR EXPOSING THE TORTURES OF THE SECRET
BASTILE - : . ‘ :
City oF SITKA, ALASKA
CONTENTS.