Calvin Tibbetts to visit Solomon H. Smith. By crossing Young's Bay in a canoe, going up the Skipanon River to within a mile of the plain, crossing the plain on foot to the ocean and walking along the beach they reached the mouth of the Necoxie Creek. Here they found Smith, who was living in a log cabin, 15 feet square, without roof or floor. The next day the party returned to Astoria.]
[September] 18. Day before yesterday the 16th I received a letter from Rev. J. Lee dated the 4th of August. also one from Br. Abernethy & Br. Campbell.
For several days past there has been an Indian woman near this, on the beach, with a sick child. Last night it died. And this morning it was pitable to see the poor woman going down the beach, with her dead child wraped in a mat &c to bury it. Her wailings as she proceeded were loud. The corpse was slung on her back. After three or four hours had elapsed she returned as she went, alone, singing the death song. After a short time I passed by the place where the child died, and saw the mother of the deceased sitting on the ground and another squaw cutting of [f I her hair with a knife, by which sign they testify their sorrow for the dead. ...
19. Yesterday I received a letter from Br. Hines, by which I learned that the Umbaqua station was abandoned, or rather that, in view of the few Indians remaining there, and the many difficulties to contend with in order to have access to them, it was determined to form no station at that place.[1] Today I wrote a letter to Brs. J. Lee, Hines and Abernethy.
20. Sunday. Preached at the usual hour from Rev. 6. 17. Present, besides our two families Capt. Couch, Mr. Johnson[2] & Mr. Knight of the Brig Maryland. Mr. Johnson from the Willamette, and one half breed Canadian. Shall these all stand in the great day of his wrath?
23. Received 2 letters from Br. Campbell today, and one
- ↑ Hines' trip to the Umpqua proved to be so dangerous on account of the hostility of the Indians that the plan for a mission there was abandoned; Hines, 94-119.
- ↑ Henry Johnson, who became clerk of Cushing's store at Oregon City; Bancroft, Oregon, 1, 467.
